Probit

Interview and foreword by Karen Kerndt

I met Mary Henry in 1988 when I started working with Winneshiek County Public Health. She has been a wonderful co-worker and friend ever since. At the time I met Mary she was working as a home care aide, taking care of clients who were younger than her! The funny thing about this was that Mary had to have a physical signed by an MD every year to make sure she was in good enough health to work. She retired when she was 77. Since that time Mary has been very busy helping family, friends and her neighbors where she lives. Mary is now 92, still active, drives daily, cooks daily, and makes Sunday dinner for several of her neighbors in her apartment complex – every Sunday!

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
My mother told me when I married Jim, “You can’t come back.” Mary laughs and told me she knew she had to stick with him.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A nurse

What did you do?
I was born on a farm near Jackson Junction and graduated from Waucoma high school in 1936. I married Jim Henry in 1938 and raised four children – two boys and two girls. I went back to school to be a nurse, a LPN in 1970, and worked at Aase Haugen and then Winneshiek Public Health until I retired in 1977. I still go out daily and to church three to four times per week. I enjoy helping others.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
My family picture (with her husband and her four children), my Rosary, and of course my medicine! (Spoken like a true nurse).

Try to describe yourself in one sentence:
“Old,” she laughs, “but I have a good attitude and I’m happy!”

If you could eat anything everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Goulash

Name one thing that you could not live without?
Money

Tell us about your wedding day:
“I wore a blue dress, my Aunt was my maid of honor and she wore a pink dress. We had flowers in our hair. We were married at St. Mary’s in Waucoma at 9 am by Father Falin. My mom served a brunch for about 30 people – close family and friends. That night we had a wedding dance at Breezy Corners and lots of people attended. Our honeymoon was in a motel in Waukon, we wanted to go to La Crosse but we were too tired to drive so we stayed there. We did spend a week in Wisconsin, but came back to this little hotel in La Crosse every night.

What is your favorite memory:
“I have so many,” but she does tell me, “When we picked up our four children (Mary and Jim adopted their four kids). I can still remember how happy we were and how glad we were to have them. We were only supposed to go and see them, and I always took them home the same day.”

Gale Ludeking, 84, is an army veteran with a lot of great tales and a great memory to store them!

Interview and foreword by Ron Henning (Aryn’s dad)

I volunteer to drive the VA van to Iowa City and back on a fairly regular basis, and I meet and talk to a lot of wonderful veterans in the process. So when my daughter, Aryn, asked if I wanted to interview one of them for Inspire(d), I said, “Yes, I’d love to.” I was impressed with Gale – he has a very good memory and is interesting to talk to. He seems like a content guy, and has a lot of good life stories that he’ll talk to you about if you ask.

What the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Don’t run up big debts.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a good farmer/cattle man.

What did you do?
I was born in Waukon and was raised on a farm in the Frankville area until 1943, when I joined the army. I had basic training at Camp Dodge in Des Moines and after was sent to the Philippines. Later I was a part of the Occupational Forces of Japan. When I returned home in 1946, I became a buyer for Oscar Meyer Meat Packing in Viola, Wisconsin. They wanted me to move to Illinois, but my wife didn’t want to, so I began working for Fairbanks Morris building locomotives until 1954, when I bought a farm in Iowa. I raised tobacco and milked – after a fire in 1964, I switched to tobacco and sheep, then started also selling Mormon’s Feed, and finally I went full-time raising beef, hogs, and grain. I retired in 1992 and moved back to Waukon.

What meant the most to you as a veteran?
I helped save the country in a time of need, and am now a lifetime member of the VFW. We were welcomed home as heroes.

What was the worst thing about being a veteran?
Losing friends and seeing what you see.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
Water, food, and books.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.
Happy and content with what I have.

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Good fish.

Name one thing you could not live without.
A warm house.

Tell us about…your wedding day.
We had been going together for quite awhile, so we decided to get married over a long weekend. We couldn’t get married in the church because it was such short notice.

