NPR HOURLY NEWS MUSIC INTERLUDES SERIES

Hoven: I grew up on a farm a mile outside of Antelope. What was it like to transition into retirement in a such an isolated small town? Did Northeastern Montana feel like home? These are questions we’ll explore in this episode, “The Scary Prairie Will Not Get the Best of Me,” named after Margaret’s original song we heard at the beginning of the episode, from their play “Dead Thing on the Wall.” Before moving to Plentywood, Montana, David, who is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, had never lived in rural America. where they lived for most of their adult lives, until moving back 15 years ago to take care of Margaret’s mother. Like me, Margaret grew up in Sheridan County and left when she was a teenager. And as I learned more about the couple, what I became keenly interested in, was their perspective of rural life from an urban lens. When I launched Reframing Rural, I knew I had to interview them. They led my grandfather’s memorial service with such honest sincerity, that what I remember most from that day, was how well they honored his memory, and how I wish Papa could have been there to see it. They gave me NPR vibes and reminded me of my English professors in Missoula. That was the first time I met Margaret and David and they didn’t feel to me like they were from Sheridan County, Montana. Margaret accompanied me on the guitar and led the congregation through the Old Rugged Cross and Amazing Grace, while David guided us through the service, breathing life into rituals I would have otherwise found heavy with human impermanence. I arrived at church early that morning to practice “Edelweiss” with Margaret, a song I sang in memory of Papa, the endearing name for my gentle and loving German grandfather. I came home from college, a ten-hour journey across the state of Montana, for my grandfather, Wilhelm Reinoehl’s memorial service. It was eight years ago that I met Margaret Hoven and David Anderson on a snow swept November morning at our little prairie church on the hill.

I’m the founder and producer, Megan Torgerson and in this episode we’ll explore Northeastern Montana culture, political memory and change.

NPR HOURLY NEWS MUSIC INTERLUDES SERIES

Megan Torgerson (narrating): This is Reframing Rural, the original podcast series that elevates unexplored stories from rural America. What am I doing here? Mother came to the prairie. Margaret Hoven (singing): Here I am on the prairie.

Npr hourly news music interludes