Ruth Frieda Schellenberg Bishop Interview

              Dr. Radke- Moss Women‟ s Oral History Collection
Ruth Frieda Schellenberg Bishop
By Ruth Bishop
January 4, 2008
Box 5 Folder 3
Oral Interview conducted by Heather Mattson
Transcript copied by Heather Mattson Jan 2008
Brigham Young University- Idaho
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Heather Mattson: My name is Heather Mattson and I am interviewing Ruth Bishop in Ashton, Idaho on January 4, and this is her oral interview. Please state your full name including your maiden name. Ruth Bishop: My full name is Ruth Frieda Schellenberg Bishop. HM: Where and when were you born? RB: I was born in Bern, Switzerland. HM: Bern, Switzerland. What year? RB: 1925. HM: 1925. Wonderful. What are your parent‟ s full names? RB: My father‟ s name is Albert Schellenberg and my mother‟ s name was Maria Anna Maria Schtoidler. HM: Anna Maria Schtoidler? RB: Un- huh. HM: And how many brothers and sisters did you have? RB: I have two brothers and two sisters. HM: Where do you fit in? RB: I‟ m the second oldest. HM: The second oldest. What was your religious affiliation as a young child? RB: My parents were converted to the Mormon Church. HM: How old were you? RB: I was born… HM: You were born a member of the church? RB: Un- huh, yeah. HM: Wonderful. As a child growing up did you… was your family wealthy… were you well off, or did you struggle through the Depression?
RB: Well, we were… we were not poor… but everything was rationed when the war started in „ 39. All the borders were closed and we had no lights in the foyers or entry and I remember 3
every night I had to go close the shutters so no lights would shine out and of course Switzerland wasn‟ t in the war, but we expected any time for a while that Hitler wanted to go right through Switzerland and pick up Italy and all and go on. But the soldiers they really were ready to just kill „ em off, just kill „ em down, all the way. I remember one time all of the soldiers on the Basel, on the northern part of Switzerland and… tried to say if they come, we just get him. So Hitler decided, or whatever, who was on the… at that time leading said, “ It‟ s not worth it to go to Switzerland. Leave them alone.” But we were rationed… had you know rationed and… food was kind of scarce at times but otherwise it wasn‟ t too bad, you know. But, yeah, as a child of course I was about… oh, that was during the war in ‟ 39 to ‟ 45. During that time, the young people had to go and help the farmers. So I had to go, of course too, and I had to go… I remember I had to spread manure on the lawn! But we were not paid, but wherever we worked that time, you know, they had to… probably had to pay them, I don‟ t remember. But anyway I was spreading manure, and they were nice people. It was just a farm and [ an] older farmer who couldn‟ t get any help so we had to go. What else do I remember… HM: What types of things were rationed during the war? RB: Oh, sugar, flour, bread. The baker could not sell any bread unless it was 24 hours old. They could not sell fresh bread. HM: Wow. RB: That was not permitted because people would‟ ve eaten more you know, but we at home did not suffer. We had our own house and a garden. We had vegetables, various all kinds of… my mother used to love to work outside, out in the yard. We didn‟ t really suffer very much but I remember seeing some of those sisters in the branch that were kind of heavy, you know, they just slimmed down quite a bit because they used to like to eat bacon and stuff like that. And meat was rationed, you know, there was not much meat. When we had a little meat occasionally we got maybe a half a wiener, you know, for us and we had meat maybe once a week, a little bit, that‟ s all. We were not meat eaters anyway, you know. HM: What was your father‟ s occupation? RB: He was a representative of coal and wood. He had his people and they ordered things. HM: Was his job affected at all by the war? RB: He was affected because he couldn‟ t drive his car very often because of the gas restriction, you know. The price of coal and wood and things were scarce, but he wasn‟ t affected, his profession was not affected by it. HM: As a child, what were your experiences at school?
