Nina Nielsen In the river of our days, we are guided through the haze Chorus Nina Nielsen was born on a bright and sunny morn Chorus Nina spent a few good years in a technical career Chorus Nina Nielsen was born in Watertown, South Dakota in the year 1942. She grew up on a farm with her two siblings and her parents who were both deaf. She remembers that her mom trusted her to do the right thing while growing up, so she had a lot of freedoms. Nina learned sign language early on, and since she couldn’t ask her parents for questions to some of her answers, she spent a lot of time at the library. Her parents expected her to make eye contact so they could sign to her. One of her worst memories is when Nina was getting scolded by her mom, Nina closed her eyes, the next thing she knew she was picked up off the floor! Her mom had picked her up! When Nina was school age, she went to a country school. There were 13 kids in 8 grades. Nina did not particularly enjoy one of her teachers. When the weather was bad in the winter, families would take turns picking up everyone in the area to go to school. When it was her families turn she would try to have her dad not pick up her teacher. Another story Nina recalled, was one time she really wanted to go to town with her dad, so she snuck into the car and hid in the backseat while he drove the 18 miles to town. She got left in town at the store, where she ended up stealing a lipstick. Her dad had to come back into town again and get her. She had to apologize and was in trouble. That was the last time she ever stole. After high school Nina worked in Minnesota in computers for an insurance company. After a while of working she was in a position to move up, she passed all the tests to be a supervisor, but a man was promoted even though he did not pass all the tests. She was ready to move on after that and went back to the farm in Watertown where she ended up meeting her now husband, Wayne. They eventually came out to the Black Hills in search of gold! Sadly, they didn’t find any, she eventually worked for the Forest Service. Her and Wayne had 5 children, including a set of twins. Now Nina is a grandmother, she has 12 grandchildren. Nina said the best job she has had is, “being a grandma” . Nina shared numerous stories, bits of advice and even crumb cake with us! One of her motto’s is “each day is a precious day”. Advice she share with us was, “Everyone is different and special, be kind regardless, be considerate. Think of others not just yourself.”
“Holly’s Grandma”
Words and music by Leonard Running
With Mr. Parson’s 5th Grade Class
©2020 Leonard Running
By the many different ways we seek the truth.
And though we may be confused, there’s a path that we can choose
When we listen to the music of our youth.
And the little song we sing comes from interviewing
Holly’s Grandma – she’s lived here for years.
She does what grandmas do and she’s learned a thing or two;
The most important we’ll sing for you here – – –
“We’re all different; we’re all intelligent;
This is what I meant when you asked me.
So please just keep in mind – we all need to be kind,
And then perhaps we’ll find a way to be.”
In the far northeastern corner of our state;
And her memories are warm of her life upon the farm
But one thing would make their charm not quite that great.
She could not know it then, her or the other children,
How hard that it is when you can’t be heard.
And though you might have guessed, that it was not quite the best;
Their love was just expressed in silent words.
On the digital frontier before PC’s.
But the system passed her by because she was not a guy.
She was way more qualified than him, you see.
Now Custer is her home and her family has grown
She’s become quite well-known in politics.
And Holly will concur that with grandmas just like her
There’s nothing in this world that we can’t fix.
And then perhaps we’ll find a way to be.