My sister-in-law, Marlyce Schulenberg…oh, how I still miss her, even after all these years. I just can’t believe that she has been gone almost 37 years now. That is getting close to the number of years she was alive. That’s hard to fathom. Marlyce passed away on August 13, 1989, after a battle with cancer. She was only 39. Though Developmentally Disabled, that never slowed her down. She loved baking, knitting, and working…yes, working, and she almost always had a job…something that was often the highlight of her days, when she wasn’t doting on her nieces and nephews, that is. Marlyce adored babies. As the oldest of my in-laws’ six children, she spent much of her life around them. While she never reached adulthood mentally, she was more than just a kid at heart…she truly had a child’s mind, and that made kids love being around her. She was an adult, but not really an adult. Maybe that was Marlyce’s charm.
Since Marlyce was developmentally disabled, her siblings realized she would never quite outgrow the “fighting 
with siblings” phase of life, and none of them hesitated to tease her now and then…some more often than others, especially her brothers, Bob and Ron. They loved picking on her, but when the chocolate chip cookies came out of the oven, everyone wanted in. All of the siblings picking ceased, but that’s when Marlyce would try to get her revenge, by withholding the treats…though they could usually sweet-talk her into sharing. A simple promise to “be nice” often went a long way toward getting back in her good graces.
Marlyce had a sweet spirit, and she loved animals too. As a child, she has a dog named Brownie. She and Brownie were constant companions, and I’m sure that was a relief to her parents. I think Marlyce must have been five or so, and Brownie was quite likely the best babysitter a girl could have. Little kids are prone to getting in trouble, and wandering off, and those who are Developmentally Disabled are even more likely, so having Brownie as a constant companion probably kept Marlyce out of trouble more than once. The family mostly lived out in the country, so getting lost could have been really bad. Snakes and other animals could 
have been bad too. For Marlyce, having a “bodyguard” like Brownie was a huge help, especially to her parents, Walt and Joann, who were busy with three little ones in those years. Brownie was the family dog, but the reality is that Brownie knew that Marlyce needed him the most of all the kids, plus she was the oldest, and Brownie had known her the longest. It was a great relationship, and I’m glad they had each other. They are together in Heaven now. Today would have been Marlyce’s 76th birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Marlyce. We love and miss you very much.
Sometimes, life events can alter the future of the people involved. That was the case with 18-year-old Ernest Hemingway, who was serving as an ambulance driver for the American Red Cross during World War I. Hemmingway was wounded by a mortar shell on the Italian front along the Piave delta during his duties there. Born in Oak Park, Illinois, Hemingway, who had always liked writing, had been a reporter for the Kansas City Star when the war began in 1914. He volunteered for the Red Cross in France before the United States entered the war in April 1917 and was later sent to the Italian front, where he witnessed a series of Italian victories in early July 1918 that saw 3,000 Austrians taken prisoner.
Hemingway’s life would forever change on the night of July 8, 1918. There on Italian soil, Hemingway was hit by an Austrian mortar shell while passing out chocolate to 
Italian soldiers in a dugout. The blast knocked him out cold and buried him under dirt, with shell fragments injuring his right foot, knee, thighs, scalp, and hand. While Hemingway survived his injuries, two Italian soldiers standing between him and the point of impact weren’t as fortunate. One of the men died instantly, and the other lost both legs and passed away shortly after. As with most men, Hemingway must have wondered why his life had been spared, when others lost theirs.
Hemingway’s friend Ted Brumbach visited him in the hospital and wrote to his parents about the incident, saying, “A third Italian soldier was badly wounded, and 
Ernest, after regaining consciousness, carried him on his back to the first aid dugout.” Hemingway didn’t remember how he got there or that he carried the man…until an Italian officer told him the next day, adding that it had been decided to award him a medal for valor. As Brumbach noted, Hemingway received the Croce de Guerra for his service. In his own letter home afterward, Hemingway wrote, “Everything is fine, I’m very comfortable, and one of the best surgeons in Milan is taking care of my wounds.”
As is often the case after a traumatic event, Hemingway’s time in Italy during World War I became a defining part of his “larger-than-life persona” and inspired one of his most beloved novels, A Farewell to Arms. The story follows the romance between a young American ambulance driver and a beautiful English nurse on the Italian front during the Great War. While the novel is fictional, Hemingway wove in elements from his own experiences.
