Have you lived in other places besides Lynden?
Yes. I was born on Jan. 25, 1930, in Willmar, Minnesota. I was the sixth of 10 children.
In 1955, at the age of 25, I moved to Lynden. I met my wife, Margaret, in Lynden because we were neighbors. We got married in 1956.
What was your first job?
I grew up on a farm and helped with the chores from a young age. One of the first chores I did was feeding calves. Later, I helped my dad in the fields, growing and harvesting corn. My first job was working for a farmer in Willmar.
In 1950, I was drafted and served in the Army during the Korean War. When I got home from the service, I continued helping my dad on the farm.
What is the hardest thing that you’ve lived through, and how did you get through it?
In our early married life, we did not have much money, so that was the hardest time. But we worked hard, and things slowly got better.
What is one thing that you have been most proud of in your life?
I am most proud of all the farming I did and that I knew the value of hard work. I’m also proud of my family. Margaret and I had six children: four girls and two boys. The oldest was a boy, and the youngest was a boy. The girls were in the middle.
Do you have a favorite song, inspirational quote or bible verse?
I love music. My favorite type of music is gospel quartets. I used to sing in a church quartet back in Minnesota before I went into the service.
What is one life lesson that you learned from your parents?
The most important lesson I learned from my parents was knowing how to work.
What is one piece of advice that you would give a 16-year-old person?
I would tell them to learn to work hard no matter what business you are in and don’t goof around.
What is one thing that you like about living at CHCC?
I like living at CHCC because it’s a nice place, and they take care of me well.