I married Helen over the Christmas holiday vacation in 1948  – it was New Year’s Eve and a long weekend and they were visiting their families. Our parents came and we got married at East Salem Church Parsonage with a small party at my parents’ house, then we went back to Wisconsin to live. (the same church Ron’s parents and grandparents attended).

Tell us about…your favorite memory.
When I was about 7 or 8 years old, my grandpa gave me a pony – which was a pretty big deal for someone my age to get. It was an older horse, but I just really loved to ride it!

Interviewed by Dorothy (Alberts) Sunday – Foreword by Aryn Henning Nichols

Anna (Rohm) Iverson lived her whole life on Oak Street in Decorah, Iowa, up until her recent move to Wellington Place in nearby Freeport, Iowa. Up until that point, she was Inspire(d)’s across-the-street neighbor. The 92-year-old is smart and practical and has a memory like a safe-deposit box. She can recall the name of every family that lived in every house on Oak, Sunday community concerts at Phelps Park, and a time when gypsies rolled through town.

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Mother gave us all good advice. She said we needed to learn how to take care of ourselves. We learned to work together.

What did you want to be when you grew up?I thought I wanted to be a seamstress. I even made one woman a suit out of a man’s suit. My mother sewed as well. We had mother/daughter bunads that even won honorable mention at a contest. Mother’s bunad is at Vesterheim now.

What did you do?
Well, my first job was at the Creamery. I did the butter slips, figuring how much it costs. Eventually I did bookkeeping. Next I worked at the hospital right after my daughter Lois was born. I worked 5-9 every night doing bookkeeping and answering the phone for emergencies. At that time a hospital room was only $10. Then I worked at Anthony’s Clothing Store downtown.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
Bible, water, shade tree.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.
I hope I’m friendly…I try to get along with others.
(Dorothy’s note: I would say historian, very intelligent.)

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I don’t know if I could care for anything that long. (“Not even lefse?” Dorothy asks.) Not even lefse.

Name one thing you could not live without.
Water.

Tell us about…
…your wedding day.
Leonard and I met working at the Creamery together. He asked me out, of course, but I can’t seem to remember what we did on our first date. We got married May 16, 1947 out at Big Canoe Church. It was a cold spring day and a simple, small wedding.

…your favorite memory.
Arnold’s (her twin – there are two sets in her immediate family!) and my 90th birthday at Aase Haugen Home. It was just beautiful.

Verne Koenig, a long time resident of Decorah, started his career in radio at KFJB in Marshalltown, IA. Eventually, he settled in Decorah and became co-owner of KDEC radio along with Ken Bjerke. He still lives in Decorah with his wife Ardith. They’ve been married for 68 years.

Interview by Sarah Cisco, granddaughter of Verne and Ardith

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?
My Dad said, “Be your self. Do the best you can with what you’ve got and you’ll turn out okay.” So, I’ve tried to follow that and I believe it works.

How about the worst?
If anybody did give me terrible advice, I don’t remember it.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
A Country and Western cowboy singer on radio.

What do/did you do?
I did become a Country and Western singer and it grew into my career of a radio station personality, entertainer, newscaster, announcer, emcee, and so forth. And that eventually lead to my owning and operating a radio station in Decorah.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
My guitar, my stamp collection, and my recordings.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.
I’m someone who cares deeply for humanity. I hate brutality and wars.

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Any kind of pie.

Name one thing you could not live without.
The love of my wife & family, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Tell us about your favorite memory.
Meeting and announcing with Ronald “Dutch” Reagan during a high school football game over KFJB. Reagan came from WHO radio in Des Moines to fill in for our sportscaster who was ill.

Paul Hexom lives a life of service, laughter, and passion.

Interview and foreword by Sondra Carver

I’ve lived in Decorah long enough to know that everywhere I go, Paul is there volunteering. He is still a cowboy at heart and farms a 40 acre tree farm.

I thought he was an excellent person for this honor

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My father said,”don’t worry, but be concerned.” Trust in God and take one day at a time. You can’t change yesterday, tomorrow will be whatever, and we can do our best today.

