There is power in the written word, especially when that word carries the weight of a lifetime. Today, we are highlighting the stories of three remarkable women who prove that jaw dropping history isn't just found in textbooks… it’s been lived by our neighbors.
Rhonda Lauritzen Founder & Biographer
Behind every fantastic story is an exceptionally great listener. For Rhonda Lauritzen, that responsibility is a lifelong passion, manifested into full-time work.
Rhonda is a local biographer who has written more than a dozen books that focus on historical buildings and memoirs here in the Ogden area. Her work is driven by a deep love for local history and the personalities who shape our community.
Rhonda transitioned from a career as Vice President at OTech College to a full-time writer and publisher in late 2016. Working alongside her writing partner, Rachel Trotter, she founded Evalogue. Life, where she helps individuals transform memory into narrative.
The philosophy is simple, yet profound: every story deserves to be told authentically, in the voice of the person who lived it. For Rhonda, the stories of women like Heidi Posnien and Norma Kier are more than individual accounts; they are threads in a larger tapestry. These words help weave memory back into existence by illuminating an otherwise forgotten past. It has become her life’s work to ensure that personal legacies are never lost to time.
Heidi Posnien The Storyteller
A cherished figure in Ogden Valley and a living testament to resilience, Heidi’s story is preserved in her book, A Child in Berlin. The story is about a childhood shaped by the chaos of World War II. Written by Rhonda Lauritzen and published by Post Hill Press in 2024, the book is the result of five years of careful research and thoughtful storytelling. Available in audio for those who prefer to listen.
What began as a personal history has become something far greater. Heidi recently celebrated her 90th birthday and has outlived much of her family and friends. Without the book, Heidi said she might have "declined fast," but the publication has instead surrounded her with a new sense of community. Her recent book signings have filled the parking lots of The King’s English Bookshop as well as local libraries, where she greeted standing-room-only crowds. Today, she is surrounded by a devoted community and working on her second volume.
Norma Kier The Matriarch
Every successful business has a heart, and for Kier Construction, that heart is Norma Kier. She and her husband, Jim Kier, moved as Canadian newlyweds to Ogden in 1957 with $100 and a dream.
Norma’s energy and vision helped shape a business that now generates hundreds of millions in annual revenue, but it’s her passion, humor, and unwavering grit that truly define her. Norma also recently celebrated her 90th birthday with the same fire and joy that have fueled her life.
In fact, she was Rhonda’s first non-family client. Together, they wrote the memoir Remember When, a tale of Norma’s lessons, love, and tenacity behind the Kier legacy. Norma’s life is a constant celebration of family, with four out of five children running the business and living close by. She shares her love of being a grandmother with twenty grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
“It has been a very busy but very fulfilling life. I am truly blessed.”
Start Your Own Story
Tips & Tricks
If reading about the incredible lives of Heidi Posnien and Norma Kier has you thinking about the unwritten chapters of your own family history, you’re not alone. Many of us feel the pull to write our memoirs but simply don’t know where to begin.
The team at Evalogue.life believes everyone has a story worth telling, and they’ve created free tools to help you discover yours.
Interview Yourself or a Loved One:
If you want to capture a voice but aren’t sure where to start, you can access a free interviewing tutorial at Evalogue.life/mini-course. This mini-course teaches the professional techniques used to draw out those “hidden” memories—the key to making a memoir truly come to life.
Questions Everyone Should Ask:
Here are some thoughtful questions to explore—either on your own or with a loved one—that can help you begin your memoir or uncover the hidden treasures of your family history:
1. Tell me about your hometown.
2. Tell me about your grandparents.
3. Do you have any regrets?
4. What was the happiest time of your life?
5. How would you want to be remembered?
There are 15 questions in total, but we’ve highlighted five to get you started. Dig a little deeper and access the full set with a free printable questionnaire at: Evalogue.life/questions-for-everyone/
“I love helping people [write] themselves, then their voice is authentic. It’s important that people write in their own voice.”