In part 2 of my interview with Mert and Rella, we talk about marriage, raising families, and the different paths their lives took through work and career. From early weddings to long days spent teaching, serving their communities, and supporting their families, their stories offer a glimpse into a life built on hard work, love and simple joys. 

In today's episode, I interview sisters Rella Abernethy (born 1937) and Merdythe “Mert” Popiel (born 1933), ages 88 and 92, about their childhood near Sentinel Butte, North Dakota. They share memories of their parents - a quiet farmer-rancher father and a talkative mother - and even a favorite joke their dad loved to tell. They describe country schooling at Westerheim, small class sizes, and life without electricity, running water, or early tractors. Chores included hauling water and coal, gathering eggs, gardening, and bringing in the milk cow. They recall simple entertainment: reading by kerosene lamp, playing card games, and listening to battery-powered radio programs. They also share Christmas traditions - oyster soup, stockings, homemade gifts, and community picnics. The sisters reflect on polio affecting older siblings, girls’ half-court basketball rules, early jobs, brief experiences with college and teaching, and eventually marriage and later work.

In this interview, Sherry Zachmann shares memories of growing up in Beach, North Dakota, after moving there from the Golva area as a small child. Raised in a lively of eight children by her parents Paul and Viola ("Weenie"), Sherry reflects on the rhythms of farm and small-town life - gardens, chores, raising chickens, hauling hay, and school days filled with band, dress codes, and the childhood belief that their former hospital home might just be haunted. She recalls simple holidays, family gatherings, and fun like swimming, ice skating, and improvised sledding. Sherry also shares stories of her early jobs, meeting her husband Ron, their blizzard wedding in 1977, raising four daughters, and her 42-year career at the bank. She reflects on Ron becoming a deacon and the family's annual "Weenie Fest," traditions that continue to bring everyone together. 

In today's episode, I interview Judy RIdenhower, 80, about her rural North Dakota upbringing with five siblings and life without electricity or running water. Judy recalls school in Sentinel Butte (graduating in 1963), small-town sports and band, family card games, chores, simple Christmases and birthdays, and hardships - including her brother's polio recovery and the theft of the family’s stored winter food. She shares about working at age 10, graduating from Dickinson State University in elementary education, and a 40-year teaching career in Dickinson, New Town, Poplar, and Beach - including 25 years in Title I. Judy also reflects on the changes she observed in parenting and discipline over the years. She talks about her faith, community service (church music, museum, library, cemetery, nursing home), extensive travel (visiting 48 states and trips abroad), her father’s death in 1973, her mother’s remarriages, and her own breast cancer journey.

Part 2 of Norma's interview begins with her traveling while pregnant in 1952. She discusses working as a silverware salesperson while nursing her son; meeting and marrying her third husband, a dentist; and reflecting on lessons from their 30-year marriage. Norma shares her Pentecostal beliefs and her own conversion experience, her involvement in Republican politics - including serving as state vice president of the Women’s Republican Party - and her concerns about the country, COVID, and fentanyl. She recounts travel stories from living in Germany for two years and a difficult solo trip to Rome. Norma also describes her passion for genealogy and connections she has found through ancestry research. This episode captures Norma's reflections on faith, resilience, love, public service, and her passion for uncovering family roots. 

In this interview I got to visit with Norma Myers. Newly 100 (born Christmas Day), Norma recounts being born at her grandparents’ homestead in Buffalo Gap and growing up on a North Dakota ranch with four siblings. She shares a dramatic account of the deadly 1941 November blizzard in which her and her sister Ramona walked home after their car stalled and suffered severe frostbite. She recalls being treated by Dr. Sadowski, and believing she had “super strength” to carry and shield her sister to safety—an experience that affected her hearing and remained a defining memory. Norma also talks about her parents’ skills and ranch management, her love of cards and sports, winning many awards including being an outstanding two-court basketball guard and setting a county pull-up record of 41. She then describes being recruited after high school to work for the FBI in Washington, DC during World War II as a fingerprint classifier under intense quotas and supervision. Join us for Part 1 as Norma's early years unfold - stories that set the stage for the extraordinary life she would go on to live. 

In this episode of 'The Simple Lives We Live,' I had the pleasure of interviewing Buster Schneider, a 76-year-old man with a wealth of life experiences. Buster shares stories from his upbringing in Wibaux, Montana, and later in Beach, as the eldest of eight siblings. He delves into his early jobs, which included mowing lawns, milking cows, and eventually custom harvesting. Buster recounts his work history, from operating combines to driving trucks, and his time working at Coastal Oil and Gas. He also reflects on community events, personal memories, like a high-speed drive with a highway patrolman, and his decision not to get married. Throughout, Buster’s stories celebrate endurance, hard work, and the simple yet extraordinary life he has led.

In this episode of 'The Simple Lives We Live,' I interview 62-year-old rancher Troy Tescher, delving into his rich life history filled with stories of grit, tradition, and hard work. Troy discusses his upbringing as one of five siblings, detailing the challenging but rewarding life on the ranch. He shares vivid memories of attending a one-room schoolhouse, doing daily chores, and coping with the harsh winter conditions. The conversation also covers Troy's experiences with his hardworking parents, and his enduring love for ranching. He talks about meeting his wife, Joanne, their wedding day mishap, and the joys and challenges of raising their three children. Troy's reflections highlight the beauty and significance of simple, everyday moments, demonstrating that life on the ranch, while rugged and demanding, is filled with rich experiences and deep familial bonds.

When I was in the 2nd grade, I interviewed my Grandma, Pauline Ross. As you can imagine, the cassette tape was fairly damaged, and for years I had no way of listening back to the interview. The tape has followed me everywhere, and in December, my mother-in-law sent it to be transferred to a USB. 

This episode IS that interview! 

I may have repeated questions and said "okay, um" after nearly everything she said, but I wanted to share her voice and her stories with others. In this conversation, my grandma talks about her childhood experiences, including memorable moments of ice skating, playing softball, and losing shoes during a picnic. She reminisces about her parents' origins—her mother from Valley City and her father from Russia -- and shares stories about her early marriage at 17, along with her love for hobbies like ceramics and birdwatching. She also talks about her family life, including her four children and ten grandchildren. 

In this episode of 'The Simple Lives We Live,' I interview my aunt and Godmother, Dee Brown, who shares her life story over the course of nearly nine decades. Dee recounts growing up in a large family in Beach, North Dakota, recalling memories of chores on the farm, sibling relationships, and the hardships faced after the death of her mother. She reflects on her experiences in nursing school, meeting and marrying her husband Chuck, and life as a Navy wife, which included living in diverse places like Okinawa. Dee also speaks about raising her children, dealing with personal losses, and the lessons she learned from her mother that helped her navigate life. The interview delves into the importance of family, resilience, and faith, providing a rich tapestry of stories about love, loss, and the simple yet profound moments that define a life well-lived.