How about the worst?
Somebody said get a new car for better mileage. I did and the mileage was the same as before.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Because of Roy Rogers, I wanted to be a cowboy. I also wanted to be a farmer. My first job was selling garden seeds door-to-door in elementary school for which I earned a guitar. After graduating from high school in 1957, I graduated from Luther College in 1961, then I spent 21/2 years in seminary. After hearing Bob Hope talk about the Peace Corps, I joined and spent 1964-1966 in India.

What was your career?
I was in sales and management for World Book Encyclopedia for 46 years. I’ve also been president of Nordic Fest, chairman of the United Way, president and vice-president of the Winneshiek County Historical Society, and president of Decorah JayCees. Presently I am vice-president of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum Board, vice-chairman of the Decorah Historic Preservation Commission, and chairman of the Locust School Museum. I also volunteer at the the food pantry.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.
I am well-organized, honest, calm, thoughtful, can work with all ages, and have a “long fuse.”

Do you have some favorite quotes?
Yes, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people,” by Victor Borge, and “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face,” by Victor Hugo. If everyone would hug someone everyday, it would be a more peaceful world.

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Lefse

Name one thing you could not live without?
Sunshine

What is your favorite memory?
A trip to Norway in 2005

Ambrose “Spec” Wilmes, 85, Ida Grove, IA – Interviewed by Molly Wilmes.

Father of Mark Wilmes (Calmar), Grandfather of John (Decorah) & Molly (Ames).

Spec Wilmes is a living history book; a father and Grandpa, a veteran, entrepreneur, and a heck of a guy. From hopping freights to singing for barn dances, surviving The Great Depression or fighting in WWII, “Spec” is not short of stories. All it takes is the slap of your arm and the statement “Hey, have I ever told you of the time…” and suddenly you are there, in another world, sharing the memories of a man who no one could call dull.

What did you want to be when you grew up?I was in the plays at country school when I was seven or eight and always liked that. I also really liked baseball. There was no radio then to listen to the games, but we had our own team. We played in the pasture without gloves and a ball made of socks because we couldn’t afford to buy one.

What jobs did you do?When I was a really little kid my first job was as a water boy. I had a cart and pony and drove water out to the threshers in the fields. I made good money doing that, $.50 a day.
When I got older I worked as a hired farm worker from Missouri to Canada and hopped a freight train to CA where I even topped sugar beets. I went on to do construction, work in a souvenir shop, bottle Coca-Cola, and ended up in the Marine Corps as a Radar Gunner. I spent my service time with an experimental night flying and bombing unit. We were the first unit to work with this new technology. After I got out of the service I worked as a railroad telegraph operator for 20 years, and then opened my own store in Brushy Creek, and then businesses in Ida Grove.

Can you tell me what the Great Depression was like for you?Just before the Depression, my father bought a 240-acre farm – he died shortly after that. I was nine, and had 2 sisters and 5 brothers. When the depression hit, we lost the farm but we moved to a little rental farm near Maryville, MO. My mother was able to keep the whole family together and she never turned away a beggar from town. At some point she sold off some animals and was able to get ahead a little, with that we put a down payment on a farm – one of my siblings and I were able to go to High School (we were the only two in my family to do that), and the rest worked the farm.

What was a defining moment in your life?
The first time I learned to stand up for my rights was when I was working as a hired farm worker. We were working for a very large man in Fargo, SD and we were supposed to meet him in a bar in town to receive our wages. When we got to the bar, he was not there. The other guy I was working with wanted to just forget the pay and leave, but I just couldn’t do it. We went and found the guy and I stood up to him face to face and told him to pay us our money. I wouldn’t budge. The guy tried to say that my team had damaged a grain spout and I had to pay for that. I said that was ok and he could take that cost out of my wages but we WOULD get paid for the rest of the summer. That was the first time I was scared in my life but the man paid us our money.

Interviewed by daughter Elizabeth Breuning – Cowie

Duane Bruening, husband of Eileen, Father of eight, Grandfather of 17, and Korean War Veteran reflects on eight decades of life.

What was the best advice anyone has offered you?
It came from Art Hass – my high school football coach. He had been a marine officer in WWII and urged me to follow if another war broke out. I took his advice the summer before my jr. year at Loras College and enlisted in the US Marine Corps as Korea erupted. The Marines instilled in me a sense of how to manage men- how to earn their trust and loyalty by first giving them mine! I took this and many other lessons and used them in one way or another in our family business.

