#M3e LUNDQUIST, Roy Emanuel
Born: 23 Sep 1902 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
Died: 27 Sep 1965
Father: Emanuel Richard LUNDQUIST (Merchant) #M6
(13 Mar 1867-18 Oct 1925)
Mother: Grace Honor BUSHMAN #M7 (15 Jun 1873-15 May
1912)
Siblings covered in biographies: Elsie Gladys LUNDQUIST McNabb #M3 and Ruby Grace LUNDQUIST Smuin #M3c
Married: 19 Jun 1929 to Leila Cotterell. They had three children.
Children:
1. Joanne Louise LUNDQUIST (living)
2. Richard LeRoy LUNDQUIST (living)
3. John Steven LUNDQUIST (living)
Biography:
By Elsie Gladys Lundquist McNabb, sister to Roy in Interview with Elsie McNabb Saye, July 27, 1989, by Gordon McNabb, his wife Sally and daughter Sara, page 9.
Roy, number five, was the very religious one that carried out my father's dream, I guess, that his boys go on missions. He went to Germany after the war [World War I] and I think he got along on about $20 a month. Ruby sent him money, I know, and Ruby wrote to him and I have all of Roy's letters while he was over there. He wrote them for posterity. Some of them tell how horrible it was after the war.
Roy and I were close. He used to be good enough to take me to the dances at high school, to help me learn to dance, and take me to Church activities. He would take me to special things like a restaurant dinner type of thing. [Gordon comments at this point that Roy was the uncle he always felt close to. He was the one he met. "We were kindred spirits."]
He became a district president and a patriarch [in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]. We were close in our religion, in our ethics, or whatever you want to call it. He helped me with my grammar and composition because I only got about a year and a half of high school. I'm sorry to record that I got sick, then I had to quit high school I finally went to LDS Business College. But Roy would check up on my English. Any mistakes that I would make, he'd listen and correct me, so that when I went to California with the mother and father of the girl he was going with, Alice Curtis, they thought I was a graduate, that I was college material. I think a lot of that was due to the fact that he helped me so much. We idolized him. He was like the one I wanted to find - I would never be satisfied unless they were like Roy, to marry. He was different from Don [her husband Donald Oliver McNabb]. Sara, you'll never know who the one is till it hits you. It's not the one you think. It's not always the one your mind tells you or you mother or dad or anybody.
Anyway, he liked Don and we were great pals. When he got married and I got
married, we were still great pals. We had a lot of good times together. Roy and Leila and
Don and I. So I look forward to seeing all of these in the Spirit World. Leila asked me to
be her maid of honor when she and Roy got married. I was about 6 months pregnant with
Frances [Frances Mildred McNabb Gray] at the time.
Don and Elsie McNabb and Leila and Roy
Lundquist. The couples had been recently
married and were enjoying an outing at Memorial
Park near the Capitol in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Roy's Letters while on his mission: Part 1
(Letters 1-5, November 7, 1922, to January 3, 1923)
Roy served in the German-Swiss Mission from 1922-1924. Excerpts are from his letters, mostly to his sister Ruby Grace Lundquist. Letters are unedited and selected according to universal interest. Some items of personal interest are not included.
Roy E. Lundquist's missionary photo
1. November 7, 1922. On board the ship "Empress of Britain."
Dearest Ruby,
Had I attempted to write Saturday as per your suggestion I should
have not reached land with the boat. Just yesterday I have been in possession of a clear
brain and vision. But this letter will hold for that by-gone day and Sat. next will find
me at my post. Your idea meets my sincere approval and barring accidents I shall comply.
We are steadily approaching Cherbourg, France where we unload a
few passengers and mail; thence to Southampton, Engl, for 12 to 15 hours with a probable
chance to make London and back; and then to Hamburg. I am writing this to be mailed at
Southampton and you'll get it in about two weeks from date or less, just in time to catch
you recuperated from my sending Elsie a letter before you. But you know I owed her two and
you all read them anyway. You know I shall never catch up with my mail unless I combine a
few friends together and have them meet at an appointed spot to read one letter addressed
to all. I only have about 30 letters yet to write before any others start coming from Zion
to answer. However my pens number two and I can buy carbon paper if necessary.
