March 8, 1987 Orem, Utah

Dearest Johnny; Roy & Patrice; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura & Brett; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:

It's another beautiful Sunday afternoon and Daddy is cleaning up the kitchen while I write my letter - one of the bonuses of being a letter writer!!!!

Johnny - well, we finally heard from you and as I predicted, we received two letters in two days but the first one was written after the second one. It sounds like you are super busy - I will be kinda' glad when you are released from being an assistant and that should be quite soon - they recommend that Elders have at least two months as proselyting missionaries before they go home. When you are in leadership positions it demands so much administrative "stuff" that some times you miss out on things that really count. I will always remember when Elder Spencer asked to be released as Daddy's secretary because he wanted to go out in the field and be a regular missionary - I was so surprised because he had all the luxuries of the Mission Home. We're surprised that your Mission President could leave the mission for ten days - he must have lots of the trust in you - we never did do that. Do you get tired of hearing about the things we did and didn't do - Ha!!!! Your fruit is just unbelievable - peaches, plums, pears, grapes, apples, cantaloupes, all kinds of melons - you are really smart to eat like you are. One of the ladies I work with in the temple just came back from a South American tour of the temples and she said Chile was just gorgeous and she told about the delicious fruit, but she said she would have traded all that to be able to get a good drink of water and some good toilet tissue - that surprised me because you have never mentioned any of that. When you said that you had 80 baptisms last Sunday did you mean "the total for the month by Sunday!" or did you mean that many in one day??? We're thrilled to read that you are using computers in your mission (they wouldn't let us have one even though Pres. Nielsen in Cody said he would buy it for us). Daddy put the table he has refinished in your bedroom and we think it will be just right for your computer when you get home. Roy has helped us so much with this computer - it's hard for me to see how he can understand so much about it but it's fun to sit down with him and have him try to explain it to us. He bought some more discs for it - now we'll have to wait until he comes again to show us how to use them.

Roy - you will never know how much it meant to us to have you with us for Mother's funeral - we were so proud to have our friends and family meet you and it just gave our family "status" for you to be here. We were so proud of our family's representation at the funeral - 'course we think we have the most beautiful and successful family in the whole world. Roy the pictures you took are FABULOUS - everyone of them turned out - in fact, I believe we have 25 prints from a 24 roll. I see friends and family in each one of them and they mean so much to me - I really feel bad what we didn't get a picture of you - that always happens - the person taking the pictures never gets in them. You took several that are extra good of Ann & Jean and the ones you took of the other grave markers are so clear and good. I want to send each one of you some of them - some won't mean anything to you but at least you'll get an idea of the beautiful weather we had for the funeral and also the beautiful cemetery. We really appreciate your calling us the next day too - (his flight didn't get in Boston until midnight or later and Patrice was there waiting for him). We also appreciate the delicious oysters and I enjoy looking at the shells I put in an arrangement on top of the Grandfather Clock.

Let me tell all of you about the funeral. I intended to write to you the next day but for some reason I didn't get time - we wallpapered Johnny's room and then other things came up. Roy & Daddy & I went up on Monday afternoon so we could be there for the viewing at 7 - actually some people were there when we got there and they kept coming until 9. Mother looked just beautiful and even though her hair was super curly it looked nice - we laughed about her having a "permanent permanent". My childhood friends, Verl & LaRaine Petersen, own the mortuary and it was fun to visit with them. Mother's casket was just gorgeous and it had her name on it. My high school friends all came and they sent beautiful flowers - I was really proud of them. I didn't recognize many of my relatives and that was quite embarrassing but it had been a long time. We came back down to Orem after the viewing and then went back to Brigham City early the next day. Roy was very concerned about getting to the airport in time for his flight so we took his luggage there on the way and had it all checked. We got to B.C. about 11 a.m. and the viewing wasn't supposed to start again until 12 noon but people were already there and they kept coming. Ann & Ron and their children and Jean and their children came about noon (Rick had to be out of town) - the little grandchildren were all so sweet and seemed to understand everything. Dee gave the family prayer and they closed the casket and then we all went to the church for the services. My high school boyfriend, Del Holmgern, gave the main talk and he did a great job. Grandpa Forrest came to the viewing on Monday night and then to the funeral and he is "out of it" but is still the sweet gentleman that he has always been - after one of the talks he said quite loudly, "my, that was a good sermon". After the services we all went to the cemetery where Don dedicated the grave and after that we went back to the church where they served lunch. I couldn't have asked for nicer services for my Mother - everything that was said and done would have pleased her very much. I'm sure she was aware that Roy had sacrificed to come, and Ron had left his work and all the little children had missed school and gymnastics and Ann & Jean had had to getup early to get everyone looking so pretty and all this was done to honor her and she appreciated it and so did Daddy and I. We also appreciated having Rick come down the next day to visit with us and Bob calling us and just everything that was done - we love you all for your love and support!!!! She's proud of you too, Johnny, for being such an outstanding missionary.

Roy - you would be interested in hearing about this. The night of Mother's funeral there was a car carrying four High School students from Box Elder High School in Brigham City that was hit by a train and all four young people were killed. It happened just a little north of B.C. and was a real tragedy. Daddy and I always listen to the 10 o'clock news and when they announced that Brigham City was in a state of shock and heard that news I couldn't help but compare their deaths to Mothers - hers was a blessing really but four young people who were out joy riding on a beautiful evening to be killed is very sad. Also, Del Holmgren's brother is a senator from his district in Utah and he was stricken with a heart attack that night.

Bob & Claire - we hope you're doing fine!!! Have your azaleas started to bloom yet? Our Orem Ward brought us a beautiful azalea plant in memory of Mother and every time I look at it I am reminded of gorgeous Springs in the South. It won't be long until you will be having lots of yard work - ugh!!!! I am proud of you Claire for being able to do all of that - I really dislike yard work and I'm not one bit good at it.

Yesterday afternoon Daddy came in the back door and said, "The Geotchies are here and want to see the house". They are the ones who bought this home and lived here for about 6 years. I was a "mess" - I was in a robe with my hair in curlers - I had just finished vacuuming. I told him to excuse me and started to go upstairs when he opened the front and brought them in - I could have died!!!! They were so impressed with all we have done in the home and especially in the backyard. They live in Alabama now and said they would move back here in a minute - they said they really miss this home and the view and neighborhood. They are a very young couple!!!!

This next week is our week for the houseboat. I think daddy and I will go down on Wednesday and then the Woolleys and Weinerts will come down on Friday morning. The weather is too cold to swim and water ski but last year at this time the fishing was wonderful. We feel like we need to be here to do our Temple Assignment on Tuesday morning since we have missed so much lately.

I think that's all the news. PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO - Let us know how we can help you. We love each one of you so very much and we're so proud of you!!!!!
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