Sagas of My Life By Thor Leifson

SAGAS OF MY LIFE

by Thor Leifson



SAGAS OF MY LIFE

by Thor Leifson

Photograph of Thor Leifson during 1995-1996 mission in Switzerland.

Pencil Sketch of Thor Leifson by Artist Pierre Mullet Paris, France 1951

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
CHAPTER 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
FAMILY BACKGROUND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Freda Leifson McKell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Glen Bradford Leifson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Luene Leifson Ludlow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Ted Victor Leifson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Thor Leifson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Allen Leifson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Afton Leifson Rosenbaum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
June Leifson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Jack Leifson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Elaine Leifson Pullman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Mark Leifson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
CHAPTER 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
RECOLLECTIONS OF YOUTH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Lesson from Uncle Rob Bradford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Leg Injury in Fall from Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Runaway Horses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Fall from the Rafters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Winning a Ski Jump Contest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Eyeglasses and the Vanity of Youth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Cook-out in a Tree. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Little Thanks for Saving a Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
CHAPTER 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
CHAPTER 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Learning to Drive with Cap Larsen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Swimming on the Job. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

CHAPTER 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
MILITARY EXPERIENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
CHAPTER 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
CHURCH MISSIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

First Mission - 1951/53. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Second Mission (1962/65)
Virginia Stake Portion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Second Mission - European Portion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Third Mission ‑ Tahiti & South Pacific 1967‑1970. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Fourth Mission ‑ 1994 Service Mission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Fifth Mission - Wash., D.C. &
Swiss Temples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
CHAPTER 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
CHAPTER 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
MOST INTERESTING TRAVELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Army Trip to North Carolina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Northern Idaho Firefighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
1951 Mission to France. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Travels throughout Western Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Honeymoon Trip to Monterey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Travels to Spain and Portugal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Construction Conference Trips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
South Pacific Journeys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Another Trip to Europe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Iceland Trip in 1973. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
South Pacific with Elder Ashton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
1977 Trips to all Temples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Various Trips between 1978 and 1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
South Africa and South America Visits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Eastern U.S. with Kristin following her mission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
1992 Iceland Trip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
1992 Boston Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Israel and the Holy Land in 1993. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Hiking the Grand Tetons and other high mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Washington D.C. in 1994. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Second Trip to Israel and on to Egypt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Trips throughout Switzerland during our Temple Mission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Trip to Belgium and Greece in 1996. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Mormon Pioneer Trek in 1997. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Family visit in Boston Area and Newfoundland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Church History Tour in 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
BYU Group Tour to China . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Iceland Trip in 2002. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Scandinavian Trip in 2003. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Trip to Hopi and Navajo Lands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
CHAPTER 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Places Where I Have Lived During My Lifetime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
CHAPTER 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
SPECIAL FRIENDS AND AQUAINTANCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
CHAPTER 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
HOBBIES AND SPECIAL INTERESTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Building and Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
LDS Temples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Sports Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Traveling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Things Icelandic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Languages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Personal Library & Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Good Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Writing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

Real Estate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Family and Grandchildren. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
CHAPTER 12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
MEDICAL AND INJURY HISTORY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
CHAPTER 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
REAL ESTATE INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
CHAPTER 14. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS DURING MY CENTURY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Democracy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Human Rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
International Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Communication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Space Explorations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
The Atomic Age. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Medical Advancements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Major Wars and Conflicts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
CHAPTER 15. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
SUMMARY OF LIFE’S HIGHLIGHTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
APPENDIX INDEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
APPENDIX 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
APPENDIX 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
APPENDIX 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
APPENDIX 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
APPENDIX 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
APPENDIX 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
APPENDIX 7a. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
APPENDIX 7b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
APPENDIX 7c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
APPENDIX 7d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
APPENDIX 7e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289

APPENDIX 7f. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
APPENDIX 7g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
INDEX. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294