RB: At school? The only thing I remember when war started our teacher, the main teacher had to go to war and one day I got a card from the teacher, [ it] said, “ You are responsible for the vegetable garden this summer. Please take over and tell the kids what to do.” I was the boss! Goodness. 4
HM: So the school had a vegetable garden? RB: Yeah well, you know, the class… I was in 7th grade or something and we had to learn how to raise vegetables and how to plant them and seed them and did it, those boys had to mind me well! HM: Was the ratio of boys and girls pretty even throughout your school years? RB: Yeah, yeah. HM: What are some of your favorite childhood memories? RB: Well, every summer we were able to go up into the mountains, into the Alps. And stay overnight in the cottages, and I would sleep up in the hay. We were a close family, you know, we went together all the time, mother and father and us. That was always… fine memories, you know, to go up there in the Alps. Drink warm milk from the cows and whipping cream and good cheese. We could watch the people make the cheese right up there in the Alps. That was a fond memory. HM: Did you go there every year? RB: Oh, at least two, three times a year. Yeah, yeah. HM: Did you have a lot of family that lived close by? Aunts and uncles or relatives? RB: Well, we had relatives. Our grandfather lived, oh about, six hours away by train. But we couldn‟ t visit him because my father joined the Mormon Church and they didn‟ t want to have much to do with us. So actually, in our youth we never were able to visit our grandparents because of that. But then in the later years they mellowed down. When Grandfather got sick and he called my father one day and said, “ Albert, I think you did the right thing.” And so I remember one time my sister Clara and I were able to go and visit. That was kind of something special because we were not allowed… they didn‟ t want us before, you know. HM: Wow, that‟ s wonderful…. How old were you when your family came to the United States? RB: I was a pioneer. HM: Oh really?
RB: I had to start. And that started because I had just finished my nurse‟ s training as a children‟ s nurse. And we always had the missionaries every Monday and one of the older missionaries said, “ One of my partners is looking for a girl. He promised his aunt that he would look for a girl for her family, to come to America and take care of the seven children.” And my mother said, “ Oh that would just be a perfect thing for us.” Because their wish was to come to America and go to Zion and be sealed in the temple. And so they asked me if I would consider going to American get started. And I said okay. And so I started coming. I started the papers, you know, were getting ready, and you wrote to the people you had to have a Visa, you know. And you had 5
to wait quite awhile until your quota came. And I remember after the papers were in, and my mother said, “ Oh now I‟ m sure she‟ s going to get it because the papers are in and she‟ s going to wait for the quota. We better sell our house so we will be ready.” And that was a hard thing for me because they put the house for sale and they sold it right away and they sold everything in the house. Just what they needed to move in an apartment so when the time came that my quota came, they knew that once I‟ m over there I would see that they could get over there. They sold the house and moved everything. [ They] sold everything in there, expect just what they needed and moved in an apartment. But then, of course, they waited. Within two and a half years they were able to come. I had thought well, my parents sure have a lot of faith in me, you know. And so after I came to this country, I came to Idaho Falls. And, of course, that‟ s a big story how I travelled. That‟ s another story that‟ s actually in here if you want to read it. But, anyway they gradually, within two and a half years, I got everybody over here. And my parents were just so happy. I can‟ t imagine, you know, now days, you think they had everything. They had a beautiful house a fine place here they come to America and they had to… the only thing that was available was a basement apartment. And their front room was a furnace room and a very, very poor bathroom. And my mother was happy, perfectly happy. We wanted to go to Zion and that‟ s perfectly fine. HM: How old were you when you moved here? RB: I was twenty- two. HM: Twenty- two. So you finished high school and college in Switzerland? RB: Yeah, uh- huh. HM: Did you play any sports or activities with your school in high school or in college? RB: Yes I did, yeah. I had my own team. HM: Oh really? RB: [ A] volleyball team, yeah. And, of course, see my name was Schellenberg and I wascalled Shelly in school. Shelly Team. Ellie Team. So the Shelly Team. I was the Shelly Team. Yeah, I had my own ball team. HM: In college was there an even ratio of men and women in college? RB: We didn‟ t have this type of college like you had here. It was a private college where I went to. Mostly for business, a business college. Racial… that didn‟ t bother us at all. No, there were all types of races, you know, people from all over the place. Even in my college there from Austria and, we didn‟ t want the Germans though. No. No Germans, but Austrians. Yeah, Italians, French. HM: What other sports were available to women in college?
