June 29, 2022

 

A number of proud “Crickers” gathered for the Mink Creek Originals reunion on June 18^th at the Ballpark. Around sixty attended the event, some bringing lawn chairs for additional comfort. A sizey lunch was pre-purchased from Kneaders, and Crumbl’s cookies were a followup treat. The organizer this year was Karen Olson Tribett. Karen read interesting excerpts from the Mink Creek History compiled by Viola Larsen in 1976. For many of the listeners it was revelation about their “roots.” The heads of families attending reported as to family progress and other news tidbits. For some it was a first time attendance. Things wrapped up with Bruce Crane, retired history teacher of the Logan School District, but with roots firmly planted in Mink Creek, telling of the cemetery project of featuring pictures of the residents and encouraging that idea for others, plus doing a history of their homes in Mink Creek, present and past.

Bruce told the story of the drowning of two young boys in the early days of the settlement, of the Crane family discovering them when looking at cemetery records. Classmates of those boys had raised money for a headstone. Bruce found another sister to the Glysing boys, buried next to them and encouraged the reunion members to donate money for a headstone for sister Engeborg’s grave. The last name of Glysing was anglicized to Gleason while the family lived in Mink Creek. There are hopes of being able to gather again next year, but a volunteer organizer is needed to accomplish that.

This strange spring weather seems to have been good for the dryland hay crops. They have grown lush and green, but not particularly heavy. The irrigated fields have some weight. But as in every year there is that dance between mowing the hay, drying the hay, baling the stuff and removing the finished product for the next growth. With rains popping up there never seems to be a perfect time.

The Aaronic Priesthood deacons of the Preston North Stake enjoyed an overnight encampment at the Mink Creek Ballpark. Tents were to be set up between 5 and 6 pm the evening of June 10. Dinner prepared for 6:30 p.m. and eaten in time for the fireside speaker at 7:30. Four of our young men enjoyed the event: Orrin Baird, Larien Currie, Morgan and Danny Keller. Leaders attending were LaRon Baird and Jared Keller.

Elder Andrew Iverson is home from his mission labors in Mexico, a more thorough report on that next week. We are expecting the return of Elder Wynn and Sister Cecelie Costley this coming week. They have been working in the Salt Lake Temple Mission. These releases lowers the number in our missionary ranks quickly, from six down to three.

Plans for the July 4^th celebration are in place. This will take place at our Ballpark, in much the same way that our tradition has become. Hopefully the Monday timing will not limit those who might attend.

June 22, 2022

 

The daughters of Kerry and Lacey Christensen are on the rodeo royalty trail again this summer. Jyllian entered the rodeo queen contest for the Cache County Fair and Rodeo and was selected as the Jr. Queen. Greenlee will be the 1^st Attendant to the Preston Jr. Queen for the Famous Preston Night Rodeo. It will be a busy summer of parades and horses for the Christensen family.

Karen and Layne Erickson went to Ogden, UT, for the wedding of their grandson Seth Erickson, son of Bryan and Shannon Erickson of Wellsville, UT. Seth married a young lady, Tyler Fowers of Morgan, UT. Bryan’s siblings, Connie and Adam Westenskow of Logan and Terrie McKay, Mink Creek, also attended the festivities. An interesting tidbit with this young couple, is that Tyler’s grandparents are Brent and Goldia Williams of Preston. Her parents are Janelle Williams and Quinn Fowers.

Sam and Sylvia Stanger are back in town, enjoying their yellow-brick schoolhouse home. Jim and Debbie Harrison are in their home. Karl and Marion Haws are up from their place in Solvang, CA. Their son, Aaron of Meridian, ID, was part of the visiting package.

