Ordinary People: Wiebe had hand in Prudent Tours' start
Staff writer
Rubena Wiebe of Prudent Tours continues to remain a strong tower for her family.
Born on a farm at Hooker, Okla., she attended schools in the area and graduated from Adams High School, which no longer exists.
She came to Hillsboro to attend Tabor College majoring in business-secretarial. Between her sophomore and junior year at Tabor, she went back to her hometown to teach some business courses.
"It was during the war, and they couldn't find teachers," Rubena said. "They begged me to come and I did, but I knew teaching was not for me."
She graduated from Tabor in 1946 with a bachelor of arts degree with an emphasis on business.
While attending Tabor, she worked in the president's office for P.E. Schellenberg. She continued to work there for two years after graduation.
It was during that time that she met Vernon Wiebe.
"After coming to Tabor and meeting Vernon, that was the end of Oklahoma," she said.
The two were married on May 30, 1947, in Hillsboro.
In 1948, when her husband Vernon graduated from Tabor, they moved to Freeman, S.D., where he taught Bible courses and was in charge of the athletic program at Freeman Junior College and Academy.
Rubena worked in the president's office for one semester, until her first child was born.
They stayed in Freeman for two years.
From 1950 to 1952, Vernon went to graduate school in Iowa City, Iowa.
Rubena pretty much stayed at home but did typing for students and for professors who were writing doctoral dissertations.
In 1952, the family moved to Hillsboro where her husband Vernon taught at Tabor, was the athletic director, and coached basketball, baseball, and track.
While in Hillsboro, she continued to stay at home, but typed term papers for students and dissertation papers for faculty members.
The family traveled each summer with Vernon to Iowa City, until he received his doctorate in physical education in 1956.
"We packed up all of us and went with Vernon each summer," Rubena said.
"We lived in a different place every summer," Rubena said. "In the beginning, we lived in some very poor housing arrangements — until we got some university housing, which was a little better," she said.
"What helped us get through those summers were the people at the East Union Mennonite Church in Kalona, Iowa," Rubena said. "They befriended us, and they were the best friends we've ever had."
After her husband received his Ph.D., he continued to serve as a Tabor College faculty member for 13 years. He also served as dean of students.
In 1965, he accepted the call to pastor at the Edmond Mennonite Brethren Church in Edmond, Okla., where he served for three years.
Rubena continued to stay home with their five children.
In 1968, the family moved back to Hillsboro, where her husband accepted the position as general secretary of the Mennonite Brethren Mission board. He served in that position for 15 years.
"Before we left Edmond, I was asked if I would be the Tabor College president's secretary for one year while the former secretary took a leave of absence," Rubena said.
Rubena agreed and began working for then president Roy Just.
"Instead of working one year, I ended up working there for 12 years," she said smiling.
Rubena also worked six years for Tabor president Vernon Janzen during her more than 20 years at Tabor.
Back in 1964, her husband started a business called Prudent Travel. They began by just doing one tour a year, and Rubena helped him in that venture doing the books and secretarial work.
"We ran that out of our basement," she said. "The whole family was involved in putting out the mailings, etc."
In 1983, they rented the building on North Main, where the business is currently located. They later purchased the building.
While helping with the business downtown, Rubena continued working as the president's secretary at Tabor.
"I would work until 3 p.m. at the college, then go to the business and work until the evening," she said. "Finally, my kids said that I needed to do one or the other."
So in 1986, Rubena gave up her position at Tabor and went to work full-time at the family business.
After Prudent Tours moved to their downtown location, the Wiebes added more staff. They now have three full-time employees and one part-timer, Rubena.
Rubena said she had the opportunity to travel with her husband, Vernon, to all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, New Zealand, and Australia.
