Corrie ten Boom helped many Jews in the Netherlands escape the Nazis during World War II, was eventually sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp herself, survived, and spent the rest of her life helping others, speaking before large audiences, spreading the Gospel, and writing popular books. She spent her latter years living in Orange County, and her inspiring story will be the topic of her good friend Dr. Ron Rietveld’s program at the Orange County Historical Society’s June 10, 2021 meeting at 7:30 p.m., online via Zoom.
To register, visit https://tinyurl.com/OCHStenBoom
Ten Boom told her story of her family involvement in their World War II work in her bestselling 1971 book, The Hiding Place, which was made into a movie in 1975. Two years later, in 1977, this beloved spiritual pioneer, at age 85, moved to Placentia. She continued writing books, making films, speaking, as well as her Christian Ministry in various prisons. It was a more restful time than traveling the world, here she died after her third stroke on her 91st birthday on April 15, 1983. With a simple marker inscribed “Jesus is Victor,” Corrie is buried today in Santa Ana’s Fairhaven Cemetery.
Dr. Ron “Doc” Rietveld is an Emeritus Professor of History at California State University, Fullerton. After completing his A.B in history from Wheaton College [Illinois] in 1959, he completed his Bachelor of Divinity Magna Cum Laude from Bethel Theological Seminary [St. Paul] in 1962. Upon completing his Ph.D. at Illinois in 1967, he returned to his Alma Mater at Wheaton and began teaching History-Political Science that same fall. In the fall of 1969, Dr. Rietveld began teaching American History at California State University, Fullerton [CA], then a ten-year old college. For 50 years, he has continued to serve as a History Department Faculty Member and Academic Advisor to Cal-State Fraternities.
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