Separate Lives Hutterite Teens Follow Centuries-Old Traditions And Lifestyle

What is typical teen life? It probably would include school, recreation, rebellion, sleeping (when we can) and eating. Our schedules may be hectic - with sports or the typical after-school job at McDonalds.

But a day as a teen in the Spokane Hutterite Brethren Community would run a “typical” teen ragged.

It you were to spend a day with Rosanna Gross, a 14-year-old Hutterite, and her classmates, you would find it rigorous and old-fashioned. With a packed schedule, family and friends, and a towering moral standard, these teenagers strive to remain pure, holy and set in the ways of their forefathers.

Now, to better understand the Hutterite community, you must first visualize it. The colony is set out past Fairchild Air Force Base. It’s surrounded on all sides by wheat and potato fields, the Hutterites’ main crops.

The 54 members of the community live in one-level duplexes that cover a small area equivalent to about half the main level of NorthTown. The houses are furnished simply, with no televisions or radios.

Hutterite girls and women wear ankle-length dresses with tights and white blouses underneath. Over their braided hair, they wear black handkerchiefs. Men generally wear dark pants and work shirts; white shirts on Sundays.

Sidewalks lead from the houses to the community kitchen, school/ church and other shared buildings. Everyone in the community shares earnings and jobs as one family.

The main fabric of their lives is family and friends, a fabric so strong that public society has yet to disintegrate it. Most of Rosanna’s free time is spent with her family. In the summer months, Rosanna is busy working with the other girls and women gardening, canning and such. The kids also get a chance to play sports - basketball, soccer and volleyball.

Right now, Rosanna is just 14, so she’s not quite ready to date. At age 18, that kind of thing is common. There are some teenage boys in the community, but young people also meet mates in other Hutterite communities throughout the region.

Activities away from home are kept to a minimum, but women do some shopping in Spokane for things like fabric and shoes. Members will also go to Spokane or other nearby towns for doctor visits or books.

Do they ever feel like running free? Rosanna says no. She’s very content and happy where she is.

“I’m sure there are some people who want to leave and even do,” she said, “but not me.” Why not? “Because I feel protected here,” she says simply. “And I am taught good Christian values which I highly regard.”

Living in such a protected environment, the Hutterite teen isn’t affected by what an average teen faces. While drugs, alcohol and violence play a big part in teens’ lives, those things don’t even enter into a Hutterite teen’s fears. But they are aware.

“I think it’s tragic and sad that some teens live that way,” says Rosanna. “We just don’t have those problems here.” What they do have is a high level of maturity and a strict moral standard.

Poverty, hunger and war are things in our news today that teens think and worry about - and on that level the Hutterites are no different. They do what they can to help.

As Rosanna says, “Where there’s life, there’s problems. We have problems here,” but adds the Hutterite problems are minor - such as differences of opinion. “Most all problems are solved before the next day, so we can start fresh.”

As I start thinking about college and careers - as most teens do - Rosanna and her friends have other things on their minds. Right now, what is first and foremost is establishing a strong faith in the Anabaptist religion.

When Hutterites are anywhere from 18 to 25 years old, they’re baptized. It’s a big step and is prepared for and studied for rigorously. Later comes marriage, but unlike our society, marriage is forever; the vows are understood and kept.

“Marriage? I’m not ready to start thinking about that yet,” laughed Rosanna. What about a career? There’s a head cook and gardener, or helping the men, but a Hutterite woman’s first job is homemaker.

And make a home is what they do. The Hutterite community stands out in every way but physically. The people are united with love and trust, and teens like Rosanna feel safe - a hard commodity to come by these days.

The Hutterites have never lived life in the fast lane, but who cares? Rosanna doesn’t and will go on to lead a happy, healthy life free of distractions and remain steadfast in her beliefs.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: A HUTTERITE DAY Here’s what Rosanna Gross’ day is like: 7 a.m. - Get up and eat breakfast; adults and children eat separately, and men and women, girls and boys eat at separate tables. 8 a.m. - German class with a member of the community. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - General schooling with Mr. Seagrave. Hutterite children have the same teacher through all 12 grades. They finish all 12 grades by age 15. The students have a great deal of respect and love for their teacher. This class time includes an hour break for lunch. Students will cover all subjects from English to math to science. 4 p.m. - German class. 5 p.m. - Supper 5:45 - Church and evening meetings. 6:15 - The day is done. Whew! The rest of the night is spent at home with the family.