My grandniece, Taylor Masterson is growing up. That fact is known to everyone, but for her older sister, Raelynn, it seems to be hitting home a little harder on this birthday. Raelynn says “It’s weird, and funny, because Taylor is funny. I remember she was always the baby. Even now I can’t help but want to help her, though I’ve recently taken steps back to let Taylor learn. Taylor has days where she’s not happy about it, but I think she understands since I (Raelynn) plan to move out soon.” As a little girl, Taylor always wanted to be just like her older sister, often copying her, but now, she’s grown into her own. Raelynn says, “She’s kind, funny, empathetic, and sarcastic, and I’ll admit that I’ll miss seeing her every day when I come home or hearing her hilarious comments when I complain. Taylor is also really passionate about the things she loves. Sentimental items, things that we got her. She names everything she gets…from us or for herself, and it’s honestly sweet. She puts a lot of thought into the names she gives her items and she loves them all, sorting them in her room.” Raelynn says, “Taylor is raising up in the ranks! She is now a crew trainer, which means her workplace trusted her to know enough that she can train new hires, and they’re going to pay for her GED. I’m really proud of her. She wants to be a paramedic, and she’s taking the steps to get there. They actually had to convince her to take the Crew Trainer position by saying that, because Taylor is so focused on it.”
Taylor’s mom, Dustie Masterson says “Taylor is special. I know all parents think that, but Taylor is special in a very specific way. Taylor is sensitive, in a way that’s almost empathic. A lot like me she can read a room or a person in just a few minutes. People think it’s a bad thing…to be sensitive and empathic, but I believe like most things it has its pros and cons. For example, Taylor wanted a rotisserie chicken from Sam’s Club. She used to have lunch with me when I (Dustie) was still working there, and I would buy one for us to pick apart. However, she absolutely REFUSED to buy one. See her dad can only eat organic chicken, if it’s not organic his lips and mouth get blisters and swell. So, Taylor is craving this chicken but won’t get one because her dad can’t enjoy it also. So, I got online and found a copycat recipe for it, bought an organic chicken and made one for the first time ever. It came out really good, Taylor said it was better than Sam’s! I don’t know many people in this world that would do that. Have a craving but not act on it because someone else can’t enjoy it with them. That’s just one example of how amazing Taylor is. The downside, however, is Taylor picks up on others sad and angry emotions as well, and it affects Taylor very deeply. And that while not necessarily a bad thing, can be a hard thing to understand and deal with. As much as I wish I could tell Taylor how to block or ignore the hard feelings, I still haven’t gotten it down to a science for myself.”
Taylor’s dad, Rob Masterson says, “What can I say about Taylor…she is my baby, basically my pride and joy she works harder than just about anybody else I know to try and gain somewhat of a small independence. I 
couldn’t be more proud of her for it. She tries to help everybody else as much as she can even though it could end up completely breaking her in the process. She would still give them every last dime she had, if it would help them which I’m not entirely certain is a good thing, but it is something I’m very proud of her for. Taylor is 19 now and still no driver’s license…something that we will be working on over the next few months, but I have faith that her and my oldest child Raelynn will both get their license here this year. Taylor works so much that it makes it hard to spend time with her but what time she does have to spend with us she still loves hanging out with her mom anytime I leave my room practically she steals my spot and hangs out with her mom…so she is a mama’s girl and I love that about her too.”
Today marks a great day in the history of this great nation. We have been an independent nation for 250 years today. That is an incredible accomplishment, and on we should all be proud of. We got started when we fought against British tyranny to gain our independence, and even then, they continued to fight us. Nevertheless, this nation as persevered through it all, and went on to be the great nation it is. Now as we reach our 250th birthday, we can still look back at the years this nation has existed and be proud of all we have accomplished. When this country got started, I doubt if anyone there expected it to last as long as it has…or maybe they did. The founders of this country were visionaries, and so I suppose it is quite likely they would expect longevity, even if they weren’t sure that it was possible. This nation is great because of the greatness of her citizens…and only it’s citizens. We can’t allow illegal aliens to continue to come in and fundamentally change this nation and all the greatness it stands for. I realize that there are people who would disagree with me, and I am not saying that all illegal immigrants are bad, but the minute the cross our border illegally, they become criminals. There is a right way to immigrate and a wrong way, and we must insist on the right way.
