Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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 1924 — The Bethannual — 1924 BETHANNUAL, 1959 We are glad to devote three pages in the Bethannual of 1959 to an interesting article regarding the Senior Class of 1924, which was discovered January 14, 1959, in the excavation of the tombs of the kings in Egypt. This account was written in 1949 by Miss Malvina Johnson, a member of the 1924 class. She had been touring the world in search of material for a new book and at the same time had been gathering accounts of the 1924 class. Together with Mary Billman, a member of the same class, whom she met in India, she went to Egypt, and evidently the records of the class were complete, for this account was scaled and addressed to Mr. Emil Aspaas, the editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. But this epistle had not been mailed, for the following day Miss Johnson and a party of tourists, while examining one of the innermost chambers of the tomb were buried there. Several large charges of dynamite had exploded. The Egyptian government had refused to allow excavations and until January of this year no record of the party had been found. When excavations were begun, among the relics found was this letter. This was mailed to Mr. Aspaas, who is still editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Thinking that this account might prove interesting to the readers of the 1959 Bethannual, he sent us the record. My Dear Mr. Aspaas: Valley of the Tombs, Egypt, Sept. 27, 1949. You will recall the promise that I made to you in St. Paul last year, that while touring the world for the purpose of finding material for my book, I would look up the members of the 1924 class and compile an account of their achievmcnts in the last twenty-five years. I shall now give you some account of my trip and the information which 1 found. Naturally my first stop was Minneapolis. Opposite the new auditorium I noticed the sign—PAUL MED, DENTIST. My curiosity was aroused and I went up to investigate and found it to be our own Paul Hcd. I also discovered that Gottfrid Johnson is now manager of a hardware concern. 1 attended a Symphony Concert in the evening and found Ruth E. Johnson the special pianist of the concert. The following day I left for Chicago. W hile in midst of the story I was reading on the train, I heard a familiar voice in conversation with several gaily dressed women. I looked up and to my surprise beheld Real Williams. Naturally my story was neglected and we immediately began talking of school days. Real is now a representative of the DjcrKiss Company of the Western States. Among his travels in the West he met Miss White, who is now in Pcnasco, New Mexico, teaching school and conducting religious work. In Los Angeles he discovered that Albert Berg is now occupying the pulpit of the Baptist Temple. Among his travels up and down Montana he had discovered Mrs.----Oh, I don’t remember who, but in Bethel she was known as Ethel Warwick. After a brilliant musical career she had settled down to ranch life. Sylvia Strom is director of religious education in North Dakota with her headquarters at Bismarck. My biggest surprise was to learn that Stanley Olson is mayor of Portland, Oregon. Then, while touring Missouri, he discovered Ada Lindgrcn who is principal of the St. Louis Central High School. I was not surprised to learn that our class treasurer, Alford Hanson, has also obtained a worthy position. He is now supervisor of the United States Mint at Denver. Suddenly the conductor called “Freeport” and Real jumped up and with a hasty farewell explained that this was the town he was to meet his wife in. The remainder of my trip was spent in thinking of Bethel and the many happy days spent with classmates. My reverie was disturbed by the call, “Chicago.” As I stepped off the train a kindly faced, middle-aged man stood ready to assist me with my baggage. His voice had a familiar ring. I looked up and to my great amazement 28

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 1924 — The Bethannual — 1924 ItMUIMIIIIII IIIMtItIMIII •lllliMliaillllMIHlIHli 1111« «•!••• 111 ■llllllillMIIHHNII Mil 111111« • IMI •! 11111111 • III! I INIItllllt I Hill 11II • I II •« M11 1IIIIMHIINIIIII l|||| |||| one noon to elect their officers, and to begin in the most dignified manner the role of senior. It has been many the afternoon dream, and many the structure of an air castle that first gave impetus to our attending this school, which not only offers educational facilities, but personal instruction along the social, moral, physical and spiritual lines. By the able leadership of our president we have spent a most delightful and successful year. It has been a rare privilege to sit under the instruction of such a competent faculty as Bethel has. It has been our fortune to have as adviser a man that is present at all times with help and ideas. It seems that seniors come and seniors go but he goes on forever. To say nothing of what we have laid up in our storehouse of knowledge, we have, in addition, received much benefit and instruction in our literary societies and other activities, which help to make the all-round man and woman. Some of us have had the pleasure of spending four years at Bethel, and to us it has meant more than gold can purchase; others have spent less time, but to all it has kindled a flame which death alone can quench. So as we arc about to leave these sacred corridors, there is a peculiar feeling of regret, and also a sublime feeling of joy. But wherever we go, whether home or abroad, we will always hold up Bethel as the school of schools. SENIOR CLASS SONG Tune: “How Can I Leave Thee?” We are the Seniors What could we wish for more? And we love old Bethel dear As in days of yore. Thus shall our high school days End with a song of praise. Sing it in every land Both far and near. Where e’rc our work may be, Still we will faithful be; Still keep fond memories Of lessons here. Our watchword—triumph and trust. Try, Oh yes, that wc must; These keep we as we part From Bethel dear. 27 —By E. R. W. and R. E. J.

