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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

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Senior Class: War baby escapes big-city chaos

Senior Profile

By JENNIFER STOCKINGER

Staff Writer

Sue Bowles

Age: 66.

City: "Deerwood. We're going on our tenth year here. We came from Maple Grove, we're one of those Twin Cities transplants who move up to the lakes area. We had a cabin in Aitkin 11 years prior to moving here and we got fed up with the chaos of city life. It would take 45 minutes to drive one mile to the grocery store. We love this area."

Sue Bowles of Deerwood recently smiled after talking about parts of her life, including volunteering for several organizations and about a trip to Alaska she plans to go on in August.

Family: Husband, Dennis; two adult children; four grandchildren.

Where were you born?: "Australia, I was a war baby. I've gone to Austraila several times to visit relatives."

Where did you grow up?: "In Hanley Falls, near Granite Falls. Hanley Falls did have 350 people, including dogs, and now there isn't even 100 people there. I graduated from high school with 22 students in my class."

Childhood memory: "Summers at my uncle's cabin in Perham. My father worked at the school so he had summers off and when we'd be at the cabin we'd be in the lake for like eight to nine hours. I always said I'd come back to life as a dolphin."

Favorite water sport: "Now it is water aerobics and before it was diving and swimming laps."

How did you meet your husband?: "We worked in the ER (Emergency Room) together at Abbott (Northwestern Hospital). He was an anesthetist and I was a nurse. I knew him in nursing school, but not well. I was a RN for 46 years."

Hobbies: "I volunteer for several organizations so much that I have a hard time saying no. I also love to garden. Perennials and vegetables plants are my favorites because I can share them with others. I do a lot of canning of my tomatoes and I do pickles and lots of jams and jellies."

What's on your Bucket List?: "We're fulfilling it right now. My husband and I are going to Alaska on Aug. 8 for 21 days. We're so excited."

Best movie theater experience: "I went to 'Avatar' in February at a 3D theater in Florida and it was incredible."

Perfect meal: "Broiled or butter pan fried with spice shrimp, with a salad and something with lemon or chocolate for dessert.

Craft you've made: "I've made hundreds of crib quilts that I give away at baby showers."

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