INTRODUCTION

Sagas of My Life

Biographical books have always been of much interest to overdone the positive things of my life. However, perhaps
me ever since reading Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography I should add and admit that I have intentionally omitted
in high school. Although I never expected to accomplish my weaker qualities and the errors that I may have at times
much that could merit my wanting to follow suit and write committed because I really don’t believe there is anything
my own biography, it was probably because of having much to be gained in belaboring these things as some people
often been counseled in the Church to write one’s own tend to do. It is my firm belief that if one can overcome the
personal history that influenced me to follow through and weaknesses and errors of his life, then these negative things
do my best to accomplish the task. This was something, should be wiped from his mind. That is what the Lord
however, that I had intended to do sometime in my later intended as an integral part of the principle of repentance. If
life, if I could find the time. Upon retirement in 1993 I had He can forgive and forget things that we truly repent of, then
a number of projects in mind that I wanted to work on, but why shouldn’t everyone else do the same?
when I had most of them completed, I began to feel some
guilt and decided I couldn’t put this writing task aside any I mentioned above Ben Franklin’s autobiography. Another
longer. Therefore, sometime in the year 2000, during the thing Franklin did which impressed me was to list what he
occasional free time I had, I started what was to become a referred to as “virtues” or guiding principles for his life. I
lengthy and time-consuming assignment, which I have now took most of his guides and added other items which I felt
(in 2004) finally completed. were important and called my list a “Mission Statement.”
(See Appendix 1).
Some of the material for this history has been taken from
journals I sometimes wrote, especially during overseas Autobiographies are organized in many different ways, but
assignments. I kept these journals for a number of reasons, most seem to be presented either chronologically or simply
one of which was to perhaps someday write a personal by subject matter. I have actually combined these two
history in the hope that it could possibly be of interest to approaches to some extent, treating my youthful years and
some of my descendants. An unexpected benefit, however, schooling at the beginning and moving on to other subjects
has been the real pleasure and enjoyment I have had and events that came later in my life.
in reflecting on and reliving so many of the wonderful
experiences in which I was privileged to participate. One It has been a real learning experience for me to write this
thing I now sincerely regret is that I didn’t keep more personal history on a computer. What a tremendous
journals, because it has been much easier to merely transfer advantage we have in this day and age to be able to utilize
information rather than trying to recall from memory the the many modern aids at our disposal. The computer is
people and the events from many years before. Frankly, such an exponential improvement over the old standard
however, I was somewhat surprised – even amazed – that typewriters that were used during most of my lifetime.
I was able to remember so many of the happenings and Without a computer I doubt that I could have completed
the people involved as well as I have. I did try to verify with this lengthy writing assignment, for it would have taken
others as much of the material as I was able to with the so much more time and effort. Furthermore, it would not
intent of staying as close to the facts as possible. have been nearly as well done. Also, having the text of this
history in my computer, I will be able to add materials
I realize that human nature makes it difficult not to over coming years, if there are other eventful things that
embellish the better traits we have and the finer things we might warrant inclusion.
do, and also to not diminish our lesser qualities and lack of
accomplishments. So, with this in mind, I hope I have not I express my sincere thanks to those who counseled me as
to how I might best proceed in this “historical” undertaking,

10

A New Life

to those who assisted in assembling the materials that I have In conclusion I should perhaps explain that I will add some
used, and to those who reviewed and proofread the text. A appendices as a final part of this history. It should be helpful
special thanks must go to my young friend James Arrington to some future descendants to have a family pedigree chart
who is so highly skilled on the computer. Without his talents and other such items which they may find interesting and
I could not have included the many fine photographs which I also hope that my children and other descendants will
are such an important part of this history. find my account useful in helping them to write their own
personal histories.
After having read several other biographies, even some
that were professionally published, I can see it is almost
impossible to avoid some typos, spelling or grammatical
errors. I take full responsibility for any such that may be
in this history.

11

Sagas of My Life

Chapter 1

FAMILY BACKGROUND

Sagas of My Life

FAMILY BACKGROUND

As the wise man Solomon indicated in the book of Proverbs, been the most beautiful woman in all of Iceland, where she
“A good name is better than riches.” I certainly agree and and Karlsefni (nickname) later settled and raised their family.
can also state, as did Nephi in the beginning of the Book Additional information can be obtained about Gudrid and
of Mormon, that I too was born with a good name of very many others of our notable, paternal ancestors both in our
goodly parents. family genealogical materials and in the old Icelandic Sagas.

