When my parents first arrived there, North Dakota had just been admitted to the Union, and the country was still wild and harsh.

I always worried I'd forget my lines or say the wrong words or the audience would laugh in the wrong places.

I expected to be a farmer like my father and brothers. Life seemed pleasant and orderly.

Many times I wondered if I were truly carrying out God's plan for my life.

Dreams do come true, even for someone who couldn't speak English and never had a music lesson or much of an education.

We really were a very musical family. In spite of the fact that we were so poor when I was a youngster that supper was often just a bowl of bread and milk, Father somehow managed to squeeze out enough pennies to buy us a small pump organ, and I just loved this instrument too.

Never trust anyone completely but God. Love people, but put your full trust only in God.