Fr. Egbert Hall (1900-1969)

Father Egbert Hall passed away September 7, 1969.

Father Egbert was the eldest of the Hall brothers to enter St. Benedict’s Abbey. He was born in Seward, Kan., in 1900.  After the novitiate training at St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pa., Egbert finished his studies at St. Benedict’s Abbey where he had come for high school.  After ordination he began 43 years of service as pastor and assistant pastor at Valley Falls and St. Mary’s, St. Benedict, Kan.  Father Egbert built the new St. Charles Church in Troy, Kan., and after 16 years of service there was pastor at St. Ann’s, Effingham, Kan., until he died there of an apparent heart attack while riding his bicycle. 

When Father Egbert was assistant pastor at St. Mary’s Parish, St. Benedict, Kan., he prepared an item for the raffle at the annual, and locally famous Summer Picnic there, always held on the fourth Sunday in June.  The prize was a case of Old Crow bourbon whisky.  Chances sold like hotcakes.  One man from Kelly who bought a large number of chances did, in fact, win.  He was given his prize, opened it, and found inside a rooster.  Definitely an “old crow.” According to all reports the winner’s disappointment was expressed loud and long.  He got over it. 

At the same parish Father Egbert kept hogs and he would simply drive to a parishioner’s corn bin in a pick-up truck and help himself to a load of corn for the hogs.  No one seemed to mind and some actually gave him permission.

Father Egbert Hall pictured on the far right.