April 22, 2026

 

The cute baby goats, calves and lambs must be wondering about this snowy environment. Usually the weather is great for their playing, racing and general fun times in these early days of their life. Snow fall doesn't match up well. These young critters are very entertaining.

Even though he had been ill for several months it was unexpected when Reen Swann passed away the last day of March. His funeral was held in the Mink Creek chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His daughter, Penny, is an active part of our community and his son, Charles with his wife Sarah and children live in Donnelly, ID. Penny and Reed had been planning to move closer to Charles. The weather cooperated for the burial in the cemetery east of the church.

Former resident, Carolyn Spatig, wife of Ronald, passed away recently. She has been living in Smithfield for some years and of course was connected to her sons who live in Franklin County. They grew up in Mink Creek.

Kim and Sam Daines and their daughter were up from Lehi, UT, and brought Judy Clark, Kim's mother of Preston, up for a reminder of the many years they lived in Mink Creek and the beautiful spring surroundings.

The Young Women's group got together for their part 2 of a Health Class. Jillian Iverson, one of the leaders, taught about effective ways to exercise throughout the day as a person goes about their normal routines. They reviewed the first health session on eating habits and the goals they had made. Now they added individual exercise goals to their original plans. On such a night it was only appropriate to have some fun and easy exercises to do while they were together, along with a healthy snack.

Lawn mowers getting their first workout of the season. Daffodils, tulips. Racing to bloom with the wildflowers. Golden Mule's Ears filling acres of hillsides. The home greenhouses offer lots of opportunities of being outside while working inside.

My posts may be off and on for a bit.  I am dealing with some surgery soon---a new hip of plastic and metal and lots of unanswered questions, timing, etc.  My mind is floating around with priorities these days .   You may know more about the doings in MC than I do.

April 8, 2026

 

Royce and Lorraine Christensen have received a missionary call to serve in the Tennessee, Knoxville Mission. As senior missionaries they will enter the Provo Missionary Training Center on May 4 to receive guidance serving in Member Leader Support. After spending a week there they will drive out to Knoxville. This next month will go by speedily for the Christensens.

Raphael Arnsworth stopped by for a visit after spending the last few months in several countries across the globe. His anticipated travel goals will now take him to California and more traveling on the western side of the earth, as he casts off from southern California.

The Mink Creek LDS Ward held an early Easter celebration. The community was invited to gather in the Cultural Hall of the Meetinghouse for dinner, a program, music, sharing artwork depicting Jesus Christ and later, an egg hunt.

Our early spring weather made it possible to have forsythia and pussy willows as part of the decorations. The entry way, hall and front stage were full to overflowing with various pieces of art depicting our Savior Jesus Christ in some way, there were all sizes and from very simple to quite ornate. Appropriate dinner music was played by Linda Christensen while people were served. The first video viewed was “Because of Him,” and then some home prepared videos of the Primary children expressing their thoughts about Easter, and another from Eldon and Danita Wilcox who are serving a mission at Bluff Fort .

Emma Rasmussen sang a solo, “Hallalujah” while parts of the life of Christ was depicted in a shadow play on the stage. LaMar McKague, a counselor in the ward bishopric, shared his own feelings about the holiday and bore testimony that the tomb is still empty, that Christ lives this Easter season. Each family attending received a “take home gift, “ a packet of quotes to share during the approaching Holy Week. Following the dismissal there was an Easter Egg Hunt outdoors for the children.

Great weekend for hiking the hills, but might encounter some muddy areas. The days have looked warmer than they actually were, but still encouraging for some outdoor fun and work.

April 1, 2026

 

There was a multi-birthday party at Paul and Terrie McKay's for the family of Layne and Karen Erickson. Celebrating all family birthdays in 2026 up to this date for families of the Ericksons and their children. Included are Bryan and Shannon Erickson of Wellsville and theirs, Julie and Todd Kunz of Idaho Falls and Paul and Terrie and theirs, and Connie and Adam Westenskow of Logan and theirs. The weather was good enough this year for burgers outside and pot luck offerings to make for a festive occasion and family fun. This group had one set of twin birthdays, Mother Karen and daughter Terrie.

The Syringa Camp of the DUP met at LuJean Young's home for the month of March. Julie Westerberg gave a very interesting presentation on the topic of the Jewish immigrants contributions to the early days of the state of Utah. There were many skills from this influential group.

After many years the Voting Poll locations in Mink Creek, and other communities throughout the county will change. In most of these situations the voting has taken place in the LDS Meetinghouses because it was the only public building in the village. While this is still the case these buildings are increasing their security regulations and will no longer fill the needed government requirements. Mink Creek voters will need to go to the new Community Center in Preston on the election days.

Royce Christensen has been ito Boston, MA, recently for a Father and Sons outing with his sons Kevin and Fred. They visited many of the historic sites in the area, as well as the Boston temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The smell of rain, the sound of rain, rain splattering our windows. Absolutely wonderful. Such a boost to the earth and the people. This dry winter has been discouraging. Only the first of April and already our valley is filled with blooming fruit trees, both wild and domestic. We are enjoying the scent, the visual beauty and hoping to avoid a wipe-out frost.

March 25, 2026

 

Jyllian Christensen, daughter of Kerry and Lacey Christensen, announced that she has gotten a call from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve as a missionary in the Indiana, Indianapolis, Mission. She will begin her Missionary Training on July 8 and will be English-speaking.  She is super excited  as her plans are now going to move forward rather quickly.  Her decision to serve came when the age for young women was lowered and it could be a reality this much quicker. 

After months of rehabilitation time in Lehi, UT, following a heart attack, Nate and Dana Olson are back home in Mink Creek. The Olsons were spending Christmas holiday time with their children in Utah when Nate was stricken. The community feels like celebrating to have them with us again

Carson and Shalayla Christensen got bit by the cruise bug that has come to several Mink Creek residents. They enjoyed the warmth of the Mexican beaches and ocean as well as the hospitality of the Mexican people.

