Grandma Alta: Post Graduation and Courtship with Grandpa

Grandma Alta: Post Graduation and Courtship with Grandpa

      Grandma Alta and Grandpa wrote many letters during college and longed to be together. Grandpa was serving in the Army Air Corps and was uncertain about how long and where he would be serving in the military. Despite the many uncertainties (the war, Grandpa’s deployment, Grandma’s education and early career) Grandpa was resolute in his interest in Grandma Alta. While in training camp in Michigan (1944) Grandpa wrote that Grandma Alta was “the only girl he wanted to marry” and the only one to whom he’d ever expressed his love. While Grandpa and Grandma shared mutual interest, there would be many months and years of waiting before this dream was realized.

      In February 1945 Grandpa wrote from Belem, Brazil and asked Grandma Alta if she wanted a gold or a white ring band. They wrote many more letters to each other as Grandma Alta finished up college. Grandpa longed to be at her graduation but the war with Germany had just ended (May 1945), meaning his future was again uncertain. He sent her a gift from India and wondered if she was going to be headed East to look for a job—he admitted to having selfish reasons for asking her to head East as he wanted to see her more when he flew into Florida.

      After Graduation, Grandma went home to Boulder City for a couple months and then with a friend (Mary White), decided to fulfill their childhood dream of living in New York City. They both found work as waitresses at a restaurant and enjoyed exploring the city as well as attending concerts and programs during their time off. Grandpa flew into New York City at Christmas time (1945) and was able to see Grandma Alta for a couple of days. Yet this brief encounter was again followed by ongoing separation.

While Grandma enjoyed New York, her friend Mary had returned home due to complications with Bells Palsy (February, 1946). Missing her friend and family, Grandma decided to return back to Boulder City. As she planned her return home, she detoured to see Grandpa, determined to put Grandpa’s feelings “to the test.” She wrote to her friend Mary that she was so excited to see him, and that now she would finally know: “does he or doesn’t he love me.” However, during the visit Grandpa explained he was still unsure of his future and therefore their relationship. Grandma was heart broken after this visit; she had longed to be with him for so long and now their relationship had cooled. Grandpa did have the opportunity to get out of the Air Force but by “chance”, spontaneously decided to take an Air Force career test and was offered regular commission.

      Grandma Alta went back to Boulder and tried to keep herself busy. While she was working for the Park service in Boulder her boss told her of a job in San Francisco. She decided to take the job and move to San Francisco in Nov 1947. In San Francisco Grandma lived with her Aunt Ivie. San Francisco exposed Grandma to many activities. She loved to dance. She was crowned queen of the Gold and Green Ball. She joined the committee to write a program for the May festival where they played Pit and Bingo. She dated a lot and loved to go skiing with her friends. She liked her job and joined the National Secretaries Association but she didn’t see how she could progress in the job. She took a speech giving class. A few times Great Grandma and Grandpa Halvorsen (Grandpa Gail’s parents) would invite Grandma Alta down to visit them. They seemed to hope Grandma and Grandpa would get married eventually. Grandma Alta enjoyed her visits with Great Grandma and Grandpa Halvorsen but was unsure if her and Grandpa would get married. She saw Grandpa a couple of times when he was on leave but their relationship was not serious, she continued to date other boys. In May 1948 Grandma decided to move back to Boulder City to be by her family.

      As things were low key back in Boulder, Grandma reconnected with her friend Mary who was a missionary. After exchanging letters about missionary work, Grandma went to visit Mary White in Mexico (October of 1948) where she was serving her mission. This experience left quite an impression on Grandma and motivated her to serve. This feeling was further accelerated as the mission president invited her to come serve a mission there (with Mary). The Mission President was very confident in her and said she would make a wonderful missionary especially with all her leadership skills. At Christmas time (1948) Grandma was really considering a mission and wrote to Grandpa to tell him she was thinking of leaving to serve. Meanwhile Grandpa had been doing the Berlin Airlift and was becoming famous as “The Candy Bomber”. However, upon receiving her letter he immediately wrote back, telling her he needed to see her before she left. He said that he couldn’t imagine her going away for such a long time! Grandpa flew back to the states in January (1949) and had many welcome home parties and interviews to attend. He finally was able to make it to Boulder City to see Grandma in early March. They knew from the moment they saw each other after nearly three years that any talk of leaving on a mission was now over. Grandpa took Grandma skiing and proposed to her with the diamond he had purchased for her earlier while in Brazil. She said yes right away. After nearly 5 years of waiting, they were married the following a month after the proposal (April 1949), beginning a legacy of family that continues to expand today.

Topics for Discussion 
      
      Sometimes we really want something to work out for us right away. Grandma and Grandpa wanted to get married all the way back in 1944. How would their life have been different if Grandpa would have gotten out of the military in 1946? Would he have become the Candy Bomber and impacted so many lives? How did Grandma’s experiences such as living in different parts of the country, hosting various activities, attending formal Ball’s, and taking a speech classes prepare her to be married to a famous military officer and to live in different parts of the world? Grandma always stayed close to the Lord, even during times of uncertainty about her path in life. The Lord had perfect timing and prepared both Grandma and Grandpa for an even greater life than they imagined for themselves. If we put our trust in the Lord and His timing, He will mold us into something greater than we thought possible.