I am originally from Cushing IA and attended Iowa State University in Ames, IA. I have one daughter, Amy, and two step daughters, Jenna, and Rena, plus seven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. My son-in-law and two grandsons are members of the 185th Iowa Air National Guard Refueling Wing based in Sioux City, IA. All are members of the American Legion Family. I have been very active in the American Legion Auxiliary throughout my life serving as the local, county, district President and various other offices and committees. I was elected Department President in 2013. I have also served on the Iowa Girls State Staff for over 30 years. Currently, I represent the American Legion Auxiliary as the National Executive Committeewoman for Iowa.
I served as the director of the Onawa Chamber of Commerce for five years and as the General Manager of the Monona County Fair for fifteen years. I am also active with the Onawa Kiwanis Club and currently serve as President (2017). Among my other activities, I am active in my church, edit and print the weekly bulletins and the monthly newsletter for the church. I work part time at the Onawa Public Library and operate a sewing business from my home. The Onawa United Methodist Church, Onawa Kiwanis, Friends of the Onawa Public Library, Western Iowa Tourism, and Monona County Economic Development are a few of the organizations that keep me busy contributing to my community.
I quickly joined in to help with the Quilts of Valor Foundation when the project was introduced to the Iowa American Legion Auxiliary and used the Foundation as one of my emphasis programs when I served as Department President. A Quilts of Valor Retreat weekend was the highlight of that year.