Yeteve Bowman
Birthplace
- Honeyville, Utah
Occupations
- · A “Rosie Riveter”, worked as a Duplicator at the Oregon shipyards during the War
- · Helped serve food to the soldiers, sailors and marines at the Service Center
Accidents / Hardships
- In California, while walking home from
church, the family waited for Grandma Cluff to go into her house to
retrieve something before coming to dinner. Yeteve wanted to go with her. Against her mother will, she ran across
the street and was hit by a car. She suffered a concussion and spent a
few days in the hospital.
- "The
lesson here is to mind your mother!" - Teve
Hobbies / Interests
- Dancing, going to movies, going to skating rinks and gather around the piano to sing popular war tunes with fellows from the USO Clubs (during the War Days)
- Stroll around the countryside
- Taking scenic drives
- “She was alive and exciting, like a fresh breath of air.” –Bonnie Bowman
Dating / Spouse
- Teve would go to the USO clubs with Verna and Bev, sometimes bringing home service men home for a home-cooked meal and gather around the piano to sing popular war tunes with fellows from the USO Club·
- She met her own Sailor and Pearl Harbor Survivor, Eddie Lee Smith on a blind date arranged by his parents.
- They were married November 3, 1944 before the war ended, after which they lived in an Portland apartment not far from her family.
Favorite Childhood
Things
- In Honeyville, she enjoyed walking and delivering lunch to Garth who at the time worked at the Pea Vinery.
- Visiting
dad in his little sheep wagon, he
fixed dinner with biscuits and
mutton
- Exploring, hiking, and picnicing in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains.
Schooling
- Quit high school to join the war effort working in the shipyards.
Interesting Fact
- 14 years after daughter Becky was born
they were contacted by their doctor and asked is they wanted a adopt a
baby that was due in a few days.
After discussing it, they agreed and a few days later they become
“proud parents of our son, Gordon Kim Smith.” “I
felt very strongly that this was meant to be.”
- Eddie lived through the Bombing of
Pearl Harbor (His account of the
event is stirring.)
Children
- · 3 Children:
o
Rebecca Lee born September 27, 1945
o
Gordon Kim born September 30, 1959
o
Karen Kay born June 11, 1963
Event / Memories
- · She remembers being lost on the beach in California during a family outing.
o "I
remember a life guard walking me up and down the beach trying to find the
family. It must have been most of the
day. I can't describe the feeling I had
of not seeing anyone I knew and when I was about to give up I looked up and saw
this giant walking toward us. I was my
dad."
