Dad was born on a small commercial farm in Eureka, South Dakota. When he was about 2, the family migrated to Yakima, WA where he eventually met Mom and married when he was 18. They moved to Portland, OR and lived with Aunt Fran and Uncle Larry until Dad got a job and could get on his feet. Dad's job was changing tires at the motor pool of PGE. He worked for PGE for 41 years, rising from grease monkey to station inspector. He retired in 1996 on his 60th birthday. In 1997 he had a heart attack.