Everyone has unique experiences in life. Each person has a story to tell and words of wisdom that can be shared with others. With that in mind, we’d like to introduce you to some of the wonderful people who live here at CHCC. Here is a recent resident spotlight Q&A session we did with Willie A.
Have you lived in other places besides Lynden?
Yes. I was born in Watertown, South Dakota, and I went to school in Clear Lake, South Dakota. We also lived near Bigelow, Minnesota, Inwood, Iowa, and Ocheyedan, Iowa. We moved to Lynden in 2012.
What was your first job?
My first job was working for a farmer when I was around 16. I also worked for the Worthington Crippled Children’s School in southwest Minnesota when I was about 18.
What other types of work did you do before retiring?
We bought a drive-in restaurant in 1965 and ran it for 18 years. I did roofing and remodeling for several years. In 1983, we moved to a farm and operated a dairy farm until 2003. I fed baby calves from 2003 to 2011 on the same farm. In 2012, we moved to Lynden to be close to the grandkids, and I started a hauling business, which I continued until 2024.
What was your favorite thing about the work you did?
Staying in shape—it was all physical work. I also enjoyed meeting all different types of people.
What is one thing that you have been most proud of in your life?
We adopted our son in 1976. I’m also proud that I’ve always worked hard and cared for others. I always helped people in any way I could.
What is the hardest thing that you’ve lived through, and how did you get through it?
The tornadoes we had at the farm were terrible. We got through it by working hard to clean it all up, and we also had lots of help.
What was your favorite decade to live in, and why?
The 1960s and ’70s, because that’s when we ran the restaurant and our son was born.
Who is your favorite author or musician?
Jimmy Fortune. He’s a gospel and country singer who performed with Johnny Cash and the Statler Brothers. Jimmy once said, “They hired me because my name was Fortune and they got Cash.”
Do you have a favorite song, inspirational quote or Bible verse?
My favorite Bible verse is John 3:16, which says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”.
My favorite song is “I Believe” by Jimmy Fortune.
What is one life lesson that you learned from your parents?
How to work hard.
What is one piece of advice that you would give a 16-year-old person?
Help people and live your life for Christ.
What is one thing most people don’t know about you, but you wish they did?
People don’t know the depth of my gratefulness to God for His blessings—my adopted son and his wife, my grandchildren, my wife, my friends and church family.
What is one thing that you like about living at CHCC?
There are friendly people and employees who care a lot here.