Meet Your New Mrs. North Dakota International 2015, Erin Bertel.
I am Erin Bertel, Mrs. North Dakota International 2015, but
let me tell you about the “real” me not the beauty queen that you visualize in
your mind. I grew up as a small town girl and went to school in Lake Park,
Minnesota. Being raised by my dad who was alone and disabled. Joined by my
grandma, along with my two sisters and my younger brother, together there were
the five of us. Growing up with my dad and my grandma had its share of challenges
as being non-traditional- but even then I was as blessed as I am now.
Anyone that grew up in the 70s-80s knows about to good old days of being the
human remote control for the TV, when your land line for your phone was a party
line, and there was a home cooked hot dish every Sunday for dinner. It was a
fundamental time that raised my standards of resourcefulness, a hard work
ethic, and developed my moral compass to have a true north.
Today, I am a regular woman who wears yoga pants, makes
dinner for own family, cleans my own home. I am not as different or glamorous daily as
you think. I am a registered nurse and
have worked in many areas of nursing since 1997, but the most important people
that I have been blessed to take care of are my husband and best friend of
almost twelve amazing years, John, an electrical engineer and co-owner of a
warehousing business. We met years ago during a very lucky game of “Dare” that
I was playing with my sister. Our oldest, our son Zachary who I bought a
matchbox car for when he was a year old for less than a dollar and who’s first
words were “vroom-vroom.” He has now devoted his life to the world of all
things with wheels and motors. He is now almost finished with the Automotive
Technology program at a Minnesota College. Our middle child, McKenzie, a senior
at Davies High School and hot dog and hamburger cook at Sonic. She is my
“mini-me” only with contrasting beautiful blonde hair. She has been accepted early into North Dakota
State University and is following after me, and recently selected registered nursing
as her major. Then there is our youngest, Elizabeth, who is a 6th
grader at Discovery Middle School and is quite passionate about dance, reading
and is learning to play the saxophone. She spends a good amount of time working on
trivia facts and trying to stump all of us by her inventory of information. She
inspires me daily through her inquisitive nature to never stop learning. A few
months ago, we took in another honorary “son” that we affectionately have
renamed Z-2, since his name is also Zach. He is a freshman at NDSU in the
business program. He is one of the most kind and gentlest souls that I know. Together
they have become the most thoughtful, clever and most inspirational people that
I have ever met. We have a seven year old yellow lab, Sadie and two hermit
crabs, Herbert and Shelly.
As a family
we are one filled with faith in the Lord, loyalty to the Bison, adoration of
the great state of North Dakota, appreciative of good coffee, generous with
warmth and love for each other and together we are providing hope for the
homeless.
Blessings,
Erin Bertel
Mrs. North Dakota International 2015
