Out of the Night: A Story of Tragedy and Hope from a Survivor of the 1959 Montana-Yellowstone Earthquake

by Irene Bennett Dunn

In Out of the Night, Irene Bennett Dunn relates the tragic night of August 17, 1959, when a historic earthquake and resulting landslide killed four members of her family, and how she rebuilt her life after that terrible trauma. On the night of August 17, 1959, Irene Bennett Dunn was camped with her husband and four children on the banks of the Madison River near Yellowstone Park when an earthquake of 7.5 magnitude hit, causing a massive landslide to sweep over the campground. Irene survived along with her 16-year-old son, Phil, but the rest of her family perished. Out of the Night is about the tragedy that took four of her family members; moreover, it is about how she survived and gained the courage to rebuild her life with her son, Phil.

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the writing of this book is rather poor (hence the 3-star rating), the incredible courage, humility, and faith of Irene Bennett Dunn is beyond my comprehension and deserves at least 10 stars! Such tragic, true stories need to be told, preserved, and shared often as they can inspire readers to face their own challenges with grace and courage. The book underscores the devastation of natural disasters with some heartbreaking details as well as the goodness of rescuers, medical personnel, family and friends, and complete strangers. Interesting to note the differences in communication and travel in the 1960's compared to today.

Well worth reading.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily read story by a plain spoken farm wife who happened to get caught up, with her family, in one of the great disasters in this country. Her resilience and good humor carried her through loss, recovery from injuries, and planning for a new life. This unassuming woman did it all with real style and humility! Highly recommended!

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

a plain spoken, church woman's memoir of a terrible life event.