May 15, 1983 Billings, Montana

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

It's Sunday night about 8:30 and we just came home from Stevensville - that's a little town about 30 miles from Missoula. It's about 350 miles from here.

First of all in my letter for this week I would like to tell Bob and Roy how proud we are of them during this time of graduation and how we wish we could be with them to help honor them. Bob graduated yesterday, Saturday the 14th, and we were in a zone conference and I kept looking at the clock and trying to envision him walking across the podium to receive his diploma - needless to say, my mind wasn't on the zone conference. We called them before we left the motel and Bob told us about the "convocation" (is that what it was called?) that was Friday night and he said it was just beautiful and very impressive - everyone in white robes. Claire had been in New York all week and because of turbulent weather she was late in getting to the ceremonies - hope you got to see some of them. We also hope you got some pictures of Bob in his robe and some of the three of you - this is such an important time in your lives and you need to record it!!!

Roy - I'll be equally sad when you graduate and we won't be able to be with you. Roy will graduate on Johnny's birthday and if anyone would have told me 17 years ago that we would be in Montana and Roy would be receiving his M.D. degree in Rhode Island I would never have believed them. I have felt sad because we couldn't be with Bob, but at least he had his wife and son with him and Roy won't have any relatives (unless he hurries and gets married)!!! Patrice - please take a lot of pictures so we'll be able to share it with you.

As if it isn't enough for Bob and Roy to accomplish so much they were thoughtful enough to think of us and sent us the loveliest gift. We are going to take pictures of it but until we do I'll try to describe it. they had a plaque made with the medical insignia on it and then it is engraved with these words: TO MOM AND DAD AT GRADUATION TIME --- IN EXPRESSION OF OUR GRATITUDE FOR MANY YEARS OF SACRIFICE, ENCOURAGEMENT AND LOVE - YOUR SONS, ROY DELBERT MELLOR IT, M.D. ROBERT LYNN MELLOR, M.D. 1983. We really love it and will display it in Daddy's office. Thank you so much!!!

Elder Franklin Richards was the General Authority at the conference in Stevensville this weekend and he called on Daddy and I to speak at both sessions, last night and today. He set me apart for this mission and he and Boyd Packer set Daddy apart so we had a good visit. In my talk last night I told about that and also how his son, David, was Bob's mission pres. And then I couldn't resist telling about Bob graduating from medical school yesterday and Roy graduating in about two weeks - they probably won't call on me anymore - oh well!!! Elder Richards told about he and his wife celebrating their 60th Wedding Anniversary in a few weeks so he must be about 80 years old - he is very young looking and acting. I think he will be the next apostle but I'm the only one - most people here thin it will be Asay, Ballard or Loren Dunn. We just received notice of our next Mission President's Seminar to be held in August and the Apostle who will be with us is going to be Boyd Packer that will really be neat because we meet together for about three days. The only thing I'm worried about is that I just know it is going to be here in Billings and we will be the Hosts!!!

Annie - we were so thrilled to have a letter waiting for us when we came home today and we're thrilled about your trip to Idaho this weekend - hope you'll write and tell us about Ron's nephew's wedding - did you stay in the motel as you had planned so the girls could go swimming. We're glad little Russell liked the Teddy Bear - I thought it would be cute for him to have something to smell like the girls' shortcake dolls. I am a real "Lego" fan - Johnny loved those and children can be so creative with them!!!

Jeannie - we had Elder Jensen in our zone conference yesterday and he is one of the best Elders we have - we really love him. I talked to him about his grandmother working with you and he said she had told him about you - he says she is so worried that she is going to die before he gets home - she is 73 years old and still working as a nurse two or three night week evidently her husband walked out on her many years ago and she has been on her own or quite awhile and Elder Jensen has helped her out with her yard work and things.

Johnny got along great while we were gone - he worked three nights and then played for a church dance last night. He is trying to earn his money for his trips this Summer and he is really getting careful with his money - he bought some new stands for his speakers and found the same stands with different prices - a difference of $15 - it was so cute - he said "Gosh, that's working three hours". We think he has grown five years in maturity during this past year.

We left last Monday and I packed Summer clothes for 6 days - we practically had to crawl into Great Falls because of a terrible snowstorm. The electricity went off in the motel and I slept in a down jacket. Daddy changed the meetings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and even then six of our missionaries couldn't get in. it was a heavy snow and it broke big limbs off trees and they fell on power lines and it was quite dangerous. I looked so funny for the next three days with the sweater under Summer suits. We went from Great Falls to Helena, then Butte, Missoula and Stevensville. We have some really fine missionaries - my heart goes out to so many of them - one of our zone leaders in Missoula was sitting by me and he crossed his legs and I could see the bottom of one of his shoes and I'm not kidding when I tell you I could see his stocking through his sole. Daddy is going to get him some new ones - he only has one more month in the Mission Field - his folks aren't members and his ward is sending him on his mission. I always go to inspect as many of their apartments as I can and some of them really live in some terrible places - it's evident the Lord protects them or they could never survive.

I have had some pangs of self pity lately so Daddy got me a book to read, "The autobiography of Parley P. Pratt" - he really went through a lot be preach the gospel and after I had read a few chapters I felt guilty about even having a bed to sleep in. we have such a beautiful home to live in and some comfortable motels to stay in and I have no business even thinking of complaining.

We are going to have our couples' conference this Tuesday and Wednesday - that means 30 for dinner. We have decided to serve your Mexican Delight Annie and then I'm going to make Frances James' cheese cake for desert. We have the most beautiful strawberries in the markets and they are so sweet - they must come from Washington or California - anyway I'll make a topping of fresh strawberries.

We're going to have anew Elder come in tomorrow to be trained to take Elder Ollerton's place and it is just killing us. Elder Ollerton has been here since we first came and he does everything - fixes cars, does the finances, does all the yard work - name it and he does it. His mission is over in August and Daddy doesn't feel good about letting him stay in the home any longer - for his own sake, he needs the experience out in the filed as a zone leader. He is from St. John's Arizona and is such a fine young man.

That's all the news - except that David and Anna are getting married this Saturday finally - it would be so much fun to go that because all the old neighbors will be there. Donald is married too but I don't know too whom.

We love each one of you so very much - PLEASE BE CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - let us know how we can help you!!!
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