For me, it has always been a point of some pride, when I have also been equally proud that my mother was a direct
often asked about my very Scandinavian name, to be able descendant of Governor William Bradford who came to
to say that on my father’s side we descend from old, Norse- America in 1620 aboard the Mayflower and was the leader
Viking ancestry. One of my renowned great grandmothers, of the Pilgrim settlement at Plymouth, Massachusetts for
for example, was Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir who, according many years. There were actually seven others of my maternal
to two different old, Icelandic Sagas, was the mother of ancestors who came on the Mayflower with William Bradford
the first historically recorded white child born in Vinland and who were also part of this Pilgrim settlement. Perhaps the
(America) about one thousand years ago. That child was most notable of these was the Reverend William Brewster who
named Snorri Thorfinnsson. After Gudrid’s husband was the spiritual leader of this Pilgrim group. It is interesting that
Thorstein Eriksson died during an ill-timed trip to Vinland, my wife Loyce and I both descend from this very outstanding
she returned to the east colony in Greenland and stayed man, William Brewster. (See Appendix 2 for additional
there for some time with Thorstein’s brother, Leif Eriksson. information on pilgrim ancestry.)
Leif had discovered America a few years before this time.
While living here at Brattahlid, Gudrid later met and married My own parents, Juren Victor Leifson and Mary Bradford
Thorfinn (Karlsefni) Thordarsson. This was at Christmas Leifson, certainly maintained the highest standards of their
time in 1009. The following spring she sailed with her new forebears and were a real credit to both their families’ heritages.
husband on another expedition to Vinland. It was during They were truly outstanding and accomplished people with
their stay in America that her son Snorri was born in the fall noteworthy and unblemished characters, and left their children
of 1010. We actually descend through Snorri’s brother Bjorn with a very highly regarded name in the community of Spanish
Thorfinnsson. Grandmother Gudrid was a very special lady. Fork. Nevertheless, the oft-quoted statement of the great
She was a devout Christian, after having been converted by German philosopher Goethe must still be applied in each of our
Leif Eriksson. Many renowned clergymen and statesmen individual lives, “What from your parents’ heritage is lent, you
descend from her through her son and our great-grandfather must earn it anew to really possess it.” During my own lifetime I
Bjorn. She was not only a very courageous woman but was have tried very diligently to maintain and even, I hope, add just
reportedly extremely intelligent and was also said to have a little luster to the highly respected name that was given to me

14

Family Background

as part of a father’s blessing soon after my being born into the Elden Leifson. No doubt Elden was thrown in to Americanize
Victor and Mary Leifson family. I sincerely hope and pray that the name just a bit. I was the fifth child born to my parents,
my own descendants will strive to do the same. having two older sisters and two older brothers. They were
born in the following order: Freda, Glen, Luene, Ted and then
All of my siblings and I, except Freda, were born at home myself. Glen died at a very young age so I actually grew up as
rather than in hospitals as is the current practice today. When the fourth child in our family. Later there were six additional
I was born in our little four-room home located at 590 East children born to my parents: Allen, Afton, June, Jack, Elaine
Center Street in Spanish Fork, Utah, on April 18, 1928, Mom and Mark for a total of eleven. We were quite a large family, but
was fortunate to be attended by our faithful family doctor, Dr. very close-knit. We eleven children were born over a period
Waldo Hagan. In those days doctors assisted not all births, for of less than twenty years, so the average time between births
this was usually the task of midwives. Dr. Hagan was surprised was less than two years apart. Freda, the eldest, had just turned
by my size, reported to have been well over 10 pounds. The 18 years of age when Mark, the youngest, was born. So all of
good doctor is said to have stated that I would no doubt be a us children were either of school age or pre-school age at this
future football player or at least a hearty outdoorsman. Also I time. What a challenge this must have been for our mother to
suppose because I was born with frizzy, red hair, the folks must organize such a household and for our father to provide as
have felt I deserved a Norse name for I was christened Thor well as he did for such a large group of children. Each child

15

Sagas of My Life

had specific chores to perform, with the girls doing mostly couple went through this very same experience of serving
inside duties and the boys the outside chores. Ours was missions when they had young families! Then going back
an extremely well organized and yet a very active, happy one additional generation, I marvel at Grandmother
household. I should add that, in addition to their eleven Abigail (Abby) Bradford, who lost her husband just a
children, my parents also took in and provided for three few months before the Saints were driven from Nauvoo.
of our girl cousins for a time following the death of their With firm determination, she sold their large farm (640
mother, Aunt Eliza Bradford Whiting. acres) for only two wagons and two teams of oxen and
took her five little children across the plains with the rest
I referred to our small four-room home. As our family of the Saints in 1847. What an example she has been for
increased, it became so crowded that Dad decided to build us a all of her descendants!
new home at 263 East Center. We moved into this modern and
much more spacious facility near the end of 1941. It has been brought to my attention that I should include
in this personal history a brief description of my physical
Additional information about my parents and several of features since this could be of some interest to my
my grandparents can be found in other genealogy books descendants. This may well be true, for I wish I knew more
and loose-leaf journals that have been assembled. I feel about my own grandparents in this respect. I am now in
justly proud of many of my forbears because they have my seventies and as is usual with older folks I have shrunk
generally lived happy and accomplished lives, setting an inch or two in height and acquired some “wrinkles
outstanding examples for their descendants to follow. and sags.” In my earlier years I was about six feet tall and,
One thing I feel particularly pleased with is that all of during most of my life, I have weighed about 170 pounds,
my grandparents who joined the LDS Church and which is my current weight. My hair is beginning to show
most of their descendants, as far as I can determine, some gray now, but throughout most of my life it was
have remained faithful and “true to the faith” and have bright golden/red and very wavy. In my younger years my
willingly served the Church and others in a completely hair was quite curly which brought me much unwanted
unselfish manner. I felt, when my wife and I accepted a attention at the time. My eyes are blue. I suppose one
mission call to Europe when we had four young children, would say my complexion was fair and ruddy. I have
that we were really doing something quite unique and always enjoyed the out of doors and my fair skin sunburns
special. It was only later that I realized that my own readily, so people have often told me I have a healthy glow.
parents, a grandparent couple and a great-grandparent

