User:MRolfs/My bio for my reunion

Our picture and my bio for my 50-year high school class reunion

Fifty years! Is it possible? Fifty years ago I thought only "old" people were entitled to celebrate 50th anniversaries. Well, here we are.

After graduating from Madelia I attended Mankato State where I met my husband Dean and to whom I've been married 45 years. I taught two years in Gibbon, MN at the jr. & sr. high school. Then I became a full-time mother and domestic engineer. We have two grown married children, Scott and Cynthia and four grandchildren, two boys and two girls. We have lived in Fairfax, New Ulm, Sauk Rapids, White Bear Lake and Lake Elmo.

Over the years I've had a few part-time jobs such as substitute teaching, home decorating, 12 years in a Christian bookstore as well as volunteer work in church and at the hospital. After Dean retired in 1993 from education, we spent three years working as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, building a new church, bible camp and a homeless shelter.

As a 15 year cancer survivor I've learned to treasure everyday as a special gift from God. I was able to get through the journey only by the grace of God and the many prayers and support of family and friends. Being able to see our children marry and to meet our grandchildren has been such a great blessing.

Dean and I have done a lot of traveling over the years and we have also enjoyed wintering in Mesa, AZ. We do enjoy spending summers at our cabin near Grand Rapids, MN which we gutted and it is still a work in progress, doing most of the work ourselves. I enjoy gardening, cooking, reading, hiking, cross word puzzles, bird watching, antiquing, garage sales and seeing our grandchildren 3, 5, 7 & 9 who live nearby.

As of this writing, we are in the process of downsizing and hope to sell our present home and move into a town home. Having 45 years of collecting "stuff" we now have to let go and get rid of it. This is difficult to do especially when attached to it sentimentally.

Probably the least thing I like about being 65+ is the parting of so many of our loved ones. My mom passed away in September at the age of 92. Visiting her at the nursing home we've noticed all the changes in Madelia. It is hard to "come home" when everything has changed but realize that change can be progress too. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to attending the reunion and renewing acquaintances. See you in September!

This is a link back to my Homepage

There is a PBWiki website set up for details about our class reunion activities at Madelia Reunion.

To read the bios of your other classmates, click on one of the links in the table below: