Moms are often celebrated for everything they do, and as a mom myself, I wholeheartedly agree with this. However dads deserve praise, too. 

 

My dad has always had an important role in my life, helping to shape the person I am today. I’m proud to say we have a great relationship, and I consider he and my mom friends as well as parents. 

 

I had a pretty typical childhood of the 70s, my mom stayed home with my sister and I when we were young while my dad went off to work. As a business owner he left early and came home late, plus, he was the one who doled out the punishment when we deserved it, so I was actually a bit scared of him. During my teenage years we had the normal dad-teen relationship, I loved and respected him but I was too busy growing up to spend much time with him.

 

Like most kids, it wasn’t until I actually moved out and had children of my own that I realized all he had done for me and taught me over the years. 

 

My dad taught me about work ethic and perseverance. He worked all the time, often late hours and on the weekends. He continued working through numerous back surgeries, refusing to quit even though he should have, finally retiring just two years ago. Even now he never sits still.

 

My dad taught me to care about community. He’s lived in the small town of Wendell, MN, for all but a couple years of his life. During this time he’s become a fixture, always there when the community needs something. He’s served as clerk on the city council since 1974, and was a volunteer firefighter for 27 years. When residents have questions or need something done, he’s the one they call. He shops locally, even though he could save money going to a bigger town.

 

My dad taught me to care about others. Once an acquaintance of his told me my dad had saved his life. I found out later he wasn’t exaggerating. My dad had recognized the man wasn’t acting right and brought him to the hospital. If my dad hadn’t forced him to go he wouldn’t have made it through the day.

 

My dad taught me to have pride in your accomplishments. As the owner of a small auto body shop, people would come from all over the state and beyond to have him work on their cars. He never let one go until it was perfect. He still demands perfection in everything he does, which often drives the rest of us crazy when we think something is “good enough.”

 

My dad taught me the importance of family. He always took care of us, whether it was working long hours or just killing a spider. When his mom needed assistance in her older years he was over at her house, sometimes numerous times a day, helping her with whatever she needed, thus enabling her to continue living in her home. When I married my husband, Blayne, he became both father and friend to him.

 

My dad taught me to always have a sense of humor and not to take life too seriously. He’s constantly joking around, there are many pictures of he and I with rabbit ears behind our heads.

 

My dad taught me to play fair and play to win. We often played board games while I was growing up, and he always had to be red. He never cheated, but he did whatever was necessary to win, even when my sister and I were younger. If we wanted to win we had to do so on our own merit, not because he let us.

 

My dad doesn’t often say he loves us, but he consistently shows us in everything he does. He’s believed in me and supported me in my decisions, even when he didn’t agree with them. 

 

Today I say thank you to him and all the other fathers out there. A good dad has nothing to do with how much money or education he has, a good dad is one who loves you unconditionally and is always there for you, no matter what.

 

Happy Father’s Day, Dad, I love you.

 

You can contact Penny Leuthard at pleuthard@gmail.com or 320-493-6030 with comments or Clearwater/Clear Lake feature ideas.