September 26, 2023

 

The Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held their annual ward conference this past weekend. Officers of the Preston North Stake were in attendance. Each member of the Stake Presidency spoke to the congregation, President Ronald Smellie and Counselors, Michael Romney and LaWrell Cook. In the second session the officers of the Stake Sunday School presented ways that the Come Follow Me program can enrich our lives and the Stake Relief Society gave members a copy of the proclamation, The Living Christ, and encouraged studying it in depth.

The conference was followed with a Linger Longer lunch of a potato bar with all the fixings, some salads and a variety of potluck desserts. The socializing was enjoyed by guests and local residents, a chance to become better acquainted.

The extended family of Keith and Karen Olson Tribett had a weekend family camp-out in Mink Creek. Karen and her siblings were raised in Mink Creek, daughters of John and Edith Olson. This gathering had all sorts of family fun, with games requiring physical activity as well as some for sitting around with plenty of good-natured competition. There were crafts and they had the whole baseball diamond at their disposal. A birthday party was a highlight for everyone. The dark nights full of starlight was a special treat where many of those attending live in lighted cities.

Brian and Jill Petersen have had some Utah family up to their ranch in Mink Creek. Jonia Jackson entertained her sisters, Julee and Jini, and her building project and various improvements are underway.

The LOTOJA bike race event chose a day of perfect weather for their ride up through Mink Creek and Strawberry Canyon and down into the Bear Lake Valley. Interested residents congregated at the side of the highway here and there to cheer the contestants on as they rode by.

The arrival of the first freeze put residents out to cover their squash, pumpkins, any growing item that might last a little longer. High on that list is the precious homegrown tomatoes. There is always hope of keeping the plants going as far into fall as possible.

September 19, 2023

 

The youth of the community were challenged at a recent activity. This was learning about repelling down sheer cliffs which they put into practice at the Paris ice caves. Those harnesses can look pretty flimsy when it comes time to step off the ledge. It is a wonderful lesson of trusting the person who is assisting in the descent. There ended up being a good sized group. Those participating were: Kurt Iverson, Bishop Paul McKay, Miles Erickson, Jacob and Jared Cheney, Devlyn Currie, LaRon, Orrin and Dallon Baird, Jared, Morgan and Danny Keller, Young Women Pres. Claudine McKague, and Jyllian and Greenlee Christensen. One of the Preston North Stake Young Men leaders also participated, Grant Conrad, who teaches Seminary at PHS. Some of the youth were unable to take part due to obligations at school and other activities. Bishop McKay had brought snacks and food to make a perfect outing.

The young men of the Deacon’s quorum were at a campout up the canyon on Williams Creek so they took advantage of their timing and joined the repelling group, then returned to finish up their camp.

Once a Mink Criker, always a Mink Criker—Bill Despain has made several recent visits here. He now lives in Fielding, UT, with his brother and wife, but is most welcome in many homes in Mink Creek. Bill even called on a few homes, and finding the house under new ownership, made new friends.

Eldon and Danita Wilcox have had children and grandchildren popping in and out these past few weeks. Perhaps they are taking turns. Brigham Wilcox and some of his children have been down from Idaho Falls, Ami Fenton and family were up from Tooele, UT. Elise and Jeff Hardy brought some of their family with when the came from North Ogden.

Two Jepsen sisters have stopped in. Marilyn and Bob Godfrey, up from Arizona, and JoAnn and Kevin Auger, who live in Woodland Hills, UT.

We have had some quick afternoon storms come rushing up the valley, accompanied by strong winds. Thunder and lightning have rattled a few homes, but no direct hits at this point, happy to report.

A few trees have shown some color changes, we hope there are a lot more to come.

September 12, 2023

 

Lana and Ivan McCracken have been throwing their doors wide for company lately. Eden McCracken, Ivan’s daughter, came up from California for a few days. Ivan’s brother, Samuel and his wife Robbie, left the smokey skies of Raymond, Alberta, Canada for a visit down to “the States.” Robbie is Filipino and she and our resident Filipino, Annavelyn Wilcox, enjoyed some conversations in their home language of Tagalog. More McCrackens, Aaron and J’lene of Manhattan, KS, stopped in for a visit while they were taking their oldest daughter to BYU/I in Rexburg.

