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.

April 27, 2022

 

The Young Women chose to organize and staff an Easter Egg Hunt at the Mink Creek Ballpark on the Saturday before Easter. The weather for several days prior was wet and snowy on a regular basis, but Friday brightened up and Saturday, though chilly, cooperated with their well laid plans. Children from families visiting our village over the weekend came as well as our Primary children. There were prizes, and plastic eggs filled with an assortment of candies. The area was separated into spots designated for certain age participants, ages 5 and under, not competing with ages 6 and over. Young Women leaders are Jody Rasmussen, Amy Baldwin, Lacey Christensen and ReNae Egley. Lots of smiles, lots of fun and lots of sugar consumed. A great activity.

Many of the family of Sheila Stephenson Rasmussen gathered in Mink Creek for her funeral. The services were conducted by her grandson, Trevor Rasmussen, who is currently serving as a counselor in the Mink Creek Ward. Sheila loved music and poetry, penning verses herself and much of this was shared with the congregation.

Easter Sunday those attending the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Ward were treated with a special musical selection. The family of Kim and Twlonie Bullock formed a trio of violins to accompany Ramona Lower Hatchett singing “I Stand All Amazed.” Laurel Wilde and Linda Christensen spoke, giving messages appropriate to the season and life of Jesus Christ.

We have several people dealing with serious situations in their lives. A snowmobiling accident, a collision of a child and a running horse, a couple of residents recovering from surgeries. All recovering, but it takes time. Life is full of challenges that come unexpectedly.

There had been plans for the spring road cleanup slated for last week, but the wet moved in the day prior, sogging things up for wading about in the roadside growth while gathering junk.  We have had a drier week and warmer days. It is still happening, this coming weekend, meet at 8, get assignments, and breakfast at the ballpark at 9. It always feels good to have things cleaned up on the road and has become a tradition of many years.

April 20, 2022

 

Casey and Julie Haws drove up from their California home to geth the Haws home in shape for good weather visitors as the season opens up in Idaho. They came prepared for pulling weeds, shoveling where needed, recovering from snow debris and general spring housekeeping. All was not work as these two love their Mink Creek connections.

Some snow flurries didn’t discourage the ladies that belong to the Syring Camp of the Franklin Company of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers as they met at the home of Karen Erickson. She and Colleen Wilde were joint hostesses for the monthly session. The meeting was conducted by Captain Mary Ann Jepsen and she led these sisters in some pioneer singing. Karen shared a letter written by her great-great grandmother, Chloe Belle Fuller Beatty Randall as she recalled the life style of her growing up years. A luncheon was served and enjoyed, followed by a lessen from Lorraine Christensen describing pioneers homes from wagon boxes, to soddies and eventual homes as they set their roots into this part of the nation.

The roller coaster temperatures are keeping us all on alert. This is particularly true for those new babies that come in the early spring months---calves, lambs, kids, colts. Included is the newly hatched chickens or ducklings. With the cold days recently experienced the cute, fluffy cheepers need more than a heat lamp to survive. Some are being sheltered in a cardboard box nestled in a corner of the household kitchen. It is a reminder of how things were done in years past, before there were heat lamps.

A happy announcement – two babies have arrived in Mink Creek homes recently. Anna and Sundance Watts have a tiny girl, a bit over six pounds. Leigha and Kade Nicolls received a bouncy boy, weighing in at nine plus pounds. Both of these infants are the first babies in their respective families.

There have been 4 days without a snowstorm and the color of green is becoming prominent in our valley, green fields lined up along side of a freshly plowed one are such a statement of continued growth. It is the season of renewal. A few residents report that it has been sufficiently dry to hike in our lower mountains. Snowmobilers are still enjoying the trails higher up.

April Spring, 13, 2022

 

With the warming weather it is time for ground work on the farming ground to get underway. Repair shops are busy places with tune-ups for equipment and tractors. It is also time for rock-picking in rocky fields in an attempt to limit future repairs to the machines.

