Betty LaVergne Toman

Before retiring from Iowa State University, she was a long-time resident of Ames, IA, where she enjoyed a 40-year career as a beloved faculty member and community artist.

Betty started out with energy and enthusiasm. Born in Berwyn, IL, she was performing by age 3, appearing at the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair and earning one of the first modern dance “letters” at Morton High School, IL. She went on to earn an undergraduate degree in dance at the University of Wisconsin and a master’s from Iowa State.

Betty came to Iowa State in 1948 to teach beginning dance classes, which became her special genius throughout her long career, whether at ISU or in Master Classes given throughout the U.S. and abroad.

During her ISU tenure, a dance emphasis was added to the physical education major curriculum and a dance minor was made available to students in any area of study at ISU.

Betty, her students, and her accompanist/collaborator Evelyn Jensen, launched the ISU Dance Company on Tour and for 20 years traveled the Midwest giving innovative lecture-demonstrations. Betty also advised Iowa State’s Stars Over Veishea and for 22 years directed Barjche (bar-shay), the annual student dance concert. Her list of performances, speeches, journal articles, and demonstrations easily tops 300.

Betty’s academic appointments progressed from Instructor to Distinguished Professor. She was named Distinguished Professor Emerita of Education in 1988. Her career was recognized with ISU’s Outstanding Teacher Award and a Faculty Citation from the Alumni Association. ISU’s dance studios now carry her name. Her work on behalf of professional associations is so comprehensive that a listing would take pages. She served as President of the National Dance Association in 1980, then the largest dance organization in the country, which later gave her its Heritage Award.

Betty Toman’s students can be found in professional dance and theater companies in the U.S. and abroad; others work as teachers and administrators in education and arts organizations.

The greatest number, however, are not professional dancers or dance teachers. They are engineers, agriculturists, veterinarians, business men and women, journalists, scientists, or a host of other professionals. Because of Betty Toman, they experienced the universal language of dance and left Iowa State, not only with their professional degrees, but as creative people with a keener appreciation of dance (and life).

Betty Toman was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Anna Toman, her brother and his wife Arthur (Emma) Toman, and her niece Donna Toman. Surviving family members include her niece, Debra (Charles) Norris, great niece Julienne Stump, and great nephew Jeffrey Stump.

Betty’s ashes will be interred at the Iowa State University cemetery on Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. A public gathering will follow immediately after the ceremony at approximately 1:45 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Iowa State Memorial Union, 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA; parking is available in the attached ramp.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the ISU Foundation, 2505 University Blvd, Ames, IA 50010. They should be designated for the Toman Dance Excellence Endowment Fund.

Former students, friends, and colleagues are invited to share anecdotes and stories about Betty on this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/347759761116041.