Homes where I was born and where I was raised
16

Family Background

My immediate family (my brothers and sisters and their spouses) are all outstanding people of whom I am
especially proud. Information given hereafter which was taken from the biography of my mother (Mary
Bradford Leifson) gives a brief summary of the lives of each of these family members and their spouses.

Freda Leifson McKell assignments and she herself served as president of the Post
13 of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary. Freda was
Freda was born 28 Aug 1920 and always proud of her Icelandic heritage and over the years
was married on 15 May 1942 to has supported the Icelandic Association of Utah, serving
Dr. William E. McKell, presently one year as president of this organization. Freda and Bill
a retired professor of Industrial were called on an LDS mission in 1986 and served as
Arts at BYU. William was an Air Force pilot and served in directors of the Visitor’s Center at the Idaho Falls Temple.
World War II. His plane was shot down during a bombing Freda and Bill are the parents of five children.
raid over Northern Germany and was held as a prisoner of
war for approximately two years. Freda was a very beautiful Glen Bradford Leifson
young woman and was often the winner in beauty contests.
She was selected as Miss Spanish Fork in 1939. Freda Glen was born 10 March 1922 and lived only 3 months,
has served in many positions in the various LDS Church dying on 11 June 1922 of what was thought to have been
organizations, including Primary, MIA, Sunday School pneumonia. This, of course, was before the medications,
and as a Relief Society President. She was an officer in PTA so effective in combating this problem in recent times,
both in Texas and in Utah. She was a longtime member were discovered and developed; so this beautiful little
of the Utah Federated Women’s Club and also served as spirit really didn’t have much of a chance to win his
an officer in the BYU Faculty Women’s organization. She battle for an extended life. Losing this firstborn son was a
always supported her husband in his American Legion tremendously difficult thing for his parents to accept and

17

Sagas of My Life

there was bitter sadness in their home for many months in the Mediterranean area where their ship was torpedoed
following his demise. and sunk by a German dive- bomber off the North African
coast. He then served in the South Pacific and China Sea
Luene Leifson Ludlow area until the end of the war. After his return, he took
studies and graduated from what is today called the Utah
Luene was born November 1, 1923 Valley State College and then became a very accomplished
and was married on 10 June 1942 and successful Building Contractor. Ted was always active
to Dr. Daniel H. Ludlow, presently in church and community affairs. In 1956 he was given the
a retired professor of religion and distinguished service award as Spanish Fork’s outstanding
Dean Emeritus of the Department of Religion at BYU. young man of the year. Ted was a charter member of the
Dan and Luene have been directors of many BYU tours local chapter of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars and served
to the Holy Land and throughout the Near East, as well as as commander of the organization. He was also a member
Central America and to Church historical sites. Dan has of the American Legion and was an honorary member of
published several books and has written extensively for the the Utah National Guard. He served as Vice-President of
LDS Church. He is a noted and very popular lecturer and the Junior Chamber of Commerce and on a number of
has traveled widely with the BYU Lecture Series program. Boards and Commissions, including the Utah County
He served as the Director of the Church Correlation Industrial Commission, the Utah County Welfare Board,
Department. With his many outstanding achievements the Utah Co. Planning and Zoning Board and for two
and accomplishments, Dan would readily acknowledge terms with the Utah Co. American Cancer Society. Ted
that he could never have done all he has without the served for many years as a City Judge and during that
tremendous support and assistance of his lovely and time performed 89 civil marriages. He served in various
devoted companion, Luene. He and Luene served as callings in the Church organizations, including serving in
Mission President and Mission Mother in the Perth, a Bishopric, as a Sunday School Superintendent, as Scout
Australia Mission. Luene has been a teacher and an officer Master, as Elder’s Quorum President and as a High Priest
in the Primary organization in wards and stakes for over 20 Group Leader. Ted died on September 3, 1987 after a long
years. She has taught in the MIA, Sunday School and Relief and valiant struggle with prostate cancer. Ted and Ruth
Society and has also served as President in the Relief Society are the parents of five children.
organization. She has served in the PTA and in a number
of Genealogical organizations in Utah, Indiana and in New Thor Leifson
York. Luene is an accomplished and excellent genealogist.
All of the family relies on her for any needed information in Thor was born 18 Apr 1928 and was
this regard. Dan and Luene are the parents of nine children. married on 20 Dec 1956 to Loyce
Partridge of North Hollywood,
Ted Victor Leifson California. Loyce graduated from the
University of Southern California as
Ted was born 17 Apr 1925 and a Dental Hygienist and practiced a short time prior to her
was married on 10 June 1946 to marriage to Thor. Loyce served an LDS mission to Great
Ruth Nelson, a very accomplished Britain. After Thor graduated from Spanish Fork High
musician. Ted served in the US Navy School where he served as Student body President, he
for approximately 3 years in World War II. He first served entered the armed services at the conclusion of World War
II, serving in the Parachute Troops. He then served his first

