March 22, 2022

 The members of the Mink Creek Relief Society celebrated the 180^th anniversary of the Relief Society organization with a display of quilts and a night of food and companionship. The menu for the evening was a broccoli and chicken with stuffing casserole, veggies and dip, fruit and dip followed by a choice of a chocolate turtle cake or a strawberry crème cake. Around 30 ladies were seated at tables festooned with colorful spring coverings and a balloon bouquet centerpiece. The evening began with a “Get Acquainted Bingo” sheet, where they learned quite a bit about each other, and a Relief Society history quiz. Lisa Auger told highlights of the organization over the 180 years gleaned from the book, Daughter of the Kingdom. Quilts were hanging all around the perimeter of the room and those on display were described by their owners: Anna Beth Olson, Cindy Hanson, Jeannine Iverson, Kim Christensen, Twlonie Bullock, Lisa Auger, Lorraine Christensen, Danita Wilcox, and Laurel Wilde. One hanging was a large crocheted bedspread that had been made by Naomi Wilde, Mink Creek’s oldest citizen, done when she was alone while her husband, Merlin, was in World War II.

Bob and Claudia Erickson drove to Rexburg for a weekend to be part of a family gathering. Two sons of Laural and Jody Janke were being ordained to priesthood callings: Keenan as an Elder, and Cooper as a Teacher.

The Syringa Camp of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers met one afternoon at the home of Linda K. Christensen in Preston. Linda presented some stories from the life of her mother, Venice Nelson Keller, who grew up in the Glencoe/ Mink Creek area. Mary Jean Rasmussen displayed an artifact from her collection: this was a solid copper water bucket that her great grandmother, Albertina Unsworth, brought with her when she came from Sweden to work as a domestic in a home in Hyrum. The group enjoyed a light lunch and sharing their heritage.

Sam and Kim Daines and their daughter Molly came up from Draper, UT, for time with Kim’s mother, Judy Clark. They shared the happy news that Molly has been called to serve a mission in the Chile, Santiago, Mission. She will be leaving in June. We hope to hear more about this as time goes by, since the Daines are past members of our community.

The tips of spring crocuses have broken through the winter leftovers near the back door of the local meetinghouse. And there is evidence of a couple of tulips making a starting effort. This I saw on the first day of spring according to the calendar. The snow is inching backwards, leaving spongy turf or muddy trickles in its wake. It is still plenty chilly for outdoor activities and reports are that the snow machines are still roaring in the upper reaches, but this evidence of rebirth always brings a smile and the testimony of continuation.