Della was born on November 7, 1919 in Judson, Minnesota. She was born on a farm by the Minnesota River, just below the Stedmans mills, at the same location where her mother was born decades earlier. Born to Caucasian parents, Della was the second of three. She had two brothers. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a housewife.
In 1922, at the tender age of 3, Della and her family moved to Mankato, a town located in southern Minnesota. It was there that Della attended kindergarten and elementary school until the fifth grade, when her father decided to move the family to a farm outside Mankato. Della adapted to her new life on the farm and attended a school out in the country; yet, an event even more dramatic occurred and changed her life drastically. Her mother developed arthritis, and Della, being the only girl, was to take on the role of her mother. She became a diligent worker and did everything from household chores to taking care of her mother. Her daily routine began at 5 in the morning and involved such chores as splitting wood, which was used to heat the house and cook food; milking the cows; and feeding the horses. In addition, she took care of her mother and attended to her schoolwork.
While working with animals on the farm, young Della developed a relationship with many of the farm animals, but she was particularly fond of dogs. Della had a dog that she loved and admired; however, animals were not the only things she loved. She longed for the day when she could become a teacher.
| Videos | Transcripts |
|---|---|
| My Best Friend(WMV) | My Best Friend |
| My Daily Chores(WMV) | My Daily Chores |
| The Walk to School(WMV) | The Walk to School |
| School Experiences(WMV) | School Experiences |
| Getting Ready for School(WMV) | Getting Ready for School |
| First Period(WMV) | First Period |
| Christmas Memory(WMV) | Christmas Memory |
Note: Videos play best in Windows Media Player version 9 or newer.
Group Members Shawna Victor, Karolann Mudder, Emma Boyce, Jackie Lupkes, Megan Martig, Beth Dauwalter