The youth of Mink Creek embarked on a summer adventure at the City of Rocks at Castle State Park. They left Mink Creek early one morning, taking a sack lunch to keep them from starving as they got to the park. Once there and settled into their camps they were assigned to three stations and took turns in learning the skills of rock climbing. After dinner in the evening they held a devotional and dismissed for some swimming time before “lights out.” The next morning they packed up their gear, met at Bathtub Rock for some rappelling fun and then headed for Mink Creek and home. Seven adults, Young Men and Young Women leaders, accompanied the group of fifteen youths and provided transportation and organization.

Our little valley is decked in abundant green right now, a variety of shades. Adding to it is the scent of the blossoms on the chokecherry and other wild trees, with wildflowers pink, blue, white and yellow underfoot. No wonder ex-residents want to come ‘home.’

There are several houses under construction at the present time in Mink Creek. Some will belong to our “summer folk,” those who visit often enough during good weather months to warrant building a house. Some even live here for those months, not a weekend here and there. They “almost” become part of the community, and permanent residents are welcoming.

June 15, 2022

 

We may need a reminder that it is spring, nearly summer, and our wildlife critters that have been in hibernation are now out and about again. Don’t know that the raccoons ever slept much, but the skunks are making their presence known. They love to visit outdoor feeding stations for our domestic pets and we hope that the pets will give them a wide berth.

Most of the children of Eldon and Danita Wilcox were gathered here over the Memorial Day weekend. Elise and Jeff Hardy and their children from North Ogden, Ami and Tom Fenton and family from Tooele, UT, MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter and their youngsters of Arimo, ID, Brigham and Jenipher Wilcox with their children from Idaho Falls and of course Jesse and Annavelyn Wilcox and Desmond from within our boundaries. Only Lezli and Brittany were absent.

Bryant Douglas Nelson, who did his growing up life in Mink Creek, has passed away. He had an accident about 3 years ago, falling from a ladder and has been suffering from the damage caused since that time. He is the son of Edna Brown and Douglas Nelson and graduated from Preston High School in 1963. He and his wife Linda have raised their family in Hewitt, TX.

Jeff Olson had a fun visit from daughter Lesli and Jared Nehmer and their little ones, Hannah and Cal. The Nehmer family live in the Salt Lake City area and Jeff thoroughly enjoyed showing his grandchildren the fun things around his home on Station Creek.

Mink Creek’s oldest citizen, Naomi Wilde, has celebrated her 107^th birthday in Pocatello. This year she chose the adventure of riding a camel as her birthday treat. Somehow her children were able to comply with her wishes. Happy Birthday, N’om.  It is reported, and photographed that the camel event took place. 

To whom it may concern: Keep in mind that it is the Mink Creek Originals summer party on June 18, 11 a.m. at the Mink Creek Ballpark. Lunch sacks are each $13. Bring a lounge chair to be comfy during the all the visiting and catching up.

We overlooked another high school graduate from Mink Creek. Bracken Christensen, son of Bryan Christensen also received his diploma. Bracken will be working at home on their farm for the summer and has plans to attend Utah Tech University in St. George (formerly Dixie State U) in the fall, studying sports kinesiology. Bryan’s older son, Carson is engaged to Shalayla Elliot and they have plans to marry in the fall. Another part of what we’ll call “the Christensen Chronicles” is that Bryan’s brother, Phil Christensen, and Jenny Hollingsworth were married on May 21 at the Benson Ranch. Close family and friends attended.

Judging from the temperatures that we have had the last few days, it might be advisable to bring a blanket to wrap up in if you are attending the Mink Creek Originals get together in a few days.  It has been cold, even hovering above freezing during night hours.  The forecast indicates that all will be fine, warm, etc. so this caution is probably not needed. However..... See you there!

June 8, 2022

 

The Lewis and Clark Volunteers Mountain Men gathered for their annual Memorial Day weekend Spring Rendezvous at the park on the Vernon Keller farm. Musket loaders were at the ready and echoed on the hillsides. This has been ongoing for years and has become a tradition for the Keller family who also gather to welcome the group.

