Mary Luthera Smiley

I was born on Feb 6^th 1946 in Lamberton, Minnesota to Arthur Lawrence Senst and Olga Anna Augusta  (Kratzke)  Senst. My mother was so excited because I was going to be the first child of 5 that she had in the hospital. However, we had a blizzard that evening and they couldn’t make it to the hospital. They say I was born in a blizzard and have been a blizzard ever since, but that is not true! I was supposed to be a boy and was going to be named Norman Luther as my parents were Lutherans. But, I was a girl and they picked out my name on the way to the church to have me baptized. Both of my grandmothers names were Mary so that was a given, then they added an A to Luther, and they had my name, Mary Luthera.

I was brought up on a farm and participated in what work needed to be done. It was a time in history when people helped out their neighbors in what chore was at hand. When we butchered, they all came and helped make sausage, blood sausage, cut up the meat and etc. Then we would scramble eggs with brains for everyone to eat. I was often loaned out with the tractor and bailer to help neighbors put up hay. We ate breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and then dinner with popcorn following… Always with fresh baked bread and goodies. My mother had a big garden and would can vegetables, meat, and jellies. We would dig potatoes and put them in the cold basement for the year. I would help my mother pick berries and butcher chicken, ducks and geese to sell to the people in town. I learned to drive a stick shift pick-up truck as well as a tractor at a very early age and had my driver’s license at the age of 14. We washed clothes in a wringer washing machine and rinse tubs and hung them out on a clothesline hung between the trees in the driveway.

I had a bicycle and would ride it to the neighbors who had girls my age to play,  would make a playhouse in the grove and swing for fun. I was in 4-H and showed chickens and sewing projects at the county Fair. I had blue ribbon chickens! I learned to sew on my mother’s treadle sewing machine. I also was active in my church and in school. I was in the marching band and pep band so going to games was a must, followed by sock-hops.  I organized the Junior/Senior Prom , “Moon River”. I also was in choir. And  in speech club where I recited Eager Allen Poe’s “the Raven” in completion. I was in the play “the Diaries of Anne Frank”.

However, my father was an alcoholic, because they lost my sister on a motorcycle accident when I was 3 and he blamed  himself for that.  I thought that getting married and moving out as the answer. So I eloped when I was a senior in High School and had my first son Scott. I worked in Omaha NB at Hallmark store for a few months, then at the Veteran’s hospital in the canteen and gift store. Then I got a job at Hartford Ins. Co as a farm rater. That marriage ended in divorce after a few years, so I know what it is like to be a young single mother trying to support your child. Adulthood comes soon enough, don’t rush it!

I then met and married Robert Smiley. We married in Yankton S.D. on Feb 5^th. He had orders for Madrid , Spain. I had never been on an airplane and my first flight was to Madrid. We lived there for 5 years in which time, our son Steven was born. Bob’s son from his first marriage, Jim, came to live with us there. We learned to love Spain and still call it our second home. We returned to the USA and were stationed at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. As soon as we arrived back in the states, Bob’s daughter, Robbin and her two children came to live with us and Bob’s mother. So there was 9 of us in a 900 sq. ft. home in Maryland not far from the Air force base. We had to utilize the basement to make everyone fit. I learned to make a turkey last all week, with finally boiling the carcass and making soup. Because we were so broke we got into the Amway business to make some extra money. We treated it as another job not a hobby. We had to make it work. And we did. We became Diamonds in 6 years. Bob retired from the military and we moved to Colorado.

I had to learn to do public speaking. That was very hard for me as I’m an introvert but I wanted to make Bob proud of me so I studied to become a good speaker. If you are going to do something, do your very best! We traveled with the Amway business speaking in the USA, China, Japan, and Australia. We also traveled the world with the money we made, having wonderful experiences and great memories.

I have always been active in our church and we have continued that through the years. Not only volunteering but also giving to different ministries, and having church services during our weekend functions. Whatever, we have accomplished, we give the glory to our Lord and Savior!

I like to do arts and crafts, have dinner parties for friends, and do things for people who need my help. I am an organizer. Our biggest accomplishment is our family. We are so proud of them.

My advice to whoever reads this is…..

#1 Do it Now! Make hay while the sun shines

#2. Make a plan and work your plan.

#3. Go above and beyond what is expected of you, go the extra mile.

#4 Be proud of who you are!

#5. Put Jesus first in all things. Only your love of Christ will count in the end!