To be sure, Mom and Dad wrote one another while he was overseas. This is evidenced by four surviving letters from Dad to Mom, which reveal additional bits of information concerning their backgrounds and aspirations.
In one letter, dated 23 June 1927, he gently chided her for not writing more promptly; also noting that he had just been called as Berlin District President. But, obviously, their relationship was still only budding at the time, as indicated by his closing salutation: With all best wishes, I remain in Berlin, Wendell. PS. I’m going to start counting the days till you answer, WBC. 21
An interesting memory was recorded in Dad’s letter of 1 October 1927. In it, he remarked on Mom’s recent trip to Yellowstone National Park and also recalled his own experiences there. He noted that his first experience was as a boy of twelve, when he spent six weeks with an artist, taking oil painting lessons. The second experience came three years before he left on his mission, when he spent two more months traversing the hinterlands, coming to know about every trail in that 3,600 square miles…hunting for pretty and secluded places, in order to perfect his painting skills. 22
In a letter dated 22 January 1928, he reported on several stimulating, and spiritual missionary conferences in Dresden, as well as the fact that he would be concluding his mission and sailing for home from England in less than a month, on 17 February. 23
Back in Berlin, he sent a follow up letter the next day, 23 January, in which he thanked Mom for sending him homemade candy for Christmas, as well as a report on their celebrations in the capital city over the holidays. He also expressed some glowing and self-revealing words regarding his brother, Sheldon, recently assigned to his district:
…of all the men I have met, I’ve never found one who was more dependable and devoted to doing his best than Sheldon. I surely enjoy his company. Isn’t it wonderful to have brothers and sisters, when you can love and appreciate them? 24
Moreover, it is clear that their relationship had greatly strengthened over the preceding six months of written correspondence. His final salutation in this same letter was now a bit more intimate than before: So, for a short time, goodbye, Always, Wendell.
When Dad arrived back in Salt Lake City during the latter part of February 1928, it must have been only a few weeks before Mom and he announced their betrothal (they were both age 24), because by April, Dad was in California assisting his father with a number of mining enterprises. Then, over the next thirteen months, we have a series of his letters from various work places in California, saved by Mom, which give us glimpses of their courtship planning, current thinking, and recollections of the past.
On 7 April 1928, he wrote from the Morris Hotel, in Los Angeles, to say that he and his youngest brother, Luther (age 16), had just arrived, having driven 40-45 mph the whole way! He was very tired, but loved the beautiful, orange blossom fragrance in the air, wild flowers, and the 85 degree [Fahrenheit] weather. [This was evidently his first visit to Southern California.] He had enjoyed a long talk with his father regarding future, exciting mining possibilities. He was also excited to be serving on his father’s board of directors. He noted that Mom would be finishing her [spring] vacation, and returning to teaching the kiddies. Moreover, he reported, he had shaved off his moustache, so I’m a boy, again. Yours for always, with love, Wendell. 25
On 20 May 1928, he wrote from Azusa, California, where he philosophized about anticipation vs. realization, and avowed that he never wanted to travel alone again after we’re married. They were working and camping in Soledad Canyon: Luther cooked, and Dad did the dishes. He also played his violin at night for relaxation, while their dog, Dempsey, whined and howled. These nocturnal musical recitals caused him to reflect on past memories. He recollected an MIA party where Mom had played Venus, and he had played Hercules. Did you ever dream that we would some day be calling each other ‘Sweetheart,’ he asked? 26
Another letter from Azusa followed only three days later, on 23 May 1928. He must have just received one from Mom, because he commented on several things which she obviously mentioned. He spoke about a weenie roast that Mom and Mary Ure had attended in the McKinley Ward, and how they had protected one another from forward men. Mom evidently had mentioned a school art exhibit, and Dad reflected on the talent some young people manifest very early in life. He gave his thoughts on recent movies he had seen at the Azusa Theater. He liked Lon Chaney in Laugh Clown Laugh, but did not care for the heavily advertised film, Drums of Love. Apparently, both of them liked, The 50-50 Girl. He also observed: It is hot in California. This California weather may be great for flowers and cactuses, but personally I like the cool for a change….I have been out in the light of the moon playing love songs for you tonight, dearest. Hear ‘em? 27
On 27 May 1928, in a letter from Lang, in Los Angeles County, Dad noted having had an instructive conversation with other workers on women and marriage, as well as experiencing continued difficulties in adjusting culturally and language-wise since his mission. He expressed his love for Mom. The men continued to live in tents. 28
The next day, 28 May 1928, in responding to a letter which he had just received, Dad commented on Mom’s disclosure that she was going to a garden party in company with her brother, Steve’s, friend. He thanked her for telling him, and expressed his trust in her. He also anticipated full disclosure and communication with each other after marriage. He also proudly announced the loss of seven pounds, noting, I don’t want you to be reminded of your ‘Sweetie’ when you go to the circus! 29
Continuing the weight issue in a communication two days later, 30 May 1928, Dad talked about preparing a scrumptious meal in camp, to the chagrin of Luther and another worker, along with his concern of gaining unwanted fat. He then challenged Mom to a contest: he promised to lose a pound for every pound that she gained. 30
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With Mom free from teaching duties during the summer school break, Dad evidently returned to Salt Lake City to spend time with her, because the next saved correspondence we have, two months later, is a post card mailed from St. George, Utah, on his way back to Southern California—signed, loving you always, Wendell. 31
A subsequent letter in Mom’s collection, now emanating from El Toro, Orange County, was not written for another three months. In this letter, Dad avowed that he wanted to spend his life making Mom happy—in response to Mom’s reference to a nightmare in which she had dreamed about being hurt by him [quarreling]. He stated: If I ever get so far gone as that, I just hope someone who’s a good shot, bangs away in my direction! ….Dear, I think we’re too much in love in the first place to want to quarrel….
