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Show Every Child Needs An Elma Kuester In His Life By Margaret VanNoy 4-- 1 Profile Writer What makes a mother? Is it only the giving of liirth to an infant? Is it the care and protection she gives them? The long hours spent prodding and prompting or praying and pondering, pruning, priming and pardoning? Does it involve working, worrying and waiting? Sorrow and joy intermingled? Disapnur-lur- pointment and e, discouragement? Triumph? these and more. WII 4T MAKES a Mother of the Year? Her children, of course. A "Mother of the Year" is so honored of the effect of her influence in the lives of her children. F.lma Kuester, Lincoln, Tooele's Mother of the Year" for I1) SO fits the definition admirably. Her children Paul, Sherri (Mrs. Ralph Brown) and Melody (Mrs. Richard Downey) are all outstanding individuals whose lives testify to the strength of the home which produced them. The story of Fima Kuester's life is told through the lives of those she has Yes, it is all of served. IT IS A STORY that should not lie told liy an outsider. Rather it should lie told liy the neighlairs who know her, the widower whose days were brightened with meals and companionship, the blind friend for whom she mas errands. It could be told by some of the hundreds of tots she has taught in Sunday School over the past 37 years. Or it could lie told by a young men in trouble or in reform schools who have straightened out their lives thanks to her encouragement. It should lie told by the young people welcomed into her home, those taught to dance, helped with homework, or advice. IT GOULD lie told by the many organizations including PTA, Boy 1, various charity drives, or Scouts, civic groups such as the Republican Women, fight against pornography and many others. It could lie traced through the annals of her church in her years serving as president of the Tooele Stake primary, as a Sunday School teacher, visiting teacher. Relief Society president, or as leader in numlier-les- s amount t( people who have been helped through her untiring service in everything to the liest of their abilities. TOOELE'S MOTHER of the Year lielieves in strict discipline. According to her, disciplining should !e administered with love, and it should be consistent. Mr. Kuester is of German stock, also lielieving in strict discipline followed by much love. "They have let up on discipline in the schools, and that is liad, she comthe ward primary and other organizamented. MRS. KUESTER is a strong believer tions. It could lie told by any one of the in education. Her children all graduated three foster children she took into her with honors from high school. In addihome and t reated as her own. tion, Paul spent three years at BYU, and OR IT COULD be told by her Melody attended business college. Sherri Donald Kuester to whom she has took the civil service examination for lotruly lieen a help meet, and a faithful cal employment after graduation and made one of the highest scores ever resupporter in his many prestigious endeacorded for that test. vors. But most of all, it should lie told by However, Mrs. Kuester affirmed that her children. Those children who deit is not necessary to go to a big college to lie a success. I think one of the most monstrate through their own lives that the of are an outstanding product thty important things a chil can learn is how home. to get along with people. Learning to The Kuester home, presided over by live with six girls in one room was an education for Melody she said. parents, Donald and Elma, was characThe Kuesters have lioth always supterized by patience and understanding, the schools. She spent many years ported and as Sherri puts it, "oodles of love. as a room mother and worked tirelessly member of clan the a Kuester Being in the PTA. The family was always enmeant learning to work. Of strong pioto take advantage of every opcouraged valMrs. learned the Kuester neer stock, portunity offered at school. They took ue of work in her own home. My parsuch courses as chorus, band, and typing if ents thought there was nothing to do, with the regular curriculum. along should make out and you something go I NEVER questioned a teacher, dig a hole and fill it in. CHILDREN SHOULD be taught Mis. Kuester said. She added that childto work from the time they are old ren should have great respect and honor for teachers and other adults in authorenough to hold on to something. She added that children should love to learn ity. to work, and love to work when they She also feels that students should learn. put every bit of energy they can into Their training was practical. Paul their studies. She believes in home work, learned how to do housework right along but not too much. Part of education is with his sisters, a skill which came in regular attendance, and her children missed no more than five days during handy when he was on a mission. The Kuester children were taught their school years. never to be content with a half completThe Kuester home was the gathering ed job. They were admonished and place for children. Her yard and home shown by example that they should do were always filled with friends of her hus-lian- d, Three Tooele Moms In State Contest V. by Ethel Ilalgren own children, and guests were treated like one of her own. MY PARENTS thought it was more important to have their children home with their friends in a good atmosphere no matter how much work or inconvenience it caused them instead of worrying where they were, Sherri said. Every child should