Regarding her participation in Church assignments, she was a regular attendee at all prescribed meetings and encouraged her offspring to do similarly. But, reviewing the facts in her life’s history, it appears that she did not feel very comfortable in leadership or teaching roles. Indeed, perhaps like her mother, who was born in England where such a wifely model had been quite common, she came to view herself in a more behind the scenes, subservient role—namely, one of support, backup and encouragement for Dad.
Hence, whereas Dad seemed to be usually involved in a major leadership calling during their married years, Mom sang in the choir or taught in the nursery. Nonetheless, she also soloed not infrequently at various Church functions. Concerning her singing, an interesting observation was made by a ward member in a letter to me, as follows:
Last night the choir sang at church. Your Mother sang a solo number. She did very well. I [Dick Bevan] sure enjoyed it. Your Mom has a very rich and mellow voice, very listenable. 93
However, later on, although she did not hold specific leadership roles, she did serve in two stake callings—as a stake missionary and as a stake YWMIA board member. Letter excerpts to this effect now follow: On 12 November 1954, anticipating an early division of the ward, she wrote to say that she had just been set apart as a stake missionary:
I will say that they have a very good training program now, even if they do scare you to death by asking you to bear your testimony etc., first thing. It’s going to take a lot of work and study, but I’m sure I’ll be the one to benefit. If I do nothing more than regain my own faith and trust and get over the hurt that I’ve had, it will all be worth while. No one will ever know what I’ve been through the last three years. I’ve certainly learned there are some things worse than death. 94,95
On 19 January 1955, she wrote again about the missionary work:
[I] have no definite partner—just trying to fit in where I can. If I don’t do anything else, I’ll learn something myself anyway. 96
A week later she reported that their efforts were going slowly because of cancellations due to the flu, but her spirits were still high:
If I don’t convert anybody, I’ll know a little more myself, as I’ve been doing a lot of reading. Hope I can remember just half of it all. But the more you read and study, the more you realize what a wonderful thing our gospel is. I don’t know why everyone can’t see and believe it. 97
But, be that as it may, six months after being called as a stake missionary, she wrote to say that they hadn’t been doing much missionary work, there had been many visitors at the home, she was losing her companion—and she was not feeling well:
Well, Bart, I know you’re not going to like it, but I’ve asked to be released as a missionary. I just couldn’t find the time to study, go on the calls, and do everything I have to do around here. She went on to say that she was going to work on the stake YWMIA board with Peg Cresta. Indeed, she became the Stake Beehive Advisor, which calling she held for some time thereafter. Young girls need help too, and there’s more than one way to do missionary work. 98
Additionally, to her credit, in the non-ecclesiastical arena, it should be noted that Mom served as class mother for the girl’s school classes on several occasions. Moreover, she also worked at Macy’s Department Store and did substitute teaching in the public schools, while Dad was developing his new mutual fund/insurance business and finances were tight.
In December 1955, she wrote about her Macy’s experience in a humorous way:
I’m ashamed for not having written before, but I swear I don’t know where the time goes….As if I didn’t have enough to do, I started working part time at Macy’s Saturday…[at] $1.10/hour. She had planned to pay the girls each $2.50/week to clean the house and get the dinners, but in calculating her earnings, she had determined that it wasn’t worth it. I don’t know why I don’t catch more colds from the big hole in my head, but I guess that’s the way we learn. 99
And finally, concerning the substitute teaching, in September 1956, a month before I returned home, she shared some smoldering fears and concerns:
I’ve been going to school to observe this week…. I finally got my credentials to do it this year. She would need to take extra schooling. Boy, I don’t know if I’ve got the nerve to do it or not. You can forget an awful lot in 28 years. But I’ve decided I’m going to have a life of my own. No one else seems inclined to include me in theirs. 100
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