George aka Geno

Grand Uncle

Inspires me with courage Keeps me honest He participated in Gartner Refrigeration and helped our vegetables to last. He did a lot of work in the past but came to focus on Gartner Refrigeration.

Great grandparents Simpson and Magnolia Sartin

Paternal grandparents

Grandfather a proud railroad worker and very well respected in the Southside Community. This is my grandmother who owned well kept rental property and also helped a young woman get a proper education which my daughter has as well. I am also well educated.

Grandfather Herbert and Lucille Von Gartner

Inspired my fixing repair and maintenance skills as well as humor.

My grandfather never left my soul alone. He is always…my grandmother inspired our poetry. She was also a published poet. My grandfather founded the company that kept us alive for many generations.

Baby Leanna Me one life’s second day pictured with mother Karen

Inspire

My mother Started the Chrysalis Center for women which is now called Tubman-Chrysalis out of respect for both Harriet Tubman women’s shelter and Chrysalis Center for WOMEN. She attended both the University of MN and St. Cloud where she earned her masters degree. She went on to work a long time after that. * please donate Tubman Chrysalis which is now a non-profit.

Grandma Karen and great Aunt Sherry

Tilling soil for family garden

My young mother at age 13 and Sherry younger working for family

Grandmother Roberta Rhoden

Daughter’s paternal grandmother

She was a lovely person with a warm heart. She worked more than 13 years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a policy underwriter. Divorce happened. She doted on her grandchildren. A cancer diagnosis ended her career and she died home.

Dad with lost Lisha but not at that time

Dad

My father was a pillar of the community. He worked as a social worker in housing that was called “projects”. He attended the University of MN through extension and earned an Associate’s degree. He lost his mind. He died too early.

Sherry

Aunt

Taught me the value of hard work. Woke up 8:30 am to feed barn cats, groom horses, then clean stalls and pitch hay….all summer every year. She also trained horses and participated in shows at the State Fair of Minnesota and elsewhere.