Additionally, he announced that he had recently gone to a tailor to have a new suit made for their wedding the following June (a black, double-pin stripe) and included a piece of fabric in the envelope. He promised to wear the suit home for the Christmas holidays. He also went on to comment about the mining work. A government inspector from the Department of Interior had just been sent to investigate the multiple mining claims. He was hostile at first, but became very friendly and impressed after the visit. Dad then continued his comments about working in the San Gabriel Canyon mines:
It is very beautiful here, and the work is going to be very interesting. My salary takes a rise, too, dearest, which is also a help. I’m beginning to take an intense interest in the growth of our finances…. [By the way,] did you ever hear of the young husband who was so innocent that he cut down all the trees around the place, when his wife told him that she wanted a little son? 32
A letter dated 14 November 1928 from El Toro described how he had been busy cleaning out and classifying a mineralogy laboratory, built twenty-five years earlier, and then isolating and smelting metals from crushed, furnace-heated ore fluxes. From four pounds of ore, they had extracted about four ounces of metal. We don’t know what the metal is [yet]. We have to work that out in the laboratory….[But] you have every ounce of my love and you surely monopolize all my thoughts….Forever and ever, yours Wendell. 33
Two weeks later, in an epistle dated 27 November 1928, from El Toro, they had begun planning their wedding dinner and reception. (Dad suggested a German fare.) He expressed his pleasure in their recent telephone conversation. He noted, too, that he had purchased a book on etiquette. As Mom had sounded a bit blue in her recent letter, he proceeded to try and cheer her up, and encouraged her to get as much recreation and out of doors, as possible. He looked forward to being with her over the holidays. 34
On 6 December 1928, two weeks before their planned reunion together in Salt Lake City, he wrote from El Toro about their love and prospects for the future as husband and wife. Said he: Gee, life without my Nancy would just be the essence of a doughnut without the dough. He remarked on the fact that his father had just returned from a business trip to New York City and was coughing a lot from the flu which was menacing the country. (Evidently, Mom had had a touch of it, too.) He also recently had viewed a movie, Compassionate Marriage, which he had enjoyed, but felt that they had [already] received superior training in both homes to prepare them for their upcoming union. 35
He must have spent a number of weeks in Utah over the Christmas holidays, because, the next letter from Dad found in Mom’s collection, written from the Morris Hotel in Los Angeles, on 17 March 1928, noted that he had been back in Southern California from Utah, for [just] one week. As his associates were all away on business matters, and he was alone with the car, the weather is beautiful, and gasoline is only ten cents a gallon, he naturally wished that Mom were with him. He related attending Church services at the Adams Ward, where there were over 100 people in one class. I met many former acquaintances from BYU and the U of U, and enjoyed it very much. There was a wonderful Spirit. I don’t know where you would go for a better Zion, or even Paradise…. Things are absolutely lovely here, now! Gee, dear, you would just sparkle down here. 36
On 30 March 1929, Dad sent Mom an Easter telegram: Sweetheart, on this fairest day of spring when the earth is glad with sunshine and the first flowers, my thoughts go out to wish you happiness and all good things. Lovingly yours, Wence. 37
In a letter three weeks later, 24 April 1929, Dad reminisced about pleasant walks together in Nibley Park and Saltair, suggesting that they might do it again in June. He also related how he and his father had been called on unexpectedly to speak at the Baldwin Hills Branch. He had spoken for twenty minutes. Father then spoke entertainingly for about an hour (making Dad late for his regular telephone call to Mom), but the people enjoyed it very much. They were very busy with their mine work. He wished Mom all blessings and happiness, and as ‘Sheck’ [Sheldon] puts it, ‘I’m going to get busy and try and make it come out that way!’ 38
One of his final two letters in the series, written on 26 April 1929, from the New Hotel Roselyn in Los Angeles, told how they had now hired a chemist/metallurgist, had just met with two investors, had reviewed the new light metal together, and were even then preparing to visit an aircraft company. Enthusiasm was running high to begin their new company. It’s surely a big proposition, dear, and it will be wonderful to belong to something like that and grow up with it. Don’t you think so? He concluded the letter by making mention of Mom’s apparent proposal to have the wedding on June 12th, and thanked her for being true blue, and working and preparing for our home. 39
The last of these letters saved by Mom from Dad was written one month later, on 26 May 1929. It began with the salutation, Tommy dearest, and went on to say how much he missed her. He wondered if his father, who evidently was then visiting in Salt Lake City, had given Mom and Mary a ride in the new ‘Huf’ (? Hufmobile automobile). He expected to be home in fifteen days, and his thoughts were all centered on the ‘Old Mill,’ soft moonlight, perfect music, a dreamy waltz—and the wedding! 40
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