I was raised on a farm near Sauk Centre, along with my five sisters and four brothers.  Mom died when I was nine and in the fourth grade.  Our saintly dad worked hard to keep us all together.  After doing our morning chores of feeding the animals and milking the cows by hand, we walked approximately one mile to country school.  There was no prek or kindergarten then, but our school did go through the eighth grade. 

I graduated from Sauk Centre High School, and that same summer at the age of 17, I went to Minneapolis and worked as a personal secretary to four insurance executives at Great-West Life Assurance Company.   My job was to take shorthand dictation, type, file, and answer the phone.  Before leaving Great-West, my bosses were talking about getting me a dictaphone to make my job easier (no computers then).  After 3 1/2 years of secretarial work, I was making a whopping $240.00 a month.

Forty-three years ago this January, Jerry and I were married and were blessed with one daughter, Amy and four sons, Glenn, Chad, Kyle, and Tyler.  They are all grown and through college now.  Three are married, and we have eight wonderful grandkids.

We still live and work on the farm where my husband was raised.  Our family loves to come home and help when they can - no more rock picking or pitching hay bales for me.

Four years ago I was asked to be a Foster Grandma in the prek room and have been there ever since.  It's great to be a part of St. Mary's staff, and I just love the children.  Their smiles and hugs make my days at St. Mary's special.