Elsbeth left Northfield in 1957 to continue her education at Jacksonville State College in Jacksonville, Illinois. Between her freshman and sophomore years, she decided to spend her summer working at one of the general stores in Yellowstone National Park. Little did she know that this was to be one of the major turning points in her life, for it was here that she met her future husband, Tom, and it was here that she was to spend each summer for the remainder of her life.

 

Elsbeth and Tom were married in 1960 after Tom completed his education at Indiana University and had accepted a management position with the Yellowstone concessioner they had both worked for the previous summers. Shortly after, they had their first child, Stephen, later followed by a daughter, Susan, and another son, Brad.

 

Tom’s employment required him and his family to spend their winters at the company headquarters in Santa Barbara, California, and it was here that Elsbeth established herself in the community, becoming very active in the local school administration and numerous community organizations. It was also here that Elsbeth finished her higher education, graduating with a B.S. from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1987. She later used some of this education to open a western history bookstore in Montana, which is still being run by her daughter.

 

Elsbeth was always extremely proud and grateful for the privilege of being able to attend Northfield. Both of her parents had emigrated from Germany, and although their circumstance was meager at the best, they sacrificed to send Elsbeth to this distinguished school. These were happy years for Elsbeth and she never forgot the many lifelong friendships that were established here.