Mr. Ningen

by Mr. Ningen

February 21, 2008

Christy and I enjoy the Michelson Trail Trek with Mark and Trisha each fall!

Growing up in Casper, Wyoming, I was blessed with outstanding teachers in school at Grant Elementary, Dean Morgan Junior High, and Kelly Walsh High School. Mrs. Stillwell in sixth grade and Mrs. Bathhurst in Junior High art were particularly memorable faculty members there. During the fall of my junior year, our family was given moving orders when my father's job ended. With the Job Corp Center in Casper where he taught closing due to budget cuts, he was given two options: move to the Philippine Islands or to Chadron, Nebraska, two places that had new Job Corp Centers. Even though I convinced my brothers and sisters to vote for the tropical experience, my father had veto power, and Chadron was where we moved!

Chadron High had many good teachers too, with Mr. Madsen, an English Instructor, and Coach Bays, our Biology teacher great examples to follow. I have also been blessed with many opportunities to work alongside outstanding educators as well, including Mark Peyton at Ewing; Mary Ann Liesemeyer at Lourdes Central; Karen Scott at O'Neill High; Sr. Anita Rolenc at St. Mary's High School; and Barb Jeffries at South Platte Elementary. Hemingford is also blessed with several wonderful educators!

Christy, Pat and I in Germany in the summer of 2007. The castle in the background was the real model for Walt Disney's castles!

College began two blocks from home at Chadron State with a Bachelor's Degree in Art and English, as well as a family when I married another CSC grad, Christine Tiensvold of Rushville, who I met backstage at a CSC musical we both helped with. She and I have been blessed with four wonderful children, Pat, a WSC (undergrad) and CSC (Master's) grad who married Laurie Terrell ( a CSC grad) of Mirage Flats, and have together given Christy and I our first three grandchildren, Justin, Ella, and Chloa! He teaches math and coaches in St. Paul, NE; Sean, a WSC grad studying the management program for 84 Lumber in Lincoln, Amber, a UNK grad in Journalism, who is the editor of the Platte County Record in Wheatland, WY, and Christopher, an Honor's graduate of Mid-Plains College, and a GREAT mechanic at Nebraska Machinery in North Platte. Christy is a truly gifted para that works with our kids in Hemingford. I am blessed to have her with me at home and at school!

Between Christy's family and my own, there are fourteen of us that work as teachers, paras, counselors, librarians, secretaries, and administrators!

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