Now then - we have been on this obnoxious highway some eight days
and believe me it's no joke. Yet have I enjoyed most everything but the return trip on
three perfectly good meals. It is said that a waiter in the dining saloon asked a
passenger who had before him a dish of soup, "are you going to have it, sir, or have
you had it?!!"
So you see what's prevalent.
But after Dick [his brother] varifies my statement that the ocean
is always rocky as well as salty, just ask him what he would have given if that darker [?]
sickening continuous rolling had ceased while he got his balance or the balance of his
dinner down. Really it is abdominal!
At any rate the boat's swell and we're used to it now and eat almost as ravenously as Alva! [Alva Perry, later became manager of Deseret Book Store.] Well, we ought to we had to starve for two days to settle what we couldnt keep down - You know you can never keep a good man's dinner down, aboard ship at least. - I should think the fish would die - and I wonder how often my three dinners have changed owners since I left them. - Well that's not nice but it's true!
My job as party leader is not very sensational because I've lost or haven't found the nack of looking after others' troubles but we've got a good bunch and nothing has been out of place so far because they can mostly look after their own dinners.
Ruby dear, I nearly wept when you made me think of that Sat. night with our own sweet rafters ringing with a strange ring - merriment - Gee! it was novel!
But I must ring off! Dad gets a letter now too.
Tell Aunt Helen I am very grateful for her helpful attention just before leaving and at all times. She's a peach! Everybody was grand!
Anyway I must quit. Güten ruiket as the owl says - be happy ever as I am and write Sat. RL
2. November 15, 1922, Königsberg, Prussia
Königsberg, Prussia
Nov. 15 - 1922
Dear Folks,
I am at last settled into a position where I can breathe. It has been actually impossible to get time to write. I have travelled by rail to this portion of the country and have temporarily been assigned to work with Doug Cornwall whom I knew at home. When he left Salt Lake it was the idea that he was sent to be reformed. It was not true though; he merely needed an opportunity, as most of our young men do, to show what they are made of. Doug has proved to be a wonderful missionary bringing cheer and inspiration to the poverty-striken people. He gets right in with them (the people) and he has the best spirit of all the missionaries here. Therefore I consider it quite a privilege to be allowed to chum with him. Though this mission conference has a good reputation yet there seems to be something lack [sic] at present due to a dire need of inspirational leadership. We need men! as Doug says. But we must do our part anyway, profit by others mistakes and pray for guidance and inspiration. This is a good field and there is lots of work, I am quite helpess at present because I cannot speak a particle of the language. But it is my aim to get in and dig this thing out. I have a lot to learn and work is the keynote of success. So be it.
Most every where one meets such wonderful people; yet people who have fallen into the clutches of a doomed nation. Germany at one time was a very prosperous nation as it shown by the well built houses, the extremely well-made furniture; everything portraying the skill and patience of a civilized people But their trouble lay in not observing the laws of association and love. The civilization was among a class, a minority, that ruled an under majority. The war humbled all weath, spread disease and has ruined the whole. The country is now in the stages of a people trying to recover from a terrible revolution that was actuated by the war when the aristocrat lost his seat. The country is in debt, the people must accept a hopeless wage and accept further all the punishments that God meets [sic] out to the empires that have denounced Him.
It probably has always been worse here than in America but you know how things are there now for a lot of people. Well then, multiply that by 10 or 100 and you have the situation of the majority in Germany. People eat practically nothing nourishing, get no light to speak of, some 90 per cent are diseased and they must work hard. We imagine we work hard at home but I'll never complain again since I have seen these people. They are slow but they're sure.
