After My Mission

ALBERT ADAM RUECKERT AFTER MISSION

               A short time after I arrived home I received my draft papers.  I had signed up in Minnesota and I had to see the draft board and was granted a deferment for six months to help at home around the farm for Dad was 74 years of age.

               The latter part of 1941 I hired out as a dishwasher at Hart's Lunch for $2.00 a day.  I worked from noon until 8 p.m.  I walked to work and rode the bus home.  This was on Second South between Main and West Temple.  They were really nice people to work for but the place as filled with cockroaches which we had quite a problem with.

               During this time came the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941; which started World War II.  I left Hart's Lunch shortly after Christmas and again assumed my full responsibilities on the farm, for I had been given a deferment to work on the farm.

               Almost every week I would spend time in the bread line to get bread for 25 or 35 cents per gunny sackful.  This was one of our regular chores each week.  Sometimes we would get some day old treats or cakes and that was a real treat.  When I got french bread I would break it in half and gouge a hole in it and fill it with sugar and take it out to the well and put water in it.

               During the years from 1941 to 1946 we had our regular milk customers who would get milk each day.  We sold milk for 25 cents per gallon and gradually received 40 cents per gallon.  We would have the milk inspector inspect the milk, barns, yards and outhouse at least once per month.  Everything was always okay.

               One day the inspector, while checking out the place, walked into the dog, which was on a chain.  Well, the dog nipped him and needless to say he was upset. This was his fault.  So in a couple of days he returned and wanted to shoot the dog.  We ordered him off the place and told him in no uncertain terms the dog would not be killed. So next time he came around to inspect the place he gave us a bad report and found fault with many things.  So Dad and I decided to give up the dairy and we, his children, would provide for the family.  So the next time the inspector came I told him to not return because we were going out of business.

               During the time we had this dairy we had some great times.  It wasn't all work and no play.  Yes, we had to cut, rake, pile and haul hay.  We had to raise corn, hay and feed for the cattle plus buy what we needed besides what we grew.  We had a different type of fun than what we have now days.  Our fun didn't cost any money nor did anyone get hurt by it.  Yes, they got their clothes dirty, hands dirty and sometimes even got their feelings hurt.  We used to throw fresh cow manure at each other. 

               Yes, we would as the boys, especially Alma, Dick and I, Albert, had what we called cow pie fights throwing cow manure at each other.  The fresher the better, what a way to have entertainment.  It may sound bad, but it never hurt us any.  We would chase each other around the haystacks, the barns and even sometimes up the street.  It was a thrill to hit someone with a fresh one. Nowadays people would think we lost our marbles.

               I remember one day when my brother Dick and I was throwing cow pies at each other he was chasing me around the hay stack and I was laughing so hard my bridge fell out of my mouth and I called a truce and we both hunted until my teeth were found and then again we plastered each other with more cows pies.

               We had some paper carriers by the name of Warwick Hales and his friends that used to have fun by catching Al and dunking his head in the water trough.  Al got ready one day with a bunch of fresh cow pies and when Warwick and his friend, Paul Frank came by to deliver the paper (dressed in white slacks and good shirts) and they decided to again dunk Al; but Al let loose with the fresh pies, and were they a mess when they left and madder than hornets.  But no more dunking of Al thereafter.

               During this time we used to have hobos come by to get a drink from the well and wash themselves.  Inside the milk house the pipes were constructed so you could get water inside the milk house and also the water was available to get on the outside.  One of us used to sneak into the milk house when the hobos came to get a drink and we would blow from the inside and it would force the water back and drench the men.  They couldn't understand what was happening because they didn't know anyone was inside the milk house.

               Sometimes unbeknown to Dad one of us would walk into the barn and as he passed the one that was milking he would get squirted with fresh milk or even sometimes one thing would lead to another and they would dump a bucket of milk on the other's head.  Needless to say we had our fun in our own way.  This caused a shortage of milk so to make up the loss we filled up the bucket with water and no one was the wiser.  In the long run they never knew the difference.

               I remember one day when we were taking a nap, I took a spoon of cocoa and dumped it in my brother Al's mouth.  The poor guy almost chocked on it.  Some of these things weren't too wise.

               We would always wrestle and enjoyed this sport.  It didn't matter who would win we had a great time.  That was the main thing to have fun and enjoy each other.  

               I went to work for Linde Oxygen Plant and worked where my brother Alma worked.  It was a real nice place to work.  This was during World War II.  I had also worked for D. N. and E. Walter Company in the shipping department. This I really enjoyed.