RB: That‟ s all. 6
HM: Just volleyball? RB: Uh- huh. No, we didn‟ t authorize... sports was not the priority in school at all. HM: Were you at a big college? Where was the college at? RB: Right in town. In Bern. HM: Oh. So in Idaho Falls is that where you met your husband, or where did you find your husband and get married at? RB: Well I came to this home. I traveled from New York. Well, after I got into New York the travel agent was waiting and I came on the Queen Elizabeth. And I was sick all the five days, seasick right away. But I went up, you know, I went on deck all the time. And at the travel agent they took me in there and said, “ You don‟ t have enough money to go west. The travel agent in Switzerland made some kind of mistake and I said, “ Please show me the papers. I want to see what happened.” So they see me the papers and I added it up and I said, “ You made a mistake. That is not right. I don‟ t owe you that money.” But they said, “ Well, we would like to make a little money for the work we did.” I said, “ Okay. Then instead of me taking Pullman, I just take coach. They said okay. They said, “ Why do you want to go to the west here?” They said, “ Look a girl like you, you‟ re really smart. We could use you right here in the office. I offer you a job right here and I could show you New York. It‟ s beautiful.” And this other man, he must have been a German, he spoke German. And he said, “ There is the opera house. There‟ s a beautiful place, New York. What do you want to go back there west where all the sage brush and wind blows and everything?” But, then I remembered my mother saying, “ Remember, your destination is Idaho Falls.” I said, “ Sorry, my destination is Idaho Falls.” That‟ s where I went. HM: How long were you in New York before you got to Idaho Falls? RB: Oh, just overnight. HM: Just overnight? RB: Yeah, [ I] just had one overnight. Yeah. HM: What was your first impression of America?
RB: Well, I had to fly into London because of problems. I flew into London and when I came into London and I saw all those rubbles all that… oh just houses were just down. And I thought, “ Oh my goodness if America is like that I will turn right around.” But then I came to New York and right after the boat stopped, you know, I wasn‟ t sea sick anymore. I got off and I don‟ t know, to me I felt like this is a different world, you know. I could feel something different. I felt good. It was completely different. And I thought well this is really something. So I just felt good and I know I just keep right on going. And then I went by train and I had reservations, of course. So I went by train till Pocatello. In Pocatello I took the bus, they told me to take the bus, all by myself, wasn‟ t a bit scared. I see that‟ s what I need to do, you know. I mean, right now … many times I thought, how dare did I do this, you know. But I knew… I guess it just was… 7
when your young you don‟ t have any fear, really, I don‟ t think. Everything went well. I got to Idaho Falls and the bus station, had two luggages, sat there in the bus station, nobody was there. I thought, I don‟ t know how to call anybody, I have no phone number. I just sat there. Those people at the station felt kind of sorry for me. I guess maybe they wanted to close up because probably the last train, I don‟ t know, [ the] last bus. But after [ a] long while, some fancy car drove up and a girl got out with a picture in her hand, with my picture. Then I stayed for one year. But the nice thing was after about six weeks I never saw anything except the house, in the house. When I got there, I thought, oh well my room was… I shared a room with the oldest daughter and then I got up in the morning, and there is nobody around, you know, working. I thought, this must be the maid‟ s day off today. I better just pitch in, you know, and so I just pitched in and I pitched in ever since. I didn‟ t know that I was actually a maid. I know I had my blue and white striped dress with a white apron. I laugh now, you know, but it was just different. So I stayed for one year, but after a while, they told me that there was a Swiss family living in town, the old Orginiks. And when I had a chance, that‟ s where I went to, to visit these older people. And they were just like my grandparents, you know. Whatever they advised me I did. And that was nice to have somebody like that, you know, when you are young. And I went to their church, their ward, first ward. And there was a bishop and he thought, well, that girl would be girl for my [ son]. It‟ s about time he gets married. So, he made arrangements with his son. He was in… where was he? Oh yeah, he was at the University of Utah still going to school. And so he made arrangements and we went to a dance. And then afterwards I moved to Idaho… to Salt Lake because my brother and his wife that I had… that somebody had sponsored were able to move to Salt Lake and he already had a job. I mean, somebody gave me an address from an architect in Salt Lake. And I wrote to this architect and sent him plans that he had written, you know. And he wrote back and said, “ We will hire him as soon as he comes to the United States. He can have a job right there.” So he worked for them many years, in Salt Lake. HM: Oh wow. RB: Yeah. HM: So where did you meet your husband then? RB: In Idaho Falls. HM: In Idaho Falls? RB: Yeah, yeah. And then of course I went to Salt Lake. And well I didn‟ t know that he was living in Salt Lake. But then I wrote a letter and thanked him for the date, it was nice and kind and thanked him. And then I guess his father sent the letter to Salt Lake to school. And then he found the place where I was living with my brother and sister- in- law in Salt Lake. And he made… we got a date and got acquainted and then we got married. HM: What was his name?
