Betsie ten Boom

Betsie ten Boom
File:Betsie Potrait.jpg Betsie (year unspecified)
Born	Elisabeth ten Boom (1885-08-19)August 19, 1885 Amsterdam, Holland
Died	(1944-12-16)December 16, 1944 Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, Germany
Cause of death	Pernicious Anemia
Resting place	Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, Germany
Nationality	Dutch
Other names	Know by family as Bep, Beppie
Citizenship	The Netherlands
Education	Through local secondary school
Occupation(s)	Bookkeeper, homemaker
Employer(s)	Father, Casper ten Boom
Known for	Holocaust, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom
Parent(s)	Casper ten Boom and Cornelia ten Boom
Website	Corrie ten Boom website

Elisabeth ten Boom (1885-1944) was one of the leading characters in The Hiding Place, a book written by her sister Corrie ten Boom about the family's experiences during World War II . Nicknamed Betsie, she suffered with pernicious anemia from her birth. The oldest of five Ten Boom children, she did not leave the family and marry, but remained at home until World War II .

Juvenile Pernicious Anemia

Betsie suffered with a special case of Pernicious anemia that starts in childhood, called juvenile Pernicious anemia (JPA). This case is (said to be) caused by a malfunction of the gastric juices of intrinsic factor during the nine weeks before birth. Betsie's illness prevented her from bearing children, so she chose, at a young age, not to marry.

Career and Education

Betsie worked side-by-side in the watchshop with her father Casper as a bookkeeper. Corrie later took over that role when Betsie caught the flu. Betsie was educated in the local primary and secondary school until the age of 16. She then remained home to work with her father and occasionally cook. After Corrie took over, Betsie began in housekeeping and continued to do so until 1944.

1940-1944

During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the family hid Jews in their home. The family was arrested for this. Betsie and Corrie were sent to a prison and later two labor camps throughout the course of ten months. They, together, found themselves trapped in Ravensbrück concentration camp. Betsie died there on December 16, 1944, at the age of 59. Her strong faith in God kept her from depression throughout her life and especially within the camps. Betsie believed very strongly in comforting and helping others before herself. Her selfless love brought light into the dark depths of Ravensbruck. She helped Corrie to see the best in everything, no matter what the circumstance.

Before her death, Betsie experienced three visions from God about what she and Corrie were to do after their release. First, she told Corrie that they would be released by the New Year. Her first vision was of a house for prisoners. The second of a concentration camp in their ownership for Germans to learn to love again. The third vision was that she and Corrie travel the world telling what they learned of God in the camps.

Betsie and her father, Casper, were honored in 2008 as Righteous Among the Nations.

Bibliography

• Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, The Hiding Place, Guideposts Associates, 1971. ISBN 0-340-17930-9, ISBN 0-340-20845-7
• Corrie ten Boom, In my Father's House, Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 1976. ISBN 978-0340863756

References

Corrie ten Boom, Betty Veldhuvzen van Zanten. Wat Vrienden Zeggen Over Corrie 1. www.youtube.com: tantecorrietenboom. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |year2= ignored (help)

External Links

• Corrie ten Boom Museum
• Corrie ten Boom Live