The Hand of God   (and prayer)

OUR STORY by  Ray & Kathleen Sommers

Kathleen:
In 1940 my father died in a Los Angeles V.A. hospital, leaving 4 
children, aged one to ten. In 1941 we moved to North Dakota to live with 
my mother's parents for 6 months. Then, when mother returned to work, we 
were placed in a Catholic orphanage in Fargo for 18 lonely months, and 
then we moved to Minneapolis. 

By the 10th grade I had gone to 10 different schools. After high school, 
thanks to a War Orphans' Scholarship, I was able to attend the U. of 
Minn, bringing my bag lunch from home every day. On the first day of 
classes of my senior year  *-[[ for some reason ]]-*  I decided to go 
through the cafeteria line at the Newman Center, where I usually just 
bought a glass of milk. 

Ray:
First, about the power of prayer. My older sister had a somewhat unhappy 
marriage and my mother then decided to go to Mass every day to pray for 
a good Catholic wife for me. I learned about this much later. 

In my senior year in high school, the army draft was in operation. I 
took the Navy ROTC exam (4 years of paid college in return for 4 years 
of service) but did not make it. I passed the Merchant Marine written 
exam but after driving on a sunny day from Marshfield to Minneapolis I 
failed the eye exam. So a few days before classes I enrolled at UWSP. 

In 1952, Don V. and I went to Milwaukee to find a good paying summer 
job. Job 1 led to a layoff after 2 weeks due to steel strike. Job 2 was 
selling magazines but was no good. Job 3 was with a roofing company 
owned by a guy from Marshfield. But, one day Don V. dropped a bucket of 
hot tar and it spilled on my arm and face, a minute after I had put on 
my shirt. I was hospitalized but was able to return to work later. 

In 1953 I graduated from college but the draft board refused a 
deferrment for graduate school. Because of the tar burn I had a skin 
graft that summer for a 1/4 inch thick scar on my right arm. I did 
receive a draft notice but failed the physical exam because of the 
recent operation. I enrolled in graduate school and then received a 
deferrment to finish the year. I was offered a scholarship at Madison 
but the teaching assistantship at Minneapolis paid better. 

On the first day of classes  *-[[ for some reason ]]-*  I went to the 
cafeteria in the Newman Center and met Kathy, who was next in line. 

She volunteered to get a football ticket for me next to seats for her 
and her friends. So we all sat together in the Freshman section even 
though they were seniors. For some reason she likes to watch football 
these days (Packers). 

Kathy and Ray:
In 1954 I entered the army, we married, but were separated for almost 
two years. We will celebrate 50 years of joyful marriage on Dec. 29, 
have 14 children and 31 grandchildren (oldest is 15) and two more are 
coming soon. Kathy always thanks God for the tar accident. By the way 
the scar on my arm is about 3 inches long and heart shaped.   P. T. L. 


PRAYER  AND  THE  HAND  OF  GOD  ! !