I don't know whether to weep or just feel sorry and get used to it or just what to do. I want people to be able to live like I can live and I see no way out. It is the devil's own work and the people's fault; they have brought it on themselves. Many though are honest in heart and search for truth and light and it is these we are trying to encourage in faith and make happy. To a certain extent this is being done, slowly, of course; but God will reward our efforts and hear the prayers of those who believe in Him. Men are never to far down that they can't come back.
It is quite impossible for you at home to realize what the conditions are. But when you are told that food costs, under normal exchange in money values, ten to fifteen times as much as in America you will appreciate what Germany is suffering. Don't you see that someone must pay for such a depreciation in the value of the mark. It means that the workman must do his work for barely enough to exist on and often less than that. A good wage is 3,000 marks a week. Now meat is 1500 marks to the pound here, bread 200, clothes up in the 10's of thousands and some or most men must keep a family. It means that in time there will be complete starvation for the majority and ruined lives for nearly all. It can't go on much longer. I haven't studied the situation carefully and I don't know what is actually the economic situation, but I do know that something must be done or this people will lose their identity as a nation in good standing. Filth and vice and crime cannot help but ruin a whole nation.
This is all I had better say now. Auf verderschon everybody. and I hope you are all well as I am. It's cold and wet here but not so bad. I've written a lot and received none so far so I'll rest on my oars until I get some, eh?
Be good and accept my best love from Deutschland,
Roy E. Lundquist
(brother, son and elder, uncle, etc.)
P.S. What would you like to know? that will help me to be interesting. Tell Cliff I still think he's the biggest fellow I ever knew and also give my greetings to Kay and Chic--tell Dick and Mercie I expect to write them soon and to be satisfied now with greetings--also will you remind Mrs. Hall that I will never get over the cleverness of her surprise box--I opened the last parcel the other day. herf friendship cannot be measured in words.--Tell Herbert hello as well as Betty.
You will have to pardon me hereafter if I do not write regularly. I want to put all my soul into this work and you people can get along without me pretty well. I will never forget but let me write when I can squeeze time. I have more to write to besides you and you can all cooperate on my letters. I like to write, but it is not teaching me the German language or distributing tracts or getting me to meetings, etc. Nevertheless it will be my aim to do my best so allow me fair play.
There is nothing I can ask for except mail from you; I will do my best to answer what you send but send lots. And good literature and don't forget the pictures I wrote you of. I have not to date received any mail because I just got here in Königsberg Monday night. My mail will be forwarded from Switzerland in about a week or two. Darn!
My address now will be
Herr Roy E. L---
Neve Danningasse 21
bei Fuchs
Königsberg i/Pr Germany
3. November 27, 1922 Königsberg
Königsberg i/Pr
November 27 [1922]
Dear Ruby,
I have a few moments that I will take before retiring to write you a little of what has, is and may happen in Germany
First what has happened.
I have been tracting and had the strengthening privilege of having doors slammed in my face. After prayer we hit out into the cold morning air and to our field of tracting. On the way I was taught my little speech and very weakly muttered it to the lady who answered the first door in the house. I place half the weakness to climbing the stairs and the other half to the natural timidity of one who says something he hardly understands himself. You see the living quarters are built tightly together with but one street entrance to each set of doorways, "all-the-same-apartment-house" at home. Well, you climb 4 or 5 flights of stairs and start at the top ringing doorbells. You are quite out of breath (climbing so far) but it was proved to be the best method for if you are thrown out at the start you are not so discouraged if you have to walk downstairs to get out of the "guy's" reach. However we distributed forty tracts and my partner had a few conversations. Of course all I was good for was to help hold the door open after I had introduced ourselves and asked the "frau" to take and read the tract. It all is great stuff and I will be glad when I can get to a point where I can be senior partner and be able to tell the people my full mission. There is plenty of room for improvement amaong the missionary work here and I ache to get the chance to see what I am made of. This is what I have concluded from my first tracting tour. You know until a fellow can get to a point where he uses his own judgement and abilities and powers of speech he can do little toward the fulfillment of his mission. Thus the early part of my labors will be study and using every opportunity to express and learn this language. It won't be long if I work.
