October 31, 1982
Billings, Montana

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

Daddy and I just came home from Missoula and the trickers and treaters are still coming the church children all had a Halloween Party last night so it is neighborhood children tonight. We hope you have all had a Happy Halloween. Jeannie took her children to the ward party here and she said it was really fun for them - we have painted faced on pumpkins but that is the extent of our Halloween festivities.

We're enjoying Jeannie and the children - little Mary Ann is growing like a weed and we can see a change in her every day. Ricky and Barji are enjoying the missionaries and the missionaries are enjoying them - our weather has been good so they have been able to go to the park some and that's been good.

Annie - your letters and the pictures were here when he came home tonight. When Susanna has a party, she really has a party - the pictures are darling and Ricky and Barji loved looking at them and seeing them in costume. We're anxious to hear all about your trip to Boston and if you were able to spend some time with Roy and Patrice.

Bob - we can hardly wait for you to come this Friday and we're hoping Ann and Ron won't be upset if you spend the week-end with us instead of them. We hope it will be fun to drive to Great Falls with us. We're anxious to visit with you and hear all about your interviews and plans for internships - I'll bet this is a hard time for you. Claire - Chris wrote and told me all about the "Day with Daryl Hoole" - it must have been a success. We also had such a sweet letter from Jeannie Pierson. We hear that the Pearces are moving to California - that will really upset Bev and Gilbert. When do you go to New York again???

Roy - Rick forwarded your letter to Jeannie and she shared it with us - can't believe how good your pictures turned out. We're really anxious to hear about your plans for interviews too. When are the decisions made for these internships? They're building a big new medical center in Missoula, Montana and Daddy said it would be nice if you or Bob could come here for interning. How's school coming?

We had our big couples' conference here last Wednesday and Thursday - we had nine couples come in for it. Daddy made reservations for them at one of the motels here and I fixed baskets of fruit and cheese for them to have in their rooms before they checked in - it worked out so well and they were so appreciative. We had them all come here for lunch - we made a cheese soup using the recipe from John Barleycorn's restaurant in Little rock and them we had ham and cheese and all kinds of breads for them to make sandwiches - for dessert we made your chocolate almond pie recipe Claire. They loved all of it. The meetings were all held at the Institute and Wednesday night Daddy's first counselor in the Mission Presidency had a wonderful prime rib dinner for them with fresh apple pie for dessert - this counselor is very wealthy and he's 28 years old and he and his wife have four little children. He has given Johnny a job in one of his businesses. He is very generous and loves to work in the missionary program - we really appreciate him.

Friday morning Daddy and I left early to drive to Missoula - it's almost 400 miles from here and we had to be there for a dinner at 4:30. We had dinner in the home of the Regional Representative for that area and then Loren Dunn came for it and also a big missionary meeting at the Stake Center that night. Daddy spoke and did such a good job. It was Stake Conference in Missoula for this weekend so Daddy and I had to stay. Bro. Kikuchi was the General Authority and he was really good - he is a very sweet and humble man and the people really love him. Daddy spoke at conference too. Bro. Kikuchi went thirty minutes over the usual time for conference - it lasted until 12:30 - I have never known that to happen before. I sat by him on the stand and he is a one man choir - he has a gorgeous voice and there was no way he could sing softly. We have had a wonderful week-end but I have worried about Jean and the children needing our help - we just can't do anything about our traveling schedule and it seems we are gone more than we're here.

Well - the big fuss over the "undercover newspaper" is almost over. Daddy was in touch with the missionary committee in Salt Lake all day Monday - it even had to go before the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. They sent the ringleader home and didn't give him a dishonorable release but not an honorable one either - just a release. It was really sad - his parents called Daddy and they were so upset. It was worse because they found out he had been involved with the Fundamentalist Group here - he really didn't realize how wrong it was. Daddy had hoped they would be able to send him to another mission to finish out his mission but they didn't. There are eleven other Elders involved and they each have to write a letter of apology to Daddy with a copy of it to their Stake President asking for permission to stay on their missions on probationary terms. They have been very repentant for the most part and we feel it is going to be a good lesson for them to learn. They have been very complimentary to Daddy from the missionary committee but he still feels bad about it.

I can't think of any more news - I think we are going to be home for the next week and then we start our Zone Conference this week-end. I was talking to a former Mission President at the Stake Conference this week-end and he said they brought all their missionaries in to three zone conferences - we have seven and we do the traveling - it really gets to be a little much but I guess that's what we're here for.

We love each one of you so very much - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - wish we could help you more!!!!
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