May 25, 2022

 

The home of Forest and Patti Christensen has been purchased by David and Melanie Law of Kaysville, UT. Their family has spent some weekends here, getting things in order, soaking up the beauty of a Mink Creek spring and enjoying getting acquainted with Mink Creek residents. They are most welcome.

There was a good turnout for the Primary elections at the local polling place, the multipurpose room of the LDS Meetinghouse. The electoral board this year was Lana McCracken, Lorraine Christensen and Sharla McKay.

Keenan Janke, son of Laural and Jody Janke of Rexburg, and their family drove down to Mink Creek so that grandparents, Bob and Claudia Erickson, and others could be a part of the announcement of his anticipated mission call. He will be serving in the Barbados, Bridgetown, Mission, speaking French, beginning in August.

Spring has a way of bringing past residents home to this valley. Jim and Debbie Harrison love coming up from their place in St. George. The greening of the countryside always attracts Bruce and Shawna Crane from Logan as they get ready for family arrivals and Memorial Day.

The Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met together for their annual ward conference on May 15. President Ronald Smellie and his counselors, LaWrell Cook and Michael Romney and other officers of the Preston North Stake were in attendance, with President Smellie presiding. Speakers for the conference were Bishop Paul McKay, President Romney and President Smellie. The Mink Creek Primary children offered a special musical number. Though it is a small group they performed a bell choir arrangement of “I Love To See the Temple” and then sang the words. The Primary chorister is Terrie McKay and Linda Christensen accompanied on the piano.

The second session of the conference was led by the Stake Sunday School and Relief Society. This was directed by Phillip Abrams and Lisa Sears of those organizations. The congregation reviewed quotes from church president, Russell M. Nelson when he has urged us to make changes in our lives.

This last week of school is a busy one, with its own brand of chaos for family and friends involved. There are a few adults employed by our school districts. We have four high school graduates, with supporting parents and grandparents. There are 8^th grade graduates, and kindergarten graduates. All this celebration in the middle of saying good-bye to best friends, etc. Plus Memorial Day will quickly follow, always a big day in this community.

May 18, 2022, a day or two ahead

 

Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT, is a favorite spot for visitors with their multitude of spring flowers. Steve and Terry Mainini spent some time there with their daughter Angelina Koren and her daughters Ariella and Adara. They soaked up the beauty of Ashton Gardens and the annual tulip festival. The riot of color is hard to resist.

Another group of Mink Creek residents enjoyed the same location. Nate and Dana Olson, Clare and Linda Christensen, and Glade and Corinne Larsen took a break from the seasonal chores in Mink Creek to attend the tulip festival. After this outing the group drove to Park City for an overnight retreat.

The Syringa Camp of the DUP met this month for their closing social. They gathered at the Mink Creek LDS Meetinghouse for lunch and a lesson given by Virginia Flippence. The ladies were reminded of the DUP convention to be held in Preston on May 14. Following this the group drove up Station Creek Road to the home of Terry and Wendy Westerberg. This family home has sheltered three generations of the Westerberg family. Terry and Wendy have restored it to its original beauty and beyond. The home was built in 1910 for the family of Terry’s grandfather, Alfred and Ester Westerberg.

Craig and Elaine Larsen welcomed a visit from their daughter Cheryl and Mitch Cowgill and their three children. The grandchildren got a tour of nearby beaver ponds and all around the Birch Creek Larsen farm while Cheryl shared her memories of growing up in the village of Mink Creek. The Cowgills now live in Idaho and Craig and Elaine are looking forward to more frequent visits.

Jesse and Celina Groesbeck and their daughter Oakley recently moved  from Mink Creek to the area near Seattle, WA. Jesse will be selling pest control programs there during the coming summer months.

Local gardeners are a little hesitant about planting this season. The fractious weather seems to lend encouragement for a few days running, warm and bright, and then delivers a possible freezer that might wipe out anything other than the most hardy of spring flowers. Weeds and lawns are doing well and bright yellow dandelions are spreading their smiling faces, even if they are not welcomed.

