Winter solstice , 2022

 

The Relief Society Christmas Evening was one to set the holiday into action for those attending. The recreation hall of the Mink Creek LDS building was beautifully decorated with muted lighting. Rather than a dinner there were a variety of appetizers, prepared under the direction of Rebecca Jones, plus a tasty salad. Cecelie Costley shared inspiring thoughts of how to center our lives on Christ, year round, as we strive to be better disciples. About fifty women attended and enjoyed the beginning of this season. Wooden ornaments for our personal trees were take-homes of the evening, made to remind us of the Reason for the season.

“Coming home” is also part of this time of year. The Crosland household is large and needfully so. Recently four of the Crosland children gathered: Rico, a student at BYU/I; Armando, Celina, and Giovanni. Celina is now in Rexburg with her husband Jesse Groesbeck and their daughter Oakley. Gio brings his children and wife Kristine from Franklin where they are in the on-going process of building a home. Armando, drove from the Washington D.C. area and plans to be in this area for several months, working from afar and loving being home longer than usual.

George Rasmussen, former resident of Mink Creek, passed away recently and his funeral was held in Highland, UT, on Dec. 14. George and Judy moved to Nevada to be near the family of their daughter, Sarah and Gordon Thomas.

The Young Women organization of the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a change in leadership positions. The new leaders are Claudine McKague, president, Casey Christensen, 1^st Counselor, Candy Longhurst, 2^nd Counselor and ReNae Egley, Secretary. Those who were released after several years of service are Jody Rasmussen, president, and her counselors, Lacey Christensen and Amy Baldwin.

Kerry and Lacey Christensen and their kids: Jyllian, Greenlee, Kassidy and Timber have spent a few days in warmer temperatures. They were attending the National Finals Rodeo in Reno, NV. This is a rodeo family and the girls have spent considerable time horseback over the last couple of years as they have competed successfully, in various rodeo royalty contests around the area.

The local deer residents are much in evidence. Visiting yards nightly, even checking out the pet feeding stations. They raided our gardens when there was growing food to be had, even to the pulling up of root crops like beets, carrots. A yard that is snow covered is now full of deer trails as they make their rounds. Sadly, they are also in evidence as they are hit by traffic passing through the night time hours.

December 6. 2022

 

The youth of the LDS ward went to the Ogden Rescue Mission in Ogden , UT, to provide service. This was organized by Young Women President Jody Rasmussen. The youth who participated were Emma and Kate Rasmussen, Jyllian and Greenlee Christensen, Emma Rydalach, Clara Jones, Josie Christensen, Hazen Baird, Conner Iverson, and Devlyn Currie. The group organized the pantry for the Mission and served dinner to their patrons. There were comments made by the teens in this situation that indicated a greater recognition of their own blessings. Adults who accompanied the youth were Jody Rasmussen, Amy Baldwin, ReNae Egley, Lacey Christensen and Bishop Paul McKay.

Winter seems to have blown in during the Thanksgiving weekend. Snow, ice, cold temperatures. The constant line of vehicles that have made their way into our canyons over the past couple of weeks will be pleased with having avoided the recent storms. Our forested slopes have a good start on their winter snow depth. We need the moisture and are grateful.

Jacob and Christy Cheney have a new baby. This little boy was little—five pound, 11 oz, born on November 21. He has two brothers and two sisters ready to welcome him into the family fold.

Reed Swann and his daughter Penny spent Thanksgiving with his son, Charles and Sarah Swann. Charlie’s family live in Donnelly, ID. The Swanns got a storm warning and made the decision to leave a little earlier than planned to come back to Mink Creek. As it was they were chased by the storm as they came. It was worth it to spend time with Charlie’s family.

It would be impossible to count the many Christmas trees that have been hauled out of our snowy canyons this year. The mountain sides are increasing in snow depth with every storm that passes through, but it doesn’t discourage the annual event for families finding their own special tree.

The fog has come rolling in this week, the winter weather wrapping us in that feeling of silence that seems to accompany the shroud. It had settled in our valley, obliterating the mountains, but as the day progressed, lifted to show them still with us. Fog is not a thing of comfort, we hope it doesn’t tarry too long.

November 28, 2022

 

The youth of the ward went to the Ogden Rescue Mission in Ogden , UT, to provide service. This was organized by Young Women President Jody Rasmussen. The youth who participated were Emma and Kate Rasmussen, Jyllian and Greenlee Christensen, Emma Rydalach, Clara Jones, Josie Chrisensen, Hazen Baird, Conner Iverson, and Devlyn Currie. The group organized the pantry for the Mission and served dinner to their patrons. There were comments made by the teens in this situation that indicated a recognition of their own blessings. Adults who accompanied the youth were Jody Rasmussen, Amy Baldwin, ReNae Egley, Lacey Christensen and Bishop Paul McKay.

Kim and Wally Christensen and Vickie and Richard Free managed a fall vacation, going to Branson, MO, for about ten days. They had fourteen different shows lined up for their entertainment and still had time to relax, take in some shopping, enjoy the higher humidity and have fun.

Royce and Lorraine Christensen are announcing a new grandbaby. Their son, Fred and Victoria Christensen of Orem, UT, recently brought a bouncing baby girl, at 9 lbs, 10 oz, still the smallest of their three babies. She is welcomed by her big brother and sister. She will be named Serena and is the littlest baby of these three.

Dr. Kyle Jepsen and his wife, Anastasia and their children were here to spend some time with his father, Glen Jepsen. Kyle is a dentist in the Dallas, TX, area. Temperatures here were considerably more chilly than in Texas.

There has been much coming and going over the Thanksgiving days. Home for the holiday, but still having to get back to work the following day tweeks the time spent on home ground. It was dry as far as moisture is concerned but very cold. This did not dampen the spirits of any who were following their family ritual of getting their Christmas tree from our canyons. Suffice it to say that Many Trees have gone down the road, piggy back atop of cars, in the back of pickups, some even on trailers and possibly more than one tree per vehicle.

