Joan has been a long time member of the Park Rapids League of Women Voters. Joan was born in Valley City, N.D., but didn’t live there long being a “Depression era” baby born in 1931. Her parents moved frequently during her early years, not really settling until Joan was in High School. Moves were made in search of work, and took her to CA and Anoka in addition to many other places. She settled finally and graduated from Fergus Falls High School. She then attended the University of Minnesota in practical nursing. She worked in that role, and then later went back for her RN degree from Mankato where she met her husband. They were married in 1954 and had 5 daughters.
Joan worked in hospitals when first married, until her husband was drafted into World War II and sent to Germany. She traveled to Germany to join him as it allowed him to work a “regular” job, 8 hour days with weekends off. Their first daughter was born in Germany and maintains a dual citizenship. She mostly stayed at home caring for her children, but was involved working as a nurse in a school, and then quickly became a volunteer working in the schools with Cystic Fibrosis children. She also worked as a volunteer for a Dr. in Minneapolis holding “Teen Clinics” for young people.
Joan joined the League at the encouragement of Florence Heeden, but it wasn’t just Joan that joined. Her husband had been a history and social studies teacher and was interested in what the League did and joined with her.
Join enjoys the lovely people she has met through League, and also appreciates the educational aspects of the monthly meetings. She frequently shares her enthusiasm with League with others she meets at church or in her fitness workouts at the Fitness Center.
Both she and her husband were interested in preserving voting rights as well as maintaining the rights of people, including racial equality.