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1924 The Bethannual — 1924 I recognized Charles Wolford. Of course “Chuck” had many tales to relate and I discovered that several of our classmates arc in Chicago. Ewald Johnson is the physical director of the Chicago University. Our former Zeraph Hedstrom is now the wife of the Mayor in Chicago. Elfic Peterson is superintendent of the Presbyterian Hospital. The next day being Sunday I went, as my wont, to Sabbath worship. Outside of the First Baptist Church was a poster announcing the morning sermon by Carl Hogfclt, D. D. Needless to say, I was delighted for the opportunity to hear this worthy minister. After a pleasant visit in Chicago 1 proceeded to Dayton, Ohio. My purpose in going there was to inspect the new Art Institute, but I did not anticipate such a pleasant surprise as to find Russell Bavin the director of this worthy and promising institution. Russell informed me that Hildur Loman is now the wife of David McCarthy of Toledo and that Clara Hanson is the domestic instructor of the Ohio College in Cincinnati, Ohio. My next destination was Washington, D. C., and my purpose of going there was to attend a special session of the Senate. My first evening in the hotel I picked up the Washington News and as I glanced through it my attention was drawn to an announcement of a reception given in honor of the English Ambassador and his new bride. Lcola Putnam. The following day I visited the Senate. To my great astonishment I found that the president pro tempore to he none other than our own Leland Jacobson. I had planned to stay in Washington only one day but Lcland and I had so much to talk about that I had to remain a week. One of the pleasant events of this visit was a trip up the Potomac, where he took me to a little town to visit one of our classmates, Mablc Johnson, who is now Mrs. Frank Richardson. Another pleasant surprise while in Washington was the unexpected appearance of Anna Gustafson. She is now a kindergarten instructor in the mountainous districts of North Carolina, and had come to Washington for a teachers’ conference. My long stay in Washington necessitated a change of my plans My ship for England was scheduled to sail in three days so now I hurried to New York. I had earnestly desired to visit Ida Forsman, who is now the president of Yassar College, but that trip will have to be postponed until my return to America. However, I did take time to visit Gertrude Westerdahl in New York. I had heard she was teaching in the commercial department of Columbia University, but to my surprise I found her severed from that institution. With a sweeter smile than usual she told my why. She had finally agreed to launch her fate together with a Mr. Richard Nelson. I learned, while in New York, that Carl Bcrgfalk is the instructor of mathematics at Cornell University. On my way to the wharf I noticed a large poster announcing an important political meeting. The principal speaker was Howard Sackctt who was candidate for governor of New York. As I reached my ship a messenger appioachcd me with a special delivery letter, which was from Leland Jacobson. I was greatly surprised; it did not seem possible that after I had spent an entire week talking to him that he should have anything more to say to me. He had forgotten to tell me of the whereabouts of some of our classmates in Europe. “Eugene Lundquist,” he said, “is doing Y. M. C. A. work in Russia. Linnea Edstam is in Vienna studying social conditions there. Clarence Hanson has recently beer, sent to Turkey to investigate agricultural conditions.” My entire ocean voyage was most interesting and thrilling. It hardly seemed possible that I was finally crossing the bread expanse of the Atlantic. But I cannot stop to write of all of my adventures but only to tell you some interesting facts 1 gathered from the remaining class members engaged in missionary activities. I visited Anna Esau, who is in charge of the Leper Colony of Champa, India. I would like to write a whole book of the marvelous work carried on there but cannot do so now. In the hill country of India I discovered Mr. John Whitney, director 20