Of course, there are also those who would still love to see this country fail, or at the very least, for it to be fundamentally changed into something that wouldn’t even remotely resemble the nation it is today. Nevertheless, I still believe that there are enough of us left in this nation that want to see it flourish that we will fight to keep out socialism and communism…and illegal immigration. These things will not work. This country is great and it must remain great. Socialism, communism, and illegal immigration have all been proven failures, so they will not succeed this time. Those who try, simply won’t succeed.
Today is a wonderful celebration of the success of this Republic. Our Constitution is the best in the world. We 
have proven that capitalism is the best way to success for all. I realize that there are those who will disagree with me and that is your right, but if you look at socialism and communism in the past, you will find failure. That cannot be changed. An honest look tells the tale. Illegal immigration only brings in the worst of other nations. The send their criminals to us and keep the good people. We need legal immigration, so we get the best of the best. Our country can remain the great nation it is today, but the rules must be followed. It is the only way that we will continue to succeed as a great nation. And we must stand and insist upon it. Happy 250th birthday to the United States of America…and many more!!
My niece, Chelsea Hadlock has always been a beautiful girl, but over the past few years she has blossomed even more…not just in looks, but in spirit and as a daughter of the Lord. Chelsea has been doing a ton of work at the church! She has donated a lot of her time to paint and add decoration, as well as setting up a nursing room, the coffee and snack station, and the tables and baskets with all the prayer cards and welcome things. Chelsea and Daycia Gonzalez, another of the young women at our church, have seriously put so much work into the church to modernize things and make it beautiful. It’s like the younger generation has become the cornerstone of the church. I am so proud of both of these girls. Chelsea has a heart for the Lord and for serving. She does that through church now, but she has always been one to help when help is needed.
Chelsea is so incredibly generous!! My niece, Kellie Thompson says, “I can’t even tell you how much she has bought for Tayla (Kellie’s daughter), like all my sisters and mom have.” She is always willing to help with literally anything and we are so blessed to have her in our family!! Ever thoughtful, Chelsea will find little gifts that remind her of someone and then just get it and give it as a little “pick me up” when they least expect it. She never hesitates to lend a hand.
Chelsea has always been a great decorator and planner. She loves to plan a party and she is so good at it. She could easily start a business with all the good ideas, decorating skills, and ability to make the best baked goods!! She has sold baked goods as a business before, and did quite well, but she could easily open her own bakery or party planner shop. She has also made jewelry over the years and could have opened a novelty shop 
too. The really cool thing is that while she could have made money in that way, she has chosen to dedicate herself to the Lord and doing this work for Him!! Even if she later decided to do this in her own shop, she will always have dedicated it to the Lord first.
When Chelsea married into the Hadlock family, not only did she become a blessing to my nephew, Ryan, but to their children, Ethan and Aurora, my sister and brother-in-law, Allyn and Chris Hadlock and to sisters-in-law, Jessi Sawdon, Lindsay Moore, and Kellie Thompson and their families. They are all so blessed and thankful she is theirs!! Today is Chelsea’s birthday. Happy birthday Chelsea!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
Over the past few years, I have watched my daughter, Corrie Petersen work very hard to realize her dream of becoming a nurse. In checking, I found out that the nursing degree is the hardest degree to get, and after watching how hard she had to work, I totally believe that. Now, Corrie has been a nurse with her RN (registered nurse) and BSN (Bachelor of Science degree in nursing) for three years. We are so proud of her accomplishments, and now she has a third distinction, her CRRN (Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse). Corrie has worked at Elkhorn Valley Rehabilitation Hospital for those three years. She has been an asset to them and they to her. I have been so happy for her as she has realized her dreams of becoming a nurse. That dream actually started in 2007 when she helped to care for her grandparents, Allen and Collene Spencer. Later, she also assisted in caring for her other grandparents, Walt and Joann Schulenberg as well as her husband, Kevin Petersen and his parents, Becky Skelton and Dean Petersen. Corrie has a long history in caregiving and now nursing, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. Corrie has dealt with a number of different diseases in her 
caregiving-nursing career, including Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, depression, anxiety, cancer, and rehabilitation issues, to name a few. Dealing with various diseases has the tendency to make her a well-rounded nurse. The longer she is in nursing, and the more experienced she becomes, the more valuable she is to her employer. While she got into nursing later that many people, she is making up for those years quickly and if you count the caregiving years, she already has more years than many other nurses do. I think her value is already great, and I’m sure her employer realizes that too.
