Lilac Queens: Joanne (Henry) Nielson

Year crowned: 1955

High school: Lewis and Clark*

Catching up: Joanne (Henry) Nielson is the older sister of 1962 queen Louise Henry, the only sisters elected queen.
She has been a foster mom for the past 12 years and has 5 grown children of her own.
Nielson also runs a lake retreat in North Idaho that caters to quilters. She is currently writing a cookbook.

* From 1940 to 1957 the queens were sponsored by garden clubs, not their schools.