Where were you born?

Mary was born in Columbus, Montana about 15 miles or so from her home town, at the doctor's office.

What was life like growing up ?

Life for Mary was "a lot of fun" in her words ! She lived in the mountains, in a two room log cabin, in Limestone Montana. Her school was a one room school house with 8 grades and 10 kids. Her siblings and herself use to play in the river,that ran next to her house all the time.

Where did you grow up?

Mary grew up in Limestone, Montana and also partly in Billings Montana, both in the mountainous areas.

How old were you when you got your first job? What was it?

Her first job was babysitting the neighbor kids when she was 12/13 years old.

Also when she moved to Billings she helped her mother clean houses for "rich old ladies".

What was life like in High School?

She loved high school, it was a lot of fun for her. She spent 3 years of high school in Billings, Montana and then her last year was spent at Ponca City St.Mary's where she then graduated from.

Did you attend college if so, where?

She attended Ponca City Business School where they did various things, like typing and accounting types of things.

What was your life like as a young adult?

She began having kids at the age of 21 but, she was also a full time worker at various places. She worked at conoco, a bank and at St. Mary's.

When did you have kids?

At the age of 21 and then had 7 kids over the span of 10 years.

As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

When Mary was little she wanted to be a nurse when she grew up.

What was it like being a teenager?

Mary said her life as a teenager was about her chasing boys, didn't party or anything like that because most of your social activities were school related. She said they really didn't get into much trouble, and no one ,or very few of them had cars.

What's your favorite childhood memory?

Her favorite child hood memory is swimming in the beaver dam. Her and her siblings would break down the beaver dam in the river they lived next to. Then they would just play around in it and if they went to far their collie dog used to come get them, and drag them back.

What were your parents like growing up?

She doesn't know a whole lot but when Mary's mother was going she went through 8th grade and then went straight to be a nanny to Vincent Price.

Her father she also doesn't know a whole lot about when he was growing up other than that he was in the navy.

Have any of your dreams/goals changed through your life?

She said no but she always did wanna marry a rich man. But, she said that didn't happen sooooooooooooooooooooo.

What's the craziest, or most fun thing you've done?

One time in 1953 before the St. Lawrence Seaway was done being built her friend and herself when to Montreal, Canada and the train cars were full of sailors and they were the only two women in there.

Who influenced your life the most?

She said her dad and her brother John both influenced her life the most.

Did you have any pets growing up?

They had a collie dog when they grew up and it followed them everywhere and made sure everyone was safe at all time.

Anything on your bucket list that you haven't done yet?

Go to New York and see the Statue of Liberty

Go to the Great Lakes

Traveling to Europe to see all those wonders.

How did it feel getting to vote for the first time?

She doesn't really remember who she voted for but it felt good and she said she felt like she finally had a say in something.

Is there anything you regret not doing?

She regrets that she didn't travel as much as she would like and not becoming a nurse.

What were your kids like as teenagers?

She told them that there were spies around town that would watch what they were doing and report back to both her and my great grandpa. They were good kids and didn't cause much trouble.

What event influenced your life the most?

World War II

The attack on pearl harbor because her son Douglas was in the Navy

JFK she was at her desk in the bank listening to the radio

9/11 she was just watching t.v. when all of a sudden it came on.

How do you feel about all the technology changes?

She believes it is a good thing she just doesn't like the fact that it is causing everyone not to talk to each other and not have real conversation.

What is your most proud moment?

The most proud moment for Mary was when all 7 of her kids were born and when they started having kids.

What is your biggest regret?

She doesn't have any she is very happy with the way her life went.

What is your biggest advice to teenagers today?

"My advice to teenagers today is to quit screwing around, don't do drugs, go to school, get a job, and just really get a good education so you can live a good life,"