In addition to that Corrie has been focusing on her own health. Nursing school is very hard…on the body too. Some people lose their hair, some, like Corrie gain a lot of weight because of lack of movement. Now, however, Corrie has lost all that excess weight, and she looks great. I am so proud of her for taking control of her health. Several years ago, she became a vegetarian, but as we all know, that is not a guaranty of weight loss, and for Corrie it wasn’t that way. Now, however, she has been really focusing on the loss of excess weight, and she looks amazing. I am so proud of her.
Corrie is also a wife, mother to two sons, and grandmother to one granddaughter and six grandsons. She loves 
being all of those things, and they are her first priority. Being born on her own great grandmother’s birthday started Corrie’s life off filled with family. Birthdays were always a big deal and celebrated together. So, it stands to reason that her own family is also very important to her. Corrie is also a fur mommy to two puppies and a cat. Corrie and her husband, Kevin enjoy gardening, reading, and improving their home. They have done a lot of renovating to their house, and it looks great. Other than family, Corrie loves reading best. She is a huge James Patterson fan and also likes books on famous assassinations, like Kennedy and Lincoln. Reading is her down time passion. Today is Corrie’s birthday. Happy birthday Corrie!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
My husband, Bob Schulenberg’s grandmother, Nettie Knox, wasn’t born during the pioneer era, but she lived a life that echoed it in many ways. Born in Clydes Park, Montana, on June 30, 1909, to Orin and Eva (Landis) Noyes, she married Robert Knox on June 14, 1928. Though she came into the world after cars were invented, there were times when her life felt like something out of the Old West. Grandpa worked on a sheep ranch, and when my mother-in-law, Joann Schulenberg, was about three years old, they lived for a while in a sheep wagon so he could stay close to the flock. Grandma, being a homemaker, joined him, especially since the wagon was provided rent-free…a deal too good to pass up. Still, it wasn’t a long-term home, as even with just the three of them, a sheep wagon wasn’t nearly spacious enough.
Grandma loved tradition, Christmas, birthdays, and celebrations of all kinds. When my daughter, Corrie Petersen, was born on Grandma’s birthday…and as her first great-grandchild…she was overjoyed! She called it the greatest gift ever, and their bond was instant and strong. They celebrated their shared birthday together every year, always taking new pictures to see how they’d changed. To me, it seemed like Corrie did all the changing, growing up before my eyes, while Grandma had a certain timelessness about her, even an innocence. Maybe it was her love of tradition and celebration, or maybe just good genes, but she never seemed to age…at least not to me. That’s why she and Corrie connected so well, a shared excitement for the little joys in life.
When I think about what Corrie has worked for, and what she has accomplished, I know Grandma Knox would have been so proud of her. Grandma suffered from arthritis and always wished the medical community could find a cure. While there’s still no cure, maybe one day there will be. In the meantime, Corrie works to comfort people, no matter what illness they face. Her role is to bring comfort to her patients, and I’m sure Grandma would see that as a wonderful contribution to the world. Today marks the 118th anniversary of Grandma’s birth. Happy birthday in Heaven, Grandma. We love and miss you so much.
Our uncle, Butch Hein, passed away on October 13, 2023. He was a well-known and deeply loved rancher in Forsyth, Montana. When my husband and I traveled there for the funeral, we were having breakfast at a local restaurant when the waitress mentioned that the whole town was mourning the loss of a local rancher. She had no idea we knew him, let alone that he was our uncle. All she knew was that the community was hurting. I overheard some people say they wouldn’t attend the weekly breakfast gathering Butch had always been part of because it “just wouldn’t be the same” without him. The words spoken and the emotions shared by the townspeople showed just how much Uncle Butch was loved and respected in Forsyth.
A lot has changed in the nearly two years since Uncle Butch went home to heaven. His granddaughter Laura and her husband Sean made him a great-grandfather on December 18, 2024, when sweet little Emmett Butch was born. Emmett’s adorable smile would have melted Butch’s heart, and I know he’d be overjoyed. I sure wish Butch could have met Emmett. His grandson Carson now works alongside his dad, Butch’s son Scott, running the ranching business…something Butch always hoped to pass down to the guys. His youngest grandchild, Lindsey, is currently in law school at the University of Montana. Butch was a hands-on grandpa with a special 
bond with all three grandchildren, and I know he’d be incredibly proud of all they’ve achieved.