Lana spent some time with her daughter, Maria, in Utah where Maria is recovering from a recent illness. Devin Flake, Maria’s husband, attended a Flake family gathering in the northwest to participate in the Hood to Coasts relay race where twelve team members traveled a route from Hood, OR, to the Pacific Coast.

There has been a summer motor home parked at the home of Cade and Leigha Nicholls. It is the summer home of Leigha’s parents, Ben and Seana Beckes, who call Springville, UT, their more permanent location. The Beckes enjoyed some fun time with little Peter Nicholls, their grandson.

The Hansen House has been well occupied over some of the recent weekends. Wes and Heather Hansen of Ogden hosted a family reunion for Heather’s side of their family. The Hansen Girls, now better known as the Hansen Grandmas have been in town---Pat, Roxane and Sandy. Sid and Geraldine Hansen, of Richmond, UT, were welcomed by Mink Creek friends. This couple have recently returned from serving a mission in Hawaii for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

There are lots of “garden sharing” going on in Mink Creek. Reports on gardens are a big variety: totally wiped out by grasshoppers, just certain plants thriving while others wither, summer squash by the bushel, etc. This growing season has had extra challenges with the late spring and grasshopper invasion.

It has been stated that September is the month for recognizing our Constitution. We need to remember that it did not come about overnight, it took years before the final document would be accepted with many challenges along the way. Those men who met, discussed, argued, but stayed with it to its completion gave us a gift. Actually it was a gift for the whole world, as it would be an example to all nations in the many years following. Do some pondering on this gift this month, it deserves some thought and contemplation.

September 6, 2023

 

The community gathered to welcome the final return of Naomi Nelson Wilde to Mink Creek. The chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located within easy walking distance of her home, was full to the brim. The event will be recorded as a funeral, but Naomi had told her sons that she would rather have a party and the feeling of joy shared expressed that feeling. She had lived most of her 108 years in this little village, raising her family and being a “farmer wife” with her husband Merlin. Her son Dean said her work ethic was one of the key things she passed on. As an early teen, aged 13, Naomi had assumed the role of the lady of the house when her own mother died, helping her father raise her younger siblings. Her zest for living continued throughout her long days as she chose exciting things from her ‘bucket list’: riding in a helicopter, a motocycle ride through Pocatello, riding a camel and an elephant. Naomi had a life well-lived and she was loved by those who knew her.

A welcome home took Jimmie and AnnaBeth Olson to Meridian, ID, when their grandson, Elder Charles Peterson returned from serving a mission for the LDS Church in the North Carolina, Raleigh, Mission. He is the eldest son of Dana and Charles Peterson and will now be starting his college education.

There is a brand new baby girl in the family of Jamie and Natalie Forbush. She was a little late in arriving, but was welcomed warmly on August 17. The Forbush family has been enjoying a visit from Elizabeth Bradley, one of Natalie’s friends who came to help out in these first few weeks of new baby in the house.

ReNea and Raphael Arnsworth enjoyed a weekend in Freedom, WY. They were attending a wedding for one of ReNea’s cousins and so it was a bit of family reunion time with beautiful surroundings.

Jonia Jackson has had frequent family visitors the last month. Her brother Tony and Diane Jackson and their daughter Miya came down from the area around Coeur d’Alene, ID. Jonia’s son John and his family flew over from Oahu, HA, and have had fun with family in the area.

Although much of the land here is still looking green thanks to excellent irrigation, the hillsides are tan and drying.  Up high there may be bits of leaves starting their fall costumes.  One can feel the change coming near,  grains being harvested,  last crops of hay.  Late nights, early mornings.  We have had some of the monsoon rains to perk things up a bit.  But we can hear the knocking of Fall at the door.