Recent winds have played havoc to some farmers’ irrigation lines. Just one more place that needs a skilled hand to remedy so that the growing season can get underway.

The Young Women group had a night of entertainment playing broom hockey. Their ‘arena’ was the gymnasium of the Mink Creek LDS Ward building. This was no mild sweeping exercise, it is reported that several participants broke their brooms.

Margret and Kurt Iverson combined business and family when they took their sons to Utah for a few days while the guys were participating in spring sports events and Kurt was attending dental convocations. Spring break is often just a change of pace and some family down time.

Recently ReNae Egley flew with her sister Ruth and Scott Rawlings to Pennsylvania. The Rawlings have a son, Brandon, who lives in the Pittsburgh area. They enjoyed seeing the beginnings of spring in this part of our nation.

Four of our youth participated in the Gem State Ballroom Dance competition in Idaho Falls. Ella Jepsen and her partner Traven Garner placed 1^st in the high school Latin Open division. Ella and her brother Ty also participated in the Solo Cabaret. Jyllian Christensen and her partner Hazen Baird placed 7^th in a younger division of the Samba Open and also 7^th in the Syllabus ChaCha, competing with 90 other participants. Well done, congratulations to each one!

The McKay family---all of them: Paul, Terrie, Andy, Morgan and husband Eli Curtis, traveled to Queen Creek, AZ, to spend a few days with Cody McKay and his wife Kyven. As children grow up and spread their wings it is difficult to get everyone together in our modern times. According to reports, “We just had fun being together,” and what more is needed?!

Snow to greet us the last two mornings, but by the end of each day only patches are left in shady spots. That is not to say it has warmed up, it has still been very cold and we are glad to have warm homes. We think of it as Idaho Spring, and one never knows how long it may last. Those cold winds carry the temperatures right into the bones.

April 6, 2022

 Spring break was upon us from March 25 until April 4 and the population has a tendency to scatter elsewhere during that time.  Some years the weather during break has only caused indoor life to be more chaotic than usual.  This season was a little cold, but relatively dry and the time was spent enjoying whatever activities presented themselves.

The Food Drive this past weekend was successful. Mink Creek residents had bagged or boxed foods sitting on their doorsteps anticipating the planned pickup by 9 in the morning that Saturday. LaRon Baird & seven young men organized the pickup and delivery to the Food Pantry near the Archery Building in Preston. Our village was able to donate 691 pounds to this cause. It was a part of the Preston North Stake Food Drive and the food total for the stake was four tons.

The last Sabbath of March, the 27^th, the ward membership enjoyed a Linger Longer lunch together in the recreation hall. Whether it was due to the onset of spring or the invitation of lunch together we had a good attendance. There were 17 containers of a wide variety of soups, spicy, mild and in-between. Rolls were an accompaniment and the dessert selection offered brownies, cakes, cookies and a huge container of huckleberry ice cream.

Paul and Terrie McKay enjoyed some St. George, UT, time with its recreation offerings of dry canyons and hiking trails. They were joined by Jay and Kristin Collins of Lakeview, OR, during Oregon’s spring break from Kris’s teaching position. Soaking up sun, good company, fun and relaxation was a good recipe for the break.

Walter Iverson, son of Kurt and Margret Iverson, is engaged to Jillian Jarvis, a young lady from South Jordan, UT. Her parents are Heather and Matt Jarvis. The day planned for the ceremonies is May 4. Exciting plans are being made.

Candy Longhurst took her spring break from her job with the Preston School District to visit with her daughter Tiffany and Spencer Wheeler, and their son Hudson. The Wheelers are currently living in Hawaii so this was a win-win location with all sorts of grandparent fun and new places to see and things to do.

March did leave us with a few stormy days, but not quite the “Lion” variety. However some of the early days of April sent some winds that were capable of tearing things lose. Any lose sheet of metal made a racket as it was pulled by the bursts of wind to new locations. One still needs a coat to be out and about, but the lighter variety will suffice. So, all things are encouraging as we change into the new season.