Who remembers butter and lettuce sandwiches with chili?

If you’ve eaten butter and lettuce sandwiches with chili, chances are good that you went to/and or worked for the WMU school system.

For over 50 years, WMU students and staff have been served chili accompanied with lettuce and butter sandwiches. Wanda Linder, who was a cook at the school for 20 years, said she believed the tradition may have started in the early ‘70s when Dorothy Beachamp was head cook.

Wanda took over after Dorothy retired and kept them on the menu. Even when they were not on the official menu, a platter of sandwiches was put out along with chili, half a peach and a brownie. Wanda said she used between 18 and 20 loaves of bread to make enough sandwiches to serve with the chili.

Wanda especially remembers three “growing boys” who always asked for more sandwiches, and she would give them an extra one or two. When other kids wanted to know why they got extras, Wanda told them because they were “growing boys.” Those “growing boys” were Klay Edwards, Jess Settles, and Chris Parkhurst, now grown men with families.

Butter and lettuce sandwiches made their first appearance outside of the school when they were served to the Masons at a chili supper following an Installation ceremony. Myron Jennings and Dean Buffington served the sandwiches that Wanda, a member of the Eastern Star, had made. The sandwiches were such a hit that they continued to serve them even after Wanda retired.

When the firemen began offering the sandwiches at their annual chili suppers around a decade ago, it was easy to tell from the diner’s reactions who was from Winfield and who were outsiders who had had never heard of the combination. For some it was a pleasant surprise—for others not so much. It is an acquired taste.

Again, there is no exact date when the sandwiches first appeared at the fireman’s chili suppers, but Amy Lilies, who has been their cook for seven years, said they were serving them when she took over as cook.

For many WMU graduates, eating the delicacy didn’t stop with their graduation. Linda Bunker, Ronda van Auken Redlinger, Joel Haines, and Ann Crawford, who likes hers on wheat bread, are among many who still enjoy them with their chili.

Of the 90 people who attended, or worked at WMU who responded to the question, “Do you remember eating lettuce and butter sandwiches with chili?” all remembered them being served with chili and nearly one-half of them said they still serve them with chili. Others who shared their love of the sandwich were Tony Huston and Anna Hunt who both said “Still do”, Shane Curtis, “I still love them!”, Kelly Johnson Hulquist, “Yes, and I still eat them with chili,” Davis Hunt, “LOL, I was just telling Chuck that we used to have the lettuce sandwich and chili at school—loved them and still do”. Jackie Harris said that she still has them but knows of no one outside of WMU school that does. 

Meta Dell Spearman agreed, saying that she thinks of it often and as a kid she loved them, but now “I feel like it was so random. Also no one else outside of Winfield ever seemed to know what I was talking about.”

Lana Sears said she still eats them and tops off her meal with a brownie like was included with the WMU chili lunches. Even if her kids and husband, who are from Morning Sun, thinks she is “crazy.” Rich Mando Cooley says she still has lettuce and butter sandwiches with her chili. Donna Dunkin’s husband also thinks she is “crazy.” He grew up with peanut butter sandwiches with his chili. Donna Dunkin’s husband agrees with the above two spouses. “Oh yes!! My fav! My husband thinks it’s crazy, He grew up with peanut butter sandwiches,” said Donna. Raja Giden confesses, “I get in trouble with my family if I forget to make them!”

Karl Kepper said he remembers eating them at Wyman Elementary before coming to Winfield and says he still eats them. Another fan, Susan Kepper said, “One of their best meals. Still have them together.” Shelly Andries. Tina Olson agreed saying, “Always Do, and “Always together.” Janessa Renee Hoekstra agreed adding, “ALWAYS!” Cindy Buffington said she had one at this year’s Fireman’s Supper and still likes them. Sue Lloyd, Nicci Woodsmall Treadwell, both enjoy them with the combination.

Not everyone remembered them, or did not learn about them until coming to Winfield. Mekenzie Edwards said, “I grew up in Ainsworth and went to Highland and remember my first WFD chili supper thinking Winfield people were SOOOO weird for doing this—still do (haha). Cinnamon rolls and chili for life!” Brittany Edwards had also never heard if it until, “I came around here.” Tammie John Starkey said Morning Sun had peanut butter sandwiches with their chili and they still do, and Carla Menees said her kids also prefer the peanut butter sandwiches to dunk in their chili. Kara Stellern must have gotten her first taste at the WFD chili supper because she said, “Never heard of it until this last Saturday lol.”

Some who remember them were not fans of the unusual combination. Rhonds Connop admits she was, “Never a fan.” Pat Fricke said, “Never had them anywhere else that I can remember. They looked nice but I didn’t care for them. I prefer butter—no lettuce.” Kevin Dunsmore said he agreed with his sister, Pat, as he also prefers bread and butter with chili.

As far back as the early ‘90s the lettuce sandwich saga had already traveled to South Dakota. Kelly Anderson was on a shuttle bus along with some other teens and for some reason they were talking about chili (this was in the middle of the summer!) Kelly was telling about the WMU menu of “chili, ½ peach, brownie and some one from the back shouted, “and a butter and lettuce sandwich.” Unfortunately, in the shuffle of the shuttle she couldn’t find out who chinned in, but she did hear him say he was from Wyman. His identity remains a mystery, but there’s little doubt he had at one time attended school here.

Whenever lettuce and butter sandwiches first appeared on the school menu at WMU it doesn’t seem likely they will disappear anytime soon. The tradition has already survived several generations of Winfield graduates and reached far beyond Winfield. Winfield is known for many things, the theater, skeleton factor, golf club factory, and Gasshorse, are all apart of Winfield’s history, and CCD is still an ongoing event here, but the lowly lettuce and butter sandwich, past, present and future is likely to remain one of the most unusual and memorable items to come out of Winfield. How would a giant replica of a lettuce and Butter Sandwich look at the edge of town proclaiming Winfield as the “The Lettuce and Butter Sandwich Capital of the World?”

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this article.