KARL BARNHARDT SCHULTHIES
by: Beatrice Parkin Schulthies
Karl
Barnhardt Schulthies, the fifth son of Rendell Howard Schulthies and Beatrice
Parkin, and having four older brothers and a younger sister: Frederick,
Norman, Hal, Byron and Celia, was born 22 April 1937 in the old home above the
U.P. tracks in West Bountiful, Utah. The home had just been remodeled and a
new bedroom, bath and part basement built on. Dr. Woosley was the doctor
because Dr. Allison was operating and couldn’t come. A registered nurse put up
a delivery table in the kitchen.
Karl’s Grandmother Parkin was worried because Karl’s mother had suffered a heart attack when Byron was little and she was very much concerned about her going through the pain of childbirth. She asked Karl’s mother if she wouldn’t like to be administered to, so Karl’s Grandfather Parkin and Karl’s father administered to her and Karl was born without his mother suffering any labor pains to speak of.
He took his first step the day he turned nine months old. When he was a little more than two years old, he was riding with his brother in a Whippet coupe automobile in August 1939, when the D.&R.G. train hit the car and he and his two oldest brothers were thrown out of the car. His oldest brother, Frederick, was hurt very serious, fractured skull and broken bones, etc. Karl and his brother, Norman, were not hurt, but it frightened Karl and he watched the road very close every time he rode in a car for a long time.
Marilyn Jackson was his playmate. He had a lamb and it bunted him and chased him and Marilyn. It was a ram and, as it grew, it became quite mean and had large horns. One time, Karl and Marilyn carried large rocks and put them on the rails of the track because they were mad at the Engineer because he wouldn’t wave to them.
He went to Relief Society with his mother, and set as quiet as could be every week while his mother was Secretary.
He had a little automobile that he got for Christmas that he liked to pedal around the yard. He was a rose in a Primary play and they took a picture of the children in costume.
His brother, Norman, left for the Service in the spring of 1943 about June. Karl was only six-years old and when his mother was feeling so bad about his brother going to war and he saw her crying, he said, “What are you crying for, Mama? Don’t you know it won’t do one bit of good?” His oldest brother married 14 June 1944. That same fall, his brother, Hal enlisted in the Coast Guard just before his 18th birthday. Then there were two service stars in the window of the old home.
He went to school in West Bountiful and completed the 4th grade.
Karl moved with his parents when they sold the old home, about 1 November 1944, into a little, three-room, rented house owned by Phyliss Hatch and only about a mile west and north of the old house. They lived here six months and he and his brother, Byron, cut asparagus in the spring every morning before going to school and every night. Paul Buys bought the house and they were forced to move into the basement of their unfinished new home on the old Roberts’ corner in West Bountiful. [380 North 800 West] Here Karl helped his parents and brother, Byron, cut asparagus and bunch and wash garden vegetables. Karl won the prize at a Halloween Party in West Bountiful Ward. He was dressed as a grandma, wearing his Great Grandmother Howard’s night gown, night cap and glasses and holding a candle. He didn’t wear a mask and no one could guess who he was.
His brother, Hal, came home on furlough and was married 16 October 1945. The war ended and Norman returned home from Europe just before Christmas in 1945. The new home was finished before Christmas of 1946.
In March of 1947, he moved to Fruitland, Idaho with his
parents on an 80-acre farm which his parents had purchased. He stayed with Hal
and Connie till school was out, then went to Idaho. Here, he helped his
brother, Byron, milk cows, haul hay, hoe beets and corn, feed pigs, etc. He
also went hunting pheasants and ducks with his brother and their dog, Porky. 
He went to Fruitland Grade School, starting in the 5th grade and graduated from the 8th grade 25 May 1951. Then, he completed one year at Fruitland High School. He was in a play named, “Kentucky Sue,” and took the part of a writer, a city feller. He went on the F.F.A. meat identification judging team to Moscow, Idaho, where they placed 10th in the State. Mr. Hansen was his Ag teacher. He raised hogs for his F.F.A. [Future Farmers of America] project. He raised two Mongolian ducks, Joe and Josephine, that his brother, Norman, gave him, but he never succeeded in raising any little ones because the old drake killed them. He played basketball with the Junior Varsity Grizzlies.
