Myva Scott

Myva Scott was the lucky winner this year in a moment most people, including Myva, won’t forget. When she heard her name she didn’t think it was possible at first. “I didn’t believe it, that’s not what they said,” she told me when we sat down for the interview part of her prize.

When it became clear it was of course her, she told me she felt “overwhelmed but then very special. And being the first one to do it, that’s special.” For everyone in attendance it was a special moment as well. Myva was a gracious recipient, tearing up as it was presented to her and even hugging the presenter.

Seeing someone so grateful and overwhelmed was a touching moment for all. We here at Her Voice think everyone has a story to tell and I’m excited and honored to be the one to tell Myva’s. She was a great interviewee and told me some fascinating things about herself and pieces of advice I’ll definitely take with me long past this interview.

Seventy-six year old Myva Scott was born in Bloomfield, Nebraska. She has lived there most of her life, growing up there, but she has also lived in Crofton and Norfolk. Growing up she lived on a farm where she had all the normal farm chores, like milking cows. She rode the bus to school, even in high school,

which she notes that most kids don’t have to do much anymore. “Most of them drive now, but I only got to drive once or twice.” Myva and her husband have been together for fifty-seven years after meeting through “mutual friends.”

The pair have been back in the Linde/Bloomfield area since 1962. They have 3 kids, 8 grandchildren and 11 ¾ greatgrandchildren, with a new one on the way. February will be when number 12 is born. She has worked many different jobs, citing nursing homes as the worst because she “washed clothes. Back with the old time washing machines. It was hard.” Her favorite job was working for Avera Hospital in food service. She worked this job for 40 years which she cites as one of her greatest accomplishments. “Not too many people stay in one place for that long. It was interesting, you got to know a lot of people. It was nice. It’s the part I miss the most, seeing all the familiar people.” She also dressed up as a clown for special occasions not as a job though. A neighbor had a donkey so that was a part of the act. It wasn’t so much about doing the clown thing as it was about having fun and bringing joy to others.

Myva has experienced some of the most important historical events and when asked which one was the most significant she said the Kennedy assassination because it’s the one that stands out the most. “That was just something you thought would never happen. You just always remember that one. She remembers she was pregnant with her youngest and was on the way to Yankton to buy a TV when the news broke in over the radio. “It was just something to always remember.” She also said 9/11 would be just as significant. “I was at work when the towers fell. They brought in TVs so we could see what was going on.” Those two were the biggest but Myva said that it’s more common now than it was for her growing up. “Anymore, that’s what it is. Every other day.”

Myva’s most memorable moment is welcoming her first grandkid. “Your kids are special, but then the grandkids and great-grandkids come. And it’s just more special.” Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are the most rewarding to her. Especially during the holidays because their excitement makes the holidays. “They just never know what to do with what they got because they have so much.” Her hobbies are baking bread, making blankets, and the garden. Though the garden is more of her husband’s project than hers, she still helps out.

Over the course of her life Myva feels like technology is the best and worst thing to change. “If it wasn’t for a computer I wouldn’t get to see some of the kids and grandkids.” But she says it’s also the worst thing to change because we start to depend on it too much, expect it. Plus “sometimes people know too much about you because of it.” She also notes that because technology there tends to be lack of actual communication face-to-face. We depend on the technology and do it that way instead.

Myva wants to be remembered for helping people, doing what you can, when you can. For Myva that’s always been a big deal. “Helping people when you can, help at church.” She took care of her mom for a while, helping her once she was in a wheelchair and it was hard for her to get around. She also took care of her dad during this time. She took them to the doctor and helped around the house, while still working full-time. It was an important time, having been taken care of by them, she felt it was important to help take care of them. Plus she believes helping people and being in contact is the key to happiness. “Happiness is what you make it. Have good friends, keep in contact with your family, have a good place to live, help people when you can, and have a positive outlook.” She also nursed her husband after his five bypass surgeries. “It was probably one of the scariest times. But it’s what you do for the people you love.”

When asked if there was anything she regretted doing, Myva responded with something I won’t forget. “We are always asked if we would go back and change something, but when it comes down to it we will still do the same thing. You can’t change what has been.”

Myva remembers once having given blood and she didn’t eat before so her blood pressure went down. She told her mom that she understood how her mom felt, because her mom had problems with blood pressure. She’ll never forget what her mom said to her after that, it being a key piece of advice she likes to live by. “Well, you’ll learn.” It just stuck with her. The other is the final thing Myva told me that day when I asked what her favorite piece of advice was. “All you can do is hope for your health and spend some time enjoying your years.”

Photos by DeAnn McClure Photography