Grade School

(Genevieve Saurey)

I entered first grade in 1944 and was in Genevieve Saurey's class. There were two class rooms in the Plano School. Mrs. Saurey taught grades 1-4, and grades 5-8 went in the 'big room,' where the teacher's desk was on a raised platform in front of the chalkboards, and a big pot bellied stove sat at the side.

In the back of the school was the cloak room, where we kept our lunch pails, boots, and coats. It was also a reading corner, where I loved to get my work done. So I would go in the cloak room and help my little cousin, Arliss Davies, practice his reading. 

I loved to play teacher from a very early age. I'm sure I must have been in trouble many times, as I remember how much I would leave my seat to help someone else. 

Mrs. Saurey had two girls, one my age named Gwili, and the other was Dan's age. Gwili was my best friend. She brought her doll on picture day and all of us girls got to hold it for our first class picture.

(Nada 2nd Grade 1945)

Other childhood friends were: Margaret Holman, Bonnie White, Maxine Chandler, Arlene Burger, Theron Brown, and Arliss Davies.

One day in first grade I learned a great lesson in telling the truth. I was so afraid of the big kids that if I saw them throwing rocks, I would be afraid they would throw one and it would hit me. 

I went home one afternoon and told Dad that Kent Robertson hit me with a rock. Dad took me back to school, called Kent out in the hall, and asked him why he threw a rock at me. When Kent denied it, I finally confessed that I "thought" he would hit me, and that I had lied. So I got the punishment instead of Kent. 

What was the punishment? Dad had me sit on a log and watch him cut wood, for what seemed like hours, then tell him how lying made me feel. Well, I told him how guilty I felt and promised never to do it again. 

That is how my parents disciplined. They always made me explain how it made me feel. Once in high school I didn't want to go to church, so Dad said I could stay home, then tell him how it made me feel. I never missed church again. 

If I complained about helping Mom, she would have me sit and watch her do the dishes, or what ever, then tell her how it made me feel. I didn't do much complaining, lying, or missing church after such sessions.

(Nada Second Grade 1945: With Painted Finger Nails :)

I attended Plano School for 3 years before it was consolidated with Edmunds School. 

(Nada 4th Grade 1947)

My sister Ruth was a scholar, and usually got along with everyone. But one of her high school teachers was very straight and strict. Ruth had tried everything to understand Mr. Fairchild and to get on his better side. 

When she was very frustrated, Mom suggested she ask Mr. Fairchild over for dinner. We fixed a beautiful table, even fresh flowers and best china. It was such a nice evening, until I asked, "Ruth, isn't this the teacher you don't like?" 

Everyone at the table ate faster and tried to change the subject, and Mom had the nerve to pinch me under the table to hush me up. Instead I piped up and said, "Ouch! Mom, that hurt." I wasn't too popular the rest of the evening, but by the end of that year, Ruth had made friends with Mr. Fairchild, no thanks to me.

(Visiting Beth at Ricks College: Ellis, Dan, Beth, Job, and Nada 1944)

Beth was going to Rick's College. I remember how beautiful she was, and I watched her get ready for dates. One weekend, she brought out a tall, good looking guy from Teton. He towered over the whole family.

(Ellis, Jennie, Ruth, Reed Hollist, Beth, Nada, and Dan)

They dated lots, then he got his mission call. In those days, they were permitted to get married first, then go on a mission, so Beth and Reed Hollist were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 13, 1946, the day he left for his Spanish American mission.

(Beth and Reed Hollist 1946)

She wasn't alone long, as Reed got ill with rheumatic fever and came home 6 months later. The doctors told him he would never be able to do physical work again because of the damage to his heart. When I first saw him, I asked him to baptize me. I'm sure my Dad was surprised, as he or Ellis had planned to do it. But I explained to them that Reed was the biggest, and I knew he could get me out of the water. 

(From "Memories of My Parents-Reed and Beth Hollist" Written by Nina Hollist Dalling)

"He asked his doctor if it would be okay to baptize [Nada], and his doctor advised against it, but said he would give his consent if he baptized her and got straight back home. It was very difficult and painful for him to walk, but with assistance he was helped into the fount. As he finished baptizing [Nada], the Stake President leaned over and said, for some reason whoever was in charge of the Stake baptism did not show up, and asked if he would baptize the rest. He ended up baptizing 17 that day, and he was able to walk out of the fount without assistance. The pain was gone from his joints."

"Six months later he returned to Salt Lake for an appointment with his specialist. The only conclusion they could come up with, after his examination of the heart, was that they had made a mistake for they could find no trace of heart damage. He often talked about how his testimony was strengthened and he knew the Lord was mindful of him." (Nina Hollist Dalling 2016) 

He always told me that is what made him get well. We were pals for life!