Carolyn Larson
Wow, a 50 yr. Reunion! At one time I thought all those folks were really old. Now I think we should just refer to ourselves as "Mature Middleagers".
I joined the class of "60" in my Freshman year. My elementary years were spent at Hilton # 3. Near Lake Metigoshe.
Following graduation I attended College at Minot State and Trinity School of Nursing. In 1963 I graduated and that same year married Tom Brandt. I worked for 2 years at Trinity in Minot in Surgery and Obstetrics. In 1965 we moved back to the Bottineau-Kramer area as Tom taught in Kramer. I worked part time at St. Andrews in Bottineau.
The Fall of "67"we moved to Vermillion, SD, as Tom received as Assistant Professor Stipend to attend Grad School at USD. I worked as an evening supervisor at Dakota Hospital there.
In 1969 we moved to Sioux City, Ia, where Tom took a teaching job at Central High School. I began working at St. Luke’s Regional Med. Center. In 1974, I became the Nurse Manager of the areas first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Tom passed away from Pancreatic cancer in the Spring of 1978. I stayed in Sioux City until the twins graduated from High School in 1987. That year I moved to Phoenix, Az.
While in Phoenix I worked at various different Hospitals through an Agency. Also, worked a year in a Kidney Dialysis Unit and another year with the Az. State Corrections at a JuvenileDetentionFacility. Now that was an enlightening year!
I met my husband Tom Cobb in 1989, and we were married in 1990. After our marriage I worked in Home Health Care. While working in 1994, I was in a serious car accident. It required a lot of physical therapy, and I wasn't sure how it would affect my nursing ability, so I went back to school. In 1996 I received my Masters Degree in Psychology. I did my clinical experience in 4 Psychiatric Group Homes in the City.
Most of the people there had been in State Institutions for 30-50 years.
In 1996, my husband retired as VP at Scottsdale Insurance Company, and he decided he'd like to get away from the city, so we moved to Bottineau and built a home on Loon Lake, where my life began. We did go to Texas near Corpus Christi for the Winter Mos. However, in 2001, Tom passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. I loved out Lake Home, but it was too isolated for me in the Winters, and isn't fun traveling South alone. I stayed until 2003, and than moved to Atlanta, Ga. for a year. It's a beautiful city but I felt traffic was even worse than Phoenix. So I ended up back in Sioux City, where I have a lot of friends, as well as a daughter and son.
Tom Brandt and I had 4 children. Julie was born in 1964. She is a nurse with the Sioux City School System. Her Husband Brian is a Captain with Sioux City Fireman. They have 3 children. Katie was born in 1966; She is a Social Worker in Hastings, NE. Her husband Craig is a College Professor. The Twins, William is a Graphic Artist as is his wife. William is employed by Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream. His wife Annette works part time as a teachers aide as well as doing some Graphic Design out of their home. Robert is a Data Processing Supervisor in Atlanta, Ga. His wife Rebecca is a teacher, but at present a full time Mother,William has 2 children and Robert has 3. So I have a total of 11 grandchildren, ranging in age from 2yrs to 22 yrs.
I love to travel, but not alone. In 2003 my cousin Jan and I spent 3 wks. in Italy. In 2008 I brought my daughters and oldest Granddaughter to Norway.
Our entertainment here in the city is the Symphony, occasionally some good entertainers, we have a great Community Theater. My grandkids have ballgames and concerts. My girlfriends and I are into playing Rummikube, Movies, golf when weather is good, and we take some painting classes. Lunches and Dinners are way too frequent, but than we only live once.
Anxious to see everyone this July.
Carolyn Larson Cobb