What did you want to be when you grew up?When I was a small boy I wanted to be many things from a cowboy to a race car driver. But my first clear memory was to be an engineer as I enjoyed building things. When I entered college, I declared my major as an electrical engineer –but transferred from Iowa State to Loras College and became a double major in economics and accounting.

What did you do?
After graduating from Loras College I reported back to the Marines with my wife and two children. We were stationed in North Carolina at camp Lejeune and I stayed in the Marines for two years and ended my career as a captain. The next fifty years I was an excavating contractor with Bruening Rock Products, Inc. When I moved back to Decorah I bought half of the business with my Father. Two of my sons have made a career with BRP as well as my Grandson, Tyler. I celebrated my 80th birthday this past September and my family hosted a party for me at the office. I couldn’t help but reflect on all the wonderful memories I have from my life with the company.

If you were stranded on a desert island what three things would you want with you?
If I were stranded on a deserted island I would wish to have a most comfortable beach chair, a hammock strung between two

trees, and last but not least a Coast Guard Helicopter over head with a young man aboard ready to deliver a large double cheese, double sausage, double pepperoni pizza from Mabe’s!

Tell us about…. your wedding day:
On an unusually warm and sunny December first day in 1951 I wed my best gal, Eileen Marie Murphy. We wed at Nativity Church in Dubuque, IA at 9:30 am. All of my Loras buddies, family, and friends were there. The details of the day are now a little foggy, but when I said “I do” I know my heart was filled with joy and I knew I was a lucky man to be Eileen’s husband – she was so beautiful in her wedding gown. We celebrated with a breakfast at my In-Laws, pictures, and an early dinner at Timmerman’s. To cap off our big day Eileen’s parents hosted a reception for us at the Elm’s home. One of the memories that sticks out is the spiked punch. The party was to be free of alcohol, and the first batch of punch was as intended. My college pals eventually spiked the punch though and the fun began! The Loras gang had a good time, and my new Mother-in-law eventually noted a different taste in the punch and was concerned… but she was a nice lady and my new bride took it in stride so the day ended with love in all our hearts. The real kicker of the day was by night fall I took my bride home to our new apartment only to leave her in order to report for my holiday hours shift at the post office.

Orville Magnus Running

Answers recalled by daughters Marit Pudas and Marjorie Wharton

An Inspire(d) Probituary in honor of the great artist, mentor, role model, educator, and spiritual leader as he enters his 99^th year. Running’s artwork has been shown across the world and can frequently be seen throughout the Luther College Campus and in private collections across the upper Midwest. He now resides at the Aase Haugen home in Decorah.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
One day, young Orville wasn’t getting his way so he threw a tantrum. His father looked at him calmly and said: Orville is very angry and no one is afraid.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
Orville loved chemistry, thought he’d like to continue studying it— until he found out it was a disguised form of math.

What do/did you do?
“Most of what I have done is based on what I learned in 8th grade shop.”  He loved mechanical drawing; he discovered the wonders of India ink. He learned respect for tools and materials. He drew the plans for a printing press; Decorah machinist Mr. Karnik fabricated it following those plans. He also spent summers building silos – his crew could build a silo in one week.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?
Work gloves, cap, shop apron. Or perhaps a sketchbook, pencil, pocketknife ­– always carried one – it also functioned as a letter opener. Luther’s Catechisms, the Bible, and the old ELC Black Hymnary, although most of those were well memorized.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence.
Old Crock!

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Spam.

Multiple choice: tell us about… your wedding day.
Ordained to the Lutheran ministry and married to Marjorie Olney on the same day.  It was the depression. Their families could not afford two parties; their guests could not afford two trips.

Second marriage to Mildred Lund. The reception was in the big dining room at Mildred’s Retirement residence. The caterer especially enjoyed the events because she usually prepared nice receptions for funerals.

Joyce Cote – Approaching 85 with laughter, curiosity, and an eternal love for ‘the water.’

