Sister Gertrude Nagel, OSB
I am a native Oklahoman. I lived in Enid as a small child, but my family moved to several locations before settling in Billings. Billings was my home when I entered the Benedictine Community in Guthrie.

I had not thought about religious life until one day our pastor visited our home and asked if I had ever thought about becoming a sister. This gave me food for thought and after praying and thinking about this for a while, I decided that's what I would do. I attended high school in Enid. The distance between Enid and Billings was too great for travel, so I lived with my grandmother and aunt. I stayed home with my parents the year after graduation and entered the Benedictine Community in Guthrie in June of 1942.

I didn't know many communities of sisters or much about them, but the Benedictine Sisters visited our home during Vacation Bible School so I felt close to them. After entering, I was instructed about Benedictine life and prepared for ministry in the teaching profession. After professing my vows, I taught primary grades for 33 years.

God also gifted me with artistic talent. I worked in various media, eventually specializing in creating stoneware artifacts of various shapes and sizes. Today, as one of the monastery artisans, I create greeting cards, pictures and bookmarks from dried flowers.