2 Days before Thanksgiving, 2022

 

Brock nd Catherine Goff and their family have moved to Mink Creek from the area around Malta. There are four children: Emma, a teenager, Jacob and Olivia who will add to the small numbers of our primary age group, and Evie, a cute baby girl with a smile that sparkles. They have moved into the rental home of Paul and Terrie McKay on Bear Creek Road. The Goff’s are friends of Doug and Beverly Bruderer, Mink Creek residents, with Doug and Brock both drivers of milk trucks.

The community wants to say a big “Thank You” to Glen Smedley. He is the driver of our school bus of the Preston School District. Driving a school bus is not an easy job and requites a good dose of patience and good humor, and one where sleeping in is not an option every school day of the week. We appreciate Glen’s efforts in behalf of our kids and families.

Pedro and Avery Gomez have been having some grandparent fun while watching over Flint and Taylor Van Buren. They have had a night at the movies, and lots of outdoor fun, regardless of the chilly temperatures. Outdoors is just part of life with this Pedro grandpa. These two youngsters belong to Nicole and Matt Van Buren of Grace.

Winter is on its way, officially. Bishop Paul McKay of the LDS Ward invited the congregation of Mink Creek to consider signing up for Snow Shoveling for the coming months. The inviting sign-up sheet is posted on the Ward’s bulletin board. A plus to this activity is a new snow-blower used to help on the job.

The turkeys have returned from the higher elevations of summer. Now they are invading yards, garden spots, fields, even paved parking lots. They think they own the place when in reality they are imports, brought in by the Fish and Game Department to our area a little over 25 years ago.

In the countdown before Thanksgiving. Homes are getting ready for arrivals, or making plans to go elsewhere over the next few days. Women are wondering if their menu planning is sufficient, or way too much, as the clock ticks closer. The weather is dry for driving. It is cold, and colder when the sun goes down. I wonder how many families are planning homestyle football activity during this cold holiday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Remember why we have this holiday, it is not about the food.

November 15, 2022

 

Election day was wet and slushy, but it proved a good day for this district. Poll workers this fall were Lana McCracken, Lorraine Christensen and Claudine McKague. Although the day was chilly and some had to navigate the snow covered roads, there was a good turnout of voters. With 108 ballots for the day, plus some absentee votes 60% participated in this election.

Lorraine and Royce Christensen recently returned from a vacation ‘down south.” Flying from Salt Lake City, they met their son Kevin Christensen and his roommate, Quinten Brown, in Tennessee. Plans had been made for lots of activities, most of them old-fashioned, being clean, corny and fun. They started out in Gatlinburg, Dolly Parton country at Pigeon Forge, with dinner and a show at Dolly’s Stampede restaurant. They enjoyed some Hatfield & McCoy’s feuding humor. A trip to Murphy, North Carolina, and the lake nearby with waterfall territory gave them the opportunity to explore four waterfalls and the hiking trails of the area. Back to Chattanooga, TN, they were taking in scenic tourist spots. For the last day Royce and Lorraine visited the Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is in Nashville before returning to Idaho. Kevin and Quentin returned to their home in Arizona.

Sharla McKay enjoyed a trip with her aunts to Colorado to see her sister, for a reconnecting with family. They enjoyed the area around Colorado Springs, took in a Denver Broncos game, a drive up Pikes Peak. The high altitudes of this part of the state and the chilly weather made the trip all the more memorable.

There was a Christensen Cousin’s Reunion, all first cousins. These were children of three brothers: Lloyd, Allen and Carl and the cousins all grew up in Mink Creek within walking distance of each other. Three still live in Mink Creek, Lee Christensen, Royce Christensen and Clare Christensen. DeVerl and Elizabeth Christensen now live in Dayton,ID, and Jeanette Christensen in Preston. Vachelle and Jay Higbee call Arizona home and the rest are located in Utah: Verneal Lowry is in Tooele, Clarice Feichco at Farmington, Brad and Raeone Stuart in Bountiful, and Vance and Connie Christensen and Sonia and Melvin Ray are both in Vernal. They had a cousin from far away Denmark at this gathering, Irma Warnsdorf. Clare and his wife Linda hosted a dinner for the group in their lovely ‘workshop.’ All other activities and visiting took place at Raone and Brad’s home, where Carl’s family spent their youth.

Elk season is closing down, but there are still reports of tags being filled. Keep in mind that it needs more than a backpack to tote one of these animals out of the mountains on its way to becoming winter meat. Hunting is fun, but there is much work involved once the goal has been achieved.

November 8, 2022

 Election Day!  Hope you all voted.

There is a new Wilcox home going up on a hillside above the stream of Mink Creek. This one is for Doug Wilcox, who has had property here for years along with his brothers, Con and Lynn, all from Utah. The house is nearly invisible to anyone passing by, but it has been an ongoing project for most of the past summer months.

Clare and Linda Christensen hosted an evening on October 28, a getting-to-know-you party, for the people who have moved into our community fairly recently, a mix and mingle. Called a Fall BBQ, the menu turned out to be a prime rib dinner with those attending bringing potluck salads. Fifteen households were able to come. Some of them have Mink Creek roots, but not recent, part of their ancestral past. Others are totally new to the area.

Halloween Trunk ‘r Treat on October 29 at the recreation hall turned out to be a very fun event. The Young Women were in charge and the girls had things going constantly, a nice deal. Food was first on the agenda, chili dogs. Then they were ready to have doughnuts on a string for the youngest age group. Next was added a cake walk—with cupcakes for the prizes and more doughnuts for the older kids. There were five categories for the costumes: Best All round won by Clayton Phillips as a small Frankenstein, Group or couple won by Jesse and Celina Groesbeck with daughter Oakley all in cow costumes from their head to their ankles, Silliest category went to Timber Christensen as a ghost buster, Scariest was a grim reaper who turned out to be Hendrick Chatterton, and Most Creative went to Rapunzel, better known as Addy De Vries with a blond braid bedecked with flowers reaching to the floor. There was a big variety of costumes, all ages, which made the costume parade a big hit.

