The first job Rudolph worked was in the textile mill were his father was employed. He made two dollars a week which he took home and turned over to his mother to help with the family finances. Rudolph left home went he was about fourteen years old. He went to New York where he worked in restaurants for about a year before joining the merchant marines. He claimed to be older than he was so he could join. According to one of Rudolph’s younger sisters he left home because his mother was very harsh on him. Most of the family problems were blamed on Rudolph and he would be whipped. This same sister reported that Rudolph’s mother very much regretted what she had done and his leaving. Rudolph would not see her again until shortly before her death in 1964. One of the first questions she asked him was if he was still going to church. Rudolph, by this time had joined the LDS church. He knew it would be very hard for his mother to know that he had changed religions so he told her he had remained true to “his’ religion.