have at least one Elma Kuester in his life. Kids just naturally gravitated toward her. I love them without exception, she $aid. Mother was no respector of peraccording to Sherri. "She could take the dirty little kid off the street, wipe his nose and wash him up, give him a hug of encouragement and a big chocolate chip cookie and treat him just like one of her own children. YOUNG PEOPLE were always around. They came to the house to call their girl friends for dates, get help with their homework and advice for their persons, sonal problems. The Kuesters have always been interested in dance and have taught ballroom techniques to many, both young and old. When their children were at home, there was always a dance on the Kuester's patio, or if the weather was bad, the couple would move the furniture out of their bedroom, and roll up the rug so the kids' would have a place to dance. There, was always time for making candy or popping popcorn. MANY AN ADULT can testify to the warm welcome and feeling of importance they received at the Kuerster home when they were youngsters. Elina Kuester has a talent for making young people feel worthwhile. This included the three foster children she took into her home - a young girl from Germany, a motherless local boy, and a Pueblo Indian girl. For over 37 years, she has taught the in Sunday two, three and four year-old- s School. As a sponsor once said, Imagine how many souls she has touched during those years. AS YOUNGSTERS, the Kuester children were always encouraged to develop their talents. According to Sherri, they learned to cook and paint and be creative in many ways. Mom was patient with the mess and trouble, knowing experience is the best teacher. They also joined teaching organizaand Future Farmers. tions like how to dance, and how teamed They to play musical instruments including the piano. 4-- Jus Talkin ELMA KUESTER ONE OF THE great strengths of the Kuester family has been the great amount of time spent together from playing Ring Around the Rosies to picnics, to friends gathered on the front room floor having our parents help with homework. A great part of that togetherness included music. Mention the Kuesters to local residents, and they will immediately tell you what great entertainers they are. The music that brought them tocirgether still binds them in a close-knit cle. The parents, Paul and Sherri have sung in a family quartet for 15 years, singing at everything from funerals to weddings, community programs, senior citizeus, and quartet festivals. They are all also .members of their LDS Ward ' - choir. OF HER OWN parents, Mrs. Kuester said, They were a perfect example. Her mother, Eva Shields, accompanies the quartet on the piano and recently received a medal for her 51 years of service as the ward organist. Elma Shields married Donald Kuester in 1942. He was a chemical engineer the air. Not one of those. We saw them at Worthwards. George and I thought they were the funniest things wed ever seen. We just about died laughing. Ha, ha. I joined in. Say this looks nice, she said stepping into the kitchen. What kind of finish is this on your cupboards? Hmmm, not quite the best quality of wood, is it? Well, everyone to his own taste. Of course, I prefer the white metal cupboards Ive had for 30 years, but if I were going to get new ones, I wouldnt have anything less than the best. Yours look nice now, but they pro- wont for long. WELL TRY to live with it. I bably Among the candidates for Utahs Young Mother of the Year for 1980, is Ann Vorwaller, wife of Wesley G. Vor- waller and mother of seven children. Convinced that a nation is only as strong as the social, moral and spiritual strength of the home, Mrs. Vorwaller is involved in training and educating her family and also is concerned with help- ing other parents do the same. Her constant challenge is to manage her life so there is a healthy balance of service to her family, neighborhood, church, community and self. She guards her family routines against outside demands on her schedule, and tries to gear church and community services to activities affecting and whenever possible involving her family. Her family consists of three daughters and three sons; the oldest in seventh grade and the youngest 10 months old. She lost one child in infancy. Mrs. Vorwallers parents are Don and Bell Calderwood. She is the oldest of eight children. CHRISTIE K. STEADMAN KATHY STRIEBY ANN VORWALLER A talented, creative and organized person to say the least, describes Kathy Strieby, says a sponsor of the homemaker who is a candidate for Utahs Young Mother of the Year. Mrs. Strieby and her husband Chris are parents of two daughters Kristin, age 9, and Heidi, age 3. She lists her home and family as number one priority in her life. This creative young mother is teaching her daughters her skills and talents and is following and building family trar ditions. A daughter of Rands and Hilda Wiley, Mrs. Strieby grew up in Wendover, graduated from Tooele High School and attended LDS Business College. She lists writing poetry, sewing, ceramics, cooking, handcrafts, interior design and puttering around her yard as her . main interests. An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da- y Saints, she serves as Mother Education leader in the Tooele Utah Stake Relief Society. She is also active in PTA at the Central School. My family, home and church are the most important parts of my life, and I try to make our home a quiet retreat from the world, explained Mrs. Strieby. Another candidate for Utahs