Winners of the pumpkin carving contest were Timber Christensen for best all around, Annie Rasmussen, then Katiana Baird and her niece Cedar Packer shared the third prize. Phee Crosland won the prize for their decorated trunk. It was loaded with ghosts, had a skeleton duet plunking some scary tunes on a banjo, topped off with an eerie lantern to lure the treat seekers to a cauldron of goodies.

Slush! That was the conditions today. Grateful for highway snowplows and the men that get up in the middle of the night to set them in motion.

Remember the wildlife that is out in the storm during the night hours. There were a couple of deer fatalities during that time with evidence, plus the remains filling the barrow pit between Mink Creek and Preston. We live here, but their ancestors were here before ours.

November 1, 2022

 

The Primary children were the Program for a Sacrament Meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ward in Mink Creek. This annual event is always a spiritual treat, as well as one that brings many smiles during the participation of the children The chosen topic was Spiritual Heroes. Each child spoke of a person in the scriptures and said why they felt that person was a hero. They sang a variety of primary songs that were woven into the program. This little group has grown a bit, now about 13 children, and they were a beautiful choir, even well behaved. Primary president is Brittnee Phillips and her chief organizers for this were Terrie McKay, Primary chorister, and Linda Christensen, the pianist.

ReNea and Raphael Arnsworth celebrated the high school graduation event in the life of his son, Hawk Arnsworth, by taking him on a trip to Mexico. They included a few days in Texas, Raphael’s hometown area north of Houston, with family parties and barbecues, aunts and uncles, Texas-style. Then it was a bit more than a week to be spent in the area around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with the beach, the ocean, the jungle along the coast.

The community has had some internet ailments with little service for many residents for a couple of days. That is always a challenge when there are demands online and it is beyond reach. If a families home phone is dependent on the internet, that is one more service that is silent. Even the scammers can’t breach that!

Ben and Mollie Seamons and their little boy, lAndrew, have moved into Mink Creek. They will be living in the home where Ben spent most of his growing up years, a beautiful spot down a slope on Birch Creek Road. We welcome them home. Ben is the grandson of Cathy and Scott Seamons and Joe and Kathy Jarvis, so Andrew will warm hearts with every step he takes.

Our village had a very fun Trick R Treat party on the 29^th, it will be covered in the news next week. Even the weather was dry when rain had been anticipated, but it was wise to have it indoors. Comfort counts.

We have piles of dried leaves that have been blown from the trees. The wind picks them off the branches, tosses them about and then piles them up against something with a little solidarity. It might be in a yard, or just against a rock. The crunchiness makes for a definite sound for anyone walking about. Any hunter would have a hard time being quiet and sneaky.

Today it was a south wind, a little warmer than expected, but it still had its drying effect on anything living outdoors.

OCTOBER 25, 2022

 

“Soup & Bread—Self Reliance” a preparedness activity for the ward was the evening of October 15^th. It turned out great. Brian and Jill Peterson were in charge. The recreation hall was decorated beautifully in fall colors – oranges, browns and gold – covering tables and the display areas, along with fall flowers., thanks to Jill’s efforts. They had a game for kids guessing how many skittles were in a container, won by Danny Keller. The display booths were Egg Preservation and Bee Keeping by Brian and Jill, Freeze Drying by Clare and Linda Christensen, Bread Making by Terrie McKay, Canning by Kathy Roy, Gardening by Phee and Robert Crosland, Fermentation for Health, by Brittnee Phillips, Herbal Gardens by Laura Wilde, and Cheese, Butter and Yogurt Production by Laura Cheney. Everyone enjoyed a good variety of soups and several kinds of bread with butter and honey. I would guess around 60 people came, some new people, all ages, getting acquainted in the community. A good night.

ReNae Egley has returned from a friend trip to France. Her traveling companions were Jill Baird Hobbs and Lelan Daines. Readers will recall that Jill’s growing up years were in Mink Creek , the daughter of Verla and Harold Baird. Just days before the trip began ReNae fell and broke her arm and injured her shoulder. This didn’t cancel the trip and with some assists from her friends it turned out to be a wonderful vacation. It began in Paris but stretched way beyond: Avignon-Luberon-The Heart of Province-Marseille-The French Riviera-Eze-and Monaco. They walked cobblestone streets, miles at a time and sampled new foods. ReNae’s world has expanded, a dream come true.

Juliana Packer and children, Cedar, Kymber and Cason, were here to visit family. She is the daughter of Liesa and LaRon Baird, and the granddaughter of Lana McCracken. The Packer family moves around quite a bit, going with Blaine Packer’s employment and Juliana took this opportunity to be back home for a few days.

Phee and Robert Crosland enjoyed a Caribbean Cruise just prior to the Hurricane Ian event. They went with their son Mario and Amanda Crosland of Smithfield who were celebrating an anniversary. The weather was good while they were there and the group was on their way back to Idaho before the hurricane moved in.

We are in the “what is it?” season. Temperature has dropped considerably. We had a day of rain, snow, sleet, and then repeat. It has stayed chilly, doesn’t feel like winter, doesn’t feel like Fall. Today brought on a short period of white out with little pellets of snow. That melted and all is bare of snow except for our mountaintops. The State Snowplows even made a trip up Strawberry Canyon, but the snowmobile crowd has not arrived. Welcome to the “before or after” season.

October 18, 2022

 

October started out great for Carson Henry Christensen and Shalayla Ann Elliot. They were married on Oct. 1 at the Mink Creek Ballpark. Carson is the son of Bryan Christensen and Lisa Christensen. Shalayla is the daughter of Scott and Tasha Elliot of Salmon, ID. These two met while students at Utah State University. Carson and Shalayla are not quite finished with their studies but they will make their home in Mink Creek. They were honored with a beautiful reception and had a banquet prepared for all who came to wish them well.

