April 28, 1920 while the spring sun warmed the mountain streams, Arminda Mae Sears was born in Libby, Montana, USA. She was the youngest girl from a family of eight. Albert Sears, her father, an engineer, designed the railway through the Rocky Mountains. Her mother, Anne was getting ill so the family was forced to head east to Sackville, New Brunswick. While on the train coming across the flat lands fields of golden wheat waved as the cars clacked down the tracks. On route she died from child birth leaving Albert with a large family and a new infant. Minnie was age two. Upon arrival to Sackville, he was forced to put the youngest three out for adoption. Mother was chosen by the Reynolds and Helen Weldon. She was here until age nine when her adopted mother took ill and could no longer care for this beautiful child, she was taken to Salisbury to live with Miss Crisp, at a boarding home. One day a letter arrived to Miss Crisp for a girl to help a lady in Bloomfield with her nursing home for the aged. Minnie went there at age 14. She worked and was loved and nurtured by her Aunt Ida Pickle, here she met Kenneth James Middleton whom she later married on July 10, 1937 at the age of 17, Ken was 24. She always said, it is better to be an old mans sweetheart than a young mans slave. The first home they shared was in Moncton, where Betty was born. Minnie was very happy there and often told a story about a family of baby skunks that lived under their back steps. Later they moved to Anagance, where as far as Minnie was concerned was to far back in the woods for her liking. She needed to see lights and be around people. Later moving to Norton, with her family growing, they had Betty and Ira, then she had Anne. A farm came up for sale in Carsonville, which they purchased and lived on while raising the growing family. This home was humble and full of love the children often came home from school to a treat of fresh cookies or wonderful fudge. She always had a surprise. Minnie and Ken survived the death of their son Bryant at the age of 9 months, two barn fires and the many burdens of every day life. A book that she often shared and lived by was Pollyanna. Her cup was always half full rather than half empty. She could always find the good in every situation and no matter how bad they had it, she new there was someone else who had bigger burdens. Minnie was a devoted Christian women and loved her Lord. No week was complete without Sunday School and Church at the little white Baptist Church at the Head of Millstream. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and had a Mission Bank for the youth in the area of her home. Daily Vacation Bible School in the Summer was important if she was not involved in it she made sure that her children got there. After the last Barn fire, insured for a mere thousand dollars, the family had no option but to move to Anagance, back to where Ken was the happiest as he was home. Minnie always missed the rolling hills and the privacy of the farm in Carsonville, after all she had raised her family there. It took some time for everyone to settle in. Soon the Portage Baptist Church became their new Church family. Minnie transferred her Baptist Women's Mission Society membership and the Women's Institute kept her active in the community as well. Minnie loved to dress up and act up a bit. She always said laughter was the best medicine.