WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)

BIOGRAPHY OF ELSIE BARBARA FREI HAFEN (1897-1966)

by Richard & Marti Hafen

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A descendant of original settlers to Santa Clara, Utah, Elsie Barbara Frei was born on August 4, 1897 to Jacob & Lena Reber Frei in Santa Clara. She was one of ten children. Her parents farmed the surrounding land and raised livestock. Her formal education ended after the 9th grade, after which she helped her parents at home and around the farm. Nonetheless, she remained an avid reader which developed in her a strong interest in the arts and theatre. She was often referred to as being "the prettiest girl in Santa Clara".

On December 12, 1917, Elsie married Leland Hafen (also a descendant of Santa Clara settlers) in the St. George Temple. In October 1918 Elsie gave birth to their first child and only daughter, Maxine. Four sons followed: Keith Leland (1921), Clark Jacob (1926), Stanley Harmon (1931), and Richard Lee (1939). Sadly, Keith, a B-17 bomber pilot during WWII, was killed in action on March 31, 1943. The St. George VFW Post is named in his memory along with Garth Cottam.

Her talents as the quintessential homemaker saved her husband Lee (a teacher, coach, and athletic director at Dixie High School and Dixie College) untold amounts of money. With this savings and the sale of Lee's interest in the Hafen-Frei Ranch, she and Lee were able to build her dream home in 1939-40 (20 East 100 South, St. George). Elsie and Lee derived much satisfaction in making their home pleasant and enjoyable for their children and friends. As for the woman, herself, she was stylish in her tastes -- from her home to her clothes and accessories. This is reflected, in part, by the "milliner's style" hat closet she had built into her new home.

A soft-spoken woman, Elsie was a member of the Dixie College Women's Faculty Club, and served in the Relief society Presidency during the years preceding and including 1949. Beyond her love for her family, she is probably best remembered for her kindnesses to others. If you were a member of the St. George Fourth Ward, and in any type of need, you could expect a visit from Elsie. Elsie died on March 26, 1966 due to complications from surgery. At her funeral noted writer and author, Maurine Whipple, encapsulated Elsie's being and spirit in the poem, "To Elsie -- With Love From Maurine"

TO ELSIE -- WITH LOVE FROM MAURINE

You were always beautiful--
But your beauty was never blatant like a brass band:
But instead a beauty modest and tender, flowering in secret
Like violets in early spring. You were always beautiful---
But you never knew it.

You were always compassionate-?
Filled with a love that overflowed in breakfast trays for my mother so weighted with tragedy.
Filled with a love that could cherish Keith's old sweater--preserving it against the heart's dark knowledge.
Filled with a love lavished unreservedly as rain--
A love falling like a beatitude upon sister Seegmiller and Ti's first grandchild and myself met on the street--
I, in a hurry, but you, never.
You, forever coming or going on your quiet errands of mercy.
You, forever kind--
But never knowing it.

Travel as I may, backwards in childhood
I cannot remember one instance when you were angry or hostile or mean-tongued.
I cannot remember one instance by word or glance or deed you troubled another being.
You who were always guileless
But never knew it.

Dear Elsie:

Even now, now that you are dead--
The flesh is still as unblemished, the hair a halo, the smile as sweet.
Even now, in death, you are beautiful--
And still you do not know it:

Can it be that all this time what we imagined an accident of flesh was instead a loveliness of spirit so intense
That flesh became its mirror?