The youth of the community participated in a Fall hike into our nearby mountains. They were guided up the canyon by Bishop Paul McKay to the head of Dry Creek and this time of year its condition matches its name. The changing colors of the foliage were a plus for the hikers.

Jeannine Iverson has enjoyed having a gathering of her siblings at the Iverson home of Johnny and Jeannine on Glencoe Road. They are Leon and Sheila Pack of Denver, CO; Patricia Sikes of American Fork, UT; Allen and Velma Pack of the Ft. Worth/Dallas, TX area; Anita and Glade Dursteller from the Salt Lake valley; and Danny and Marcia Pack who live near Delta, UT. It was a time of sharing memories of their growing up years, mostly in Lindon, UT. Since their father was a contractor the Pack family moved around quite a bit according to the demands of his employment. This reminiscing session was a wonderful time for all of them.

Hunting season is upon us and the sounds of a volley of shots become commonplace. Our valley is one that echoes sound so what is given on one side is heard on the other side, whether it is the sound of a heavy vehicle motor, or of an owl making his nightly rounds.

Our deer population has been getting some attacks from vehicles passing through the village. The evidence is the blood that is spreads out on the blacktop of the highway in various places as the “go-to-work” traffic heads out in the hour of dawn, observing the carnage en route.

We can feel the days getting shorter. These dark mornings help us to be glad to have the change to plain old Mountain Standard Time without Daylight Savings. It will be a boost that lasts for nearly a month until it is simply darker on both ends of the day.

October 11, 2022

 

Sandhill cranes that have resided in the valley all summer are busy gleaning in the harvested grain fields. When they take flight to move into a new field it resembles miniature airplanes taking off. Great entertainment.

Iyar and Angelina Koren and their little girls were up for a Fall visit with Angelina’s parents, Steve and Terry Mainini. Everyone enjoyed the changing colors of the leaves, but the girls loved choosing a pumpkin from the Mainini garden and the other vegetables for picking.

Heather Doreen Beardall became the bride of Sam Tuttle in a ceremony at the Mink Creek Ballpark on September 17. She is the daughter of Kent and Tammy Beardall. Mr. and Mrs.Tuttle are excited about the future adventures of their together lives. Congratulations !

Bruce and Shauna Crane have been up from their Logan home to immerse themselves in a few days of Mink Creek’s Fall weather. Linda Crane Shewmaker and Sheryl Crane May , who live in the Burley area, drove over to be part of the fun and memories. Although the timing was a little bit early for all the changing colors, they never fail to have a great time.

Children of Claudine and LaMar McKague met in Mink Creek to enjoy the first weekend of October and General Conference with their parents who have recently moved to Mink Creek from Washington state. Sage and Nathan Ricks and Elsie McKague drove down from Rexburg, ID where they are going to BYU/I. Ethan McKague came up from Provo, UT, where he is at school at BYU. Mink Creek is the central meeting place.

It is getting to the point that jackets are required for most hours of the day. The sun is rising and setting in a slightly different spot on our opposite horizons, which is the very truest indication that the seasonal changes are right on time. Now we await, somewhat impatiently, the end of Daylight Savings Time. Perhaps that is just a personal view.

October 4, 2022

 

Twlonie and Kim Bullock are serving as missionaries with special needs students at Green Canyon High School. The Bullocks began this service last March and have continued into the current school year.

Jacobi Johnson and Ryann Greaves were married at the beautiful Day Mountain Ranch Resort and Event Center in Cub River Canyon on September 10^th. Jacobi is the grandson of Phee and Robert Crosland of Mink Creek and grew up here as a son. Ryann is the daughter of Shawn and Kari Greaves of Preston. The Crosland clan were in attendance, so pleased for Jacobi.

Roxy and Mack De Vries have added a baby boy to their family. He was born Sept 20^th, a little ahead of schedule, weighed 8 lb, 10 oz, and was 21 inches in height. Roxy and Mack had chosen the name Carter Slade for this young man.

We have had some cougar sightings, the big cats are out and about and it pays to be aware, particularly for pets and livestock. These mountain lions don’t seem to be deterred by the traffic on our main drag, Highway 36. After all, we are living in their territory along with the deer, elk, skunks, raccoons, eagles, etc. Speaking of deer, the critters are attacking garden sites, even consuming grapes, tomatoes, squash, nothing seems to deter their appetite, or a desire to sample each plant, then moving on to the next one.

With Fall coming on our ‘in an out’ human population dwindles somewhat. Jim and Debbie Harrison are still making frequent trips home to Mink Creek. David and Melanie Law of Kaysville, UT, are getting more comfortable in their spot on the slopes above the Mink Creek itself.

The sons of Robert and Phee Crosland who came home for Jacobi’s wedding, enjoyed some extra days together hiking these hills of their youth. Now that they are spread across the nation they treasure time spent together when it comes available, it is hard to schedule vacation days to match in the world of adulthood.

September 28, 2022

 

The Fall Party for the Mink Creek community took place at the Mink Creek Ballpark. There was a sumptuous feast and an entertaining program. The Elders’ Quorum was in charge and it was a nice night. The food was plentiful--- beef brisket and roasted chicken prepared by Clare Christensen and Bryce Stromberg, Dutch oven potatoes by Jan & Necia Seamons, baked beans by Alan and Nelada White, creamed corn by Terrie McKay, tossed salad, done by the Relief Society, rolls & butter. Serving crew was volunteers who always step up---wonderful people of our village: Dana Olson, Sam Stanger, Linda Christensen, Terrie McKay, Sherry York and Phee Crosland. Sherry and Ernie York decorated the tables with cowboy bandannas topped with a glass- enclosed candle. The entertainment was Kristine Lloyd with a cowboy country program of great variety including singing, violin and guitar. There was a crowd to fill the pavilion tables with overflow in lawn chairs. There was fun to go around and the dessert of ice cream sandwiches was nearly forgotten.

