| Betsie ten Boom | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elisabeth ten Boom August 19, 1885 Amsterdam, Holland |
| Died | December 16, 1944 Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, Germany |
| Cause of death | Pernicious anemia |
| Resting place | Ravensbruck Concentration Camp, Germany |
| Residence | Haarlem, North Holland |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Other names | Know by family as Bep, Beppie |
| Citizenship | The Netherlands |
| Education | Through local secondary school |
| Occupation | Bookkeeper, homemaker |
| Employer | Father, Casper ten Boom |
| Known for | Holocaust, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom |
| Home town | Amsterdam, Holland |
| Religion | Dutch Calvinist Christian |
| Parents | Casper ten Boom and Cornelia ten Boom |
| Website | |
| ten Boom Museum | |
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.[1] The oldest of five Ten Boom children, she did not leave the family and marry, but remained at home until World War II.[2]
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Betsie suffered with a special case of pernicious anemia that started in her early childhood, called congenital (or juvenile) pernicious anemia. This case is believed 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.[3]
Betsie was educated in the local primary and secondary school until the age of 15. She remained at home to work with her father in his watchshop, where she served as the bookkeeper. She also cooked for their family.
Her younger sister Corrie later took over the bookkeeping role when Betsie caught influenza. After Corrie took over at the watchshop, Betsie began housekeeping and continued to do so until 1944.
The Ten Boom family belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church and believed strongly in the equality of all people before God. One of the brothers was a minister and the sisters had been active in charitable work before the war. During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the family began to hide numerous Jews and resisters in their home, and built a secret room to protect them.
In 1944, the family and other people at the house, about 30 in all, were arrested for their resistance activities and taken to Schevingengen prison. (The six Jews in hiding at the house were not discovered and survived, with the help of other Resistance workers.) The father Casper ten Boom became ill and died 10 days later at the prison. A brother, sister and nephew were released.
After some time, Betsie and her sister Corrie ten Boom were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Her strong faith in God kept her from depression throughout her life and especially within the camps. Her sister Corrie told of how Betsie reached out to help others and helped Corrie to see the best in everything, no matter what the circumstance.
Before her death, Betsie claimed to experience three visions from God about what she and Corrie were to do after their release. She believed they would be released by the New Year. Her first vision was of a house for former prisoners. The second was to own a concentration camp where they could teach Germans to learn to love again. The third was that she and Corrie would travel the world telling what they had learned of God while in the camps. Betsie died there on December 16, 1944, at the age of 59.
Betsie and their father Casper ten Boom were honored in 2008 as Righteous Among the Nations. Her sister Corrie had been honored before.
Corrie ten Boom, Betty Veldhuvzen van Zanten (2008). Wat Vrienden Zeggen Over Corrie 1. http:///www.youtube.com: tantecorrietenboom.