August 29, 1982
Billings, Montana

Dearest Roy, Bob, Claire & Michael, Rick, Jean, Ricky & Barbara Jean and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie and Russell,

This has really been a busy week - it's seven o'clock and we just got back from Cody, Wyoming where we had gone for a Stake Conference. Johnny starts school tomorrow and we have been visiting with him about it - he says he would surely like to be going back to Hall - his friends called him this afternoon from Little Rock - he wasn't here but I think it has made him a little homesick. We know that he will really be happy here once he gets started but it will be a little hard at first - I asked him if I could go with him tomorrow - I don't need to tell you what his answer was!!!!! He has a lot more courage than I had at that age and he's tired of hearing me tell him he will have many blessings for the way he has conducted himself the last little while - he is one sweet young man!!!!

I loved my visit with you yesterday Annie over the phone - you sound so busy but happy and I hope you will send me the recipe for your spaghetti sauce - surely our tomatoes will get ripe pretty soon. I would love some blouses too if you can find pretty ones in my size - you have such good taste and I will love whatever you choose. It was fun to talk to Susanna and Jessie - I will feel so bad if they don't get their little feathers - I called Jeannie right after I talked to you and she was at work but Rick said they got theirs. I am so sorry about little Julie - in fact, I haven't been able to get that out of my mind (a little girl who just lived a few houses from Jeannie was killed by a car when she dashed out into the street). We remember her so well and we are wondering how in the world you have been able to explain that to Ricky - weren't they the ones who had a little baby last Summer? Please give them our love and sympathy - you have had sad things in your neighborhood.

Speaking of sad things. Do any of you know about Glenn Neilson? He is the multi-millionaire who founded Husky Oil Company and he lives in Cody. We were with him and his wife and family this weekend - he is probably in his late seventies and is the nicest man you could ever hope to meet. He is financing through his trust fund the visitor's center there and he and Daddy had to go over the plans for its dedication. His grandson was killed last October - he was nineteen and had just received his mission call - he was riding on his motorcycle on their big ranch at dusk and ran into a cable that someone had strung across their property - they looked for him for twenty-four hours before they found him. Anyway his farewell had already been planned so they had it for his funeral and they said everyone from the city came. They have had other sad things happen in Cody - their new Stake Center was 80 percent built when arsonists set it on fire and burned it to the ground - it had a big shake roof and the arsonist put boards leading to the roof and drenched them with flammable stuff. They rebuilt it and that's where the Stake Conference was - it was completely filled so the church is growing there but I guess there is a lot of antagonism. The Regional Representative for their Stake is from Fort Collins and was on the staff there when we were there thirty-four years ago - his name is Tyler Woolley and it was fun to be with him and hear about old friends there.

We went to Denver last Wednesday and you wouldn't believe what a wonderful Mission President's Seminar we had. We were met at the airport by two OF THE Colorado Elders and for two days we were royally wined and dined. We stayed at the Marriott Hotel - had the meetings at the Stake Center in Littleton, Colo and most of our meals were prepared by the different Relief Societies but one night we went to a really fancy restaurant and for one of our luncheons we are at the hotel. Elder Loren Dunn is our Executive Administrator and he and his wife were in charge of it - it was really great. Sister Dunn is rally a sweet person and a very smart and classy woman (she wore white hose and the little heeled shoes) and she had a different outfit for every occasion (I wore one suit and took one but I'll know better next time). One night we went to the Colorado Mission Home for a musical program put on by the local talent - it was fabulous - they put on "The Sound of Music" in the living room. Elder Bruce McConkie came in Thursday night and he was with us all day Friday and then he flew home with Daddy and I on Saturday because he was going to Great Falls, Mt. and then drive into Canada for a Stake Conference. We were on pins and needles all day Friday because he conducted workshops - he is a master teacher but would ask the different Mission Presidents questions and I have never heard your Daddy give so many wrong answers. It would have been completely humiliating to all the Mission Presidents - he would phrase his questions in such a way that it was almost impossible to answer correctly. He is really quite warm and personable when you get to know him - by the time we got home Saturday about noon we had learned more than we really cared to know - Ha!!!! It was good to compare notes with the other presidents and their wives and to realize that our problems aren't unique.

When we got home we had a brand new car waiting for us - it is really nice - it's a Ford Celebrity and really plush inside and with everything on it - a tape deck, c.b. and a good radio, fog lights etc. We should be getting a new van soon too. The Elders in the home try to do everything to please Daddy and they were so thrilled to have it all shined up and waiting for him.

Roy - we haven't heard from you and all the Elders are on the alert to find out when you are coming. We are having a "fare war" in Montana right now and if you can make connections from Great Falls to Billings we'll pay for you to fly but if you can't make connections without a long wait Johnny will be there to pick you up if you'll let us know when you're coming. We're going to Great Falls on Tuesday but will only be there Wednesday and leave early Thursday to go to Missoula, I think. We have Zone Conference this month again - there is never a dull moment!!!!!

Bob and Claire - how are things going? I'll bet little Michael is hard to keep up with now. How was your trip to New York, Claire? Sister Lowe had a letter from Sally telling her that you were going to take pictures of their apartment to sue for your Stake Decorating mini class - she was really pleased that you thought it was that cute. Chris wrote and told us that you had both spoken in Sacrament Meeting - she said you were excellent.

Tomorrow is "P" day - I have at least a million things to do. They told me at the Seminar that my main responsibility was NOT the garden and I was glad to hear that - the corn is almost too old but we have surely enjoyed it.

We love each one of you so very much and think about you all the time - we really miss you and hope everything is going SUPER for you. Please be careful you do and let us know if we can help you in anyway.

P.S. It's now 7:30 Monday morning - we talked to Roy last night and he's going to come next Saturday about 2 o'clock - we won't be back until about 5 but Johnny will be here. We're so excited that he's coming - our weather is turning cool and he'll love it.

I have to tell you something funny. At our Mission President's Seminar they stressed that we should have the spirit of conversion in our mission at all times so we told the missionaries that. Last night about ten o' clock the Elders called me downstairs to meet someone - when I went down, here was this girl they had met at the bus station who was tired and hungry and needed a place to stay - so we had a house quest last night and she's still here. Her relatives are all Baptists and her fiancé is in the Baptist Bible College in Kansas and she had just been to see him on the bus. I hope we endure to the end!!!!!

Johnny got off for school okay this morning - he was picking up a couple of his friends so he isn't alone - we're anxious to hear all about it and he probably won't tell us anything.

We had a letter from Linda Smithers last week - really a sweet, sweet letter. Her divorce is now final and I am so glad - I'll bet set meets someone else and will have a wonderful life - she has gone through a lot. Her house is up for sale in Little Rock but she is thinking that if it doesn't sell she isn't supposed to leave. She said she had been doing some modeling for Charles Beyers - she is so beautiful. We also had a letter from the Beyers.

This is ALL the news - we sure do love you all.

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