October 18, 2023

 Sorry about missing last week's version from the paper, so this week readers get a double dose of Mink Creek.  Sit back, relax, and catch up.  

 A good sized group of adventurous friends, most of them with Mink Creek connections, gathered together to ride the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in northern Idaho. There were many days of preparation and packing with excitement building the whole time. For some it was a repeat experience, for others the first time ever to run the river. Paul McKay and his son Cody, Lin and Sharla McKay, their son Payton Newby and his brother Josh Newby with wife Sarah and two sons Gage and Nash, Tony and Jill Hale and Shane and Kara Johnson—this group of thirteen drove to Challis and boarded a plane that dropped them off at a landing strip where they could descend to the Middle Fork to begin several days of soaking up nature along with lots of river water, and the beautiful surroundings as they navigated their run. They returned with satisfied smiles for the bucket list outing.

Caroline Anderson Jensen passed away on September 25, 2023. She has always had a beautiful yard full of colorful flowers. Caroline entertained the village children each Halloween when she would dress up as a witch to greet the trick r’ treaters coming to her door. She provided a special fun fright and many memories over the years. She is survived by her husband, Lynn Jensen and their children, LeAnn Sant and Michael Jensen. A private ceremony was held in the Mink Creek Cemetery.

We must report another passing. Denzil Bennet Baird grew up in this area, a son of Harold and Verla Baird. Most of his adult life was spent in Brigham City where he and his wife, Dorothy Atkinson raised their children. He passed away at age 93, September 28, 2023, and is buried in Brigham City Cemetery.

There have been at least one herd of sheep enjoying life in our nearby canyons these past warm months. With the changing weather and the frequent storms moving in it won’t be long before their owners and herders will take them back to their home ground in Utah.  

There was quite a crew from Mink Creek that went down to the Canning Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ogden, UT, to give some help with canning tomato soup. They were in two shifts. The early morning crew were Wynn and Cecelie Costley, Jeff and Barbara Olson, and Terry Westerberg. The afternoon helpers were LaMar and Claudine McKague, Wayne Olsen, and Garth and Robin Stevenson. The tasks required were varied, some with adding spices, some were mainly observing that none of the canning equipment malfunctioned, another checking for damaged cans, but each one required a person at their post. No one was peeling tomatoes.

The Syringa Camp of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers held a fall meeting at the Mink Creek Church. They have twelve members and Mary Ann Jepsen serves as their captain. Julie Westerberg gave a fun lesson about the historic “Hole In the Rock” pioneers where the early settlers of Utah were sent to colonize to the south. In 1879, when the expedition of settlers were sent down into what is now San Juan county of Utah it was one of the most isolated parts of the nation.

Mary Jean Rasmussen had a fun visit from her daughter Terrie Carr of Centerville, UT. Terrie has just returned from a trip to Las Vegas and so there was lots of catching up to do.

Johnny and Jeannine Iverson’s daughters, Christine Clark of Roseville, CA, and Cherie Shellig from Virginia, met here to spend some time with their folks and enjoy the lovely colors of fall that surround us in this area. Earlier this summer Teresa Russon, another Iverson daughter, of Greeley, CO, came for some family time.

We express appreciation to the members of the county mosquito crew for their services during this past summer. The flashing red lights that announced their presence in the neighborhood during late hours were most welcome, due to the results produced from their efforts.

We have had some early morning fog lying in the bottom of our valley. It seems to just be waiting for the arrival of the sunrise and when the warmer rays of light come the fog slowly dissipates. The colors we have enjoyed this fall are hanging on but gradually fading.