               Wile working at Linde Oxygen helping roll oxygen cylinders, loading box cars and also rolling them out to the dock, I gave up my deferment from the draft because I told them to go ahead and draft me.  Well, I got my call for induction into the service.

               So on my assigned time and date   In this group was a lot of men and as they checked us out we went from room to room, one for your eyes, another for your ears and so forth.  Well, this doctor was checking my heart and gave me a clean bill of health.  So I asked him if I, by chance I had rheumatic heart for our family doctor had said I did.  I just wanted to know for sure. So he detained me and told the rest to go ahead.  He instructed me to run around the room as fast as I could until he returned.  Upon returning he examined my heart, and then told me to lay down on a bench.  Then he examined me again and told me to let all the air out of my lungs then he examined me again and pronounced rheumatic heart and declared me 4F or not fit for the Armed Forces.  So as I got to the end of the line where the men put their stamp of approval that you are in or out, the man said, "What is the matter with you?"  And of course I being quick to respond said "Nothing is wrong."  So he replied, "You come with me."  So he made me do the same as the other doctor did then he put his stamp of approval.  "4F!"
I appeared at Fort Douglas for my pre-induction physical.

               I told my boss at Linde Oxygen Plant that I was rejected and at the same time I quit working for the oxygen plant, because of my rheumatic heart.  I wasn't supposed to do heavy work, but I never slowed down a day of my life. 

               I went to work for the Paris Company working in the receiving department.  After working for them a few days they told me I had to get approval from the U S Referral to work in a non-war-effort enterprise.  So to the U S Referral place I went and they told me they would not give the approval but I could work only 4 hours per day for 6 weeks in a non essential job and then I was to report back to them. 

               I ploughed gardens for people and did other types of work in my spare hours.  I went back over to see them again and they told me I would have to accept essential work related to the war.  I told him he wasn't employed as such and why should I.  This man was determined to place me in employment within a radius of 20 or 40 miles away from home.  I told him I didn't have a car and couldn't accept the job offer.  So the man next to his desk saw him harass me and so he told him to give me an application for the Salt Lake Arsenal.

               I was then assigned to go to the Salt Lake Arsenal at 1700 South Redwood Road a mile away from home.  So to work I went.  The very first day of my employment I was given an assignment and completed it in about two hours.  I reported back to my supervisor and he told me I had completed a full   He then told me to get lost.
day's work in two hours.

               Well needless to say, I wasn't very happy with my new assignment at the Salt Lake Branch.  So one day they gave me an assignment to paint the rest rooms.  I would close the door and put up a sign, "Men at Work, Stay Out."  Sometimes I would relax in the ladies lounge and I did waste good time.  Next I was assigned to paint all the little bins which held different size bolts, screws and etc.  About this time I went into see the top brass and I told him I was hired to help the war effort and here all I was doing is cleanup, paint up and etc. and I felt I wasn't much help to the war effort.  He told me that the most important thing is to keep up the morale of the people and by me doing what I was doing, I was doing just that.  Needless to say when the war was over I was perhaps the first to leave this enterprise.

               After leaving the Salt Lake Ogden Arsenal, I went to work again for the Paris Company.  This time I was full time.  I remember the first Christmas the head man from the piece goods department gave me a bottle of wine for Christmas.  I didn't know what to do with it; also I was embarrassed to take it home on the bus for fear that someone might see me. Well I got it home and gave it to my brother-in-law, Jay Potter, for he did partake of this vice.  Needless to say to him it was a fine gift. 

               I worked for the Paris Company until the following July.  They approached me to work on the Sunday before the fourth of July without pay.  I told them in no uncertain terms that my answer would be no.  They told me to think it over.  In a few days I again was approached on the subject and I told them I had given them my answer and that is it.  They sent me to the superintendent along with my brother Dick who was also an employee of the Paris Company.  She told us in no uncertain terms that we were no better than anyone else, so I told her, "What if I don't?"  She replied, "I feel sorry for you."  So in our conversation she said that if I didn't show up Sunday I was terminated.   I told her that if she terminates me she must have my pay check ready when I leave.  I then replied, "Okay, I am through.  You won't have the pleasure of firing me."  So Brother Dick said, "Me, too."  So we left the Paris Company.  There were at the Paris Company some real neat people, both men and women.