18

Family Background

mission to France in 1951-53 (he and Loyce have served Allen Leifson
three subsequent missions in France, Tahiti, Wash., D.C.
and Switzerland). Thor also performed a service mission Allen was born 7 Mar 1930 and
at Church Headquarters following his retirement in 1993. was married on 12 Oct 1951 to
Mary Lou Whiting. Following
After his first mission, he returned to the BYU and graduated his graduation from high school,
in the field of education in 1955, following which he taught Allen served in the U.S. Army for
school in California as well as at Payson and Provo High approximately two years as a Motor Transport Mechanic.
Schools. He commenced graduate studies but these were He has always been interested in mechanics since that
continually interrupted by mission calls. After the 3rd time and is very talented in this field. Most of Allen’s
mission call, he was asked to serve with the Church Building working years were spent with Geneva Steel Corporation.
Committee in Salt Lake City. In 1977 he was assigned by the Allen has served in different Church callings including
First Presidency to oversee a program he had outlined for being a Scout Master and serving in the Sunday School
“better care and keeping” of the Church’s temples throughout Superintendency. Allen has also served as a Ranger with
the world. This involved extensive traveling during the final the Forestry Service. Allen and Mary Lou are the parents
16 years he worked for the Church in the Temples and of four children.
Special Projects Division.
Afton Leifson Rosenbaum
As with most of his brothers and sisters, Thor has always
been interested in his Icelandic heritage. He has served a Afton was born 6 Sept 1931 and
number of times on the Icelandic Association Committee was married on 28 Aug 1950 to
and also as President of this organization. Thor served for Var Rosenbaum. Var was a BYU
several years as the Honorary Consul of Iceland for the graduate in the field of finance
Intermountain States. He was instrumental in arranging and spent most of his professional
for three different Icelandic Ambassadors to visit Utah. life in managing banks for First Security Corporation. He
None had visited here previous to Thor’s assignment as has also served as a Bishop as well as many other callings
the Consul. Later even President Olafur Grimsson and in the LDS Church. Afton is a very accomplished artist
the First Lady of Iceland honored Utah with an historic and has designed and directed the building of numerous
visit, primarily because Spanish Fork holds the distinction parade floats which has put her artistic talents to very
of being the place where the first permanent Icelandic practical use. She has served in many Church callings,
settlement was established in America beginning in 1855. including teaching and leadership roles in almost all of
the auxiliary organizations as well as Ward and Stake
Thor has served in numerous Church callings, including Relief Society President. She has also served in numerous
Branch President, District President, Ward Bishopric, civic assignments, some of which were Payson City and
Elder’s Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader, Mountain View Hospital Boards, Utah Co. Mental Health
Mission Presidency and as First and Second Counselors Board, Utah Co. Fair Board, President of the Utah Co.
in Temple Presidencies. He currently serves as a Temple Women’s Legislative Council, Utah Federated Women’s
officiator and Sealer in the Provo Temple. Thor and Loyce Club as both a member and as President, and as a judge of
are parents of five children. political elections for over 30 years. Afton and Var are the
parents of five children.

19

Sagas of My Life

June Leifson Care Urban South Region Board of Directors. She has
also enjoyed her many LDS Church assignments, among
June was born 27 June 1933 and has which has included her mission in Japan, beginning the first
dedicated her life to her family, to her Primary in a rural Hawaiian community, serving as a Relief
church and to the field of nursing. Society President, and teaching Relief Society classes and
She herself underwent several the Gospel Doctrine class for a number of years.
surgeries during her youthful years and, while personally
experiencing the procedures involved, she developed a Jack Leifson
great love and appreciation for nurses and the profession
of nursing. She received her B.S. Degree at Brigham Young Jack was born 13 Dec 1934 and was
University in 1957; her M.S. in Nursing from Wayne State married on 14 Sept 1957 to Marilyn
University in Detroit, Michigan in 1964; and her Ph.D. Thacker, whom he met at Brigham
from BYU in Family Studies in 1979. Her professional Young University. Jack served in the
career began as a staff nurse at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake US Army for approximately two
City, Utah. She then worked in Hawaii as a Public Health years, most of which time was spent overseas in Germany.
Nurse for approximately two years. After serving an He later graduated from BYU in the field of History and
LDS mission in Japan for 2 years, she continued with her Education and then began his career as a teacher, and a
nursing education and service. She taught nursing at the very exceptional teacher, one should add. Jack received his
University of Utah for 7 years and was in nursing education Master’s Degree in Education from Utah State University.
and nursing administration at BYU for 24 years. Her final He was selected as Utah’s Teacher of the Year in 1970,
12 years at BYU prior to her retirement was in nursing which is a good indication of how highly he was regarded
administration, first as the Assistant Dean for 5 years over by his fellow teachers and students. Jack served on the
the Graduate Nursing Program and then as the Dean of Spanish Fork City Council for 16 years. He was active in the
Nursing for 7 years. She had the opportunity to serve as a American Legion, helping many years with the Boy’s State
Site Visitor for the National League of Nursing as part of Program. He was also active in the Rotary Club. Jack has
the accrediting of nursing programs throughout the United served in many church positions, including Bishop, High
States. June served as Vice President and then as President Councilman, Stake Mission President, High Priest Group
of the Utah Nurses Association. Leader and many other positions. Jack and Marilyn are the
parents of eight children.
She has published a number of professional articles and
has received numerous honors and awards, including Elaine Leifson Pullman
the Beatty Award, the Public Health Association’s highest
Distinguished Service Award; has been included in Elaine was born 12 Feb 1937
the Who’s Who in American Nursing; received the and was married on 4 Oct 1956
Icelandic Heritage Award; selected as a Distinguished to Charles Dee Pullman. Dee is
Alumni of Spanish Fork High School; and has served on a retired school teacher having
numerous committees and boards, including the State received his Master’s Degree in the
Board of Nursing, the Utah Health Advisory Council, the field of science and math. Dee is also a building contractor
Community Nursing Service/Hospice Board of Trustees, and is continuing to work in construction since his
the Central Utah Health Care Foundation Board, the Utah retirement from teaching. Elaine in a very good artist
County Board of Health, and the Intermountain Health and has painted many oil works. She is also an expert at
cake decorating and at floral arrangements. She and her

20

Family Background

husband Dee performed a service Mission. She has held After a review of the above bios of my brothers and sisters
many positions in church organizations, one of the most and their spouses, one must surely understand why I can
recent as a ward Relief Society President. Elaine and Dee feel so proud of them. We have, as a group, been blessed
are the parents of four children. with reasonably good health, longevity and happy,
prosperous lives.
Mark Leifson
During the many years the folks were alive we held
Mark was born 8 Jan 1939 and was family reunions twice each year, one near the time of Dad
married on 2 Nov 1962 to Freda Leifson’s birthday in June and one near the time of Mom
Kaye Healey, a very accomplished Leifson’s birthday in November. Following their demise
musician who has trained many we have continued this tradition up to the present time.
students in piano over the years. Another tradition has been to visit each of the siblings
Mark is an expert finish carpenter and has spent most of and their spouses for their birthdays. These get-to-getters
his life in this profession. He served a mission as a young have been especially fun times and have been the means
man in the Finnish Mission and has been very active in of keeping us well informed of each other’s doings and
church assignments ever since. He has been a teacher and about each other’s families. It has also helped us maintain
scouter and has held many different leadership positions in a real togetherness
the different church organizations, including serving in a
Bishopric. Mark is also a military man having served in the
National Guard for many years and is still actively involved,
as of 2001, holding the rank of Master Sergeant. Mark and
Freda Kaye are the parents of five children.

