Have you lived in other places besides Lynden?
I moved around a lot over my life. I was born in Northfield, Minnesota. It was the prettiest place in which I lived. It was a small town with two colleges, St. Olaf and Carleton College. The most interesting place I lived was Hollywood, California. I lived there for 10 years. The place I lived longest was L.A. County. I moved to Lynden when I retired after visiting some friends who lived near here, and I’ve been here ever since.
What was your first job?
I worked after school in a dime store in Hollywood. First, I worked in inventory, and then I was promoted to floor cashier at 16 years old.
What other types of work did you do before retiring?
I worked as a gopher for Farmers Insurance, running a variety of errands. I kept engineering forms at Hughes Aircraft. My last job before retirement was at University of California, Irvine. I worked in various departments there for about 15 years.
What was your favorite thing about the work you did/thing you’re most proud of?
I’m very proud of being part of the team that organized and established the trauma center at U.C. Irvine Medical Center. It was lots of very long work days, but it was worth it.
What was your favorite decade to live in, and why?
The ’30s, ’40s or ’50s, for the music!
Who is your favorite musician?
Oh, there are so many good ones. Glenn Miller, Harry James and Aretha Franklin come to mind.
Do you have a favorite song, inspirational quote or Bible verse?
Nat King Cole singing “Nature Boy” and Aretha Franklin singing “Without a Song.”
I once met Nat King Cole at a restaurant in Hollywood after he performed. He came over to my group to chat and see how we liked the show!
What is one life lesson that you learned from your parents?
Be self-sufficient. Adverse circumstances forced us to be. Responsibility was heavy from a young age.
What is one thing most people don’t know about you, but you wish they did?
I love all types of music — from Cajun to Beethoven! As a goodbye, I like to tell people, “Keep a song in your heart.”
What is one thing that you like about living at CHCC?
I love the opportunity to meet quite a variety of people!