In the summer of 1975,I traveled with a family to Europe as their nanny. I had a couple weeks free time and hitch hiked around with a young woman I met in a youth hostel in Amsterdam. Upon arriving home, feeling restless, I hitch hiked to Montana with a backpack, to visit a friend, and have made this my home.

My first job was working in a training program, with the forest service, packing a chainsaw and working my way into falling big timber.

During this time I met my husband Dave. We were married in 1982, in Whitefish Montana,and have two daughters.

Michele is a school psychologist and resides in St Paul MN. Married to Scott Hessian(Father Hessian's nephew). Scott is an elementary teacher and reading specialist. They have 3 boys, 4,2 1/2, and 5 months.
Danielle is an attorney and resides in Anchorage AK. She is an extreme sport chick and travels the world.

I spent most of my career in the health industry. Working for a local club run by Don Arthur and Phil Jackson. I was lucky to work with a tribe of women creating choreography for aerobic dance. Also, designed an infant water training program, to help babies and youth adapt to our lakes and rivers.

Volunteering and creating our lake HMA. Was part of a team that developed the first lake zoning district to help protect our lake. This model has been a pattern for NW Montana lakes.

Volunteering with our local school board for 24 years has given me classrooms experience that I never paid attention to as a youth. During my time on the KPS board, a group of us developed the Kalispell Education Foundation. We award grants to teachers with innovative ideas for their classrooms and beyond. And we have programs that have continued within our district curriculum.

I love being retired. It's so fun spending time with the grandkids. Dave is Grand 'Diddy' Daddy and I am Nanna. We love traveling and enjoying Montana.


Thank you for putting this together.
As life has evolved watching our daughters grow through high school and college I find there are classes that have bonds. Ours is one. While we may not been in contact, we remember names, stories and heart felt bonds from our youth.