Today's Featured Biography

 
Sonya Baack Trelstad

HIGH SCHOOL:
High school...seems like only yesterday. It is amazing how growing up changes attitudes and ways of thinking. Too bad high school was (& still is) so centered around "being popular" and belonging to the "in" crowd.

My experiences: I tried out for volleyball once but it almost killed me running around the gym! :-) I hung around with Deb Wick, Mary Kuhl, Lila Ollendick and Sandy Sachen. My "fond memories" of high school involved drinking (specifically lime vodka...yuck!) and partying (sure wish I could remember those parties!). LOL Most of it I would rather forget anyway. I did have fun being on the Flagsquad and in choir. Does anyone remember "Church School" on Wednesdays? I actually had detention once for skipping it. Ya know...you do not hear any schools doing that anymore. I am sure it is illegal now. I also had a ton of fun working at Country Kitchen w/lots of wild and crazy people. Otherwise, high school was pretty much uneventful for me and a part of my life I would not want to repeat.

MY FAMILY:
I got married in 1980 in Fairmont. My son Travis was born in 1982 and my daughter Jess in 1986. My now ex-husband and I divorced in 1993. I moved to Rochester in 1995. My daughter had a daughter in 2004. She was placed for adoption with a very loving family. We have been blessed with the opportunity to see her a few times and get updates and pics often. She is absolutely gorgeous! There is more to the story but I would run outta room here. My dad passed away in 2000. My mom now resides at Maplelawn Nursing Home in Fulda, MN. She was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2005. (Nasty disease!!) I remarried in May 2005 to a very wonderful Norwegian (Randy). What a piece of work! LOL We have one dog (Sheeba) and one cat (Mr. Knickers).

LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL:
I attended Jackson Vo-Tech for one year. My first "adult" job was with Centel in 1979. I got laid off in 1982. My next "adult" job was with Martin County Human Services for 7 years and then with the State of Minnesota at the Fairmont Job Service office in 1990. I was transferred to Rochester Job Service in 1995. I went back to college in 1997 at Cardinal Stritch University. Graduated in June 2003 Summa Cum Laude (3.92 GPA) with BS degree in Business Management/Human Resources. I continue to work at the Rochester WorkForce Center helping people who are receiving Unemployment Insurance and looking for work.

On a more personal note, I am also a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2006. Had to go through chemo and radiation. Being bald for 8 months really sucked!! My wonderful husband was by my side the whole time and took really good care of me. So...ladies...get your mammograms done EVERY year!! You do not think it will happen to you but it does when you least expect it. I have no family history of it or any risk factors.

ONE PERSON I HAVE NOT SEEN SINCE HIGH SCHOOL:
I lost touch with Mary Kuhl after high school and would really like to see her again. Of course, there are many others too.

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