The McKague family, LaMar and Claudine, and their daughter Elsie, arrived in Mink Creek with the beginning of the month. Claudine grew up in our ward, the daughter of Bob and Claudia Erickson. The McKagues come from Vancouver, WA. Elsie is attending BYU/I in Rexburg this fall semester. The McKagues have five children, with three now in the Idaho Falls area. Elsie is the youngest. They have purchased some acreage on the Erickson family farm and will start building a home in Mink Creek while working online.

It is time to batten down the hatches of our homes. The drop from over-warm temperatures has the insect population seeking refuge for the winter ahead. The box elder bugs are turning fruit into black globs as they suck the sweetness out. A praying mantis greeted me in my garage this week, looking for invaders. He is welcome to any he finds.

The leaves are changing. Evans Hill on our south is blanketed with red maples. There are some yellows and oranges. It is a beautiful time of year, but it may go quickly, leaving a crunchy path for hikers in the area. October is on its way in just a couple of days so this is expected and we’ve yet to get a frosty night.

September 20, 2022

 

We can put another LoToJa bicycle race in the books. The race has been going through our village for many years, as the racers head up to the top of our Strawberry Canyon, to Copenhagen Basin and down to Montpelier before the next leg of their journey. This year’s weather was kind to them, but there is never a guarantee.

Kent and Tammy Beardall had a wood harvesting party for winter fuel. They were assisted by their son Shawn and Callie Beardall and their children. There is something special about a work project that can take place in the nearby canyons. Grandkids are great, and even more so when they can haul wood. Shawn’s bunch live in Spanish Fork, UT.

Sundance and Anna Watts and their little girl have moved from Mink Creek. They are now living in the Ogden, UT, area.

RaNae Mellor drove down from her home in Meridian, ID, to spend a few days with her brothers and their families. She is a sister to Nate Olson, Jimmie Olson, and Jeff Olson, who all have homes in our Station Creek area.

Leon and Katharine Noorda have been able to spend nearly a month at their digs in the Keller Apartments. We enjoy their being here for however long time permits from their schedule.

It has been quite a while since Mink Creek had a visit from Wes and Heather Hansen. They are part of the Hansen children who have built a retreat home on the banks of Mink Creek on the Hugh Hansen farm and it serves for reunions, parties, etc. so they can get together. Wes and Heather live in Ogden, UT.

Elise and Jeff Hardy were up for Labor Day weekend, bringing at least twelve others with them. The Hardy’s come frequently and live in North Ogden. Elise is the daughter of Eldon and Danita Wilcox.

Residents are checking on their gardens in terms of what produce has been spoiled by the deer sampling this or that. Root veggies stay safe from the marauders. There have been no freezing night time temperatures as of yet, but it is anticipated before long.

This past week has been the Homecoming Week for Preston High. The football game against powerhouse Burley was a bust, but the beautiful dresses and fun of the Homecoming Dance the next night will still provide good memories of teenage years.

September 14, 2022

 Due to my skipping last week's Mink Creek news you readers will get a double dose this week,  First was the column from September 7, just after Labor Day  and then this week's news will follow.  Life carries me off occasionally and I fall through the cracks. 

Daniel and Casey Christensen and their daughters Josie and Annie have become members of our community this past summer. They come to us from Weber County, UT and are making a home for themselves and their horses in the upper part of the village on Strawberry Creek.

Fall is coming so this will change before too long, but we have had a flock of sheep on summer grazing in our canyons. They arrived with livestock trucks loaded with the sheep, a horse trailer and a sheep wagon for the herder. The herder is a young man from Peru. We hope both sheep and herder have enjoyed our mountains and canyons.

Dawnell Greene’s brother, Paul Bodily, came down from his home in Blackfoot, ID, to hang out with the family of Chad and Dawnell for a weekend. He was welcomed with open arms.

There was an Allen and Pearl Christensen Cousin Reunion at the Mink Creek park. The older group grew up in Mink Creek, but they are now pretty scattered and it was extra fun for them to get together. Royce and Clare Christensen still live in Mink Creek. DeeVirile Christensen has called Dayton home for a lot of years. Dorothy Christensen Sheard calls Colorado home. Clarice, Clair’s twin, now lives with her husband in Centerville, UT. Verneal Lowry is in Toole, UT. Jeanette Christensen lives in Preston. Dan Aldrich lives in West Valley, UT. The next generation down was well represented but they, more in number, also are more scattered. Those able to attend were Dawna Christensen Hall, Burt Lowry, Shawn Lowry, Sherry Emerine, DeAnn Asay, Colleen Carter, Carrie Melton, Janna Small, Melissa Hugie and Karen Roberts.

Glen Jepsen was glad to have an annual visit from his daughter, Jill Neitz, down from Alberta, Canada. She brought two daughters with her, Josie and Taite. The Neitz family live on a ranch, but Jill teaches school and the approach of the new school year called them north after a couple of weeks with Glen and other Jepsen family members.

The alert is out that the Birch Creek Culinary water system is going to be interrupted on Sept 6 while maintenance and repairs procedures take place. Hopefully those homes involved have been notified well ahead of the date.

Lin and Sharla McKay are fitting in time for some road trips recently. They did one to Nevada to visit with former neighbors, George and Judy Rasmussen. The Rasmussen’s moved away some years ago to be nearer to their family in Spring Creek. Later trips took Lin and Sharla to their grandkids, beautiful mountain scenery, celebrating birthdays and even a long river ride, nice on these hot days.

Dane and Rebecca Jones and their daughter, Clara, have moved to Mink Creek to be closer to Rebecca’s parents, Johnny and Jeannine Iverson. They come to us from Washougal, WA. Clara will be in high school. They have visited here often over the years and already feel a measure of comfort in this new location.

McKinley Longhurst and her husband Skyler Stevens have moved across the county, for further schooling and employment in North Carolina. Now with their college days at Idaho State a thing of the past they are moving forward. McKinley is the daughter of Candy and Sheldon Longhurst.