RB: Lowell, L- O- W- E- L- L. And when I wrote the letter, I wrote L- O- L. And the kids in school, I mean the friends they really, you know, they really made fun of him. Yeah. And his parents 8
were very much in favor of getting acquainted with me and it was a good marriage. And my in- laws were very happy. We got along really very well, just very good. HM: What year were you married? RB: In ‟ 49. HM: In 1949… where at? RB: In Idaho Falls Temple. HM: In Idaho Falls. How many children did you have? RB: Five. HM: Five children. What was your husband‟ s occupation? RB: He had a master‟ s degree in chemistry and physics. He was… yeah. HM: So did you raise your family in Idaho Falls? RB: Yeah, mostly. HM: Did you ever work outside the home, or did you have hobbies or any way that you tried to just earn a little extra money besides your husband‟ s income? RB: No, no, not until later… not until much later when we moved up here, when [ we] bought the hotel. No I didn‟ t work… never worked before. [ I] just raised my own children. The youngest one was two though, when we moved up here in… No. No she was turning eight. Yeah. HM: What year did you move up to Ashton? RB: In ‟ 67, or ‟ 66. ‟ 67 I think it was. Yeah HM: Why did your family decide to move here? RB: Well, my husband quit his job as a chemist. He wanted to do something… he wanted change. And then we thought, well maybe just ought to get into business or something and this hotel [ was] for sell up here, in town. [ So] we bought that. HM: What was the name of the hotel? RB: Trails Inn. HM: Trails Inn? RB: It‟ s a café now, [ a] nice café. We lived there for 10 years. 9
HM: Do you remember the Cold War? What were your experiences with the cold war? RB: Well, all I can remember, of course, was… I remember at one time the city of Basel was on the north side and the members there had to evacuate [ out] of the church. So I remember my family, my mother and dad took some whole families to stay with us for several days or weeks until it was clear, you know. Because of the thing, but that‟ s all [ I] remember of the Cold War. Well, after I got through with my business college things, I went… of course the bicycle tires were rationed. So just before I went into the children‟ s home, I had to be 20 years old in order to get into this schooling. I worked in that for a while, in that bicycle tire permits. I did, for just a little while and I had enough money for the schooling, and that‟ s it. But you know the Cold War, you know, it‟ s… thinking of the Cold War is… we were able to listen to the news, you know, and we felt very insecure, very insecure, and we had everything was rationed, you know, that‟ s about it. Oh I remember that chocolate was rationed. Oh I shouldn‟ t tell you that story. But, you know, we were so hungry for sweets. And then I worked in that tire store, bicycle tire store. I was the head over the group there. And one day there were three men and several women came. “ Well, see this nice bar of chocolate.” I said, “ Oh yeah, where did you get that?” He said, “ Well if you see there that June Bug? If you bite the head of that June Bug, you can have that bar of chocolate.”… in the Alps and I thought, ewww. I looked at that June Bug, it had flown in, you know, and I thought, actually that wouldn‟ t be so bad if I am just very careful, I could just clip that thing right off, and I did. I got the bar of chocolate because you were so hungry for sweets because everything was rationed, and sweets was a rarity. HM: Wow. RB: So that was mine... HM: So what are some of your favorite memories here in America? RB: My what? HM: Favorite memories in America.
