STORY OF MY LIFE
Virginia May Doetker Olson
I was born at Pickrell, Nebr., Dec. 11, 1923. My parents were Emma Doetker and Henry Doetker. I grew up in a Christian family. My mother taught Sunday School 50 years at Christ Lutheran Church of Pickrell. After retirement, she taught Sunday School at the Beatrice Development Center for retarded children and adults. They loved her and she got along well with them. At age 2, I was in Sunday School taught by the Pastor’s wife, Mrs. J. H Reents.
Before I was confirmed, I attended Bible School for 6 weeks every summer. At age 15, I was confirmed by J. H. Reents. Before confirmation, we had to be questioned before the congregation to determine if we could be confirmed. We didn’t know in advance what the question would be. I was fortunate my question was to recite the 23rd Psalm. My daughter wasn’t that fortunate when she was confirmed. She had to recite the books of the Bible which she was able to do and probably can still do it. (No thanks to you Pastor Bob.)
After confirmation, we could join Luther League. We met on Friday nights. I played the piano and we had Bible study, and we had to recite a Bible verse for roll call. We had dessert which was usually the same thing at every meeting – chocolate cake with half of a peach on top and whipped cream. If the weather was nice, we went outdoors and played games such as 3 Deep. One boy brought his guitar and we sat on the church steps and sang songs. On occasion, we would invite Luther Leaguers from another church. We went roller skating at the Cortland hall. I wasn’t the best skater in the world and felt comfortable when we did couple skating. One time the boy I was skating with, we missed the curve and went straight ahead into the coat room. I tore my new black pleated skirt that my mother had made so I could sing in the girls’ high school chorus. I wondered what she would say when I got home. She said nothing, so I did get to sing the girls’ chorus. I was asked to speak at a Luther League convention in Lincon at American Lutheran League Convention on Evangelism. When I finished, a minister asked me where I got my information. I was already interested in Evangelism.
I played the organ at Christ Lutheran and taught Sunday School. I took organ lessons from Margaret McGray during the summer when I was attending University of Nebraska. She taught music lessons at Walt’s Music Store. I began teaching at Country School District 160. It was located ½ mile north of the church. Rev. Henry Brokering was the Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church at the time. When the weather was bad, they invited me to stay at their house. I got help from their son, Herbert, to get me through some snow drifts. Herb went on to be a Pastor, became an author and poet, and wrote many books as well as hymns. One of my favorites is called “I’m Thinking of You.” Inside the book he wrote, “God Knows You.”
My closest friend was Goldie Aden. Goldie, good friend Esther Flesner, and I roomed together when we attended the University of Nebraska during the summers. We had a great time. Every afternoon there was a sunset dance from 4 to 6 p.m. It was in the Student Union with an orchestra. The guys were all good dancers who also liked to dance at Plamor.
My first school I had 13 pupils. It was district 160. Several years later, I taught at District 3. District 160 was ½ mile north of the church. District 3 was 3 miles northwest of my home and had 12 pupils. I had great pupils at both schools. My salary was $45 at both schools per month.
Lincoln Air Base was exploding with soldiers as that was where they were assigning soldiers for overseas duty. They came into Lincoln on weekends. There was an exclusive dance pavilion at Capital Beach. Normally you had to have a date but soldiers wanted places to go. I was spending the weekend in Lincoln with a girlfriend, Carrie. We went to the dance and immediately Evert came and asked me to dance. When the place closed, Carrie, her guy, Evert, and I went to the Turnpike. It was a high class place where big bands played. The next day Evert rented a car and we toured Lincoln. We went past the Veterans Hospital which was on a gravel road. What a coincidence. Evert rented a car and came to the farm numerous times. Evert was sent to Norwich, England, north of London. He flew his bombing missions over Germany. Their plane was reported missing on their way from the U. S. to England. He returned to Duluth on Father’s Day 1943.
We were married July 4, 1945. It seemed everybody was getting married. Not fancy weddings, most guys in their uniform. Evert was sent to Sioux Falls for a short time. They were sent to Ft. Sam Houston to train in large bombers preparing to bomb Japan. Japan surrendered and Evert was discharged. We left immediately and stayed overnight in Kansas City and given Harry Turman’s suite.
Evert applied for a job in Minneapolis VA Hospital. We were there for 6 years which we didn’t like and the landlord was not great. He applied for a job in Lincoln but that took a long time (6 years). He attended the University of Minnesota at night, then Academy of Accountancy at night. Prior to being drafted, he worked for the War Department in Washington, D.C., which he liked.
In 1951 we moved to Lincoln. Lincoln didn’t allow Veterans loans to buy a house so my dad offered us $1700.00 to get a loan. Pastor Philippi called (at our house) and he wanted me to help his wife Ann organize Sunday School. Soon we were very involved. The lay calling program got a fast start. Evert was chairman and I was the secretary. We went calling most every night. Paul Ahrendt did calling also. Ev taught Junior Lutherans, superintendent, Parish Ed, sang in the choir (we both did). Evert organized golf league, counted money, etc. I played the organ part-time. I felt honored to speak on one of our anniversary celebrations in 2014. I was on the Dedication Committee, 60th; Ev head usher; helped with communion; both taught Sunday School; Ev the pictorial directory.
I can’t recall everything. We both volunteered at Kahoa school. Evert corrected math papers and he told the principal it wasn’t the proper tests in math. They were changed. I worked with the students’ reading problems and with their workbooks. I can’t begin to cover everything except Evert and I did about everything. I volunteered at Pershing School during the lunch hour. I was the room mother at Pershing Elementary School.
We had such a happy life together and he was a great guy and that’s why we have a super daughter. I wish for her a healthy and happy life which she so deserves.
Love You Sweetie. XXX
You have been such a blessing.
Dated Oct. 2019
Virginia M. Olson