Hi everyone. After graduating from the U of M, I taught H.S. art for several years (MN & WY), received an M.A. and then was a college art instructor at Yankton College (SD). Then a graphic designer at Medtronic, visiting professor at Luther College and lastly an Advertising Art & Design Instructor on the college level for 21 years. After a layoff I did graphic and web design for several years. My husband, Ivan, passed away after fighting M.S.; my children include Jahna (style editor for Minnesota Monthly magazine, age 32) and Mark (developer/team leader for Amazon in Seattle, age 29). They are unmarried, but are in serious relationships (so finally have hope for marriages and grandchildren in the future!!).

Now that I’m retired I hope to get back to doing some drawing and printmaking (and maybe fiber design). After selling my handicap van I took a solo trip of a lifetime (September, 2013) after my husband’s passing—a 13 day riverboat tour through France, including stops in Paris (The Lourve, etc.), Claude Monet’s home/gardens/studio in Givency and Picasso museum (in a castle) west of Nice on the Mediterranean coast. Had some great food and saw amazing scenery, architecture, museums; shared a meal with locals; toured Roman ruins including an intact amphitheatre (Arles in the south of France). Then I flew to Rome and stayed at a B&B ($41 a night!)—toured Italy on my own, then took trains to Venice and Florence (heart of The Renaissance) for a week plus, and spent the last 3 days with my sister-in-law in Florence. We had a blast! The B&B in Florence was the large apartment of a lady architect who worked out of her home and invited us to join her birthday party with amazing guests. It was such a fantastic trip that I hope to return to either France or Italy in a few years.

I’m looking forward to seeing my Heights classmates again. I think I’ll bring some music from our era. I currently live in Buffalo, MN, by a pond overlooking Lake Pulaski, but I come to the cities often.