RB: Here in America? My very favorite would be, well actually my very favorite is… It was nice in Idaho Falls and my life and children was very pleasant I loved them all. I took good care of them, I know, I‟ m sure. I hope I did. But then the countryside up north and, you know, Driggs and the mountains, and Tetons reminded me, of course, of Switzerland. And then going north up here, I thought well after we were married, my husband‟ s family had a cabin up at Mack‟ s Inn. And so we went up to Mack‟ s Inn a lot because the pine trees and everything was so nice and so pleasant. And then after a few years, that was in ‟ 49, when we got married, we went occasionally on weekends up there. That bishop had friends, of course, and they all went fishing on weekends and we had to stay on Mondays. And I thought it would be nice if we could have our own. Then those cabins were for sale up at Mack‟ s inn. There were five units and a big cabin that was for sale. And my mother was up there and her friend was up there and we bought those cabins. And that was, even now it‟ s my choice place to go in the summer time. Be up there. Of course I adopted fishing. And I loved to go down to the Snake River in a little boat, go 10
out in the middle of the river and go fish for some trout. And I had my little… and go in…. This is, I think, really my favorite memory or still have a favorite memory of that. HM: Raising your children, were they sick often, or did you fear for their lives at any point? RB: My children were not sick very often. I was really blessed with that. And no I had my way of raising it because I had a different way, probably, than others did, you know, and certain things in my home was not done. We don‟ t do this in our home. And it was… I had no problem raising them. HM: What were some examples of how you raised your children differently? RB: Well, like fishing on Sunday, or I remember when television came out. I told them, you know, we‟ re so blessed to have a television, but let‟ s not watch it on Sunday. And for a long, long time, they all obeyed, we just didn‟ t watch TV on Sunday. That has changed now all the years. I really cannot, I cannot complain, it‟ s been alright. HM: Do you remember the JFK Assassination at all? RB: Yes. HM: Where were you and what do you remember about it? RB: Oh yeah! We moved from Idaho Falls for a couple of years to Las Vegas because my husband was offered a job down there. And he was down there for a while and then we decided the family to move down there to be with him. And that was [ a] sad day. I was sitting there in the front room when, I had the TV on and I could see that. What happened right there. That was a day, down there in the Las Vegas. And it was a sad, sad day for I‟ m sure for the whole nation. HM: What did you think was going to happen after that? What were your thoughts? RB: Hmm, I have to think. At first I couldn‟ t think of anything. It‟ s just the saddest part that a president had to be shot like that. But… a beloved president. Everybody loved him, you know. That should… that could happen… in this United States. But it has happened before, and we just have to take it and go on from there. Make the best of it. Hopefully it goes well, better. HM: Do you remember the atomic scares, the nuclear fallout, or anything like that? RB: Well, yes I do but I really can‟ t make any comments on that that I could, you know, I‟ m not a politician of one wing at all. HM: So after Las Vegas, what year did you move back to Idaho?
RB: Oh just…‟ 64, „ 65, ‟ 67, yeah. It was soon after we bought the motel. That‟ s right. Because we were living on the highway, west Broadway there. We had ten acres there and we lived in a family home. And we got strange phone calls. People just wanted to buy that property. And so we had decided, well, we might just as well sell the property and move up here. So, we sold it. 11
HM: You obviously didn‟ t live in Rexburg during the Teton flood, do you remember that flood? RB: Oh, I remember it well. It was a Saturday, beautiful day and rained, it had rained all the month. And there was most beautiful day. And I thought, well, it‟ s a nice time to go to Rexburg. So, I started down to go to Rexburg. And then they said, “ You can‟ t go through the flood is coming, the flood is coming.” Flood what? And I thought, oh well, maybe the best thing would be, we have a motel. Maybe if people need help, I better go back home. And sure enough, there were people calling to, you know, from Archer… no Archer… well, north of Rexburg. HM: Sugar City? RB: Sugar City, no… it…. Anyways, some of them, there were two families that came to the motel and we housed them, you know. The father was really worried about his wife and the children. Then there was one couple, she was expecting a baby any minute. And I thought, oh my, how do I remember! It‟ s been so long ago I was assisting with births. But oh, what do I do? I don‟ t know that I could do it by myself! But