He moved with his parents to Nampa, Idaho in May 1952, after they had sold the Fruitland farm and purchased a 40-acre farm about five miles south of Nampa. Here, he continued to milk cows, hoe beets, weed onions, beans and corn. They had to rent another 40 acres to have pasture and hay for the cows.
He went to Nampa High as a sophomore. Was in the “A” Choir and Boys Glee Club. Was on the sophomore basketball team and won his Letter Award. He took wood shop and made a hardwood breadboard, two attractive end tables, a hardwood coffee table, three corner shelves and a tie rack and some pretty, plastic hearts with chains for necklaces. He also won his Letter Award in Junior Varsity basketball in different wards in his junior year and belonged to the “A” Choir (with Dallas Quick as the teacher), which sang on television; was Joseph in Christmas program; took “A” rating at State Music Festival in Pocatello, Idaho. He was chosen to go to Boys State at Boise.
The following is what was written after his name in the Sage Year Book in his senior year:
“Karl Schulthies—Ambitious, has no rest. “A” Choir; Boys’ Glee; Basketball; Boys’ State; F.L.S. He won his Letter Award in basketball (Regional Champions) and Letter Award in Music (choir).” He received his diploma 26 May 1955.
He and his brother, Byron, took the leading parts in a M.I.A. play, “The Patsy.” The cast traveled to New Plymouth and Caldwell, Idaho and presented it there. Everyone remarked how well Karl and Byron did and couldn’t believe that Karl had grown up so fast.
He was best man for his brother Byron’s wedding reception in Nampa 2nd Ward, December 1953. He received an Aaronic Priesthood Individual Award in 1954. Was Stake Jr. M. Men President, was on the M.I.A. basketball team.
He hired out as Fireman for Western Pacific Railroad 1 October of 1955. Worked at Elko, Nevada till December. Then worked out of Salt Lake till 3rd January 1956, when he registered for the winter quarter at B.Y.U.
He continued school at B.Y.U. during the winter and spring quarters, the rest of his time he worked on the railroad until he was called for a mission to the Northern States 25 March 1958. He had his Missionary Farewell on Easter Sunday, 6 April 1958, in the West Bountiful Ward, and entered the Mission Home in Salt Lake City 14 April, departing for his mission 21 April 1958.
Went to the Mission Home in Chicago, Illinois. Pres. Strafford sent him to Grinnel, Iowa. Elder Ray Almond from Preston, Idaho was his first companion. Elder Almond was Branch President of Toledo Branch and Karl was his counselor. They tracted Grinnel. Elder Almond was made a Traveling Elder and Herbert Stockman was then Karl’s companion. He then went to Nevada, Iowa, Elder Stockman stayed in Grinnel and Don Priestly was Karl’s companion. They also worked in Ames at the college. Elder Priestly was transferred to Marashal Town and Elder Steve Shaefer was his companion. Then they moved to Ames and tracted Ames. Elder Shaefer was transferred and Mark Smith was his companion about two weeks. Then Karl was transferred to Wausau, Wisconsin and Donald Sprowl was his companion. They tracted Wausau and surrounding area. Elder Sprowl was transferred and Theodor Riddle was his companion. He then went to Merril. Elder Riddle was transferred and Elder Peter Hansen was his companion. Then they were transferred to Mason City, Iowa, where they opened up the town. Karl baptized Ella Tilly in Boone, Iowa; Mrs. Liden and daughter and Edward Thomas; Ruby Smith in Wausau, Wisconsin, whom he later married; Brother and Sister Ivan Branstead of Mason City, Iowa.
Robert Phlegar, a 12-year old boy in Wausau, was drowned in a Wisconsin river. He was dared by some other boys to jump into the river. He did and was drowned. Karl was asked to be the main speaker at the funeral.
Karl was released 22 April 1960 at Mason City, Iowa. His mother and sister and brother Byron and wife JoAnn, having come by train, met him at Mason City and returned home with him. His father and mother had planned this trip for two years, but because of having to replant sugar beets because of frost, his father couldn’t go. This was a great disappointment to all of us.