Danalee and Gene Abernethy, of Prescott, AZ, spent the weekend with her parents, Bob and Claudia Erickson. They were on a road trip north, hoping to avoid the hot temperatures of Arizona’s summer, only to find the heat had moved up the globe. They also visited with family, Carla and Mark Nielsen, in American Fork, UT, then with friends in Burley and Sun Valley in a traveling loop before going back to Arizona.

Summer squash, yellow and zucchini, are being shared around the community. Green beans are also a part of seeing their last days in the gardens. The neighborhood deer are making their nightly presence known by taking one bite out of each winter squash, along with other annoyances.

Nothing extra this time, but you are all caught up with the publications.  Thanks for holding on.

August 30, 2022

 

With monsoon season this year it continued to be very hot in the daylight hours and we are always grateful that it cools down at night. We have had several crashing storms with thunder and lightning putting on a show and sudden great cloudbursts yielding large amounts of water. Rain gauges throughout our village indicate a huge variety in the amount that has been received.

The grasshoppers come with the hot days and our gardens are feeling the effects of their ravenous appetites. A hopper full of harvested grain is bound to collect a goodly share of grasshoppers caught up as the headers sweep up the kernels of grain.

Kurt and Margret Iverson and their sons, Andrew and Conner, have recently returned from a trip to some of their ancestral lands in Norway. The summer months are the perfect time for this visit, both in scenery and temperature. They did get rained out of a couple of intended hikes, but were able to find other venues. On one of their hikes they met someone who knew Margret’s niece when she had visited Norway in 2013. How likely is that? The scenery was report as “fantastic” and the family reported saying, “Hey, look, there is another postcard” repeatedly, to collect for memories now back in Mink Creek. The Iverson tried some new sausages, these made from reindeer, whale and moose. It is nice to have them back home.

Max Haws and his family have been at the Haws residence in Mink Creek. This Haws family live in southern California and quite often will bring with them a large box of avocados harvested from their home to share with the Mink Creek community. They did so this year and it was much appreciated.

The young men of the village gave some assistance to the family of Robbie and Taniesha Greene in the building of a shed on their property. Extra hands make the task more possible and those young helpers learn as they are doing. The basic frame went up in just one evening’s efforts. Leader Bret Rasmussen has considerable building experience to direct this project.

Just as we were thinking that the Fall season was close we are enduring another week of blistering days.  It makes our gardens grateful for any drink we can provide, providing the plants have survived the onslaught of grasshoppers that have descended upon us this year.  There are still some chokecherries reported as being available for those wanting that jelly or syrup.  Chokecherries were high on the list of fall preservation in the early days of Mink Creek.  The settlers even dried them for winter use--true fact.

August 23, 2022

 

The River Run on the Snake River in the Jackson Hole country is a summer highlight of the youth of Mink Creek and their leaders. This year a dozen kids were able to participate. Their leaders were Jody Rasmussen, Amy Baldwin, Lacey Christensen and ReNae Egley for the girls. Bishop Paul McKay, Lin McKay, Jared Keller, Jacob Cheney, LaRon Baird and Jesse Wilcox kept track of the guys. There was lots of excitement, lots of fun, and lots of water, and a minimum of injuries from fun activities. It was a great couple of days all the way around.

David and Judy Wilde have had some summer visits from two of their sons. Spencer and Paige Wilde were able to spend twelve days here. It was a first visit for their baby daughter, Aria Loralei Wilde, and playing with her was a treat for the whole family. Spencer and Paige live in Boonsboro, MD. The family group took a tour of the aquarium in Draper, UT. Christopher and Heidi Wilde came up from Utah for the rodeo weekend and they made it a family affair.

Nicole and Nathan Denney and their little girl came down from Rexburg for a few days with her parents, Kent and Tammy Beardall.

Maria and Devin Flake of Orem, UT, brought their son Jude for some play-time with grandparents, Lana and Ivan McCracken. Mink Creek is Jude’s favorite place, all that outdoors holds great appeal.

Celina Groesbeck and her daughter Oakley are enjoying some time with her parents, Phee and Robert Crosland. Celina’s siblings are having fun being Aunts and Uncles to cute, nearly 1 year-old Oakley. Celina and her husband Jesse have been in Seattle where Jesse has been employed for the summer.

It is chokecherry and huckleberry season around here. So far it seems to be a plentiful season, but of course there is always the effort of picking the morsels in order to enjoy the flavors later.

It also is zucchini season and it seems to be a plentiful crop this year. I am glad to have neighbors who share, because my container garden doesn’t work well for them. The grasshoppers may enjoy the greenery but the product survives.

August 16, 2022

 

Residents report several sightings of rattlesnakes on their property. One was close to a pet’s feeding station, where the reptile was likely hunting a drink for himself. This is an indication of the hot, dry weather we are experiencing. It is also a reminder to stay alert to the wildlife around us.

The heavy rains of a few nights ago found us with mixed feelings. The need for moisture is constant, but the timing might present problems. Some had freshly mowed hay lying in windrows in the fields, others had barely gotten their bales into the barn. Still others were in the middle of grain harvest and the rain put a quick stop to that. It is all part of the risks of farming, and recognized as such. The lightning and thunder got everyone’s attention.

Katharine (Keller) and Leon Noorda are soaking up some time at the Keller Apartments. Their daughter Katrina has been with them, along with some grandchildren. Keller family summers in Mink Creek have been a tradition for many years.

During the August Testimony Meeting, Madelaine Erickson, age 8, daughter of Jasmine and Miles Erickson, was welcomed as the newest member of the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had been baptized and confirmed the day before at the Preston North Stake Center.

Elder Wynn Costley and Sister Cecelie Costley spoke in the Mink Creek Ward, reporting on their experiences while serving in the Salt lake City Temple Square Mission. Those serving in that particular mission are young ladies from around the world, adept at foreign languages, to speak with visitors to Temple Square. The Costley’s children and grandchildren were all able to gather for this homecoming. The timing was perfect for their daughter Hannah Singleton and her two sons who are visiting in Mink Creek for their annual summer month in Idaho. The Singletons live in Arkansas.

