First married we occupied the Head Resident Apartment in Augustana's Bergsaker Hall, for the summer. Moving from that we live in an apartment in St. Louis Park for four years, to be near the high school where Joanne was counselor. Our next stop was Mohall, N.D., in 1968, where we were the first to occupy Zion Lutheran Church's new parsonage. Pretty exciting to exit apartment living and land in a brand new house.
Our next stop was Sioux Falls, SD., almost 600 miles from Mohall. My mother was hospitalized in Brookings, SD., as were in the relocation process. After visiting mother in the hospital and assured that she was recuperating, I went house shopping in Sioux Falls. Real estate agent, Ruby Hippe, took me on a whirlwind tour of houses for sale. One on Roberts Drive spoke to me and we made and offer which was accepted. This was in 1975.
We made an offer? Notice the "we". Only
I had seen the house. Joanne was back in Mohall with the children. Then came the day that we went to the bank to sign the papers. With the papers signed Joanne got to see the house for the first time. Blind trust? Perhaps, but fortunately she was satisfied with it.
Our next move was to Davenport, IA. in 1980, which taught us something about home ownership. Houses do not always sell when owners are ready to move. Without the proceeds of the sale of the house we were in no position to buy another. Fortunately Zion Lutheran, Davenport, owned a parsonage, on Kelling Ave., which was empty so we moved in. A few months later when our Sioux Falls house sold we bought the parsonage from the church. Was it a house we'd have bought had we done a search? Maybe not but it was adequate and it saved us making another move .
When we moved from Davenport to Minneapolis in 1987-8, we learned another lesson of home ownership, houses do no always appreciate in value. Davenport and the Quad Cities were in a slump so we sold our house for less than we paid.
Joanne came to Minnesota first as Vice President of Lutheran Social Service. When I followed a few months late I came without a job. During those months we house sat two house, and rented an apartment at the seminary. With my call to St. James beginning July 1, 1998, we purchased on Quebec Ave., Golden Valley.
With her position at LSS, Joanne, was very busy and I had yet to start work so I, with the capable guidance of real estate agent, Judy Jensen, looked at many houses. Having narrowed the choice down to three, Joanne was brought into the process. Don't you suppose she wanted the one I like the least.
It was 1988 so my memory may be a bit questionable but it went something like this. Joanne asked "what don't you like about it?" I rattled off a number of minor items and then pulled out the big deficit "it has a tuck-under garage." That should clinch it I thought. "What's wrong with a tuck-under garage?" she asked. "It takes up too much of the basement." "How much basement is left?" "A good sized rec-room, a bedroom, a half bath and large laundry room?" "And what more do you need?"
She won the argument, thank goodness. It was a lovely split foyer with three bedrooms and two baths upstairs, a wonderful second story deck off the kitchen, a separate library, two fire place, on a lovely street across from a nature preserve. There we stayed until she tired of the steps and we found a one level condo downtown in 2010.
Every place we resided in filled with memories. Joanne transitioned from high school counselor, to full time home and then back into her career. But at every stop she loved to entertain, to set a beautiful table, prepare a fine meal and engage in spirited conversation.
Friday I will entertain alone for the first time. Watching and helping Joanne I've learned much so I know I can do it. The history book club members who are coming are gracious and always good guests. However, it certainly will be different in the presence of absence.
Blessings,
Al
