(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story has been submitted to the Patriot for publication by Gary W. Meyer, former Tribune and Citizen publisher, after his interview in Buffalo with Stella Huso In October.)

Stella Huso has lived a life from which many stories could be told. She will celebrate their 105th birthday Jan. 8, 2024. Her lifespan has been epic. She has outlived her husband, all five brothers and sisters, four of her five children, but smiles at the living memories of 14 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren, the youngest of whom was born  weeks ago.

She sold her last home in Hanover, MN 10 years ago and has lived independently in a Buffalo apartment since.

She has been an activist, serving on many church, civic and military support organizations.

And from her saddest time – the largest heartbreak of her life – the loss of her son Wayde to an enemy artillery shell in Vietnam in 1968, has earned her the distinction of being the oldest living Gold Star Mother in our nation. More on that later.

Stella was recently the focus of an hour-long video production on her life. She sat for an interview with this author in the community room of her apartment complex in Buffalo. Filming the event was Unboxed Productions of Anoka. Costs for the production have been covered by the Big Lake American Legion and Legion Auxiliary. The film will be made available to the Legion and Auxiliary in January. 

North Dakota Prairie

Stella was born Jan. 8, 1919, the fourth child of a family of six, and soon immersed herself into the ways of a prairie farm family. “It was a big front yard where we played a lot,” she said. Their family home was large and often guests and relatives helped fill the structure. She tended to the farm animals and got into milking of cows, which she did not appreciate. 

Stella remembers “going missing” one summer day in her fourth year. Playing outside, she wound up feet first into a fence post hole and the only part of her showing was the tip of her head, discovered by a neighbor in the search party. Among her family members, Earl, Alice, who cared for the family after the death of their mother in 1932, Reuben, Stella, Norman and Arnold. She talks about being fortunate to live with a friend of an aunt in town where her high school was located – and that helped her get to school, as there was no bus transportation. Stella and a boy were the two members of the graduating class in 1939.

She later met her husband, Ordain Huso and they were married, after which they moved to Mayville, ND, where they lived from 1939 to 1942. The young marrieds moved often, to Fosston, MN, then Deer River, later Henning, then to Big Lake, where the majority of their children attended schools, graduating from Big Lake. 

Oldest of their children was Diane, born in 1941. Then came Steven, Patricia, Wayde and Rosemary, in 1950.

Stella was a stay-at-home mom, busy with caring for five children and for others outside the home.

A Community Activist

As their children became more involved in the community, so did Stella. She taught Sunday School, served as Sunday School superintendent and became involved in local politics, to include as convener for caucuses.

She remembers having to deal with the complexities of political subdivisions and advise caucus-goers as to where they should be – to be in the right place. That activity was at its heaviest as she and her husband lived in Hanover. Stella has written letters to the editor advocating for respect for the flag and for the Pledge of Allegiance. She would become most active in the Big Lake and Buffalo American Legion Auxiliaries after the death of her son, Wayde, in Vietnam, in 1969. And she is to this day.

She has been recognized as Grand Marshal of the Big Lake Spud Fest parade. And the Big Lake High School chamber choir serenaded her at the Carousel Works one spring evening a few years back. Not to forget, she rode with the Big Lake American Legion Patriot Guard bikers, too.

A Military Family

Stella’s family has served for several theaters of war during their time here in America. Her great grandfather, Torke Brua, emigrated from Norway at the time of Lincoln’s presidency. His son, Lars, lost his life in the Civil War. An uncle, Oscar Holmen, served with the Canadian Army in WWI, in 1918. A brother and sister, Norman and Alice, served in WWII in the 1940’s. Stella’s oldest son, Stephen, served with the US Air Force during the time of the Vietnam conflict, and returned home safely.

Wayde, a year out of Big Lake High School, attended St. Cloud State College for a year, then determined he should get his military obligation out of the way. He enlisted and was trained at Ft. Campbell, KY and artillery school at Ft. Sill, OK. By the spring of 1969, he was in Vietnam.

Stella remembers some of Wayde’s conversations after he began his service in that country.

“He told me he didn’t know why we were there,” she remembered, noting he’d said it several times. She reported he’d been on 25 artillery missions near Tay Ninh, on the Cambodian border.

Wayde was assigned to the 19th Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division when he was killed early evening in August, 1969. He had gone outside his bunker, while the rest of his comrades were under cover. An enemy artillery strike landed nearby, killing him. He is Big Lake’s only fatality of the Vietnam War.

A World Traveler

Stella feels blessed for her daughter Diane’s lifetime vocation – that as a travel agency manager. Twenty years ago, Diane invited her mother along on a wonderful visit to the religious grounds of Ephases, Turkey, along with Greece. Italy and the south of France. Other trips included Croatia and Monaco. She has visited 48 of our country’s states, Alabama and Delaware not among them. She has seen Pearl Harbor and met many stars, including Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Rosemary Clooney, Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower. 

Her traveling days maybe over, but her mind is sharp with memories. And- she loves sharing them.