There is a new headstone in the Mink Creek Cemetery, recognizing a death long past. During this summer reunion of the Mink Creek Originals, the project of a headstone for Engeborg Glysing was presented. Bruce Crane, unofficial Mink Creek history authority, told the story of the Glysing family.

In the early days of the settlement Sister Glysing came from Denmark—a widow with six children. Their name was anglicized to be Gleason. In the cemetery records Crane had discovered the burial of two Gleason sons, George and Gideon, who had drowned. Their primary classmates had raised money for a headstone for the boys. In the records Crane found another sister buried beside the boys, but with no marker. The Originals donated money for a stone for the sister. The effort came to completion recently in a small ceremony on a beautiful day. Engeborg Mary Dores Gleason is not forgotten.

I just read a writeup done by someone seeking to sell their place in Mink Creek. It describes us as nearly heaven. I think they are correct. And on that point, why would you want to sell? Outside influences makes for difficult decisions.

August 10, 2022

 

Mink Creek Ward members fulfilled a service assignment to the Ogden Cannery of the Church Welfare system. Two groups drove down, the early morning crew to be there at 6 a.m. On this shift were Mike and Mary Ann Jepsen, David Wilde, Terry Westerberg, Drew Ford and his grandson Patrick, and Bishop Paul McKay. A smaller group took over at 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m: Clare and Linda Christensen, Richard and Vickie Free, Clifford and LaDawn Jensen and Jonia Jackson. Both crews prepared green beans for canning.

Ken and Lauren Nash have been up from Solvang, CA. Lauren is a granddaughter of Louis and Eleanor Engels and has always considered Mink Creek as her second home when the Engels purchased a spot in Mink Creek years ago. Our community as a whole got a visit this time when Ken and Lauren spoke in the LDS Ward meeting.

The Ross family, Ken and Jean were happy to have a visit from Jean’s brother and family. They are David and Melinda Durfee of Orem, UT, and their daughter Samantha.

Elder Charles Iverson has completed his At-Home MTC here and has begun the next step in training at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT, before he departs for the Philippines, Bacolod, Mission.

Recently, with storm clouds approaching and a hay crop in the open, friends and neighbors gathered to help Jamie and Natalie Forbush get those precious hay bales in the barn before the rain was unleashed. Around here, when there is an emergency many hands reach out to help, it has been that way for nearly 150 years.

Alex and Donna Huxford spent a few days with his uncle Richard and Vickie Free. Alex spent several summers on the Free Ranch in his teen years. Now the Huxfords live in Stansbury Park, UT. Alex is a defensive coach for the Stansbury Park high school football team. He is also the Varsity Basketball coach for the girls’ team when that season begins.

We got some serious rain a few days ago and it caught some of us with hay out in the field. Monsoon season makes it might hard to judge farming activities. This hot and dry business has increased the likelihood of rattlesnakes coming near for some water source and several have been reported lately.

August 3, 2022

 

There have been many loads of logs being trucked up our canyon on Highway 36. Our assumption is that they are headed to the Jensen’s Lumber Company’s sawmill in Ovid, ID, over on the other side of the canyon.

Loaded dump trucks have also made their way in our direction, and having dumped they head back south to the valley for a repeat performance. We are not certain of their destination or of the project that may be going forth. There are a number of buildings in the making in the area so it might be multiple projects.

The Worm Creek Theater is one of the favorite places during any production times because several of our residents participate in this endeavor. For the Wizard of Oz, recently onstage, there has been Ty Jepsen in two roles: as a crow and also as one of those flying monkeys, Madelaine Erickson as a beautiful Munchkin. This year the Wizard was played by Paul Swainston, ex-Mink Creek, with his deep bass voice to grab attention.

Connie Westenskow brought her Young Women’s group to her family’s campground this year. They had plenty of space, plenty of water play, plenty of fun.

Bret and Jody Rasmussen have been entertaining grandchildren much of this summer. Grand children seem to grow up faster than their parents did and the time spent goes quickly.

Larry and Lillian Hansen are here for the summer months. Their grown children and families are in and out during these warm days for a change of pace in “the country.”

This is a big month for our horse riding young ladies being involved in parades as rodeo royalty around the valley. This includes three Christensen girls, Jyllian, Greenlee and Kassidy and Jancy Henderson. It is an exciting time, but keeps them and their families busy.

Elder Eldon and Sister Danita Wilcox are serving a mission in Pennsylvania at Church Historic Sites. Very recently they welcomed a young lady missionary who had just been transferred there. It was Sister Brexli Ware, daughter of Jeff and Bobbi Ware of Preston’s 4^th Ward. Sister Ware had been serving at New York sites and this was a surprise to both parties to find someone from home.

Semi’s loaded with hay are part of this time of year, moving bales from field to buyers’ barns. Gardens are producing, but grasshoppers are threatening. They like the green stuff. All part of the environmental scene and with a hot dry year it seems the bug population increases.

July 27, 2022

 

Elder Charles Iverson spoke in the local ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this past week, just prior to his beginning of two weeks service as a missionary to the Philippines, Bacolod Mission. He is the son of Dr. Kurt and Margret Iverson. His grandparents are Johnny and Jeannine Iverson of Mink Creek and Sharon Knapp of Cub River. Relatives from both the Iverson and Knapp families attended this meeting as well as a number of Charles’ high school friends. He graduated from Preston High School this part May.

JoAnn and Drew Ford are enjoying time with several grandchildren at their home. These are Sarah, Adele and Patrick James, of North Ogden. They liven things up at the Ford home from the relatively quiet days of their aunt Bethane, JoAnn and Drew and participate in community activities.

Marilyn and Bob Godfrey have spent nearly a month in Mink Creek. The chief reason for the stay was that of a Godfrey Family Reunion being held on the farm of Glen Jepsen, Marilyn’s brother. They have been preparing genealogical information to share with famiy, visiting with Jepsen and Godfrey relatives and enjoying the cooler temperatures of Mink Creek before heading back to their home in Casa Grande, AZ, south of Phoenix.