Memorial Day weekend filled the church on Sunday with visiting families. It was a rainy, cold day but the spiritual warmth was present in our chapel. It had rained most of Saturday and we are grateful for the needed moisture, but it has definitely contributed to the “dampening ” of anticipated activities for the holiday. The cemetery, located east of the church house, was in perfect shape to welcome the visitors that came. Everyone enjoyed the floral and personality arrangements, as well as the many photo portraits of those whose headstones are in this blessed spot. The field of wild flowers, golden Mule’s Ears, that reach up toward the mountains only served to add to the occasion. Children often pick blooms from this field to place on graves whose posterity is unknown.

The Relief Society’s May activity was entitled Binding Hearts Together and they tied two quilts while gathering around. Setting up the quilts on frames were a group of experienced quilters, Kim Christensen, Phee Crosland, Cathy Seamons, and Mary Jean Rasmussen. One quilt was a heritage quilt given to Claudia Erickson that had been created by her grandmother many years ago. The other was a smaller Relief Society quilt. The international quilt stitch was used on the larger, older one and the stitch was a new experience for many. Claudia told stories about her grandmother, thus binding hearts with our ancestors. Light refreshments were prepared and served by Jonia Jackson, MaryAnn Jepsen, Lisa Auger and Linda Christensen.

Alona Ostler and her mother, Jody Sharp, had an extended “mother/daughter outing.” They went to visit friends in Alaska and do some touring around. They spent some time in Whittier, Seward, Homer, but stayed mainly in Wasilla. The weather was warm, the wildlife and ocean scenic and the food perfect for the place. They had a great time.

No school buses this week, but the feeling of summer fun (and work) is in the air. For some it is 4H, for some it is Rodeo, family reunions, sleeping in, and complaining when chores come up on the family roster. We have at least two school teachers who are welcoming the break, even though they will be doing preparations off and on all during the summer months. Dawnell Greene teaches at Harold B. Lee Elementary and Amy Baldwin has a position in Cache Valley schools. Our home schooling families will find summer projects that can be part of their curriculum

June 1, 2022

 

The sandhill cranes are back in residence. They are a rather noisy group while they set up their housekeeping schedules and check out close feeding stations. There are several farm ponds in Mink Creek that bring in summer avian residents from their immigrating flights during the spring. There is more than one bald eagle watching over the valley of Mink Creek.

Our high school graduates this year are Charles Iverson, son of Kurt and Margret Iverson; Ty Jepsen, son of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen; Bryce Egley, son of Jared and Juli Egley; and Jace Gunnell, son of Brian and Jill Petersen. Charles, Ty and Jace also graduated from the Seminary Program for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the celebration held last week at the Dahle Fine Arts Center in Dayton.

Linda Shewmaker and Sheryl May have been down from Jerome, ID, country to spend some time with their brother Bruce Crane at the Crane Cabin. This trio always explore their Mink Creek roots when they get together and have fun sharing their memories of ‘growing up,’on the banks of Birch Creek, with the beauty of South Canyon in their back yard.

There has been the wail of the ambulance heard several times lately in our village. Royce Christensen had a 4-wheeler accident the first week of May that beat him up pretty badly. He was life-flighted to the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. Royce ended up with a 10-day stay there, most of those days spent in the ICU. It is a relief to have him home. Douglas Bruderer was thrown from a horse onto a piece of metal, causing serious injuries. He was taken to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello for some repair and recovery. He is now home, walking around, but not running any races. Their wives, Lorraine Christensen and Beverly Bruderer are now on nurse duty.

 Our cemetery was beautiful and welcoming for the Memorial Day visitors. Our “grounds crew” may be small but they put forth great effort to have it looking its best for the end of May. Each year there are a few more graves that have identifying portraits of those whose names are on the headstones, and it so adds to the interest of all. This tradition was begun several years ago by the descendants of the William Crane family.

Don’t forget the Mink Creek Originals Reunion that is coming soon on June 18^th at our Ballpark.