Outside of fights between the effeminate creatures here there is little excitement going on. Two girls got together the other day and pulled hair and scratched and kicked each other's shins something scandalous! These people hae a natural habit of scrapping. Man and wife are continually assuming warlike atmospheres and everywhere you here [sic] the love taps expressed. They expect a few riots here this winter. In Berlin things are perilous.
It seems very difficult to write what is really interesting to you. We are eating the very choicest of foods - horsemeat and sour cabbage, rye bread, strong cheese, peculiar soups and dry, untasty potatoes. But where we eat we get the food served clean and well cooked so we cannot complain. Yet I would just like to have you people try some of the awful fish soup and dishes that some of the saints prepare. The greasy, dirty way in which things are put on the table I wonder that the Lord can bless them. One elder found a worm in his soup, and then managed to get away with two more dishes. So you see fortitude is a quality we must cultivate in this field. Hard luck stories dont go and you must take what comes and do your duty.All will be well if we hold up our part and strive by example to show these people how to live. Everybody is away behind and must be educated to a new system before they can or will live better.
Things that are to happen are many and uncertain. First I may at some place, sometime, somehow learn to speak this language. Then I may get a definite partner and a definite residence. As it is things are quite inconvenient as I am staying now with two other missionaries as a guest. I cannot feel that the room is mine and furthermore three is a crowd when it comes to living in a small room. On the first of the month we have a big change here in this conference and then you will hear what the big chiefs decide. Thus far it has been impossible to get closely into the work but I hope it wont last too long.
Will you kindly, Ruby, cash this check I am returning. I carried it over here because I forgot to cash it at home the night I left and I didnt find a way to have it done on the way here. Now then this is the way to send money to me hereafter: Double-seal an envelope, with sealing wax and register the letter at the P.O. Send the money in greenback denominations of $5.00 each - $10.00 or $15.00 at a time, that is, 2 or 3 - $5 bills. Registered mail receives the best of attention and is only delivered here to the individual himself, so do not be afraid of loss. I tell you this because Dad may be reluctant about sending money that way (also money is sent from Basel this same way.) But here is the value. The American greenback Dollar is the king of kings over here. It is the standard of value and all exchange fluctuates about it. If you send money to Switzerland I can only get the money in Swiss francs which rate a lower exchange than the dollar - that is $l's worth of francs in Switzerland sent here when exchanged into marks rates about 10 to 15% lower than the dollar exchange. You see the dollar is high value everywhere and as there has been no known case of loss thru registered mail it is saving money to send direct. Starting with the return on this lettter I wish you would send me American bills and my credit at Basel, Switzerland, can be used to purchase tracts and books that I need from time to time and as a reserve as well if any delay is made with the U.S. mail.
Now then one more point. Can I be spared the amount of $20 per month? It costs around $15 to live here in the winter and there are a few little things that I would like to have besides the living allowance. Altogether twenty dollars will keep me going and if it is too much after I understand better how to live you can sen less.
Are there any questions? If not I will go to bed.
I have not received one bit of mail to date except a card from Basel announcing my credit there and a sum of 400 francs in currency at my request. No letters have been forwarded from there. I hope you wrote there as I asked. All will be well though and I dont complain - You can send boxes of stuff here if you pack them securely. Maybe in a tin box - personal goodies and things are allowed - they can tell you at the Post Office just whether what is sent can come through. Others have received things and I would sure appreciate something if ever so little. I may tell you what I can get and perhaps not but I hope to send some of the cheap things of good quality home by some returning missionary. It is not advised for or against so I can use my judgement and when I can use my tongue I am going to use my eyes and head and a nickel or so. Things are very cheap - excepting food and fuel.