               While working for the Paris Company, I got a case of crabs.  These are little insects that bite you any place on your body that has hair as a breeding place for them. I didn't know what I had until I saw a doctor for the insects were a real nuisance and very irritating.  The doctor gave me some smelly stuff and told me to cover my body with this then take a bath. This would kill the insects but if they laid any eggs on the hair new ones would appear.  I had quite a siege of this but finally won the battle.

               After leaving the Paris Company, I worked for Utah Sand and Gravel in the Sugar House area.  After working for them for a short period of time, I got what is called infantigo.  I believe I got it from drinking out of the same water bag as everyone else but I sure got a heavy dose of it.  Every time I shaved I would get more, for if one broke it would cause moisture and every place the moisture touched you would have more sores.  So I grew a beard and rubbed my face with alcohol day after day until it left.  When I shaved again my face was all raw and I put alcohol on my face again.  What a stinging face, but it healed up real neat.  Then I went back to the construction job but there was no more opening. 

               In the meantime I worked with the team of horses and ploughed for the neighbors' garden lots.  I made a dollar now and then.

               Then one day I answered a help wanted ad for S. H. Kress and Company at 257 South Main and applied for a job as a stock room helper and order picker. When I arrived at the Kress Company and saw all who answered the ad I was wondering if I had a chance. But one by one they were interviewed and left.  Finally it was my turn and others were still in line to be interviewed.  The manager interviewed me, looked over my application then said, "Anymore out there to be interviewed?"  I replied "Yes."  He said, "Go out and tell them to go home."

               In our interview I had mentioned that I was a returned missionary a few years ago and told him I had left the Paris Company because they had insisted that I work on Sunday for free, no pay.  He then told me that I was hired at 75 cents an hour.  I was happy to have a job.  Warren Odekirk was my manager's name and the time was October 1946.

               I was given the assignment to work in the toy department filling orders for the toy counters.  I was also moving the newly received toys to the basement storage and keep the stock rotated and also counting the stock every 4 weeks.  This was a real neat assignment.  I worked 6 days per week Monday through Saturday 8 hours per day and many weeks 54 hours per week and even 60 hours per week.  I enjoyed working at the Kress Company.  I enjoyed the type of work I was doing.  I enjoyed working with my co-workers.  I was still single and there were a lot of nice girls working there.  They were all nice and pleasant.  I didn't date much but I sure enjoyed working around these girls and ladies and Mr. Odekirk was a real neat manager to work for.

               One day while working at Kress I came off the elevator which faces the selling floor and some telephones were installed there for the public use.  Well, there was a small purse laying there.  I picked it up, no name or identification was in it but about75 dollars was inside.

               I thought about turning the purse into the lost and found department but on the second thought I didn't.  I decided to keep it and see if it would be advertised in the want ads.  I reasoned that if the person had already visited the lost and found department and it hadn't been turned in.  I wondered who would receive the money.  So I watched the lost and found ads for the next day and surely enough there was an ad.  I called the number and told them to identify the contents.  She told me almost to the exact dollar what was in it.  I told her that was enough and to come and get her little purse with its contents.  Her dad came down to pick it up and told me this story. 

               The daughter's husband had been out of work for some time and this was his first payday since he had found employment.  She had gone to town to pay the bills and etc.  She was really sick about losing her purse.  Deep in her heart she felt she would never see the money again.  So I was really happy that I had kept the purse and the contents and had had the privilege of returning it to its rightful owner.  He gave me 5 dollars out of his own pocket for returning it. 

               During the year 1942-46 I was teaching a Sunday School class of 12 and 13 year olds.  I had some real nice kids in my classes.  I also had some terrors.  We had a lot of parties such as roller skating.  If the kids didn't have any money I had them come anyway and I would foot the bill, horseback riding, picture shows, hiking to Ensign Peak, bicycle riding and swimming.  After our parties I would always walk them to their homes.  I never did let any boy or girl walk home alone.  We would all start out and walk together.  We would walk to their home and then to another until they were all home.  Sometimes we covered a lot of territory for the ward was really spread out, but I enjoyed the youth and was willing to help each one.  The ward extended from 9th South to 24th South and from the railroad tracks to Redwood Road. 

               We as a family were close and had love for one another.  The Lord blessed us with a wonderful Father.  One who had love in his heart for each one of his children.  His greatest concern was that someday we may all once again be reunited as a family in the great beyond hereafter.  Dad lived to be 86 years of age.  He was an example to all and many still remember John Rueckert and almost the exact spot he occupied in the Cannon Ward Sacrament Meeting.

