January 21, 2014

Due to winter’s cold there are frost bumps across Highway 36 all through our village.  No signs give warning as drivers approach, just remember the things are frequent. They are not only visible, but certainly big enough to send vibrations to the passengers of the vehicles as they are crossed.  Even with the dryness, it is winter, though our snow is limited.

We report the death of Phyllis Jepsen Steneck, age 94, of Holladay, UT, on New Year’s Day, 2014.  She was born on Christmas Day, 1920, and raised in Mink Creek, the eldest daughter of Hyrum and Agnes Watson Jepsen.  Hyrum (Bud) Jepsen, her youngest brother, lives in Riverdale, ID, just a few miles down the road from the family home in Mink Creek.  Her brother-in-law, John Warburton, lives at the Jepsen farm.

George and Judy Rasmussen have been traveling to visit children.  First they spent some time in Las Vegas, NV, with the family of  their daughter Sarah and Gordon Thomas.  Recently they have been down in Bountiful with their daughter Lynn’s family.

Winter temperatures have caused some challenges to some of our residents.  Frozen water pipes can alter the life  of a family in many ways, taking us back to pioneer lifestyle.  At least one family has endured having their source of water, the nearby spring, froze up.  Hauling water from a flowing source to their home has been a major endeavor.  All of this isn’t fun, but it does increase a person’s appreciation for the ease of modern living.

The youth of our community are playing basketball on Wednesday nights. Generally they play at the Preston North Stake Center, with a few exceptions.  Both the girls’ team and the boys’ team are coached by Kerry Christensen.   There are a good amount of kids that show up for both teams, with plenty of family and friend support in the cheering section.  

            My cry for histories of Mink Creek’s past is being heard.  I have received copy of Rula Bell’s thoughts of her life growing up here, from an interview conducted by her nephew, Jay Wilde.  A good neighbor sent down a copy of notes taken by Frank Jensen, in 1929, about the construction of the LDS Ward Meetinghouse that year, under the direction of Bishop William Crane.  There was a knock on the door this week, standing on the other side was a young man from Smithfield who is enthusiastic about his Mink Creek roots, and he is willing to share. Happiness!!  Keep it up, dear blog readers!  I know that there is at least one other history in existence somewhere, I recall knowing of it when I first became a Creeker.  At that time I didn’t know how much this place would come to mean in my life.  Family journals contain history, I would love those as well.

            Weather condition is much the same:  no snow, iffy on day time temperatures, some slightly warm, other bone chilly.  Today was the latter.  Looking on the bright side, the cold could make it possible to get down to ice skating.  For now, walking outside can be dangerous.