May the Lord bless you all with health and strength as he is blessing me. I am learning marvelous things concerning His great wisdom and works and it wont be long ere I am up to this thing to my neck.
Cheerily and affectionately I am Yours till the mark drops. Roy E.
Lundquist.
4. December 29, 1922 Königsberg
Happy New
Year!
December 29 -
Königsberg
Dear Ruby,
I am up real early this morning having used my Christmas present, mentioned in Dad's letter, to very good advantage. The other boys sleep soundly and I continue a campaign on letter-writing. The Christmas rush is a worry here as well as at home and one does not have time for himself. Letters have piled up and an immense task is before me. But we are on four days leave from our branches and in that time I may get all my mail off to the States. We expect to celebrate the New Year here in Königsberg and then get back to our fields full of the new life that must be to accomplish a maximum efficiency. I was quite jealous of the lovely time you must have had at the Deseret Gym as explained in your letter of Nov. 26. I did "use my good imagination" to try to picture your fun and it made me realise where I was and have much farther ahead U.S. is. But life is not interpreted by the quality, especially the elaboracy of entertainment but rather by the spirit of activity and the unity and purpose of such activity. Thus we rank just as important in life over here when we are able to please the children and grown ups in our branches as much as you do over there. Progress is a relative movement but must be forward. You folks of course are ahead of us but then to progress you've got to interest more people in a bigger way than ever before. The problem increases as intelligence develops and must be satisfied. We have fine success everywhere here and in places equal the powers and progress of the saints in Zion. The one difference is the lack of fundamental ability to live the gospel. The people here weren't born in the Truth and it is often difficult to work with them. But all in all life is as interesting here as it was at home and if you ask for a true confession I shall say "more interesting than it was at home! "That may be hard to swallow but it's the Truth. We become more and more German everyday but we retain American identity. I will not deny however that when I return that Zion will be more interesting than here. If you don't understand me it doesn't matter.
My Christmas package hasn't arrived yet but may be there when I return to Tikit. Mrs. Hall's peppermint chews came the day before Christmas but I didn't open them till Christmas. They hit the spot! --Say could you send a propylactic tooth brush and some Pepsodent and Kolynop? These things (dentist articles) are terrible in Germany. Thank you kindly. If my time lasts I'll write again in a day or so, Roy
5. January 3, 1923, Königsberg
Königsberg i/Pr
Jan. 3 - 1923
Dearest Ruby,
I wonder what you are thinking of your brother when he receives two fine letters before answering? I received a big letter from you and one from Dadie around Dec. 21 and am just answering them both now. Really I just have to take days off to write because you cant work it in during the day. I am gradually getting settled into my quarters and soon hope to work to a regular schedule.
Many important things have happened since last you heard. I was chosen as a second counselor to our branch president, my companion, Merle Foulger. Than another item was a lovely Christmas program given by the choirs of the two branches in this city. Christmas meant also a little happiness for the children with a program and a few gifts. The day after Christmas we had conference missionary meeting. Things are not going any too fast in our work here. I expect so much and was sadly disappointed. Most of the missionaries take a long time to get into the work and their spirit is one of indifference. Some are even rebellious to instructions and furnish serious problems to those in authority. To those who will dig the mission field works wonders. To others it seems a damper on their high life. The missions should not be looked upon as "faddish," as some coming here have the idea and let me tell you I am ashamed of some reports we hear at our missionary meetings and the attitudes some express. Conditions are not always as we like them here among the saints and many turn their noses up at having to meet them. It is hard I must admit but unless we sacrifice a few notions we can never learn to love this people and without love no worthy progress can be made. The same selfish troubles and complaints that we hear at home come up among the elders and it's disgusting to see the narrowness of our own brethren. Aside from these problems everything goes well. We are to settle down to hard work after the holidays and are determined to support our new conference president Orson Kasteler. By the way Ruby you will know Viola Peterson in Sunday School who is Orson Kasteler's sweetie. Tell her to be just as proud as she can be of her idolator [sic] over here because he's in store for big things. Greet her for me.
