We had the opportunity to sit down with Kitty and Liz to find out more about their mom and dad. One of the first stories they shared was the time their parents went to Mass on Sunday and they put their last quarter in the collection basket. Later that same day, their dad was working waiting on tables, and he got a big tip. For their mom and dad, this was a confirmation of their trust in God and God’s ability to always take care of their needs. Often times when they were faced with a challenge or a need, the advice from their dad was “Did you ask?” – reminding them that they needed to ask God to take care of them and trust that He would.
It was no small act of faith to put 8 children in Catholic Education, but for Helen and Guy, this was important, and they knew that God would help them to work it out. Guy worked on the railroad in WWII and then continued to work for Burlington Northern when he returned. He had several jobs, coming home from the railroad and then going to work cleaning at the Potato Research Center 3 days a week. Helen worked various jobs after the kids were all in school, retiring as a Line Supervisor at Smith Hall Cafeteria at UND.
Their family faced hardship in years of flooding. At one point, in 1950, their home flooded and they had to work to repair or replace everything they had. They were blessed with a special grace when, in 1965, Helen won a $5,000 prize from a nationwide tv game show. Kitty noted, because of the threat of flooding, they had to be evacuated to a relatives house and mom just happened to enter the drawing. She unbelievably won the drawing and with the money they were able to pay off bills and buy a family camper. There were many happy memories made on trips with that camper.
Guy and Helen’s life reflects a beautiful trust in God’s providence and care. They worked hard, they faced challenges and they were thankful for the gifts they received. So, when Helen went home to the Lord a year ago, the siblings decided they wanted to honor their parents’ memory by establishing the Helen and Guy Flom Scholarship. For two people who trusted in God to meet their needs, it feels especially appropriate to build this fund as a way for God to continue helping those who need assistance to attend Sacred Heart today. We invite you to prayerfully consider donating a gift to the Helen and Guy Flom Scholarship.