21

Sagas of My Life

J. Victor and Mary Leifson with their children in 1962
22

Chapter 2

RECOLLECTIONS OF YOUTH

Sagas of My Life

RECOLLECTIONS OF YOUTH

My childhood seems to have been especially agreeable A major factor in my enjoying such a happy childhood
and pleasant. And now looking back after these many was being blessed with loving, caring and patient parents.
years and realizing that we spent our childhood during Also was the camaraderie and helping hands offered by my
what was later referred to as “ The Great Depression, “ five sisters and four brothers throughout my youth, and
which began in 1929 just one year after I was born, it throughout my entire life, I might add. In my view, Mom
seems amazing that I remember these as such happy was a perfect mother. I don’t know how she ever found the
times. During those most difficult economic years, Dad time to make each of us children feel we were her favorite
provided especially well for our family. He was a highly child, but she did. Likewise, I wonder now how she ever
skilled, industrious, hard-working and professional found the energy to cook, sew, churn butter, wash tons
builder. There was always much demand for his services of clothes (before electric washers, mind you) and do all
even in those economically trying times. I recall him else she did for so many of us without ever complaining,
saying a number of times to me that he didn’t miss one or letting on she must have lacked the energy she wanted
single day’s work during the depression years; in fact he because of a diabetic condition she suffered with for many
was never able to “catch up” with the workload scheduled of her later years. In spite of the tremendous pressures she
in advance. He often told me in my youth that if I must have felt at times, I never recall seeing her angry or
obtained the proper skills in whatever I decided to do as even very perturbed. I do remember her showing some
a profession, and then always worked “hard and smart,” concern one time when a neighbor lady threatened to
I too would never lack for work. I always remembered “tan my bottom,” thinking I had been involved with some
his sage advice, tried my best to follow it, and found it other boys in teasing her son in the ballpark across from
to be absolutely true. During all my working years, I our home. Seeing me in our back yard, this neighbor lady
never once had to seek job opportunities but was always scurried around our adjoining fence, grabbed me by the
offered employment by others. hair and was ready to paddle me when Mom quickly
came to my rescue. Mom then calmly insisted that the
From my earliest years I remember enjoying the out of infuriated lady release me and suggested the two of them
doors. Part of the reason may have been that there was not a could discuss whatever it was that was troubling her
lot of room indoors because of the size of our family! Even later in the day after she had calmed down. Mom later
as a little toddler I especially enjoyed animals and very early accompanied me to this neighbor’s home at which time
on I acquired a little stray dog. Then soon afterwards there I apologized for something of which I know I had been
were rabbits, pigeons, and varieties of chickens together only a minor accomplice. It seemed that Mom was always
with our larger animals such as cattle, pigs and sheep for very even tempered and in control of her emotions under
our domestic use.

24

Recollections of Youth

Photos of Thor at different ages in youth

25

Sagas of My Life

every condition. She even took Dad’s occasional teasing Our family was really quite self sufficient in those early
in stride with a twinkle in her eye and a slight smirk or years of the Great Depression (1930’s). We had a very large
smile on her lovely face. Dad often called her by the vegetable garden, various fruit trees, berries, chickens, pigs,
Icelandic name of “Inga,” or a sort of diphthong sound of sheep, cows, etc. Mom, with the help of Dad and the older
“Inda,” which I sometimes thought was not too flattering children, bottled hundreds of quarts (some two quarts as
until I learned during my first visit to Iceland that it can well) of fruits, veggies and some meats. We had our own milk,
be an abbreviation for the term “indaell” which means cream and butter from the cows we boys took turns milking
“sweetness or charming.” After learning that, I always over the years. I recall two types of butter churns we used,
enjoyed hearing him address her with this charming and one was really large with a long plunger and the other much
endearing term. smaller, operated with a turn crank.

It would be impossible to forget the fragrant smell of newly Dad would often trade work with other craftsmen, ranchers,
baked bread or cakes and pies from Mom’s kitchen. She etc. and so would invite someone to come in the fall to help
would bake about 8 loaves of bread every other day on butcher hogs and beef. It was always fascinating, even though
average. When she baked cakes, she was very fair in letting a bit gory, to witness this procedure right there in our back
us kids take turns in “licking” the pan in which the batter was yard. Our chickens always provided plenty of fresh poultry
prepared. For me as a kid that was really about as special a and eggs, even enough eggs at times to use for bartering at
treat as there ever was! the Jones’ store located across the ballpark northeast of our
place, or later at the Argyle store just across the street to the
As far as memories of doing laundry, the first equipment north of us. I remember, usually with Mom’s permission
I recall Mom using was a rough scrubbing board in a (but not always?), taking eggs to either of these stores and
large metal tub placed on a sturdy bench on our back exchanging them for penny candy, as we called it then.
porch. She’d let me get up on a stool and help her, or
at least she let me think I was helping. Then we really In earlier times, when someone in our neighborhood
modernized this procedure when Dad brought home butchered a steer or a hog they would generally preserve
a new type of machine (Maytag brand, as I recall) that some of the meat for their own family’s use but then
had a long handle on one side that you would pull back would share most of the rest with other family members
and forth to rotate a paddle inside the circular tub. It also and neighbors. Later on there was a cold storage facility
had some wringer rollers on the opposite side through established in town and most families rented a freezer box
which you could run the wet clothing to extract much or two that were accessed with one’s own key. So each week
of the water before hanging the laundry on one of the when Mom went shopping, she would pick up packages
several clotheslines located on the west side of our large of frozen meat from our “locker” as it was called, located
property. In the winter time the machine was placed in Palmer’s Market. It seemed that most of the time when
on our enclosed back porch and in the summertime it Mom did her weekly shopping she would walk from Sixth
was usually placed under the shade of a tree at the west East down to Main Street and buy whatever she needed in
end of a nearby shed. With this washer I really did feel the several stores along Main between Center Street and 3rd
I helped Mom by pushing and pulling the handle back North, then pick up the groceries and cold storage goods
and forth until my arms ached terribly, but I was so small just before making her way back home. I recall that at times
I probably didn’t help all that much. Then several years’ I would make this weekly trek with her pulling my little
later things really got easy, by comparison, when electric red wagon along to carry the groceries. Although this was
washers replaced manual equipment. a tedious task, I usually welcomed her invitation to come

