“Micheline”
Words and music by Scott Simpson
with Mrs. Garcia’s 5th Grade Class
©2024 Scott Simpson
She was born in Brussels, a world far away,
Where life was a puzzle, she learned to play.
Grew up in a place where rules were strong,
But she found her voice and learned right from wrong.
Her mother cared for animals, and cared for her kids,
Her father was a banker, that’s the life that he lived.
She moved to a new land, made a home on the plains,
Carved out a path through joy and through pains.
Chorus
Believe in yourself, be true to your name,
There’s no shame in not knowing, don’t hide your flame.
Love like you mean it, stand tall, never bend,
Everyone’s got a journey, now, let yours begin.
She taught on the reservation, some said, “They can’t learn,”
But she knew in every child, a flame was ready to burn.
She lit up their minds with challenge and love,
Their success was the thing she was proudest of.
Her grandmother’s hands were worn from picking up coal,
She never learned to read, but she fed their souls.
Michelin took that strength, made it her own,
Guided those who were searching so they’d not walk alone.
Chorus
She’s seen the world’s change, both war and peace,
Lived through the battles, saw the fight never cease.
But she held onto hope, wore freedom with pride,
Found a way to heal, with love by her side.
Then one day she discovered, in the quiet of her mind,
A truth that had been waiting, for her to find.
It wasn’t the travels, the places she’d been,
It wasn’t the struggles, the losses or wins.
The biggest lesson she’d learned through it all,
Was that strength comes from within, no matter how small.
She called her mother with a voice clear and sure,
“I’m American now, but I’ll always be yours.”
Chorus
So take her story, let it be your guide,
In every step you take, in every stride.
Michelin’s words, in every verse and line,
Show that your journey is yours to define.
Micheline Nelson was born in Brussels, Belgium, during the post WWII era. Born to Emilie, an accountant, and Abel, an international banker, she learned several languages in high school and through her travels. Today, Micheline is still fluent in French and English and is comfortable with Flemish! Her school and travels also introduced her to Danish, German, and Italian. She explained that in French, like and love are the same word, and that is something she resonates with for a life motto. Mrs. Nelson is the oldest of 7 from two marriages: two sisters and four brothers – who are in Belgium and France. Her life was impacted by how her family survived WWI and WWII. Micheline and her younger son moved to the United States in 1990 and became American citizens eight years later. She has a son and two grandchildren in Wyoming, one in Belgium with three granddaughters, and a large extended family. Micheline enjoys the time she gets with her grandkids, and especially loves a phone call and Facebook to connect her to her family members who aren’t in South Dakota or in the United States.
When she was younger, she remembers a few funny things about raising spiders in boarding school and snails at home – there would be traces of them on the walls throughout the house! Her favorite memory in early elementary was living in the country versus the city where she attended Catholic boarding school from third grade through college. Micheline participated in gymnastics, track, and science groups through high school. She considered herself a bit of a “troublemaker” at school by voicing her unpopular opinions which is one of the reasons she came to America– YOU HAVE A VOICE!!!
Before earning multiple degrees in Belgium and America to teach many subjects, she traveled around the world as a translator for the Belgian Department of Cultural Affairs and Education. “Travel and see the world!” she urged, “You’ll learn a lot!!” Memorable places she traveled were Jamaica, New York City; Istanbul, Turkey; and Teheran, Iran. In Iran, she learned the meaning of freedom as women didn’t have very many choices.
Her grandmother inspired her to be a teacher! During the WWI war, her grandmother worked in the coal mines at age six. If she had enough coals in her barrel, she would earn a piece of bread to eat that day. Her grandmother was ashamed because she had to work and never learned to read. The day Micheline realized her shame, she told herself she wanted to touch others and never let someone be ashamed for not being able to read. She taught in Belgium and in America. One of her favorite jobs as a teacher was on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, where she taught for nine years. Her biggest successes were her students at Takini– some would reach back to her about the rewards they experienced from the impact her teaching had on them.
Micheline offered advice for young people today: “The very first is to believe in yourself. Believe that you can do it! Be honest. No shame in not knowing something. Love with all your heart. Be proud of who you are and who your family is. Learn to make a difference! We all have something to give, and something different to give!” She believes that all troubles in life can be powered into positivity.
She has been a part of the Spearfish community for 25 years; you’ve probably seen her around wearing her favorite “colors” — red, white and blue! Becoming an American Citizen, gave her the true meaning of patriotism, civic pride, and civic duty, as reflected by her active involvement with the American Legion Family. Micheline devoted over two decades of her life to Black Hills State University in shaping college students into young and successful educators like herself. She was known to be a strict mom and teacher as she believes that rules and schedules help. Mrs. Nelson failed at her first attempt at retirement in 2019, and tried to retire again this summer of 2024.
She has visited so many states with her husband riding their Harley Davidson that it was easier to list a couple of states she hasn’t seen but would like to visit: Alaska and New Mexico. You might see her on the road wearing her motorcycle vest that says, “American Woman!” That is, of course, if she can be successful at this second attempt at retirement. After all, when you believe that helping others and living every day of your life doing the best that you can give, it is hard to say good-bye to a life of service dedicated to others.