Growing Up in North Dakota
My mom unexpectedly became pregnant (with me) which caused my dad’s career plans to change. After becoming a teacher, however, he continued his education, returning to the U. of N.D. in the summer. He eventually received his master’s degree and became a school administrator. In North Dakota, the school systems were so small that Dad would be the school superintendent and principal and perhaps chemistry teacher and basketball coach too. We moved every two years as I was growing up for better pay.
Dad’s first teaching job was in Big Fork, Montana on the shore of Lake Arrowhead in the Rocky Mountains. I guess my mom was allergic to the firewood that they burned for heat, etc., so they
couldn’t stay there. From there they moved to Rock Lake, North Dakota. All I remember about living there was that the little house was covered with asphalt shingles. Also, many of the people in town came from some European country where saunas were very popular. So Mom and Dad were invited over to friends’ houses for a sauna – the sauna was a separate outside building that was heated to a very high temperature. You would sit