Today I’d like to attempt the impossible. I want to express how much I appreciate my Dad and all he’s taught me. This man not only has provided for me and my siblings, he has given freely of his time, energy and vast knowledge to countless others. Personally, and through us kids, he has touched people across the world. Above all though, he has given us an excellent example of how to be a good person and how to raise the best children. Today is his 63rd Father’s Day and he helped raise three of the only truly good, Christian fathers I’ve known. These are a few of the things I’m grateful to have learned from him so far.

Dad was born in the middle of the Great Depression in Minnesota, the middle child of nine. Now he is the oldest of the four remaining. He has taught us to be proud of our family and all that each member has accomplished as well as how far we’ve come from the first ‘sons that immigrated here from Sweden. He’s also shown that when it comes to family, whether biological or borrowed, you help when someone is in need. 

He has gone from living in a little two room cabin where the chickens froze to the ground in winter to visiting all 50 of the United States as well as countries in Europe and Africa. He passed on to us kids a love of exploration and travel and with that, an open-mindedness that I treasure.

Dad is one of the people that demonstrated independence and was proud, not frustrated when I learned “I can do it my ownself.” He showed that with hard work, determination, and perhaps a little rebellion or improvisation, you can do or be anything. This farmer’s boy from the boonies with few prospects took advantage of opportunities and became an early instructor in computers and an actual rocket scientist involved with national security. 

He taught us that true wealth is not measured by the balance in your bank account, but by the quality of life you live and the help you give others. He taught me to help complete strangers, even if there’s no apparent reward and possibly significant risk, just because it’s the right thing to do for people in need.

He taught us to stop every now and then in our path forward, to turn around and look at where we’ve been. Sometimes that view is even more inspiring than the way ahead.

Dad showed that a good parent, even when their child is making choices contrary to what you feel is best, assures that child that they are loved unconditionally. He has held strong to his vow to love my Mom in good times and bad, sickness and health, in poorness and wealth, loving her with all his being even now after Death has parted them. 

He has demonstrated resilience in the face of medical difficulties and a love of life despite the hardships. When others have said he’s doing something too dangerous, he says “I’m not going to live my life in fear of what might happen” and has fun as much as possible.

He learned to love fishing as a little boy growing up in the land where the lakes are numbered, not always named, and taught us to find joy in the simple things. At the same time he taught us to hunt and fish and garden responsibly, always making the best possible use of all we had. He was an excellent example of “Waste not, want not.”

Dad has lived a life full of love and adventure. He knows he’s blessed and we are blessed to have him. Happy Father’s Day Dad, from your baby girl.