Dr. Bessie

by Alfred M. Rehwinkel

Dr. Bessie by Alfred M. Rehwinkel.

Genres: Nonfiction

171 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bess Lee Efner Rehwinkel (b. 1873 d. 1962)
Alfred M. Rehwinkle (b. 1887 d. 1979)

This book is historically and genealogically sound. Amazing account of day-to-day life on the western frontier of Wyoming and later Canada. After a series of events, Dr. Bessie ends up homesteading in Carpenter, Wyoming and setting up practice, as a physician, in an era where female doctors were frowned upon. She raised her three nieces (who were orphaned) Elsie Efner-Cottle (b. 1894 d. 1979), Ina Efner-Afflerbach (b. 1895 d. 1971) and Reta Efner-Stewart (b. 1902) there, for the most part, while she practiced medicine. She married Alfred Rehwinkle in 1912 who was 14 years her junior and a Lutheran minister. Elsie and Ina both attended school in Cheyenne, Wyoming, when this took place, nursing school and teacher's college, and Reta (the youngest) accompanied the newlywed couple to the western frontier of Canada to continue Alfred's ministry. Dr. Bessie was not able to practice medicine in Canada because of licensing issues but continued her schooling and ministered to others as the minister's wife. Eventually, she and her husband ended up at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. They had three children to their union, Dorothy, Helen (married Lutheran minister) and Eugene (Lutheran minister - b. 1931 d. 2004) -- Adopted possibly? Vague in book. Elsie and Ina married and raised families in Wyoming. Reta married in British Columbia, Canada and eventually settled in Washington state. Very good book for those interested in the homesteader's life on the prairie and it's trials and tribulations. Book was published after Bessie's death by her husband. God bless Dr. Bessie Efner Rehwinkle.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me to an era that all too many think of as simpler times, however Dr. Bessie describes a time that was not simple. She was an overcomer and steadfast. I enjoyed reading about the many facets of her life.

[Paul Frederick Nus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming for two years, serving as a Lutheran pastor there, and having visited Carpenter and some farms nearby, I found the history fascinating and enjoyable. Any adult or teenager, male or female, with an interest in learning about the hardy people who came out west a century ago to settle this land, will find this to be a very enjoyable and enlightening read. I'm grateful to the other reviewer nearby who posted the married names of Bessie's orphaned nieces, whom she brought out to Wyoming with her.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting if unpolished account of pioneer life on the western frontier of America and Canada. The biography was published after Dr. Bessie's death, by her husband in 1963 . Bessie was quite exceptional, being a young woman doctor early in the 1900s. She also adopted her three orphaned nieces and took them with her when she moved to the primitive conditions of the west. Great descriptions of the conditions, the housing, pastimes.

[Kaylin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to Dr. Bessie’s story through the Hero of Faith children’s book published by Concordia Publishing House and wanted to know more details. Enter this autobiography into my Google search.

I loved learning more about her inspiring and varied life and the challenges she overcame in this autobiography. I wish some parts were more detailed but overall the anecdotes she shares are riveting and even relatable.