Interviewed by Benji Nichols

Joyce (Hewett) Cote grew up swimming endless hours in Lake Michigan between Sheboygan and Milwaukee. She has always loved being close to ‘the water’ whether in Lake Michigan, on the Mississippi, or at the Decorah & Waukon public pools. Joyce married Paul Cote in 1947, and had four kids; Mary, Paul (Jr.), Lisa, and Luke. She was a founding member of the “Fat School” with Eleanor Nichols, Laura Hoeg, Grace Spilde, Mae Doubendiek, Blanche Overland, and Ruth Branae – and enjoyed her friends and their antics to no end. She now resides in the assisted living wing of the Aase Haugen Home in Decorah, but her joie de vivre is to be out raising a ruckus and making your acquaintance.

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Be Considerate to people of their time and thoughts – don’t be flippant.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be different! (laughing hysterically). But really, I remember my mother absolutely refusing to let me ride a motorcycle, even when my brother had one. I never did… not sure why….

What do/did you do?
Swam – always. I grew up in Wisconsin, and ended up going to college in Berkeley, CA and then back at the University of Iowa – with a major in math. I worked at a Fox West Coast movie theatre while in CA, but got in the fastest moving vehicle east that I could to get back here and chase down my husband – so I could tackle him – I did. I  also taught so many kids at both the Waukon and Decorah pools, and we ended up running the movie theatre in Waukon for many years. (Ed. note: The Cote family opened a silent movie theater in Waukon, and then a second theater for the “talkies”, successfully running both for many years.)

If you were stranded on a desert island what three things would you want with you?
Eleanor & Carl (Nichols), and my peach of a husband, Paul. For what it’s worth, I’d give both my right arms to have the gang back together – I have a great family, and have had so many friends – miss them all like the dickens.”

Describe yourself in one sentence:
Your grandmother Eleanor & I always said we’d never been to jail, but we wouldn’t mind knowing what it’s like… (laughter…) As long as we could both go! We may have made the police blotter a time or two, but not into jail. No, don’t print that…. Oh, to heck with it… (much more laughter…) I grew up rather formally but really enjoyed kicking up my toes too!

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Something home made- good stuff!

Name one thing you couldn’t live without:
Laughter. I always try to laugh before I go to sleep.

Interviewed by granddaughter Aryn Henning Nichols (August/September 2009)
(Photo taken on her wedding day.)

Betty (Thomson) Piggott, 90 years old on August 5, has always been the real matriarch of our extended family. Heading over to her house on Sundays, we would be greeted by a table all set and a meal – usually some kind of meat and potatoes – ready to go. Feisty and fun, we played board and card games when I was a little girl. She could often beat me in Chinese checkers, but the game Concentration – I had that in the bag. And she makes the best apple pie in the world.

1. What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Be good and do what you started out to do.

2. Worst advice?

Oh, I don’t know. I was lucky enough to not get any bad advice, I guess!

3. What did you want to be when you grew up?

My dad wanted me to be a nurse, but I instead did housework.

4. What did/do you do?

I went on to be an office assistant, which is what I was doing when I met Curtis. I did pretty much everything in that office. I had to take care of a lot of things. Then I became a housewife and mother.

5. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want with you?

A man, sweets, and… TV, I suppose.

 6. If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Any kind of sweets. (Aryn’s note: Grandma requested a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting for her birthday. Must  be hereditary: it’s my favorite too. I was happy to bake her one because I got to eat some too!)

7. Name one thing you could not live without.

I don’t think there’s anything I couldn’t live without.

8. Tell us about: your wedding day.

It was very short at the Catholic Church. The only people there were Jim and Bernie Hoolihan. We went and picked up Curtis’s folks after and went out to eat in Decorah – I don’t remember where. It was nice that morning, but by night it was snowing so hard we could barely see the road. We went to La Crosse and stopped at Curtis’s cousins on the way, but they all had the measles! They were surprised to see us, but we celebrated. Then they had to take us to our hotel because we had a flat tire. We went to Minneapolis the next day and got another flat tire, but we made it. And we didn’t get the measles.