luckily, she held out a little longer. Yeah. HM: So was your family able to help people from Rexburg and Sugar City and the surrounding communities [ to] get out of the flood? RB: Oh yeah. We still had the motel and of course, then they… how was it now? Ross came and, and said, “ Bring whatever you have to your place.” We have this front, you know, there‟ s the gift shop there. Had the ward bring whatever they can, food, clothing, blankets, everything…. And they bought all kinds of stuff in our motel there. And they will pick it up right away so they could, you know, help those that were flooded out. Yeah, I remember that. Well I went down and helped clean one of the houses, oh! All that mud! They took clothes home, had to wash them three, four time so that the… dirt and sand, you know… went out. Whet clean. HM: That‟ s cool. How many of your children still live in the area? RB: Four. HM: Four? RB: Yeah. HM: How many grandchildren do you have? RB: Thirty- eight. HM: Thirty- eight. RB: Uh- huh. HM: How long ago did your husband pass away? 12
RB: In ‟ 81. HM: In ‟ 81? RB: Uh- huh. HM: So have you lived alone ever since? RB: I lived alone for fourteen years. And then I had a chance to go on a trip to Jerusalem. And there I met a man that really kind of had an interest in me. And we found out that he had been on a mission in Chicago, in a temple mission, the same time that I was. I wouldn‟ t remember him, but somehow he remembered me. Well with an accent you just can‟ t slip away from anything. And on that trip of Jerusalem he met me. And we got acquainted and he was a musician. And he directed music. [ He] was a music director in Salt Lake, from Salt Lake. And his wife passed away three years ago. And we got married in ‟ 95. And it was a very good marriage. I was surprised that, you know, you didn‟ t think I was never dated. I was not interested I thought that was just it, you know, husband dies and that‟ s it. But my family also thought that it was a good idea. And I got married and he was a very fine, fine man. I got flowers once a month, and poetry, he was writing poetry, beautiful! And so I really have been… that was a special bonus I think that I got. But he only lived just not quite five years and passed away. He passed away in the temple... one day when we were in the temple. He had a heart attack and passed away. HM: So was it difficult to remarry? RB: The second time? I thought it would be but it wasn‟ t. It was somehow not. I would not want a divorce or anything, but I mean I got married. That‟ s it, you know. I just couldn‟ t see people getting a divorce. Once you made up your mind... you can work. There‟ s no... better man than man, or so you know. It really isn‟ t. No there was... we really didn‟ t have that much problems, but of course I could see this and that he could do better, and he wanted... I wanted this. But no, there was no problem. Yeah. It was not hard. Actually, after fourteen years, you know. And I never went out with anybody. But he was so kind! And I thought, then he was directing the choir in the Jerusalem... HM: Center? RB: center. I thought, gees what a beautiful and lovely man. I should pay more attention to him. And so I, when we parted he gave me his address, asked my address, and so I called and we got acquainted and got married, three months later. HM: What was his name? RB: Carlile Decker. HM: Carlile Decker. 13
RB: Yeah. But I took back my old name because everything is in that, Bishop‟ s name so.... Now you make me cough. I do miss him at times, I really do. But... this is Icelandic Moss, from Switzerland, no actually from Iceland. HM: What is it called? RB: Icelandic Moss. HM: Oh. It tastes kind of like black licorice. RB: Mmm- hmm, almost, yeah. Now you know my whole life story. HM: Have you been back to Switzerland often? RB: Yeah. I went last month. HM: Last month? RB: Well, yeah, came back the 5th of December. I only stayed a week. I just bought Christmas stuff for Christmas. I visited my school friend I went to school with. HM: So I see you have this stove that‟ s from Switzerland, and I‟ m assuming some of these… RB: Oh I made that. Yeah. I embroidered that. HM: That‟ s beautiful. RB: Yeah, this stuff is from Switzerland, all over the place. HM: Have you gone back with any of your family? RB: Oh yeah. Everybody has been back except my oldest son. Richard was back when he got married. Of course, Nini was there, Sylvia was there, Maria was there. Course, Maria got married to Swiss boy, you know. Idem. HM: Idem? Are they the Idem‟ s that live here in town? They‟ re Swiss as well? RB: Yeah, he‟ s a Swiss boy. His family... grew up, well, was in the same branch... my family. My father and mother knew them well. Yeah. Then he came over. He was the youngest of seven children. Kurt. And he came over and he wanted that Maria, that was it. HM: That‟ s wonderful. Is there anything else you would like to add into the interview? RB: Gee, I told more than I should have.
