High School Graduation

Herman & Wanda

1946

Wanda's Family

1993

 Wanda Pauline Grover was born on a blustery winter day in November of 1922. Sadly, her twin sister did not survive her birth.

Wanda graduated from Moorhead State College High School. Her uncle, George Hegland, arranged for a job for her in western North Dakota.  It was there she met a young man named Herman Sem.  She returned home to care for her mother when she fell ill with cancer, and Herman joined the Army, fighting in Europe during WWII.

Her brother Jerry sent home a parachute that Wanda fashioned into a beautiful silk wedding gown that she wore June 17, 1946 when she and Herman were married. They would eventually settle in Plentywood, Montana, where Herman managed the local grocery store.  Wanda became "the" piano teacher in town, taking not only a musical but also a personal interest in her students.  She would stay in touch with many of them for the rest of her life.

Herman and Wanda had four children. Sadly, Wanda would lose her two youngest in her lifetime: Gary died in September 1993, and Carol on July 18, 2004.

Herman died on July 22, 1981.  Wanda moved to Great Falls to be closer to her children.  She continued to give piano lessons, thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Foster Grandparent program, and became the organist for St. Francis Episcopal Church.

The priest at St. Francis asked one of the parishioners, Jim Pomeroy, if he could give Wanda a ride to and from church.  He did more than that!  On September 25, 2004, Wanda and Jim were married. 

Wanda and Jim shared two precious joyful years before she was overcome by heart problems.  Wanda was hospitalized for the last months of her life and died peacefully on February 22, 2006.