Special Education Teacher

I was born in Bismarck, North Dakota way back when. We moved about every 2 years around North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Part of second grade was in a one-room schoolhouse near Honeyford, ND. In the late sixties we moved to Renton, WA. I graduated from Renton High in 196_. My younger sisters went to Hazen High School the first year it was open. We moved to Ballard. I went to Seattle Central Community College, my sisters and brother graduated from Ballard High School. I left SCCC and went to Ballard Beauty School and became a beautician.

I married my husband; David, in 1974 and we bought a house across the street from his parents and a block from North Seattle Community College. We raised a son and a daughter in that home. I worked at JC Penney’s at Northgate and Dave worked at the Seattle School District.

I quit working at Penney’s, because of varicose veins and a couple bouts of phlebitis, to stay home, raise our children and do some babysitting. My niece was born severely profoundly deaf and I was fascinated with the hearing-impaired and other disabilities. I began taking night classes at NSCC and eventually received an Applied Science degree in Early Childhood Special Education. During this time I also operated a preschool and daycare center.

Dan graduated from Nathan Hale June of 1995, Dawn in 96. I graduated from SPU August of 1995. Dan was a Cross-country and a La Cross jock and Dawn sang in the Jazz ensemble. Both required trips out of town and sometimes out of the country.

Dan took us to China in 1992 and Dawn took us to Canada, twice. We celebrated our graduations with a cruise to the Caribbean. We all caught the travel bug! Dawn is now a travel agent.

While teaching at Liberty High School we found a home on five acres in the Lake McDonald area. We moved into our new home August 1^st through 3^rd. Dan and Michelle got married on the 4th.

On August 18^th, 2004 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was somewhat expected but still a shock. My father’s mother had died of breast cancer in the early 40’s. I have found out since that it was not a genetic cancer. I had a lumpectomy, 13 lymph nodes removed followed by 6 weeks of daily radiation treatments. Remember to get your mammograms and checkups

I am a survivor! Support Susan G. Komen and other cancer charities!

Some of the joys of living in the woods are the wild animals; it is also a hazard. We have already lost 2 cats and a dog, but haven’t given up.

Our new dog is a Husky-Shepherd mix named Yukon Ghost and 2 Siamese mix cats that will remain house cats. Blue Max is a lynx point mix and Miss Vicky is a flame point mix.