A true life story of Helen Bowers who was a ward of the state of Minnesota at the Owatonna Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children . She had been abandoned with two brothers by parents unable to care for them. She suffered in an impunitive environment as she was there where crying, raise your hand to speak and not say swear words including "gosh", "golly" or "darn" or your punishiment was a slap in the face. Many times she found punishment through sitting in a chair endless hours. Her life was working vin rhe gardens, tending the nursery of orphan babies, baking, working with the livestock, doing laundry, working in the canning facility or hospital. She went to classes with some of the 300 - 500 students living there. Once she got old enough, she was able to work in homes outside the orphanage in or near Owatonna. She would help with the housework and care for young children, as well attend school herself. They were self sufficient and although depended on the volunteered labor of many of the children, operated a farm with cows, horses, swine, and chickens.
Helen met her first husband, Mike, on a double date with several of their friends. He was from Romania and lived with his father in a tavern he owned. Helen didn't know him too well and decided to marry him. He showed his true colors of being violent and controlling much of what he was taught how to treat women in the old country. She put up with it, now knowing any different than to be a servant to her husband. She went to work at the meat packing plant and then became pregnant with her first child at age 18. She had 3 children by age 29. There were childhood illnesses and a farm accident where the children were severly injured. When Helen was 33, she was diagnoised with severe depression and underwent a series of shock treatments, which was what they did in those days. She was hospitalized in a psychiatric ward and was there 6 months. Things changed at ther home and her daughter stepped up to care for the others while she was gone. Her husband would not hire help for them.
Then, Mike wanted to bring his mother over from Romania as the rest of the family was being transferred with their citizenship at birth back to the US, after spending time up to their 21st birthday there. She was having trouble getting her visa approved during Communist and Russian control. Eventually with the help of Hubert Humphrey, she was approved to join her family in the USA. She lived with her husband, Mike's dad and was amazed with all the sweets she loved and indulged in. Then Mike brought over his remaining sister and her family, which he had to provide a house and jobs so they could live. Helen found Mikes family very demanding thinking they deserved better things than what she had or she would get labeled as "selfish". Eventually in 1965, Helen caught Mike cheating and had his kicked out of the house. They divorced.
Helen met the answer to her prayers, who would become her second husband, Ed Bowers. They married aftere 25 years, after she was 62 years old. She gave a special message to women that you can get through what ever challenges you are facing if you ask God for help. She said to believe in yourself and God.
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