Local Interview, Helga Byhre

Reed Strong, Northwest Prime Time’s summer intern, is a senior in Western Washington University’s journalism program. He speaks to Northwest area seniors and baby boomers for the series LIFE LESSONS. Each is asked the same four questions: thoughts on growing older; advice for the younger generation; what are they most nostalgic about; and how the world has changed for the better.

Helga Byhre left Germany in the 1950’s to come to America, eventually settling down 20 years later after living in Canada. Byhre was born in Berlin in 1926, and is 87 years old, currently living in Shoreline. She worked as a secretary at the University of Washington before she retired. Byhre was married twice, and is currently widowed, with two children. Byhre wanted to come to America to see the world, which has certainly changed since she arrived here.

What have you found are the best aspects of growing older?

“The best thing? I’ll tell you what, one of my friends has a good idea. She says the only good thing about being old is that you know more, which is a pretty good expression.”

What’s the best advice you could give to a younger person?

“It depends, advice to a younger person? Good grief. There are so many people who have much more to say than I do! It depends on what that younger person thinks, needs, and wants. Giving advice just because I am older is not something I would want to give, unless a specific person was asking about a specific subject.”

What thing from your childhood are you nostalgic about?

“Let’s put this in present day. When I came to America, it was at that time what I call, ‘The Land of Milk and Honey’. When I arrived there, there was absolutely no crime. The doors were always open. I always thought being from Germany, that after all I was the former enemy. But I was always welcomed with open arms! That’s what I’m nostalgic about… Environmentally things do not change for the better, at all….especially since I am a person who is very oriented to the outdoors, and any outdoor activity is exciting to me.”

What changes in the world do you think are for the better?

“Let’s put it this way. I think there is more information -- this age is definitely for the better. Some of the technology is definitely for the better. For example, when I came to Canada, I believe they had around 15 million people and America had 200 million. Of course, now those numbers have more than doubled. In that case, we are sort of dominating this earth, to the disadvantage of the former inhabitants, like the animals, who used to live here. That’s definitely a change, that we have taken over in a way that is detrimental to the world’s other things.”

Read more LIFE LESSONS:

Hilda MacFarland

Michael Donat

Belva Hagemeister

Leif Gregerson

Helga Byhre

Bill Johnston

Diana Hardwick

Geraldine Hernandez