               I remember one Sunday evening we all went to church as usual.  The speaker was telling a lot of stories to make people laugh and this kept going for sometime but Dad, being a spiritual man, believed a man should speak as the spirit moves and felt this man was out of place causing so much laughter in sacrament meeting.  Bishop Edward Sorensen apparently enjoyed the service but Dad got up and told the speaker to sit down if he didn't have anything else to tell the congregation.  The speaker asked the Bishop if he should sit down.  Bishop Sorensen told him to continue on.  Needless to say Dad was called into the Bishop's office and was reprimanded and told to apologize to the ward members next fast day. The Bishop said Dad was wrong, for it was the Bishop's duty to call the speaker down, not Dad.

               Well to make a long story short, Dad prepared himself well for this fast meeting and then when called by the Bishop to come forward and make an apology; he came forward as John Rueckert would.  A small man in statute but a giant in the work of the Lord and truth.  President Harold B. Lee was present.  He was not the President of the Church then.

               Dad then told the congregation, in a very few words, as scriptures read that a man is not to speak unless he is led and prompted by the Holy Ghost and then he sat down.  The Bishop remarked to Brother Harold B. Lee that he didn't apologize and Brother Lee said no apology was needed.

               When our ward was divided, I was called to serve in the Sunday School Superintendency as second counselor to Brother Talman.  I did not enjoy giving up my Sunday School class.  As time went on I was called to be the superintendent and had for my counselors, Dick Tanner and Harold Powell and a short time later Robert Christensen.  We had a good time in the Sunday School position.  Then one day we were called into Bishop Weseman's office and we three were told that he had new assignments for us.  I was then called to the Adult Aaronic Priesthood to labor with the inactive.

               This had also proven to be an assignment which I really enjoyed.  Having the privilege to help some of our inactive brothers and sisters come back into His fold.  We would hold cottage meetings in the homes and would have our meetings in the different homes. 

               In the year of 1947 I bought a car, a 1936 Buick, which I really enjoyed owning.  Yes, it needed some repairs for I didn't really know much about cars.  This car cost $600 and it cost me another $200 to bring it up to good running shape.  New tires and all.

               Well, my buddy, George Phelps and I planned to take a trip to California.  To make a long story short, I was broke at the time we were to leave so George called me and said, "I got a bet with my Dad.  He bet me you won't go to California."  George said if you go I will give you the $50 my Dad bet me. Well, to say no more, George and I were on our way in less than an hour.

               We had a nice trip together to California.  There I saw my first orange tree and we also visited a Pentecostal Church one evening.  This was interesting to visit.  The preacher was a lady.  A black lady.  George and I thought she would lose her voice, she was high strung and emotional.  This as George's first time away from home or his family.  It was a real neat experience.

               After our return George and I were in a pageant in the Tabernacle.  We practiced our parts many nights and then the performance lasted about 3 nights. We were some of the Carthage Grays in this play.  We had met some girls in this play whom George and I took out several times.  Being in this play was a first for me but I thoroughly enjoyed being part of this production.

               Time went on and occasionally I would take a girl out.  Sometimes we would go horseback riding, see a show and etc.  But really it didn't bother me too much to stay home.  Because for some reason or another girls to me didn't matter.  I even bought myself a record which was "I'll be a Bachelor Till I Die."

               In the year of 1948, late spring, a special young lady by the name of Goldia Wolff worked at S H Kress and Company in the glassware department and later in the plant department.  A young lady some 14 years younger than myself. I took quite a liking to this gal.  There was something special.  Something that must of touched my heart.  For I could not completely get her off my mind.

               Well, I walked up to her counter one day and lo and behold I found a $5.00 bill on her counter.  She thought I should share it with her and I thought for a bit and told her I would take her out and spend the $5.00 between us.  She accepted.  I took her out several times after that and then I bought some tickets to the 24th of July rodeo, ringside seats.  We were looking forward to seeing this together.

               Well, to make a long story short, the Saturday before the 24th of July I had an appendix attack.  I suffered through it Saturday night and Sunday night and it got worse the longer I waited.   

               My sister Hilda had a boy friend who told me it was all in my head and I told him when I have a pain I know where it is and it is not in my head.