The family of Mary and Ron Norris gathered here for the funeral of their parents. Mary had been hospitalized for quite some time and passed away on July 1. Ron died in a 4 Wheeler accident on the their Birch Creek farm just six days later. The Norris’s moved to Mink Creek from Utah a number of years ago.

The family of Hannah Pearson met at their Leghorn Lodge, formerly Hannah’s home, for a family reunion. Hannah’s daughter Colleen Hawkes of Kaysville, UT, and Dean Pearson of Cedar City are the last two living siblings of Hannah’s family. People came from Washington state to South Carolina and places in between ,Texas, Colorado and lots from Arizona). Obviously from Utah and Idaho, too. Around 140 family members were able to enjoy the fun of reconnecting, cousins meeting cousins, and the wonderful feeling of togetherness that results from these events.

We are not “enjoying “ the heat, enduring is more fitting. We are no longer a green valley, only irrigated lawns and fields are green, the rest rapidly drying with the hot winds that seem to arrive daily. But it is the end of July, so this is expected.  

July 20, 2022

 

Lisa and Sid Whitehouse have been among us for a few weeks. They are now living in South Carolina, in a more permanent style, but have leftovers from the years they spent in Mink Creek that are slowly being taken east. Lisa claims they are not finished just yet, and that makes the community pleased. We like having them continue to ‘revisit.’

Judy Clark has plans to move to Preston, to be closer to her children/grandchildren that live in that area. She hates giving up her yard, her favorite walking paths and the life she and her husband built in Mink Creek. The move will solve some winter care problems, etc. Already she is missed in our village. In the meantime she has been visiting with her daughter Kim and Sam Daines in Lehi, UT.

Summertime brings people home. Drew Erickson and his daughter Paige of Tempe , AZ spent some time at the home of his parents, Bob and Claudia Ericskon. It was a time to escape the intense Arizona summer temperatures, something to which Drew has never been able to enjoy. Another daughter, Claudine and LaMar McKague of Vancouver, WA, came down for a week to check out some of the challenges here in Idaho as they make plans to build a home in Mink Creek in the near future.

This is also the season for family reunions. The Fenton family, Utah based, gathered here with Ami and Tom Fenton and their children, Ami the daughter of Eldon and Danita Wilcox, grew up in Mink Creek. The immediate family of Wynn and Cecelie Costley were on hand for the holiday weekend, celebrating the return of their parents from their most recent mission services to the Salt Lake City Temple Mission.

The sons of Delmer and Velda Olson, Jeff, Jimmie and Nate, all who now live on Station Creek, threw out the welcome mat for Terry Olson and his family. Terry is a cousin of the Olson’s who spent his younger years in Texas, but spent several summers with the family in the Station Creek mountains. Terry brings his family to reconnect with the days of his youth and remember the many great times in Mink Creek. He is retired from his career as chairman of the Family Living Department at BYU/Provo and now lives in Orem, UT.

The invasion of the swallows has been survived. The birds come yearly, seeking places to build their mud nests and any place available becomes a target for their housing. Quite often they choose a spot above the door of a home, leaving mud drops and bird debri hanging above the head of anyone trying to enter the house. An outdoor light fixtures on a home is another favorite. If a person leaves their garage door open while the house hunting is on, it is nearly guaranteed that they will have started to move in. These birds are a persistent creature and it takes a toll on a homeowner’s patience to dissuade them from their intentions.

July 13 2022

 

The annual July 4^th celebration went off in great style. Not too hot, got tables, chairs, picnic blankets in a shady spot early on. The community had purchased a new, HUGE flag for the occasion. It was beautiful to behold—, strung between two light poles on the eastern side of the park. Any person driving through our village could not miss it, the sun shone its spotlight as it billowed in passing winds. The park was full of people. Phil and Jenny Christensen, selling the meal tickets counted about 330, and that didn’t include children age 5 and under. The morning started with a Candy Corral in the field of the ballpark, a replacement of our usual airplane candy drop, of course the most important thing in the eyes of the kids was the candy, not from whence it came. There were various games, kickball, bottle rockets, a bounce house. Singer John Dalley and his wife Penny provided music for much of the day, patriotic and otherwise. Five men presented short talks on a patriotic theme. They were Mike Jepsen, Drew Ford, Glen Jepsen, Jimmie Olson and Bishop Paul McKay.

Food prep and serving had many helpers. Owen Ovens were hired to do the potatoes, Clare Christensen’s kitchen crew were Sam Stanger, Jim Harrison, Pedro Gonzales, LD Larkin, Shade and Brittani Watts, and Jody Rasmussen, The main course was pork loin roasted chicken and hot dogs for the kids. The Primary officers decorated the pavilion with table runners of red and blue on white covers, with quart jars of red roses, the white blooms of wild yarrow and quaking aspen leaves. The Relief Society was responsible for the rolls, the tossed salad, rounding up volunteer servers and potluck desserts. Leah Costley Gilbert made an enormous cake, decorated to be a license plate of Franklin County. All of this was very yum. The afternoon was relaxing for some, enjoying our local water slide hill for others. We so enjoy our ballpark, the space and shade it provides for many of the village activities.

Mink Creek has started a once a month Evening of Family Fun. During warm months it will be at our beautiful Ballpark with games like Frisbee, football, races, etc. There will be board games, card games and the opportunity to sit around and swap stories. There will also be a fire, for anyone who might want to bring marshmallows and a stick. The first one was a success, with a variety of ages showing up. One group of adults played board games, several just enjoyed the time catching up on the neighborhood, sharing table space under the pavilion. The playground equipment attracted the kids and Jody Rasmussen, YW President, furnished a large exercise ball for playing Dodge ball. Any who wanted were treated to a wedge of watermelon for the evening treat.

I wish we could close the door on the COVID virus and its mutations, but it seems not to be. At least 4 cases have been reported in our village, and endured over the last 2-3 months. None hospitalized due to the virus, all quarantined. One hospitalized for a separate reason and COVID tagged along.