December 14, 2021

 

Dana and Charlie Petersen and their family drove down from Meridian, ID, just before the holiday to spend some time with her parents, Jimmie and Anna Beth Olson. Then they headed to Rigby, along with Mike and Anna Olson’s family of Brigham City, UT. The majority of the Olson family met together for Thanksgiving at the home of Peggy and Jon Flinders in Rigby, ID. Jimmie and Anna Beth had previous commitment to be in St. George over the holidays with their son Jerry and Christine Olson and family. This Olson bunch had good weather fun touring some of the national parks located in southern Utah.

Has anyone noticed the beautiful swans that have been visiting the northern end of the county? The flocks have been seen in fields near Banida and Winder, and, appropriately on the Swan Valley lake.

Walter Iverson, now a student at BYU in Provo, UT, and Johnny Iverson, his wife Gabby and their daughter Emelia from Rexburg, ID, came home to be with Kurt and Margret Iverson over Thanksgiving. Grandparents, Jeannine and Johnny Iverson were there. Kurt had also invited a niece, Erica and Steve Mannowitz and their 5 children from Newton, UT, to spend the day.

Maria and Devin Flake and son Jude were up from Orem, UT, taking in these last few days of warm fall at the farm. Maria’s mother is Lana Baird McCracken and the Flake family love to come to Lana and Ivan’s place for lots of grandparenting. Joining them for a belated Thanksgiving were Daniel and Heather Baird and family, Savannah and Danny Wells and baby Damien, and Joshua Coats, all of Sugar City. LaRon and Liesa Baird’s family, living across the road, were part of the gathering.

Thanksgiving meant a household of 20 at the home of Bob and Claudia Erickson. Dinner was served in the garage, swept and warmed. Overnight guests were the Jay and Kristin Collins family from Lakeview, OR, and the Jody and Laural Janke family from Rexburg. Day-only arrivals were Jarin and Brynlee McKague of Idaho Falls, Carla and Mark Nielsen family of American Fork, UT, and Ethan McKague of Provo, UT.

Our slopes are getting several inches of the white stuff tonight. The weatherman had said this should happen and we are happy to see it delivered. Earlier the wind was sweeping through bringing the snow behind it. It is time to hunker down and find a good read. It is a challenge to keep the TV discs swept clear in order to watch whatever might be on during the storm. 

December 7, 2021

 

The Primary organization furnished the program for our Sacrament Meeting. It was delightful, even though we only have nine children active in the group. Their songs were beautiful, their parts well delivered. Each child chose a favorite song and then explained why that was their favorite. The Primary president is Brittnee Phillips with Terrie McKay, the chorister and Linda Christensen playing the piano.

Carol Gaines Wilkinson, mother of Wendy Currie of Mink Creek, was stricken with COVID-19 the first part of November. She was transferred by life-flight to the Veterans Hospital in Boise, ID. She passed away Nov. 15, in Boise. Her funeral was held in the Mink Creek Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on November 27, 2021.

Armando Crosland has been enjoying a two week visit with his family members who live in this area. With his occupation in Washington DC taking him to various places around the world it is a treat to be able to come home to Idaho for this length of time.

Bishop Paul and Terrie McKay had a houseful for Thanksgiving. Their son Cody and Kevyn McKay were up from their home in Queen Creek, AZ, another son, Andy up from Logan and Morgan and Eli Curtis also Logan. Add Connie and Adam Westenskow of Logan and Layne and Karen Erickson, Terrie’s parents and the McKay’s had a full house.

Clifford and LaDawn Jensen were happy to have daughter Mercedes Mackelprang home for a few days around the holiday. Mercedes lives in Statesboro, GA, and it has been four long years since her last visit home.

It is a time for celebration. Angelo Crosland has graduated from Bridgerland Applied Technology College in the field of welding. He is looking forward to a job using these talents.

Jodi Free Loveday passed away unexpectedly at her home in Logan. She is the daughter of Richard and Vickie Free and Wayne and Susan Ivison. There was a graveside service for family and friends at the cemetery in Wellington, UT.

We are expecting some snow. Hoping for it! Farming country, growing country, needs good moisture bearing winters. It seems so strange to go into the month of December with brown hills and mountains and sunny skies, all the color of fall, not the changes that the winter months bring. We do have the longer hours of darkness to remind us that the holiday of Christmas is less than 3 weeks away. Tonight our community Christmas tree will be decorated in our only public building, the LDS Church meetinghouse.