Young Mother of the Year is Christie Steadman, wife of Nolan Steadman, and mother of five children ranging in ages from 18 months to 12 years. She also welcomed an Indian Placement child into her home. The Steadmans are teaching their children the value of work as well as play. They work hard on a family garden turning the results into food storage for the winter. They are rewarded with family camping trips. Concerned with family health and nutrition, Mrs. Steadman spends much time in the kitchen. She also sews her childrens clothes when time permits. Mrs. Steadman finds time to serve as a leader, LaLeche League teacher and teaches a Mothers Education class in Relief Society, all of which enforce good mothering skills, she said. Her talents include playing the piano and singing. She has taught piano and sings with a chorus from the LaLeche 4-- League. She also does oil and tole painting and her creativity extends into interior design and flower arranging. Mrs. Steadman was bom and raised in Toofle and is the daughter of Rex and Dorothy Kirk. I read that you have remodeled your house, and I came to see it, said my friend Irma. Quick as a wink, she opened the coat closet in the front hall and peered inside. We really havent done anything to the closet, Irma, I said shutting the door firmly in her face. BUT IRMA was already on her way into the living room. I like your new paint job, but dont you think youre going to get just a little tired of those bricks on the fire- place? Youre right. Suddenly Im very tired, I said, oozing sweet- ness. bared my teeth, but Irma took it as a smile. Oh, is this your laundry here in this dinky little closet? What a clever idea. I see you have a Speedo washer. Yknow Marlene had one of these, but it wasnt any good. She said her sheets always came out all tangled up. She had to send it back, and now she has a good old Baxter conventional like mine. None of this automatic stuff for me. Makes a lazy woman out of you. I know where you can get a board scrubbing cheap, I responded. reasonably SHE exclaimed, ignorI was hoping you wouldn't have drapes at your kitchen window, especially lined ones. has them, and My mother-in-lashe says she never would again. Why? I queried beginning to OH, Of course I wouldnt have a fireplace in the house. Arent you afraid of a spark popping out setting fire to the carpeting? Why I wouldnt sleep a wink at night. WERE VERY sound sleepers, I ventured. Do you really go for this leather and brass look? she asked, running a finger over an end table to check for dust. Not really, I said sarcasticalWe just bought it for a joke. It ly, amuses everyone who comes here. IRMA LOOKED at me strangely, but her attention was caught by a lamp table. Oh, no! she screamed, throwing her arms in . ing my remark. w unsheath my claws. Well, I really dont know, she hedged, but I know I dont want them. For one thing, this burlaplooking material is going to unravel on you. She picked at a comer until she managed to start a thread. See, she said happily, What did-- I tell you? I WOULDNT want any of this inlaid vinyl, either, she went on. VR wears like iron. Just think who came from South Dakota to work at Anaconda 39 years ago. He was waiting for a job in South America to open up. I guess he decided to stay around, Elma laughed. She always wanted a large family, but within an eight year period she lost five (rabies. However, her home has always been filled with children. ONE OF THE hardest things aliout raising children she said is sticking to your convictions --- "when your children think they should do everything the other kids are doing. Children should have problems; overcoming the problems makes them stronger, but it is heart tugging sometimes while they are going through the rough times. She believes in womans involvement in politics. Ive been a political Irooster all my life. It is our fault if we dont put the right people in office. SHE IS ONE hundred percent opposed to the ERA. I think a woman has equal rights, but the man should be at the head, she said. If women were (Continued on page thirteen) youll have to look at the same old stuff for years and years. We change ours frequently. Before I could come up with a rejoinder she had stepped into the bathroom. How quaint, she exclaimed, wood walls! Arent you afraid youll get a sliver when you take a shower? And a skylight. Ive never heard of such a thing. Arent you worried about window peekers? If they want to scale a fifty foot tree and jump 20 feet to the roof, they are welcome to all the wrinkles they can see, I said wear-ily. IRMA PEERED into my face to see if I was serious and then went on with her work. Didnt you used to have carpeting on the floor? This new tile is lovely, but its too cold on your feet. I was beginning to mutter under my breath. WELL, IRMA went on cheerily, What have you done to the bedrooms? I dont think youd care to see them, the words came out stiffly. She looked at me quizzically. Why not? IN THE first place, I said, they are all equipped with electric lights. Im sure coal oil lamps would suit you better. And Ill bet you would just detest the wood paneling on the walls of the boys room. I cant quite think what would be wrong with it, but Im sure you would come up with something. I led the way to the door. Well! she stammered. I called after her retreating back, Ill be up to see that quaint little place you live in. I cant wait to get a look at that outside privy. We use OUR Montgomery Wards for shopping. But I was speaking only to the air. Irma was gone. |
