Esther started college in 1942 when the U.S. became deeply involved with World War II and a few notable events reminds us of that time period. Doolittle's bombers gave the U.S. a "moral" victory when they bombed Tokyo. The Philippines was forced to surrender which led to the tragic March of Batan. 120,000 American-Japanese citizens were forced into "relocation" camps. Women were needed in the military so a separate service was established for them with many becoming a "WAC" or "WAVES." Napalm was invented by Harvard chemist, Louis F. Fieser. Gary Cooper won the Academy Award for "Sergeant York" and the first gold record came about because RCA Victor sprayed gold paint over Glen Miller's smash hit record, "Chattanooga Choo Choo."
Esther's parents, Henry and Emma Stryzewski were well known in downtown Akron, Iowa, when they owned/operated the Akron Variety Store for over 52 years. Esther loved working in the store and was pretty good at it too. Her Father told her "You could sell an Eskimo a refrigerator." The only time she didn't enjoy working in the store was over the Christmas holidays during inventory time.
The Stryzewski home was just a block away from the Akron school where Esther, her brother, Ralph, and younger sister, Phyllis, had their schooling. Esther attended kindergarten through high school at Akron and was the salutatorian of her class. She really enjoyed music and was in mixed octet, sextet, operetta, band, glee club, chorus, and was an accompanist. She was also a member of the pep club, a cheerleader, and worked on the Akronite and annual staff.
Esther remembers an amusing story that happened in Mr. Fowler's algebra class. "It was a very warm day with no air-conditioning at that time. The windows were open but the room remained very warm and I was seated in the back row. In an attempt to fight the warm conditions, I would snap the elastic of my underwear. The students seated near me started to laugh. Mr. Fowler stopped the class and said, 'All right Esther, what is so funny?' It was difficult to explain and no explanation was given but I did feel cooler."
Esther arrived in Manning in May of 1946 to interview for the vocal music teacher's position. Superintendent Kenneth Koch met her at the train and took her to the home of several of the school board members to meet with their approval. Miss Marie Perkins was the high school principal and she met with Esther the next day.
Esther graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, later in May of the same year with a Bachelor of Music degree and a speech minor. Her school had not given any advice as to what salary she could expect. When Mr. Koch asked what salary Esther would like, out of a hat, she said, "Oh, $1800.00." That sounded reasonable to her, and was acceptable to him. Later Esther found out that she could have asked for a lot more. The next year she was given a raise of $600.00.
Esther loved Manning and all of its residents. Her marriage to Jack Rogers of Coon Rapids took her away from Manning or she probably would have stayed in Manning forever, but she did stay four years from 1946 to 1950. Esther then taught two years in Coon Rapids. When Jack passed away in 1960, she assumed the title of publisher and editor of the Coon Rapids Enterprise. This work was foreign to her and when an offer to teach music in Bayard was received, Esther sold the paper and returned to teaching. She continued teaching in Bayard for four and one-half years.
Esther lived in Coon Rapids until her marriage to Bill Chambers of Carroll. Bill passed away after thirteen years of marriage. In 1982 she married Don Forrest of Cherokee Village, Arkansas, and he died in 1983. Esther married Donald Halverson of Coon Rapids in 1994. They enjoy living in Carroll and frequently visit Manning.
Esther has one daughter, Ann (Rogers) Chambers who lives in Denver, Colorado. She and her husband, Kent Nellis, have two children. Esther and her husband visit Denver twice a year, on their way to Arizona and on the return to Carroll.
Music has been a great joy in Esther's life -- teaching, directing many church choirs, organizing and directing the 65 voice Carroll Community Choir, singing with a group called "The Noteables", and participation in their church choir and playing the organ. All of this has been very enjoyable for her.
While teaching at the Manning High School, Esther had to fight for practice time for her musicians. Bill Steneker was the football coach at that time and he felt football practice was more important than music. He told his boys it was necessary to decide if they wanted to be football players or "canaries." Esther informed Bill in no uncertain terms that it was not necessary to choose one or the other and that they could enjoy both! And they found time for both.
Life in Carroll has been good for Esther. She enjoys playing bridge, gardening, cooking, baking, some golf, and traveling. Esther and Don winter in Arizona, but they count Carroll and Carroll County as home. Esther still thinks Manning is a wonderful town and she has lots of fond memories of the community and its people.