We drove a Chevrolet car back for a used car dealer. We visited Independence, Missouri; Liberty Jail; Adam-Ondi-Ahman; Karl’s father’s cousins, Helen and Genevieve; and Aunt Lizzie in Leavenworth, Kansas; Nauvoo and Carthage. We had many, very interesting discussions on the Gospel while traveling home together, coming home by way of Grand Junction, Colorado where all the family were together again, Karl’s father having come to Colorado to meet us. We all enjoyed family dinners at Fred and Donna’s in Grand Junction, Colorado; at Norman and Lona’s at Loma, Colorado; and Hal and Claudeen’s at Fruita, Colorado.
Karl lived with his
brother, Byron, in West Bountiful till he was married. 
Karl was married
in the Salt Lake Temple 2 September 1960 to Ruby Vivian Smith. His father and
mother and every one of his brothers and their wives went through the temple
with him. In the sealing room, after Karl and Ruby were married, little Shauna,
an adopted child, was sealed to her parents, Hal and Claudeen. We had a shower
for them at Karl’s Grandmother Schulthies.
Karl and Ruby lived for a very short time in an apartment in Salt Lake City. Then moved to Val Verda in the basement house of Karl’s oldest brother, Frederick.
Karl worked part time for Western Pacific Railroad and went to the University of Utah. Ruby worked for awhile at Beeline Refinery to help out. They had a dog named, Karmel.
On 7 April 1962, a baby boy was born to this couple named Mark Karl.
27 September 1962 Karl, Ruby and Mark left by train for Cold Water, Michigan, where they picked up a Thunderbird car for a used car dealer in Salt Lake City. They then traveled in the car to Wisconsin, where they visited Ruby’s Aunt Emma, who raised her from the time she was seven years old. They also visited a number of Karl’s converts and Ruby’s father and a number of her brothers and sisters and many friends. On their way home, they stopped in Grand Junction, Colorado and visited with Karl’s brothers and wives and families: Frederick, Norman and Hal. They arrived home 13 October 1962.
[Other children born to Karl and
Ruby: Rendell Barry, born 11 June 1963; Todd Parrish, born 29 May 1966; April
Emma, born 21 June 1968; Daniel Howard and David Howad (twins) born 2 May 1972,
lived two hours; Alan Parkin Schulthies, born 15 October 1973; and September
Marie, born 28 August 1975.] 
Karl is
Sunday School teacher, Ward Teacher and on the Finance Committee and Genealogy
Committee in Val Verda 4th Ward. Ruby is both a Sunday School
teacher and Primary teacher. [Karl was a counselor in Branch Presidency in Portola, California; Bishop in Portola, California; Stake President of the Reno, NV Stake June 21, 1992.]
Karl’s Missionary Release:
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Northern States Mission
6011 North Sheridan Road
Chicago 40, Illinois
April 22, 1960
Elder Karl Schulthies
120 2nd N.W. Apt. 3
Mason City, Iowa
Dear Elder Schulthies:
It is a privilege for me to tender your honorable release as a missionary in the Northern States Mission. We thank you for the diligence and dedication with which you have served your Heavenly Father during your mission experience.
You have performed outstanding service in the mission field and as an ambassador in teaching the gospel. Our Heavenly Father has made you an instrument in bringing this message to many people. You have been loved and respected by your missionary companions and by the members of the branches in which you labored. You can return home having satisfaction of a mission well performed and with the love, confidence and blessings of those who have presided over you.
I suggest that you continue your program of daily study and that part of this time be allocated to the study of the gospel so that your faith may grow. I also hope that you will inspire other young men to prepare themselves for missionary service so that they might receive of the same blessings that you have received.
Great joy will come to you to be reunited with your family. May you continue in your devotion and recognize that only through service to your Heavenly Father, which also means service to your fellowmen, can the greatest peace, contentment and happiness come to your life.
Sincerely your brother,
/s/ Richard C. Stratford
RCS/ba Mission President