F: O.K. Writing Place of Interview, Billings, Christian Church, Date of Interview. O.K
001_A_003_RLOW 15.mp3
This is Jessica Fabro. [F] I’m interviewing June Reinart. We are conducting this interview at Billings Christian Church in Billings, Missouri. The date is November 29, 2009. This interview is for the Religious Lives of Ozarks Women Archives conducted through Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.
F: O.k. [writing] Place of interview, Billings, Christian Church, date of interview. O.k., and your name is…
J: June Reinart.
F: O.k., and your maiden name?
J: It’s Reinart.
F: Oh.
J: (laughs)
F: What’s your middle name?
J: Ann.
F: O.k. do you have a nickname or a title?
J: I’ve often been called June Bug, but not, you know…
F: June Bug.
J: Everywhere I go it seems like there’s some person who calls me June Bug. (laughs)
F: And your place of birth?
J: Was Aurora, Missouri.
F: O.k. [writing] Current place of residence?
J: Springfield, Missouri.
F: [writing] Places of residence?
J: Billings, Missouri for about 22 years and then I’ve lived in Springfield the rest of the time.
F: O.k. Current age?
J: Sixty-eight.
F: Date of birth?
J: Six, nine, forty-one.
F: Gosh.
J: Is it not working?
F: No, I guess it is. I just messed up.
F & J: And education…
J: through a high school and then I attended Draughon’s Business College.
F: [writing] Is that like “D,” “O,” “A”…
J: D-R-A-U-H-O, well, D-R-A-U-G-H-O-N-S Business College in Springfield, Missouri.
F: In S… [writing]O.k. Occupation?
J: Accountant.
F: Current religion?
J: Christian. No spouse at this time.
F: O.k.
J: And no children.
F: O.k. How long have you been a member of this church?
J: Fifty-five years.
F: How did you get involved here?
J: My parents and I attended with them for, until I was perhaps eleven years old, at the St. Peter’s Evangelical Church. And there were problems within the church, as often happens, and my parents chose to leave. So, we ended up here. And I’m so happy about that. And that’s how we came to be here. There were numerous families that left that church, and came across the street to this church.
F: O.k. Have you been involved with other churches or religious organizations?
J: O.k., as I mentioned, the St. Peter’s Evangelical Church, which I attended. And my parents were both confirmed at the St. Peter’s Evangelical Church. We did attend a Baptist Church for a small, a short time. But then we ended up here, and, approximately 1953 perhaps. And, I’ve been here ever since.
F: What’s, what was the role of religion in your home when you were growing up?
J: O.k., I grew up on a farm and so, back in the forties and the fifties, of course, we were very busy. So religion amounted to going to church every Sunday and to Sunday School. And I did attend Bible School in the summer, and at that time it was two weeks. So that, that was my, our role, when I was growing up.
F: O.k. What’s your strongest childhood memory related to God or religion?
J: O.k., and I feel a little strange saying this, but, Sunday School and Bible School, [excuse me] and my parents’ class, which was large, and of course they had, there were numerous children that belonged to these parents, of course, and they had Sunday School picnics, actually for the whole church. And my parents’ class would have get-togethers, oh probably once a month, and of course all of the children would attend, and that was one of my best memories. And of course Bible School – maybe I already mentioned that. But those were the, the strongest memories that I have. I guess when you’re that age, attending church might be secondary to the other activities.
F: Do you recall any times as a child that things were different for you in your religion, in your religious world because you were a girl and not a boy?
J: I do not. I don’t know of any difference.
F: Well, then I guess other…
J: I don’t know of any difference today, either. I, I just don’t know of any difference.
F: Yeah. What challenges or struggles have you faced in your religious life?
J: O.k., the one big struggle for me was, I’m divorced. And, I, that was a very difficult time in my life, and, you know, because, especially back when I was divorced, divorce was looked down upon more than it is today. And it was very difficult for me to, you know, to think that God would accept that. But I did a lot of reading and studying and I came to grips with that, and it was really a growing experience for me. I came out of it, I believe, a better person. I think I’m more compassionate and I’m non-judgmental. You know when you’re younger you, you think of things as being either black or white. But after I went through a divorce I realized that things are not black or white. And, anyway, that’s been my biggest struggle in my religious life.
F: What person has most influenced your religious life and how?
J: I’m going to say Robert Shank. He was a minister here during my divorce. Actually, he married us, and then he was here during my divorce, and, and he helped me, you know, get through that. And, and I also remember his sermons. He preached strictly from the Bible, and so I learned a lot from him. And, of course, Micki has been a big influence on my life, also. And, I think those two would have to come out on top.
F: How do you think religious life is different for kids today than it was for you?
J: I think that perhaps many times children today are not exposed to church, Sunday School, and I think that is a real detriment because I, I think that children need to be exposed, and then when they get older, if they choose not, you know, to continue in the religious life, then that’s their choice. I think if they are not given that opportunity, then they don’t have a real choice. And I, I just don’t think that perhaps, religion is as important today to so many people as it was, you know, say even twenty years ago.
F: O.k. How would you like this church to remember you?
J: Well, for my music. Music has been a big part of my life and, and actually music, from when I was very young, and I wanted to play the piano, for myself. I never planned to play it in church, but of course, I did. And music has been just a big part of my life. And I enjoy playing the organ, the piano, singing. And so I think that’s probably the only thing the church will remember me for (laughs) is the music that I have contributed.
F: Yeah. Thank you for this interview.
J: You’re welcome.