Retired USPHS Nurse Officer
Single
4 daughters
4 granddaughters; 4 grandsons
2 greatgrandsons
1 Dog
Information update: 03/17/2016

High school was no fun for me but I graduated anyway! A good memory... A classmate and I walked home together after baccalaureate and stopped at Bridgeman's for a treat. Little things mean a lot. Thanks friend. And that was it! Finito high school. All of my yearbooks were lost in a flood except the 1961 book was rescued so I can look back to see who I graduated with at least.

After high school graduation I continued working at St. Luke's Hospital in the Special Diet Kitchen and attended UMD with a Home Economics major. I liked chemistry, biology, health sciences...and Art.

I left UMD and married in 1963. Between 1964 and 1970 I had 4 daughters, Cheryl, Dawn, Stacey and Jeri. Good care of my daughters was priority. I was active in their school and their activities. Fun being PTA President for a few years gave me lots of opportunities to be involved in their daily life and to chaperone many student field trips. I knew my daughters counted on me as they offered "my mom will do it" for various school projects. One year I sewed "angel" costumes including halo's for the entire class for their holiday program.

I worked at St. Mary's Hospital for 16 years rotating through many departments and mainly night shift. After I left St. Mary's, I worked for St. Louis County, the Native Americans into Medicine Program at the UMD School of Medicine and for Benedictine Health Center. During this time I took classes at The College of St. Scholastica. I graduated in 1983 with a Bachelors degree in Nursing and Indian Studies. During my senior year I was accepted into the United States Public Health Service as a student extern.

After graduation I was a Commissioned Nurse Officer for the USPHS, which is one of the 7 Uniformed Services of the United States. My service uniform was U.S. Navy, with insignia of the USPHS, making it the USPHS uniform.

I lived and worked at several Indian Health Service areas in Minnesota then transferred to Bellingham, Washington where I was stationed for 20 years before retiring.

I enjoyed Public Health Nursing and people I met. My positions were as Public Health Nurse; Director of Public Health Nursing; Diabetes Educator; Indian Health Service Special Diabetes Program Grant Manager; Clinical Director for Assisted Living Facility; and Quality Improvement Coordinator.

Travels took me to Mexico City after the earthquake in 1986, deployment to post-hurricane areas, frequent visits to beautiful Canada; most states except for the Northeastern ones, toured rain forests, remote interior, mountain trails on horseback and on foot and beaches of gorgeous Costa Rica. Favorite times with friends and my dog were those spent exploring the mountains, lakes and beach trails in Washington. My next trips are planned for Hawaii and Alaska.

Some things I like to do now are kayaking with my grandchildren, time with daughters and families, my dog Chauncie, camping trips, gardening, jingle dress (medicine dress) dancing, water aerobics, watercolor painting, traveling, friends and volunteering for hospice and community events. I also like to take naps.