Butch would be so proud of his son Scott and his wife Terri, who now own the ranch and blessed him with wonderful grandchildren. It had always been Butch’s dream to run the ranch alongside his son, and when that came true, the dream grew to include one or more of the kids joining the business. Carson was the natural choice for that, and although the dream wasn’t fully realized during Butch’s lifetime, it has come true now, and I know he would be overjoyed. Today would have been Butch’s 81st birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Uncle Butch. We love and miss you dearly.
Since high school, my grandnephew, has completed study for his associate’s degree in graphic design. He was an excellent student who loved his classes and rarely missed school. He worked diligently and maintained a 4.0 GPA for the majority of his two-year college career…an extraordinary accomplishment while working at a full-time job too. During college, he worked at Ace Hardware, but these days he is working full-time for Sherwin Williams and is doing great there. This year, he got a booth at the David Street Station Arts and Craft Fair. He is selling his custom digital art and soon will be selling in Etsy as well. He is doing very well. A career in graphic design is a great field to be in. The possibilities are truly endless, because of the many areas that use graphic design. His work is amazing.
Chris graduated from high school in Rawlins, Wyoming and then, he and his mom, Andrea Beach moved to 
Casper, where he attended Casper College. Now, with schooling behind him, Chris is planning to move out and get his own place in the fall. At 21 years old, and done with school, he has decided that it’s time to branch out and become his own man. To help facilitate that ides, he best friends from high school decided that they needed to come to Casper to surprise their buddy. They, Chris’ grandparents, and mom all went to Racca’s for dinner and then to The Office for celebratory drinks. He’s been friends with these guys for many years, so it was only fitting. It’s hard to believe that Chris, could possibly to 21 years old already. I think he should still be just a kid.
Chris, his mom, and grandma, Caryl Reed always take a trip to the Black Hills each year, and it is something they all look forward to. Spending a week in the Black Hills is one of the most relaxing things, and most of our family loves it. Then, Chris and his mom are going to see BTS: Bangtan Boys, which is a favorite Korean boy band, in concert in Foxborough Massachusetts in August. They are very excited about the trip. They are staying in Rhode Island, and have rented a car, so Chris will be the driver in New England. Having never driven out there, he is very excited about the trip and the prospect of driving the area. Today is Chris’ 21st birthday!! Happy birthday Chris!! Have a great day!! We love you!!
Hurricane Audrey formed on June 24, 1957, from a tropical wave in the Bay of Campeche. It quickly strengthened under perfect conditions, becoming a hurricane by June 25th and went roaring north toward the US Gulf Coast. By June 27th, Audrey hit peak winds of 125 miles per hour and a low central pressure of 946 millibars, ranking among the strongest June hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic. The storm made landfall in southwestern Louisiana as a devastating Category 3, causing at least 500 deaths and massive destruction. The hurricane made landfall between Sabine Pass and Johnsons Bayou, Louisiana, holding on to its major hurricane strength before weakening inland and turning extratropical over West Virginia on June 29th. Audrey brought massive destruction along the Texas-Louisiana border, especially in Cameron and Vermilion parishes. A storm surge of 12 to 14 feet swept into coastal Cameron Parish, flooding over 1.6 million acres and carrying homes miles inland. Offshore oil facilities took a $16 million hit, while the region suffered widespread power outages and heavy property damage. 
Hurricane Audrey ranks as the sixth deadliest hurricane in US history, claiming at least 500 lives with many others missing, mostly because of the storm surge. Entire towns were wiped out; in Cameron, Louisiana, 60 to 80% of homes and businesses were destroyed, with the courthouse among the few buildings left standing. Its death toll was the highest since the 1938 New England hurricane, a record that stood until Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Audrey was the first major hurricane to develop in the Gulf of Mexico since 1945 and the earliest to strike Louisiana. It underscored the risks of rapid intensification and storm surge, shaping future hurricane preparedness and forecasting. Due to its severity, the name Audrey was permanently retired.
Hurricane Audrey stands out in US hurricane history for its rapid strengthening, unusual early-season arrival, devastating storm surge, and tragic loss of life. It left a lasting mark on coastal communities in southwestern Louisiana and highlighted the critical need for early warnings and strong disaster preparedness. It seems like most disasters bring changes that make future disasters less devastating in one way or another. Some of the best changes to come out of these earlier in history disasters are early warning systems and better building codes. Disasters will come, and storms can’t be stopped, but is people are better prepared, lives can be saved, and that is what is important.
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