Vieno Fuelling was a delightful woman who I historically interviewed when she was 90 years old, but since passed away. At the time, she resided in a nursing home outside Juab County. Back then, some of the staff was not overjoyed to spend much time with her, but I cherished it. She was not afraid to tell you what she thought, and peppered her opinions with colorful words as if she was a drunken sailor arriving in Port for shore leave. To me, her straight shooting honesty was a welcome sight in a world of double talk. She declared her worldly presence on Feb 19, 1911 in Schofield, Utah, USA. She maintained she could not have asked for better people to be raised by. Her father was Andrew Alfred Kangas; her mother Hilma, and both came from Finland. Although she knew the native tongue, she was not permitted to utter it outside the home. Her parents taught that "they are Americans and allowed to only speak English". Her father arrived in the United States first, then sent for his wife. Dad came to work in the coal mines of Carbon County. They first lived in Winter Quarters(Utah), then to Schofield. She remembers her home well, as it was just down the street from the school she attended. She went through the 9th grade, then the family decided that was enough reading and writing, as if kids wanted more education, they had to be hauled to Price, Utah. She remembers when a teacher was not kind to a challenged classmate. Vieno verbally objected to school officials, and the teacher was soon given the boot. She had plenty to do without books, as her mother ran a boarding house, and all family members were expected to do their fair share. Vieno lived across the street from the Schofield dance hall, which was a profitable enterprise for her and the sisters. During and after dances, they would crawl under the floor planks and pick up the nickels and dimes that fell out of the high steppin dancers. Coal mining in Carbon County was an important part of the economy and all miners knew of the potential dangers of working underground. They knew- as in 1900, an explosion underneath killed more than 200 miners. All families of Schofield pitched in for many years to help the women and children of the perished men. She vividly remembers the meat market, the drug store; the tailor shop and the grocery stores. She also remembers her six sisters. There was Jennie, Tyyne, Ester, Tekla, Hilda and Emma. She held them in high esteem and smiled when she relived how they would all get together and make "buddy calendars", but my notes didn't describe what they were. As a young lady, she traveled to Park City to baby sit for an older sister who had moved there. It wasn't long before she met and married Ernest Frederick Fueling. They had a baby boy, which later died of complications due to measles and pneumonia. Then came daughters Iclea, Eunice and Karen. She and her husband stayed in Park City awhile, where she learned to ski long before the Hollywood jet set came "and ruined it". She also remembers the time she fell skiing and broke her leg. It never did set right and had related medical issues with it for the rest of her life which made her bed ridden. I asked Vieno while in the twilight of her years-where she would like to travel to, if it was made possible. Her response was something like "Why in the !!!!! would I want to travel to any !!!!!! place as I live in the most beautiful area of the !!!!!!!! world." She loved to stay home and visit with family, but she did admit doing some high travels to Fish Creek and Clear Creek, Utah. Although she hadn't lived in Park City for several decades, she still remembered her address being 401 Park Avenue. When I declared if she still had that home, she would be worth millions. I think the reader can guess what she told me and where to place that idea. Then she got more mad at me for the giggles listening to her descriptive and most profane of all words west of Finland. She couldn't get out of bed, so I kept etching her on. I loved her total honesty, and it reminded me of how kids are. Children don't know how to lie until we adults teach them by accident or on purpose. Vieno Fuelling- although you never traveled to Nephi, Utah, I know all of Juab County would accept you along with each of our nursing homes. I tip my hat to a classy gristy woman, who is undoubtedly giving all angels in the heavenly coal mine systems...a !!!!!!run.... to grab their !!!!!!!trumpets!
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