After our wedding we lived in Ames, Iowa.  Marion worked at the U. S. Rubber Company defense plant in Ankeny making 30 caliber bullets.  One time we worked 63 days straight!  Our son, David, was born at the Story City Hospital during this time.

     Shortly after that we moved to the Lein house in Roland.  This meant an 80-mile round trip to work for Marion.  Mardean changed David's diapers on the dining room table, and one time the sugar bowl ended up with a little extra "juice" in it.  Marion enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps (see Marion's Story and Family).  Mardean and David lived with Mardean's parents while Marion was in flight school.

    In 1943 we joined Marion in Ontario, California.  Mardean rented a room, and Marion spent his time on the air base.  David's first birthday was in Ontario.

    When Marion was sent to Pecos, Texas, Mardean and David returned to Roland.  In early 1944 we moved to Warrensburg, Missouri where we lived at Professor Svanoe's house until we found a house to rent.

    In October, 1945 the war was over and we moved back to Roland.  We rented an apartment in Mr. Hauen's house.  We farmed the "home place" together with brother Julius.

    In the following years we lived on farms in the Roland area until 1967.  Along the way Marion began writing a weekly column, "Tongue in Cheek", for the Roland Record.  He was awarded the title "Master Columnist" by the Journalism Department at the University of Iowa.

    In 1967 Marion became Assistant Adjutant of the Iowa Department of the American Legion and editor of the Iowa Legionnaire.  We moved to a house in Ankeny.  Mardean worked at Stearn's Apparel Store.

    Boise, Idaho became our home in 1975 when Marion became the Department Adjutant of the American Legion of Idaho.  He retired from that position in 1983.  Mardean worked for Carroll's women's apparel store as a jewelry and accessories buyer and sales.

    We moved to our present home in North Liberty, Iowa in November, 1997.