CELEBRATING A MOTHER OF FIVE AND NAVY VET.

Byline: BETTIE RENCORET Senior Columnist

QUARTZ HILL -- Antelope Valley native Caroline Craft is a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War. She's also the quiet woman behind her community activist husband, Tom, and the consummate mother of five grown children.

She's in the dark about how she will spend Mother's Day today.

``I don't know about any plans,'' she said. ``The kids are all scattered from here in Quartz Hill and Lancaster to Virginia, Hoboken, New Jersey, to Hawaii. But probably we'll go out to dinner with the ones who are close.''

She has always assumed the role of hostess and silent partner for her veterans-advocate husband. She shies away from the limelight, but she stays as busy as he does, doing her own thing.

``I let him do all the public stuff and I do the rest,'' she said.

``I'm there when he needs me to be but otherwise I take care of the house, garden, bookwork and things like that. I do fun things, too, of course. Like china painting. Things that are just for me.''

Their home reflects the beauty of her completed handiwork. Some of her pieces are displayed on plate racks that grace the dining room buffet. Some hang on the wall beside a china cabinet.

Born to Antelope Valley alfalfa and chicken ranchers Fred and Celia Tensfeld, Caroline attended Roosevelt Grammar School, graduated in 1947 from Antelope Valley Joint Union High School and received an associate in arts degree from Antelope Valley College in 1950.

``I wanted to go right from AVC to Fresno State College but when I went to Fresno to enroll I found out that somewhere along the line my transcripts hadn't been forwarded,'' she said. ``They'd gotten buried on the bottom of a stack of other papers on somebody's desk when the college was moving.''

She was so frustrated that she decided to join the Navy. She enlisted in 1951.

At a duty station, she met a up-and-coming naval officer, Thomas Craft, who swept her off her feet. On May 9, 1953, they were married in Lancaster's Grace Lutheran Church.

Her tenure as a Navy seaman was cut short after 2 1/2 years when she found out she was expecting their oldest son, Michael.

``In those days you couldn't stay in the service while you were pregnant,'' she said.

Michael was subsequently born in Hawaii, where he and his family now live. He's carrying on the family tradition as a Naval officer stationed there.

With Michael, she began her job as a stay-at-home mom.

After Michael came Becky (Attwood), then Cheryl (Matheson), followed by Marty and the youngest son, Kiley.

Becky served a hitch in the Navy and remains in the U.S. Navy Reserve. She and her family live right next door in Quartz Hill.

Cheryl lives in Virginia. Marty is in Hoboken, N. J., and Kiley is at home in Lancaster.

``I did all the usual things as they were growing up,'' she said. ``I was PTA room mother and worked with all of them through their athletic and scouting years. I kept track of all their advancements and other types of paperwork. Both Michael and Kiley are Eagle Scouts.''

She said she and Tom attended all the track meets, the swimming competitions and baseball games of the oldest four.

``Then there was Kiley,'' she said. ``His passion has always been computers.''

She said she enjoyed each of the children and the things they were into.

``You can't put them all in one mold or compare them,'' she said.

``They are all so different and each one is special. When you let them achieve their own individuality that's a good thing.''

Her advice to young mothers is:

``Never give up on your kids, no matter what. Stay on track and make sure they know you care about everything they do. Let them know you expect good things from them. Above all, tell them frequently that you love them. They'll respond to that and make you proud.''

Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster and Palmdale have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk, for a suggested donation of $2.

Monday: Beef Stroganoff wit noodles, peas and carrots, lettuce and tomato salad, apples.

Tuesday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, creamy coleslaw, apple sauce.

Wednesday: Mandarin chicken salad, marinated beets, pea salad, cheesecake.

Thursday: Barbecued pork sandwich, macaroni salad, corn niblets, carrot salad, bananas.

Friday: Roast turkey, bread dressing, Normandy vegetables, tossed salad, Jell-O with fruit.

This column disseminates news of interest to seniors of all ages.

Bettie Rencoret may be contacted at [phone].

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(color) U.S. Navy veteran and mother of five Caroline Craft said she doesn't know how she'll spend Mother's Day -- but most likely it will be with her children who still live in the area.

Bettie Rencoret/Special to the Daily News