After graduating from Waconia High School in 1953, I immediately began my college career by starting summer school at Macalester College. I knew that I wanted to be an elementary teacher and the "Miss Woods" program at Mac was my first choice for my education. I spent two years and two summer schools at Mac and graduated with a three-year associate arts degree. I returned to Mac as a part-time student while teaching and received my Bachelor of Science degree in 1960. Later, I specialized in English as a Second Language (ESL) and received my advanced degree from Hamline.

I began my teaching career in 1955. I actually signed my first contract on Valentine's Day of that year and began my career when I was 19. I taught first grade and also was a teaching principal during some of those first five years. I truly enjoyed it, but did take a break to have my first daughter in the fall of 1960. Of course, I never expected to go back into the classroom after that. I continued my family with the addition of a son and another daughter. During those years while I was raising my family, I did go back into the classroom to do some subbing, Title 1 and then ESL, all very part time. After my family was raised, I went back to teaching ESL full-time. Surprise, surprise! I retired from the Bloomington School District in 1999, having accumulated 29 years of service. Two years before retiring, my husband died from lung cancer. This was a great loss as we were planning many years of retirement together, fulfilling all of the things that we had always dreamed of.

Mac has played an important part in my life. In the first years, as we were all raising our children, 12 of us Mac grads played bridge together. We never needed outside counseling as we had our very own support system! After all these years, a lot of us still get together each summer in my backyard and continue to reminisce. None of us can believe how many years have passed by. One clue of not being quite as young as we were — we sit around and chat — before we'd swim and talk in the pool! Seems we're not quite as anxious to get those bathing suits on anymore!

I still reside in our family home. In addition to my three married children, I have six grandchildren who all live near me in Edina. What more could a grandma ask for! I am quite active in my community as I continue to be involved with volunteer work with the church, school, woman's club, etc. This — along with golf, many travels and my great family — keep me very busy. I am very blessed to have all of these activities but my greatest appreciation is to my great friends and my very close knit family who give me daily support.