The Crookston Golden Link will honor Peter Heydt and Shirley Nielsen as the Experienced Americans for the month of June at an open house from 1:30 to 3:00 at the Golden Link on Friday with a program at 2:00 p.m.
Pete and Shirley have three kids each, they both have eight grandchildren apiece and Pete has three great-grandchildren.
Pete’s kids all live outside the area with Michelle Halberg in Las Vegas, Cindy Idso in Sioux City Iowa and Heather Socha in St. Louis, Missouri.
Shirley’s kids live in the area with Marcia Haglund in Crookston, Brandon Nielsen in Fisher and Josh Nielsen in Kindred, North Dakota.
Pete has visited all seven continents and served in the military for nine years in the Navy Seabees and served in Vietnam and two tours in Antarctica where he was the head electrician on the largest geodesic dome. He said the C-130’s quit flying in supplies when the temperature hit 50 below zero. Pete came back to Crookston after the military and operated Pete’s Amusement company for about five years before moving to Las Vegas to work for the police department for a couple of years and went overseas to work for the government for 10 years. Pete came back to the United State and worked for the Hilton corporation in casinos before coming back to Crookston working at the Post Office for 10 years. “I have lived all over the United States and I have been on every continent,” said Heydt. “I have seen a lot of things, some I wish I forget and I have seen some funny things too.” Pete is active in the community and is a member of the American Legion, a trustee at the VFW, Past Commander of the DAV, Lions Club, he is a Mason, Shriner, President of the Cemetery Association, Golden Link Board member, volunteer drive of the DAV van and he drives school bus for the Crookston School District.
Shirley started working as a teenager in high school at the Pizza Plaza, did daycare for 17 years, worked at the Sunrise Center, cooked at the Golden Link and worked at Supervalu and now works at Hugo’s. She is a member of the Crookston Eagles Auxiliary, President of the Kens Study Club, active with church and at the Golden Link. Pete added that Shirley is a great seamstress and cook. “Technology has been the biggest change,” said Nielsen. “The different ways we do things, the technology has changed a lot. Working at Hugo’s, we see the same people and you make up a family, everybody seems to know you and talk to you and I enjoy them.”
The honor of Experience American was a surprise to Shirley and Pete. “It was very much a surprise and I am very grateful they chose us to have the honor and privilege,” said Nielsen. Pete added, “It was a surprise and I feel honored because my parents were honored as Experienced Americans.”
The open house will be from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. with a program at 2:00 at the Golden Link Senior Center on Friday.
