Miner: Still learning to do

Ashlee Adkisson
Staff Writer
Dec. 2, 2004, Page 4

At 96, Harriet Miner has realized that you can't put a limit on learning. A resident of Doane Village, Miner has taken at least one class every semester for 18 years.
"I've learned that I still have a lot of learning to do," Miner said.
Miner moved to Crete after she heard about Doane Village, an apartment complex offered to retirees associated with Doane. Miner's mother graduated from Doane in 1902. Miner had just retired from Community Concerts, where she worked as a field representative for 18 years. The traveling involved became too much for her at 78.
Harriet and her husband, William Miner, had one daughter, Hope McClure (Miner). William died before Harriet retired and moving to Crete brought her closer to Hope, Ed McClure and their five children.
Miner attended Baptist College in Grand Island for 3 years and finished at Hastings College where she received a Bachelors of Arts in English. Miner continues to take classes at Doane because she enjoys the students.
"I take the classes for pure pleasure." Miner said. "There are so many advantages of an older person being with younger people."
Now, Miner enrolls in mostly English or history classes. But with a large grin on her face, she remembered the biggest mistake she made in choosing her classes. Miner said one of the first classes she took was a biology class. She felt bad for the professor when every day he would glance over at her and see absolute confusion on her face. After than, Miner said, she stayed with the English and history classes.
Taking classes at Doane has also given her the opportunity to get to know the faculty.
"I'm partial to Betty Levitov." Miner said. "I've taken so many classes from her, I wonder if someday she'll tell me 'that's enough!'"
Miner's goal is to take a writing class soon. She wants to write memoirs for her grandchildren to remember her by.
A milestone for Miner each year is attending Commencement Exercises.
"I can't sit through graduation without weeping." Miner admits. "I just think of all the sacrifices the students made to get that far."