Sunday, January 4, 1931

Another week at cooking for yours truly. Today was fast day so I got out of it for one meal. Attended Sunday School, returned and prepared a meal for four starving Elders. Oh! Boy what fun. However, we did eat and lived so far. We spent the rest of the day studying, writing, etc. At 7:30 we attended meeting Elder Hughes, Gwynn, and Thorderson were the speakers. I was informed that I would be the speaker for next Sun. evening. After meeting we wrote, studied and talked until bedtime was 11:30.

Saturday, January 3, 1931

Caption on back of photo: Proud? Yes, of my washing.

Today was wash day, and what a washing I did put out. We had the house straightened up and the washing on the line by 12:30. At 1:30 Elder Thorderson and Elder Hughs arrived from their visit of the coast. Had dinner at 3:00 and fooled around until evening. From 6:30 till 8 we took flash light pictures of all the simple poses we could think of. Rolled in at about 11:30.

Friday, January 2, 1931

Sis. Rigtrup preaching at a street meeting in Fresno.

My sleepless companion was up at 5:00 and at 6:30 breakfast was over with. After breakfast I took Elder Clark and Elder Hamilton to the highway. Returned and held class, yours truly being the speaker. At 10:15 we went tracting until noon. On returning, found the missionaries from Fresno here. Visited with them for a short time. Had soup for dinner and went tracting again in the afternoon. Tracted until 5:00 and then had another _______ street meeting. I surely hope I soon learn to like em. Returned from street meeting, had supper and studied until bed time. At bed time we were called out to administer to P.K. Smith’s child and we responded to the call. I found out that his wife was a relation to most of my relations and she used to go with Uncle Leslie.

            We returned and were in bed by 10:30.

Thursday, January 1, 1931

Happy New Year. But how much happiness it would be if Billy was only hear. We rolled out at 6:30, had breakfast and was ready for class at 7:45. Class was over with by 9 and then we welcomed the new year by cleaning up the house, washing dishes, studying, etc. Quite a different New Years day than I had been used to spending, but I think I’ll live. In the afternoon visited Saints for a while and then returned and did more studyding. Quite the thrilling day, I don’t think. We were in bed by 9:00. Elder Clark and Elder Hamilton visited with us and stayed overnight.

Wednesday, December 31, 1930

Up and at um at 6:00. Breakfast and class over with by 9:00. We then went to Oildale to visit Saints. Found one family to home and visited with them for a while. We then went to the other end of town to see some investigator but could not find them. Returned home and filled our grub baskets. Studied in the afternoon and at 7:30 went to the show. “Numbered Men” was playing. It was a story of prison life. The girl had to wait 10 yrs for her lover, about as bad as Billy and I. At 9:00 we returned home and celebrated the going of this year and the coming of the new one by going to bed. Sure different than last year.

Pause

November 23, 1930.

Nina and Elbert Beecher--married two days.

In front are Ora and Albert Simmons. Ora was Nina’s mother.

Who is Billy?

Two days before leaving on his mission, Elbert Ray Beecher married Nina Hess in the Salt Lake City Temple on 21 November 1930. Obviously in 2012, this would be frowned upon. But in 1930, rules for missionaries were a bit different. "Billy" must have been Elbert's term of endearment for Nina.

Tuesday, December 30, 1930

How well I realize this is Elder Gwynn's week at cooking. Gosh he pulled me out at 5:30 this morning for breakfast. I wish he was a better sleeper. After breakfast and class was over I took Elder Thorderson and Elder Hughes to the highway. They were on their way to the coast for their vacation. We would liked to have gone but money would not permit.
            From 10:30 till 11:30 we tracted. Boy, surely must have forgotten some of the folks we visited for they were surely on the war path. At 12:30 we had dinner and then studied and wrote until five. At five another street meeting, with yours truly taking charge. Lived through the meeting. Returned home. Found a note asking us to come and see a Saint family. We went and had a very good visit with them. Returned at 9. Hit the bed at 10:30 and was soon dreaming (about Billy).