Because I walked door to door to nearly 8,000 homes for the last election, many of you already have a pretty good idea of what I'm about. Here is little more detail about where I come from.
I grew up in Fargo, where my dad was the director of the YMCA for 19 years.
My younger brother, Tom, sister, Sarah, and I have great memories of growing up at the Y.
Seeing my parents actively contribute to their community
instilled in me the importance of volunteering.
After graduating from high school. I got my LPN degree and met Jerry (my future husband). The next thing I knew, I was a married woman living in San Antonio, Texas. Jerry finished round one of medical school, and we moved to Sioux Falls for the first time. It was a great year, we loved Sioux Falls, and, though we had to leave for Jerry's schooling, we knew we wanted to come back.
We spent a year on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, where I worked with kindergartners. I saw first-hand how much need there was for early childhood education.
We moved back to Texas, and had our first son, Chris. A year later, Jerry finished school, making him an official pediatrician. Since son number two, was on the way, we decided to head back to Sioux Falls to raise our family. We settled in, found a church that we loved, and Andy arrived just in time for Christmas. Our third son, Todd, was born 4 years later completing our family. I decided I wasn't busy enough taking care of 3 boys and a husband, so I decided to go back and finish my college degree. At age 40, I graduated from Augustana College, one year before my oldest son finished high school (YAY)!.So, here we are, 33 years, three grown boys, two daughter-in-laws, one darling granddaughter, and many happy memories later.
I've been an active member of the Sioux Falls community for many years. I work part time as a nurse at Sanford Clinic Downtown Healthcare, and am a facilitator at the Outdoor Challenge, a high ropes course at the YMCA camp. I have worked as an educational assistant at Anne Sullivan Elementary, and in drug and alcohol prevention at the Carroll Institute.
I believe in recognizing and developing the talents and potential of all people. Because of my beliefs, I've been an active volunteer with the Sioux Falls public schools, the Junior League of Sioux Falls, the YMCA, Sanford Hospital, and Our Savior's Lutheran Church.
My experiences as a mother, wife, volunteer, nurse, educator, and team builder qualify me to be an exceptional Representative of District 13.