Legacy is a collection of poems written to each of Ilene's grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren at the time of publication. It ends with a poem to any future children whom Ilene will not meet. It is a deeply personal, loving collection of tributes from a devoted grandmother to her family, the legacy that she will leave behind her. Even if readers don't personally know Ilene's family, they can take away the raw, beautiful emotion in each poem and apply it to their own family relationships. Ilene (Mittlestadt) Kowis was born on the family farm northeast of Killdeer, North Dakota, on November 27, 1936. She is the daughter of Johnny and Rose Mittlestadt. Ilene graduated from Killdeer High School in 1954. She married Robert Kowis in 1955 and went on to have seven children, 19 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren, and two (so far) great-great grandchildren. Ilene started writing poetry and song lyrics after her marriage and continues today. She has now published two books of her original poetry in her 80's. She resides in Hettinger, North Dakota.