May 11, 2022

 

Mink Creek community gathered for their annual spring roadside cleanup. Residents met at the Mink Creek Ballpark at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning to get their assigned stretch of Highway 36, and receive bright orange trash bags and orange vests. After an hour of pick up time they were scheduled to reconvene at the ballpark for a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausages, pancakes and hot chocolate, prepared by Clare Christensen and a crew of assistant chefs. Shade and Brittanie Watts and Ben Keller. The event had been postponed a week due to storms but it cooperated beautifully on this weekend. There was a good attendance and now we have a happy main thoroughfare.

Josh Reichmann, husband of Brooke Corbett, recently graduated from BYU/Provo with a Bachelors of Science in Biophysics with a Chemistry minor. Brooke’s family, Sherrie and Shane Corbett and son Austin went down to Utah to celebrate in this accomplishment.

Davanie Ostler recently spent some time in Colorado recently to certify to become a life guard instructor. She is the daughter of Alona and Stuart Ostler. She was the youngest participant and passed with flying colors. At the present time Davanie is in charge of staffing and certifying the lifeguards at the Bear River Resort in Riverdale. She also works as a CNA at the Franklin County Medical Center. This young lady already has her eye on her future goals.

There are preparations being made for Memorial Day and the many visitors that come to the Mink Creek Cemetery over that weekend. The area is being trimmed, weeded and the overall landscape set in order. Over the last several years there have been photos placed at the grave sites of the individual claiming that spot of eternal rest. Putting a face with the names gives a feeling of completion and recognition, no matter how long ago the person may have passed away. Each year there are few more photographs added, spreading throughout the cemetery and anyone who has someone they care about occupying a plot in our cemetery are invited to become a part of this effort. It is becoming a visual history of Mink Creek’s past.

The morning after Mothers’ Day gave every appearance of beginning a day in January. Snow had arrived overnight and all things were white, fields, roofs, trees, driveways. A couple of inches deposited. This translates into more moisture. Although it is welcome the blossoms on our fruit trees may have taken a serious hit. Then add a very cold night following, ups and downs of spring in this part of the country.

May 4, 2022

 

Stetson Ostler, son of Stuart and Alona Ostler is enjoying being back at home. After high school graduation he left for new county and new experiences, working for Maple Springs Home in maintenance. He has spent several month employed in Alaska, finished his contract and came home to Mink Creek in time to join the family in time to go on a fun trip to Mexico. Of course the family did some fishing down there, it is one of their favorite things. For now Stetson is working with his Dad.

Richard Keller who grew up in Mink Creek, the son of Nathaniel and Bonnie Keller, passed away in March. He had been living with a daughter and then in a nursing home. His siblings, all still living in this area, are Kathy Hyde, Ann Hansen and Louise Moser.

Charles H. Iverson, the son of Kurt and Margret Iverson recently received a call to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines, Bacolad, Mission. These two years of service will commence on July 18, 2022. At the same meeting where Charles announced to the LDS Congregation about his call three generations of the Iverson family were privileged to bless the ordinance of the Sacrament: Grandfather Johnny Iverson, father Kurt Iverson and Charles. There was a strong feeling of continuation of families at that time.

Heather Beardall is engaged to Samuel Tuttle. She is the daughter of Kent and Tammy Beardall and the couple have plans to marry this coming fall.

Jesse and Celina Groesbeck and their baby, Oakley, flew down to Florida for a visit of several days with Jesse’s grandfather and to introduce Oakley. Robert and Phee Crosland, Celina’s parents accompanied the family, a nice break for the whole family.

The Mink Creek Originals Reunion should be put on calendars. June will be here in a blink! The date is the 18th, hours from 11am til 2 (or we get tired of visiting and enjoying our memories.) At our beautiful ballpark and it is encouraged to bring lawn chairs for comfort. There will be Kneaders sack lunches for purchase, but don’t forget to RSVP to Karen Olson Tribett so there is sufficient.

The back entry of the LDS meetinghouse, the one with the disability approach, has a strip of spring blooms alongside the sidewalk. At this time there are a mix of daffodils, red tulips, and narcissus and they have bowed their heads through the recent snow storms, heavy rains and still greet the sunshine. It is a message of encouragement just to see how resilient they can be.