Wisdom and Grace - Hi-Line Hero: Inga's Granddaughter

It's hard to imagine what the early homesteaders would think of what their descendants are doing today. Would they approve? Or disapprove? Would they be proud? Or not?

Well, I know one homesteader named Inga Lager who would be "bursting her buttons" of what her granddaughter Judy Anderson is doing today.

Let me explain. Inga Larson Lager was a sister to my grandmother Thora Larson Clausen. They were born and raised in Skein, Norway. Inga and her husband, Carl Lager, came to Havre and homesteaded near Haakon and Anna (sister of Inga and Thora) Tangmo, about six or seven miles north of Havre on the Willow Creek Road in about 1909 or 1910. Carl worked on the railroad while Inga worked on the homestead.

After they "proved up" the homestead, it was sold and they moved to town, living at 1517 Fifth St. They had seven children as well as raising two of Inga's sister's girls because Anna died as a result of complications in childbirth. Inga was very much a Christian woman and raised her family to "love the Lord with all their hearts." One of her daughters was Aimee.

Aimee, after graduation, stayed in Havre and worked for Montana Power as well as watching out for her mother, Inga. Aimee was introduced to a young farmer living in Willow City, North Dakota, named Henry Thorp. Aimee and Henry married and lived the rest of their lives on the farm. They had two children, Judy and Doug.

My mother, Gertrude, and Aimee were first cousins. My parents and I visited the Thorps several times. My first memory of Judy was of her sitting on the couch in their home. She was about 5 years old. She hadn't gone to school yet and couldn't read. To my surprise and awe Judy quoted Bible verse from memory ... after Bible verse ... after Bible verse! To remember it and think about it even today ... I still am amazed. Inga Lager would be proud!

Judy stopped by to visit for a bit this past week. She was traveling from her home in Spokane to visit her brother Doug and his wife Lisa on the family farm near Willow City, North Dakota. We're Facebook friends and our paths have crossed numerous times as adults. It's always a treat to visit with this positive, educated and God-fearing woman.

I knew Judy had taken some short-term mission trips and so our visit gave me the opportunity to learn more about her adventures.

She started by sharing about a virtual trip she took during COVID to Athens, Greece, with a mission organization called "e3 Partners Ministry". This organization equips God's people to evangelize His world by establishing healthy, multiplying, transformative churches everywhere. Specifically, they worked with refugees from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria and Afghanistan. Judy was amazed at the need and the response.

In June of 2022, she joined a group of nursing students from the University of Alabama. They traveled to Athens, Greece. They worked in medical clinics but saw a dramatic difference in the refugees, now many from Ukraine. "It was life-changing," Judy shared with a tear in her eye.

So, what qualified Judy Anderson to work in a medical mission's refugee camp? Judy attended and received a BSN in nursing from the University of Jamestown in North Dakota. After graduation she moved to Wenatchee, Washington, for two years before attaining her dream job of working as a pediatric nurse at Seattle Children's Hospital. She worked at her "dream job" for 34 years!

During her long tenure as a pediatric nurse she received a master's degree from the University Washington and began teaching at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. She taught there for 13 years. These days, Judy has two part-time jobs: providing home care in a pediatric long term care facility as well as traveling throughout the United States teaching for three to four days to prepare future nurses through the Assessment Technology Institute.

Inga Lager and Aimee Lager Thorp would be so brought and amazed of what Judy has done in her life. They would also be proud of Judy's daughters. Kelsey is married and presently is in medical school pursuing a career as a pediatric physician. Erin is in San Diego and recently received a psychology degree.

Some of you may be wondering why I've chosen to write this story about someone who doesn't live on the Hi-Line. First of all, the more I thought of Judy's life and how she has sacrificially given so much of her life to make things better for others, especially children. There was just something that kept going though my mind and heart saying, "Write it. Write about Judy." And so, I have.

The other reason I decided to write this letter is personal. I'm awfully proud that a relative of mine is a nurse. When I interviewed for the position of chaplain for Northern Montana Health Care in the fall of 1998, I was asked about by opinion of nurses since if I was hired, I would be working shoulder to shoulder with nurses. My answer came easily, "Nurses walk on water." Meaning what they do and their work is simply awesome. When I retired after nearly 20 years, my opinion of nurses has not changed one bit. "Nurses walk on water."

Shortly after I began working as the chaplain, Karen Pollington asked me to come and speak at a meeting for the registered nurses. I couldn't think of what to say and so finally, I shared a Bible passage from Matthew 25. "Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Yes, Judy, your grandmother Inga would be so proud of you and your mother Aimee would be, also. I am proud of you. You walk on water.

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Ila McClenahan is a retired chaplain and activity director living north of Havre just off the Amos Trail. She keeps busy volunteering for various organizations, speaking at events and trying to be a good grandmother to her 12 grandchildren.