I am just as happy or happier than I have ever been in my life--I see things I have never thought of before and I have found things in life that are really sweet. Tell Mrs. Hall I have found "that something" but why doesnt she write, I wrote her a big letter on the ship. Guess I had better write again because if that got lost I dare not risk losing her friendship too. The more I remember her interest in me the more I appreciate real friends. She and Hubert are ideal people--pep, brains, accomplishments just a few people aspire to those heights--Oh I miss all you people at home--but I am learning new things here as I say. Ruby I can truthfully say I know this gospel is the only plan of salvation. We appreciate it like all other things, only when we we begin to understand it's beauties. Have you ever felt your life just beam with happiness and love - you look for bigger things - selfishness becomes a nightmare - you plan and think on bigger planes. I have felt that in your letters too Ruby we must be growing together. About your desire to help the poor here - it is cheapest and best to send all you wish free of charge thru the Red Cross. This you may do impersonally - when I come across a particular case where help can be given it is reported to the Relief Society and taken care of here. Your idea is big but dont worry too much about Germany - she is really about as well off as our own country - it's the other countries, Russia, France, Italy, Armenia, etc. that really suffer.
Thus so much for love and unselfishness - I think you can work such principles to good advantage right there in Zion. If you can but arouse one soul to "that something" (Mrs. Hall will tell you of it) then you have accomplished more there than all the effort you have, centered on these countries. So let the Red Cross handle your offerings Ruby - system counts - and spend every second with the straying souls of Zion - I have a new aim when I get back which is to try to pull a few of those indifferent young fellows into the light that I see now. I figure I can do them a great favor if I knock at the door of their souls. Our responsibility in these last days is so immense that I am nearly afraid that my capacity is insufficient - my aims are higher than my potency, my power.
So awake oh my soul! Give 'em all you got!
It seems I never get melancholy and I dont worry about my girl - she has her own mind - I can only do my best to interest her - after that fate will take care of conditions. Dont think I am a fatalist! only an optimist!
And about food and health and air etc. - Ruby please do not misjujdge my good sense. You know a few brains guided by an Almighty Power will work wonders in conditions as we meet them. I have not been sick a single day since I have been here and I never felt better in my life - up early in the morning - PRAYER!! - 10 to 15 minutes with exercise - boxing - calisthenics - workouts on our rings we have in our room - then study - breakfast - coffee (made from cereal) and rye bread and butter - occasionally mush - tracting - dinner at a regular place wherre absolutely good food is cooked - not always to our taste but at least clean. Afternoon - visits- study - business or whatever comes up - supper at the same place as dinner unlesss we are invited out by saints - meetings - study or visits - exercise and - PRAYER!!, bed - and then ---Oh! Boy! the days just fly - I've been here about two months and it seems but a year! - Now will you stop worrying about me?
Say I am nearly histerical waiting for that plum pudding - but so far as Mutual Banquets are concerned you cant make me jealous - We had a marvelous time New Year-s Eve - played games - danced - sang - till three in the morning - 8 missionaries and some saints at the place where we board! Scandalous but lots of fun - It's not all work here during holidays at least - then a "choir fest" - dancing - program - eats - 4 P.M. to 11 P.M. - New Year's Day -
Last week we visited Berlin - Marvelous! - costs 50˘ train fare from here now - 12 hours ride - Berlin? inconceivable to Americans - beauty - luxury - art - history - speed (in better parts) U.S. cant touch tthe old country for neatness and management - Am going to send a few picture cards I picked up - Saw most of Berlins' wonders, stayed three days, ate high and came back on three dollars and a half - when you are careful money here goes a long way - But they watch the auslander (foreigner) to work a graft on him - all eyes open or you get "hosed."
This must do you kiddo till you write again - Greet Everybody who ever heard about my existence for OX (mush) Roy.
(For more of Roy's Letters go to Roy's Letters Part 2)
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