Twin Cities-based co-authors Tricia Velure and Tom Sandhei first met over coffee, during which Tom asked, “Do you think anyone other than my family would be interested in reading my mom’s life story?” Four years and a published award-winning book later, the definitive “YES” from Tricia is the reason we all get to read Tom’s mother’s life story, Dust Yourself Off: The Gravel Road to a Good Life. Come learn from these energetic authors how their historical research led them to that “YES!” Hear about Muriel Sandhei’s bold decisions in a Norwegian Lutheran farming community, where women always were Mrs. So-And-So and rarely missed a ladies' aid meeting. Set primarily in 1920s-50s North Dakota, Muriel’s story repeatedly went down a tragic and dusty road, and she dusted herself off in ways that might have led to some whispers at those ladies’ aid luncheons. If you enjoy inspiring stories of everyday women and small-town prairie history, you’ll enjoy the conversation with Tom and Tricia.

This event is free and open to the public.

Tricia Velure is a personal historian who helps elders share their life stories with their families. Known for being easy to talk to and interested in life’s everyday details, Tricia has been talking with elders about “the old days” since she was a young girl dunking cookies in her grandma’s coffee. She grew up on her family’s cattle and small grains farm near Kathryn, North Dakota, where she was her father’s official parts runner and helped her mom cook every meal from scratch. After earning degrees in English and history from Valley City State University, Tricia received a master’s degree in history from North Dakota State University in 1998. Her subsequent 20-year career in public relations further developed her love of researching, interviewing, writing, and archiving. In 2019, she started her own business, Storyography, to interview elders and preserve those stories for their kids and grandkids. Tricia lives in suburban Saint Paul, Minnesota, and is an avid traveler, research buff, and big fan of visiting. She loves to return to the farm, which four generations of her family have operated since 1904.

Tom Sandhei is a retired school administrator who grew up on his parents’ and grandparents’ farms near Fort Ransom, North Dakota, in the 1940s and ‘50s. From an early age, he milked cows and cared for livestock. He operated tractors from a standing position until he was tall enough to reach the clutch pedal while seated. Thanks to the influence of his strong mother, he recognized that education was the way to a good life of his making. Following his graduation from Valley City State College, Tom taught upper elementary students his first few years, during which he became interested in school administration. He then earned a master’s degree in elementary school administration from North Dakota State University. Tom’s career in education spanned almost 40 years, including more than 30 as an elementary school principal in Colorado and Minnesota. Tom married Linda Edwards in 1965, and the couple raised three children before she passed in 2015. Tom lives in suburban Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he is active in his church, enjoys spending time with his children and five grandchildren, and has a love of golf and travel.