January 27, 1985 Billings, Montana

Dearest Johnny; Roy; Bob, Claire, Michael & Laura; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean & Mary Ann; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell & Lee Anna:

We just came home from Glasgow & Wolfpoint and it's almost 8 o'clock - that's about 250 miles from here but we had really pretty weather and good roads which is quite unusual for January in Montana!!!

We were thrilled to have your letter and those darling pictures here when we came in Claire - we can't believe how Michael has changed - he is so grown up and looks like he is going to be tall and thin like his Daddy and Mother. Little Laura is just adorable too but we can't figure out who she looks like - from these pictures I think Michael looks like a blonde Claire - who do you think they look like??? Their Christmas looks like such a lot of fun and it was good to see Bob and Alice again - they look really good. Your backyard is huge and we can just imagine how much fun Michael and Laura have in it playing in the boat and with their swing set and sandbox and all. We loved your Christmas tree too - your home looks so pretty. You have really had some cold weather too - in fact, I guess this past week has set records all over so we can't complain anymore about our Montana weather. We feel bad for the citrus growers in Florida - that would be so hard to see your crops lost right before your eyes. I'm sure your water pipes are not as well protected as they are in the colder climates and that's why they froze - we hope that won't happen again - there is so much damage that happens from water on the floors. Bob is like his Daddy in that he is really handy in fixing things like that - I can't remember when we have had to call in a plumber or electrician and that really saves on the budget. We're glad you like your accounting class Claire - how many nights a week do you go? We surely hope you had a really HAPPY BIRTHDAY yesterday - we talked about you and your birthday while we were on the road!

We have talked to Johnny this week and he is doing really good - he went skiing up at Alta last Saturday and said he had a wonderful time. I guess it is clear and pretty when you get up that high nut they had a lot of smog down in the Provo area last week - I wonder if that is going to be an annual thing for Utah for now on - I hope not!!!

We also talked to Annie this week and they are doing really good too. Annie and Daddy are "dabbling" in the stock market and she called to give us a tip (we bought some of it and it went up a little - Ha!) we never "dabble" enough to worry about but it's kinda' fun to have that interest in it - we don't dare get too involved because we're supposed to spend all our thoughts in our Mission.

Jeannie & Roy, we know you're doing really good too. Boston has had some terrible weather lately. I can remember reading something a long time ago that implied when all you thought about was the weather you really had a simple mind -I'm going to try to not dwell on it so much anymore!!!

We went out to Lame Deer last Tuesday to attend the funeral for that Indian man who died in Billings. We stopped at the bakery and bought a lot of donuts and sweet rolls to take out. They are remodeling the chapel in Lame Deer so they had the funeral in the Tribal building there and it was completely full. Indian funerals are different and they are very dramatic one speaker gave a very lengthy prayer in Cheyenne Language and of course we couldn't understand a word he said. This man left a family of twin girls, an older girl and a little boy so it was very sad.

Last Monday was Elder Stastny's birthday - he is Daddy's secretary. I had made two big cakes on Saturday and they still had some left so we decided to make homemade ice cream install of a birthday cake. We put four big pans of water outside to freeze on Sunday night so we had plenty of ice - I wish we had taken a picture of that! We made two freezers of vanilla ice cream and then let them make banana splits with all kinds of toppings. We told him that was pretty special to have homemade ice cream for a January birthday and he agreed and said that was a first for him because he is from Alaska.

I went to Relief Society Homemaking meeting on Tuesday night after we got back from Lame Deer and that was fun - I learned how to work with marzipan (almond paste).

Friday we had to go to Livingston, Montana to speak at a Fireside - that's kinda' scary when they invite you to do things like that but it turned out really good and they had a nice crowd - Daddy always does such a super job!!! We left Billings early so we could go into Yellowstone before the fireside and that was such a wonderful experience. The Stake President in Bozeman had told us we would really enjoy the scenery in Mammoth during the Winter months and it was really something - all the ice and snow on the springs. The most interesting part though was all the animals - we must have seen thousands of Elk and Buffalo and they would come right up to the car. Daddy was trying to take some pictures of two Buffalo from the car window and while he was getting it focused they practically came in the window so he didn't get a picture - we had to hurry and drive away. They are absolutely just huge and it seemed like millions of them. The Elk were everywhere and we loved taking the spotting scope to look at them - there were a lot of elk in trucks too that had been killed so we assumed there was a special hunt somewhere. When I see those beautiful majestic animals out in the fields and on the mountains it makes me sick to think they get killed but I guess they have to keep the herds down someway. It was fun to see the buffalo dig with their noses into the snowy ground to get to the grass - really, we loved that trip!!! We also saw lots of duck and geese and deer.

Yesterday, Saturday, we left early to drive to Wolfpoint. Daddy has just had word that the District President up in Glasgow had been transferred - he has worked for Penneys all his life and has managed the Glasgow store for ten years and has been District President up there. He has been transferred to Sandpoint, Idaho and will leave next week. There is hardly any leadership up in that District and now Daddy has to find a new President so he went up there to interview a lot of men. Pres. Theuson and his family have practically carried the whole District and they have done a wonderful job - we're really worried about that will happen there now. There used to be a big air base up there and that closed about five years ago and the economy has just come to a standstill - there are a lot of ranches and farms but people live about fifty or sixty miles out of town and it's hard for them to assume roles of leadership.

Wolfpoint and Glasgow are right close together (within fifty miles anyway) and we also have a problem in Wolfpoint with our Missionary couple there. They are trying to take over the branch there and of course that doesn't set very well with the Branch President. Daddy has decided to move the missionary couple down here to Dunmore when the Wrights leave next month. We have two Lady Missionaries serving in Wolfpoint right now and they are two of the best ones in the mission - they are both just darling and they're doing a great job!!! Some of our couples give us (Daddy) bigger headaches than all the Elders put together. Daddy will probably have to send one of our Elders home this week and it is just killing him - they put themselves in the dumbest situations and then get in trouble!!!

Coming home this afternoon we almost ran over a herd of wild turkeys and there were also a lot of wild sage hens on the side of the road - Daddy saw a coyote but I didn't. These wide-open spaces really have some interesting sights. I feel bad for the animals out in the cold though and it seems there are a lot of them - especially horses and cows.

I can't think of any more news. I have a busy week ahead of me - zone leaders conferences and the house will be filled with hungry Elders - Ha!

We surely do love each one of you and miss you all so much. With the air fare wars I wish you could come see us - April was going to be a terribly busy month for us but the other months we will be pretty able to control. We hope you will be REALLY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!!! Let us know how we can help you.
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