BHS Grad Authors Nationally Recognized Book

     A tip spurred an interest and the Kornerman took that curiosity right to google to see if there was any hope of securing additional information and, was there ever........lots of it.
     Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Harper/Collins, all the big time purveyors of the printed word, are well aware of and anxious to distribute, "Evidence Not Seen," a woman's miraculous faith in the jungles of World War II. A woman who, as a young American missionary, survived four long years in a notorious Japanese Prison Camp set deep in the jungles of New Guinea.
     That initial tip was lacking in local details but did promote further investigation via a lone mention that the books author was married in Boone, Iowa, August 18, 1937.
     Whoa! What more can we find? Well, Darlene Deibler Rose, who wrote the book, was a 1935 graduate of Boone High School. Born May 10, 1917, in Chattanooga, TN, Darlene McIntosh was 19 years old when she married a young Christian and Missionary Alliance pastor, Rev. Russell Deibler, 31, who's very first "home" assignment was to Boone, Iowa.
     Rev. Deibler was eventually sent to Papua New Guinea and Darlene, the first American woman to enter the Baliem Valley of New Guinea, was right there working beside him. Unfortunately, two things halted the Deibler's missionary work there. First, they were forced into captivity by the Japanese and then, dysentery resulted in Russell's death at age 37.
     Darlene and Russell had been sent to separate prison camps, Darlene at a camp for women at Kampili, where she developed beriberi, and Russell to ParePare where he died.
     When the war and her incarceration ended, Darlene returned to the United States, met and married Jerry Rose, a pilot and fellow missionary.
     The dedicated duo resumed missionary work together again in New Guinea, but after 30 years, relocated to the Australian Outback. In 1993, they moved to Creighton, NE. and from there, health issues required a move to assisted living in Chattanooga, TN.
     Darlene passed away February 24, 2004, and Jerry died August 10, 2004, in Chattanooga.
     For further information we suggest a look at, "Evidence Not Seen" on google. There appears to be the possibility of a film based on the book sometime in the future.
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     Bernie Lewiston wrote, "the discussion of past clothing stores omitted one very prominent store that was located on Story Street between Meyer's and J.C. Petersen's. That was Kruse Clothing, owned by my uncle, Don Kruse. His first wife, Martha, was my mother's sister. Martha died in 1944, shortly after the birth of Nyle Kruse. Don's sister, Margaret Tonsfeldt and her husband, Galeard, in Ogden, took Nyle as a baby and raised him since Don didn't think he could handle a new baby. It worked out well and Nyle stayed there and grew up in Ogden. Don, later, married Mabel and together, they raised Don's older son, Darrell Kruse, BHS-56. Nyle later worked with Don in the clothing store until it closed. Nyle went to Iowa City and worked in the clothing business, and lives there in retirement. Darrell lives in North Carolina."
     The Kornerman adds, "I recall Don and Harry Kruse working their store and Larry Meyers, BHS-57, succeeding his dad at Meyer's but  there's still another men's clothing store that hasn't been mentioned, Rea's Clothing. I can remember......I believe it was Cleo McKinnon (?sp)  who was in charge there and always had an inhaler in hand due to an asthmatic condition. Doris Brausey Hasstedt was another employee at Meyer's as I recall."
     "While we're at it, we mentioned Dad and Lad in an earlier edition but made no attempt to recall some of those store employees or visitors we remember. There was owner/operator Rod Clark, BHS-44, of course and his successor, his son, Brad Clark, BHS-69. Some of the other store regulars were Bill McKee, BHS-41, Bob Musser, BHS-58, Gary Grosnickle, BHS-53, and one of the Sakellaris boys who worked there and then the city night watchman, Mike Roach, and Randall Peterson, BHS-32 (state basketball champs) who, oftentimes, were chair occupants."
     Finally, "just think, at one time, on the west side of Story between Eighth and Ninth, there was J.C. Petersen's, Kruse and Meyers almost side by side by side and also on the west side of Story, but between Seventh and Eighth, Rea Clothing and Dad and Lad were in operation. Those were all in addition to People's on Eighth street and chain stores like Penny's, Sears and Wards that also offered clothing items."
     P.S. Bernie Lewiston was so concerned when we started a countdown a few weeks ago.......10 days to go etc. etc.....wondering what we were "closing in" on. Well, actually there are THREE things.......Ash Wednesday of course, along with Valentine's Day. But, the thing we were mainly promoting was the fact that baseball pitchers and catchers were to report to their spring training sites, today, on the 14th. Whoop-de-do! Finally!
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     Sue Woolsoncroft of Nevada wrote, "Loren Frazier is correct. The Princess Theatre was on the east side of Story between 8th and 9th streets. I remember our Saturday trips into town with my grandparents. My grandmother, brother and myself would go to the Princess and watch western serials all afternoon for a dime and then go to the library to check out enough books for a week before retrieving my grandfather from the pool hall to go home."
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     BOONE CONNECTED DEATHS: Susan Geilman, 71, Boone. Boone area survivors are a daughter, Sue Patrick, and a grandson, Jonathan Patrick, both of Boone..........Brenda McDanel, 57, Boone. Was married to Monte McDanel in Boone. A wife, mother and housewife, a Boone area survivor is her husband. Six children and four sisters also survive.........Grayson Russell, infant, Huxley. Boone area survivors include his great grandparents, Ron and Sandy Russell, of Boone.........Louise Mattingly,  90, Boone..........Brian Fitzgerald, 61, Des Moines. Formerly of Boone........Vera Lindgren, 96, Ogden. Born in Boone County. Married Walter Lindgren in 1942. Was a homemaker and worked at Bourns in Ames for 14 years prior to retirement in 1986. Boone area survivors are a daughter, Rita Wheeler, and a daughter in law, Bev Lindgren, both of Ogden...........Mary Ann Stewart, 85, Des Moines. Madrid HS-51.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4932. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/SUPPORT.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.