Hardworking

uena was born and raised a farmer’s daughter. She grew up on a forty-acre farm. Although most of the farm work was done by her five brothers and her father, there were times where she needed to pitch in. At the beginning of World War II, all four of her older brothers joined the military. Despite the German prisoners-of-war that were sent to help her family with the farm work, Luena had to take on a lot more responsibilities around the farm.

Besides her usual work of helping her mother mind the house, she learned how to help harvest , ho weeds, drive tractors and teams of horses. Luena also learned how to drive a big, clunky truck at the age of 13 so that she could help her father load lug boxes of tomatoes. He would load the boxes and she would drive to the next one to be picked up. Her mother taught her how to can and preserve everything their family grew. Luena did all of this while attending school. Her life was busy and productive—there was always something that needed to be done. Even when there was a little bit of free time, she always was required to have something to work on in her hands.

The skills and work ethic that Luena acquired as a child helped her succeed in her life and be self-sufficient. She went on to earn a nursing degree in a time when women with degrees were not common. She also raised five children while working full-time. Her mother had always said to her, “I don’t care what you do. Just do something!” Luena embraced this saying and has accomplished many, many things throughout her life.