Chicago Sun-Times
03/23/07
Chicago Sun-Times
Wisdom, beauty -- that's Miss Richfield
Article from: Chicago Sun-Times
Article date: March 23, 2007
Author: Misha Davenport
She offers up home-spun wisdom, like Garrison Keillor mixed with the eternal optimism of Mary Tyler Moore, and Miss Richfield 1981 is heading our way. Boystown may never be the same.
We spoke to the pageant winner/singer/minister on the phone from her double-wide trailer park home in Richfield, Minn. Here's what she had to say:
Q. As a former pageant winner, what would you say has changed the most about pageants since you were crowned?
A. I can't speak about beauty pageants as the Miss Richfield pageant is a scholarship pageant. And nothing about it has changed. You don't just get the crown and the sash, but the winner also gets a two-month scholarship to Lakeland Dental Academy, a power mower and bus fare to the Marvin Window and Door factory in Warroad.
Q. Is there a reason you went into ministry instead of dental hygiene?
A. I absolutely loved the two weeks I spent at Lakeland Academy. Unfortunately, during my training I grabbed a tube of epoxy instead of fluoride and glued a woman's mouth shut. It all turned out for the best, though. I still get two dozen roses and a lovely card from her husband every year. Apparently, she was quite the talker.
Q. What can you tell us about Richfield?
A. If you've ever flown into the Twin Cities, you may have seen us. As you're coming in on Runway 2, we're the trailer park to the right. The next time you fly in, look out the window. Who knows, you might actually see me outside hanging the laundry to dry.
Q. How did the whole ministry come about?
A. When you're crowned Miss Richfield and given the title and that power lawn mower, you realize there isn't really anything else you need in life. And I say it's selfish to keep all this beauty to myself. So, the gals in my church -- I'm half-Jewish and half- Lutheran; Jewtheran, if you will -- well, the ladies of A Mighty Fortress is Our God Lutheran Church are always having bake sales and buying me one-way bus tickets to support my outreach. And so I travel to Godless meccas like Chicago, where they could use some beauty.
Q. Anything you're looking forward to in Chicago?
A. Finding a hotel. When I go to places like New York, I usually stay at the Ministorage, so I'm hoping there's one near the venue. Otherwise, I suppose I will have to look somewhere near Cicero.
Q. You're often compared to Dame Edna. Do you think the comparison is fair?
A. I hardly have her wealth. All my jewelry is on approval. She talks to presidents. I call bingo at the Richfield VFW Hall. She's on top and I've only just clawed my way to the middle. I eat well, though. Just not too well. Unlike the other Miss Richfields, I've managed to keep my figure.
- - -
MISS RICHFIELD 1981: THE CHICAGO SHOW
- 9 p.m. Saturday
- Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway
- Tickets, $20-$30
(773) 472-3492
Wisdom, beauty -- that's Miss Richfield
Article from: Chicago Sun-Times
Article date: March 23, 2007
Author: Misha Davenport
She offers up home-spun wisdom, like Garrison Keillor mixed with the eternal optimism of Mary Tyler Moore, and Miss Richfield 1981 is heading our way. Boystown may never be the same.
We spoke to the pageant winner/singer/minister on the phone from her double-wide trailer park home in Richfield, Minn. Here's what she had to say:
Q. As a former pageant winner, what would you say has changed the most about pageants since you were crowned?
A. I can't speak about beauty pageants as the Miss Richfield pageant is a scholarship pageant. And nothing about it has changed. You don't just get the crown and the sash, but the winner also gets a two-month scholarship to Lakeland Dental Academy, a power mower and bus fare to the Marvin Window and Door factory in Warroad.
Q. Is there a reason you went into ministry instead of dental hygiene?
A. I absolutely loved the two weeks I spent at Lakeland Academy. Unfortunately, during my training I grabbed a tube of epoxy instead of fluoride and glued a woman's mouth shut. It all turned out for the best, though. I still get two dozen roses and a lovely card from her husband every year. Apparently, she was quite the talker.
Q. What can you tell us about Richfield?
A. If you've ever flown into the Twin Cities, you may have seen us. As you're coming in on Runway 2, we're the trailer park to the right. The next time you fly in, look out the window. Who knows, you might actually see me outside hanging the laundry to dry.
Q. How did the whole ministry come about?
A. When you're crowned Miss Richfield and given the title and that power lawn mower, you realize there isn't really anything else you need in life. And I say it's selfish to keep all this beauty to myself. So, the gals in my church -- I'm half-Jewish and half- Lutheran; Jewtheran, if you will -- well, the ladies of A Mighty Fortress is Our God Lutheran Church are always having bake sales and buying me one-way bus tickets to support my outreach. And so I travel to Godless meccas like Chicago, where they could use some beauty.
Q. Anything you're looking forward to in Chicago?
A. Finding a hotel. When I go to places like New York, I usually stay at the Ministorage, so I'm hoping there's one near the venue. Otherwise, I suppose I will have to look somewhere near Cicero.
Q. You're often compared to Dame Edna. Do you think the comparison is fair?
A. I hardly have her wealth. All my jewelry is on approval. She talks to presidents. I call bingo at the Richfield VFW Hall. She's on top and I've only just clawed my way to the middle. I eat well, though. Just not too well. Unlike the other Miss Richfields, I've managed to keep my figure.
- - -
MISS RICHFIELD 1981: THE CHICAGO SHOW
- 9 p.m. Saturday
- Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway
- Tickets, $20-$30
(773) 472-3492