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Appendix A short biography written by Ruth Bishop‟ s second husband sometime between 1995 and 2000. Written in her perspective. I, Too, Was A Pioneer: How I Got To America My maiden name is Ruth Schellenberg. I was born and grew up in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. My parents had been converts to the LDS Church since before they were married. Ever since the 1930‟ s, they had wished to immigrate to the United States. Their desire was to be sealed in the Temple, and they had saved money to do this. Unfortunately, my mother‟ s brother borrowed their savings, supposedly for a short term, but it was never paid back. It was not until the fall of 1947 that I became the one to be the pioneer for our family. I had finished public schools and had gone on to study to be a baby nurse. One of the Missionaries to Switzerland had an aunt in Idaho who had seven children and was looking for help. After corresponding with them, a sponsoring affidavit was finally arranged and soon all my worldly possessions were packed in an overseas trunk and I was ready to go… or so I thought. It was on a Tuesday evening and the whole MIA class was at the train station to bid me farewell. I was to travel through France, take a boat across the Channel, then a train to Southhampton to board the Queen Elizabeth for New York. As the train stopped at the French border, the Border Patrol came to check our papers, and I found that I did not have a visa to pass through France and was told to leave the train immediately. I was taken to the patrol station where the guard wrote my name in a big book and pointed his hand toward the Swiss border and said:” Voila La Swiss!” ( Over there is Switzerland.) So down the road I walked, in the rain with my hand baggage to the Swiss border. The Swiss guards were surprised to see a person out there in the middle of the night, but a friendly officer invited me into their stationhouse. After telling them my problem, they wondered how I could make connections and still make the ship on time. It was decided that I had to go to the next larger train station to catch another train back to where I had started. But how to get to the train station? They arranged for a Swiss man who worked across the border in France and was driving home, to drive me to the station. Back in Bern, my parents met me and we had to get my visa, then make arrangements to fly to London. It was so confusing, but I knew I had to have the strength to keep going. I stayed overnight in a poor hotel in London. Oh, how miserable! I felt sad to see all the bombed out buildings and piles of rubble everywhere. I wondered what my future might be. The Queen Elizabeth was a beautiful ship and everything was elegant but to my disappointment I was seasick every day of the trip. I stayed up on deck all day long, wrapped in a blanket. It took five days to cross the Atlantic. Early in the morning on October 1st, we approached New York harbor. There she was, the Stature of Liberty, with her hand out as if to say, “ Welcome to my country.” It was most impressive to me. I promised her I would never be a burden to her.
A travel agent met me and I was taken to their office where I was told that there was not enough money transferred to pay the way to my destination. I asked to see the papers and found that their arithmetic was incorrect; but to make it stretch I arranged to go coach fare rather than by 15
Pullman. The old man, a German I assumed, said; “ We could use a girl like you right here. Why do you want to go out west where there is nothing but tumbleweeds blowing through the streets? I could show you the theater and opera houses. It‟ s beautiful here.” But I seemed to hear my mother saying: “ Remember, your destination is Idaho Falls.” And that‟ s what it was. I rode the train across this great land all the way to Pocatello, then on a bus to Idaho Falls. But at the depot no one met me… I just sat there, my trunk and baggage in front of me, no one I knew, didn‟ t even know how to use the phone or where to go. Finally the family came and the little girl had in her hand my picture that I had sent. However, it was not hard to find me… I was the only one there. My employer‟ s house was very nice, but I had to adjust to a new way of life. I had studied English in school, but for some time I carried a translating dictionary around with me. Idahoans didn‟ t speak like the English I knew. I worked for the family for one year, then went to Salt Lake City where I found a better job. Within three years, I was able to either sponsor or help others to sponsor all the rest of my family to come to America… two other sisters and their husbands, a married brother and my younger single brother, and finally my parents. At last my parents were able to be sealed in the Temple, and five of us children were sealed to them. America is indeed The Land of Promise! My parents have since passed away but there is a big generation of Schellenbergs now in this good country.