The Elders Quorum presidency has added Matt Rhees as the new secretary. Matt replaces Danny Christensen who was recently called to be the ward missionary leader.

Danny's call was just in time to join the youth of the Mink Creek LDS Ward who participated in their BAM week. BAM stands for Becoming A Missionary and these few days gives the youth a taste of what a missionary's life is like. The kickoff was a Sunday night testimony meeting where they were assigned to their companionships and what zone they would serve in. Some of the youths were assigned the extra responsibility of being a “zone leader” and everyone learned the schedule for coming days of this event. Each morning started with a 6:30 devotional session via Zoom. The youth and leaders went to the Eccles Ice Arena in Logan, for fun, but also as an opportunity to meet strangers outside of our local circle, a necessary part of a missionary's life. The Mink Creek youths were combined with the youths of the Riverdale wards for this active week.

March 17, 2026

 Happy St. Patrick's Day.  Mother Nature is sure trying to wear green.  Weeds and spring flowers way ahead of themselves.  Can't help but wonder what will be coming up.  Saw a tractor in the field today.

Several Mink Creek residents made the trip to Boise to cheer for the Preston Indians at the Idaho State Basketball Championship tournament. Most of them have been attending the PHS games the whole season so this is just taking their enthusiasm to follow the team. It has been a great year with much thanks to Coach Jones and the team.

Richard Free managed to recover from his most recent health issue so that he and his wife, Vickie, could make a trip to the Philippines for a lengthy vacation. There was plenty of motivation involved when it came time to cancel the planned trip. The Philippines was where Richard had served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints quite some time ago and it is the first time for Elder Free to return to the lands of those years of service. According to reports he is doing very well in the warmth of the tropics and having the opportunity to rekindle many fond memories with Filipino friends.

It was a four generation celebration for the blessing and naming of Carter McKay recently. This tiny boy is the son on Andy and Brittany McKay, the grandson of Paul and Terrie McKay of Mink Creek, and the great -grandson of Layne and Karen Erickson, also of Mink Creek, all witnessing the occasion. This event took place in Preston. Carter's family history lines on his mother's side also take him back to Mink Creek with great-grandparents, Elmer and Loenza Oliverson

The snowmobile bunch are continuing making the trip to the northern canyons, postponing their closing day as long as possible. It makes one wonder how there can be enough parking areas for them and their outfits near accessible snow depth for the machines.

Marching On, March 11, 2026

 

The young men of the community and their leaders spent an evening at the wood workshop of Clare Christensen. The project for that night was to make their own wooden mission plaques. These will be finished at a future time, when each young man is called to serve as a missionary somewhere across the world and these plaques displayed in the church building while they are serving.

Jenny and Phil Christensen have retuned from a vacation in Mexico and have returned safe and sound. The recent upheaval among the drug cartels of Mexico occurred during their vacation. The Christensens managed to relax and soak up lots of southern sunshine before returning home.

The Young Women's organization attended the Legacy Branch in Preston at the Franklin County Medical Center, Transitional Care. It was fun getting to know some of the residents. There is a lot of history that comes to light with these activities. They shared a trivia game and then asked questions that allowed all ages to share memories and experiences from their lives.

The community activity night for February was a throwback to days long ago. The Activity committee dubbed it as “Silly Songs and Chili Night.” The food, obviously was potluck chili and desserts, with instruction to those attending to bring one or the other to share. No two chilis were the same, one more chance for creativity. The program consisted of any and all who were willing to come up with something along the silly line in theatrics and song. Costumes were encouraged but not necessary. This evening did not disappoint, around 15 numbers were performed. Two of them performed and then gave instructions for the audience to learn the basics. One of those was a Swedish folk song about frogs and pigs. The night was bursting with creativity and all ages could perform. There was laughter, music, and food, a perfect party.

Mother Nature is in charge and when she decides to go full-speed ahead, that is what happens. Early spring plants that wait for warmer temperatures are answering the call to rise and it is happening. This past confusing season now has green shoots popping up, totally ignoring that our calendars claim it is only March. The winds however are coming in true March-style. Warm jackets and kites can be part of the agenda.

March 4, 2026

 

Conner Iverson, youngest child of Kurt and Margret Iverson, has received his much anticipated call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will be serving in the Mexico, Mexico City West Mission, Spanish-speaking. Conner will enter the home mission training on June 4 and then transfer to the MTC in Mexico City later in the month.

Jesse and Annavelynn Wilcox and their son Desmond recently returned from a cruise. Based in Florida their activities took in several items connected with the Kennedy Space Center and checking out NASSA. There were lots of fun aquatic events included and lots of learning. It was not part of the plan, but they brought home a flu bug of some sort, not intended as a souvenir. All three are now recovered we happily report.

There has been music in the air when the Young Women's group invited the Young Men group to a dancing activity to learn some line dances and cultural dances. The instructors were Greenlee Christensen and an adult leader, Jillian Iverson, both of whom have experience in the field of dance. There was a good turnout and claimed to be “one of the best” combined activities in the community for quite a while. That indicates everyone had fun and learned new things. There is nothing quite like new dance steps for one's social repertoire.

The mail has brought seed catalogs and local home greenhouses are getting ready for the approaching season. Not sure what to expect—will it be spring, or has spring sprung and maybe it will be winter. After the strange winter where it should still be snowing, any local green thumb has to feel a bit in suspension. There are rumors of crocus and early tulips, daffodils already.

It is turkey time and you need to be aware during those speedy drives through Mink Creek, on your way to get to work or wherever on time.  Those critters do like to graze near the highway.