               Monday morning, I headed for the doctor's office.  Doctor Taylor told me I had an appendix attack and asked if he should give me something to ease the pain.  I told him no, I was now ready to have them removed.  So he declared it an emergency and told me to be in the L D S Hospital by 2 p.m. that day.  I went back home and told my Dad that I was going to the hospital and have my appendix removed.  For some reason or another I was not afraid to have the operation.  I guess the pain was too severe.  My brother Al drove me to the hospital and I signed myself in. 

               They assigned me a room and they prepared me for the operation then they came and put me on a table and wheeled me to the operation room to the elevator and up we went.  When we entered this room they said you will be the first one in this room to be operated on.  I made a quick remark and said I will also be the first to die in here.  They stuck a needle in my arm and I was out before I could count to ten.

               Well, I woke up in my room about 7 p.m.  They brought me a big plate of food.  I told them to take it away I wasn't ready for food.  That night they came to give me a shot for pain.  I told them I didn't want one and to make this their first and last unless I asked for it. Also they brought me a cup of tea again I said, "Must I drink it?" and they said yes.  So again I said this is the first and last.  No more.

               So all through the night at different times they came for water specimens.  I just couldn't let off water laying in bed and they wouldn't let me get up.  So they didn't get no water specimen.  In the morning I asked the doctor if I could get up.  He told me I could hang my feet over the bed and sit up.  Well, needless to say they got their water specimen.  Tuesday night my Dad and Sis came up to see me, also my gal friend, Goldia.  I guess I really didn't know what to think when she came in to see me but it was really thoughtful of her to see how I was doing.

               After I recovered from my operation, she told me to get lost, for her folks did not approve of her going out with a man 13 years older than she was.  She was obedient to her parents.  She rejected me and yet I still had her in my mind.

               I have always been thankful for having my appendix removed.  I never had a pain from my operation.  I went home within three days after my operation and back to work within three weeks.  I was receiving clerk at S H Kress and Company at this time.  My co-workers would come and give me a hand for a few days until I could handle the freight again.  Within a week I was handling all freight myself again.

               In 1949 Elmo Baker, George Phelps and I took a trip to Canada to visit my former landlady and her family, Mrs. Florence Bourk, Jessie and Jack Houle.  We had a great trip and a wonderful visit.  While there I received a sweet letter from my future wife that broke the news to them of our upcoming marriage.  They were truly happy for me to think after all these years I was finally settling down. 

Albert and Goldia Rueckert Courtship

Albert and Goldia Rueckert Courtship

Grandpa worked for S. H. Kress for over 25 years  In fact he got his gold watch in December and then the pink slip because the store was closing in January the next year.

His job was to be the head of the men that stocked the counters on the floor.

Each counter in the store was formed in a circular way so that the clerk was in the middle with the cash register and each counter was for a different group of merchandise.  Like my counter was the seeds to be planted of flowers and vegetables.  The overstock was under the counter so we had to keep the counters stocked from the overstock.  Albert brought the overstock up  as we ordered it from the basement and we would put it under the counter and keep stocking the top as needed.  Each day we would order what we needed and the stock men would bring it up. 

        One day Albert brought my seeds to sell and he found a 5 dollar bill on the counter.  He told me that he was going to keep it because the department heads just kept it.  I was upset because it was on my counter so it should be mine.  We comprised on him telling me that he would spend it on me if I would go on a date with him.  I said yes and we starting dating.  This was about in May and we dated until a date that we had on the 24th of July.  But alas, Albert had appendicitis in July and was in the hospital and could not keep the date.  I finally gave in to the pressure from home to not date a man so much older than i.  So I turned him down when he got better.  He always told me that it was because he was not a whole man any longer.

The next year in May, Albert decided that he needed to get serious about marriage and he made a list of the girls that he wanted to date.  I was on the top of the list.  By this time I was going to school at Henagar School of Business and working part time running an elevator in the Felt Building.  He looked me up and we starting dating again.  This time we got very serious and were engaged in a couple weeks. 

We went on a date to an outdoor show in the Orem vicinity.  On the way home we stopped for a bite to eat and when we got out another car had parked behind us.  But Albert saw a open field in front of us and decided to turn around there.  Alas it had a cement culvert in the field for irrigation.  We landed into the ditch and had to have someone come to pull us out.  He didn't have any money but I always carried a little and he used it to call the wrecker.  Meanwhile I stayed in the car and got to thinking and decided that I did love him.  We went home and without knowing about the other one we both prayed about it and got the same answer to marry each other. 

7 years later I got my patracial blessing and it said that he had promised before this life to marry me.