26

Recollections of Youth

along because I knew there was always a treat in store as a things as calves and colts born was such a great learning
reward for my assistance. This task, of course, became much experience for a curious young boy. I could probably write
easier at the end of 1941 when Dad built our new home at a fairly large book about all the fine experiences I was able
263 East Center, thus eliminating the necessity of climbing to enjoy on Grandpa’s farm.
the hills to our old home at 590 East Center Street.
Lesson from Uncle Rob Bradford
Moving to our new home provided us many advantages,
the principle one being more room! Now we had four When still a young boy I recall often visiting with Uncle
bedrooms (or even five by using the large downstairs family Rob Bradford who lived on what was then called the
room), so we kids each had to share a room with only one “Bradford Lane,” an extension of Main Street just south
or two others! Freda and Luene both married soon after our of the main part of town. Uncle Rob was my grandfather
move and Ted later left in the Navy, so the seven remaining Rawsel Bradford’s brother. The best part of my visits with
brothers and sisters shared three bedrooms rather than him was his letting me ride a spirited little pony that I felt
only the one and a screened porch in the old home. And was the very best horse in the entire world. Uncle Rob was
yet, I recall really feeling bad about leaving the Icelandic very kind to me and I loved him dearly. During one visit he
Bench, as the area above the hill was called. My friend, Vic showed me a new litter of puppies his Scottish Collie had
Thurgood, encouraged me to come live with him rather recently delivered. From this experience I learned a very
than move “so far away.” Yet, in reality, we were moving only important lesson. One of the puppies was smaller than the
3 1/2 blocks from our old home on the Bench! others and Uncle Rob said it was what was called a “runt.”
All of the puppies except the runt had been sold or selected
One of the main delights of my early childhood was by others and Uncle Rob asked if I would be interested in
enjoying the various kinds of animals my folks allowed taking this one remaining puppy that no one seemed to
me to keep. Some of the pets I had were rabbits, pigeons, want. Before I could answer, he proceeded to give me a bit of
chickens and dogs. Part of the fun involved with these a lecture on the subject that “looks do not always determine
animals was building pens to house them. From my very the true value of things.” For example, he said that his prized
early years of youth Dad would take me with him at times little pony, that we called Midge, was also very small but that
to his construction projects. Often I would gather up scraps she had never been beaten in any match race, and she had
of lumber to use in building pens for my numerous pets. been challenged many times. Everyone admired this little
These pens must have been a real menagerie, but I felt I had mare and I well remember that when you got on her she
really done well and was following in the footsteps of my was so anxious to run that you had to be leaning forward
dad in the construction field. as you touched your feet to her sides or you would be left
spinning in the air, which actually happened to me the first
There is another fond memory of my youth that occupied time I mounted to ride her. When you got on her you could
many days of summers. When not accompanying my actually feel her muscles quiver and flex in anticipation of
dad during these younger years, I would often help my dashing away. She was simply a fabulous little horse. Then
Grandpa Bradford on his farm on “the Upper Bench.” Uncle Rob continued by saying that perhaps this little runt
It was so fascinating for a young boy to observe and of a dog just might be like Midge and turn out to be the best
participate in the workings of a farm and ranch. The of the litter. Really, I would have taken her anyway without
large and powerful animals were so interesting and fun his needing to try to convince me of her possible value. My
to watch, to feed and to actually work with. I could never first little dog had been run over by a car and I was delighted
forget the first time Grandpa handed me the reins to allow to have another one, especially a Scottish Collie. So in a few
me to actually drive a large team of his horses. Seeing such

27

Sagas of My Life

weeks when she was weaned, I came to get her and took careful as I should have been, even perhaps a bit too daring
her home. She was gold and white in color and, strangely as my mother sometimes explained it, for I seem to have
enough, her eyes were of different colors, one was blue and experienced a lot more injuries than was normal with other
the other brown. It seemed that she may have been nearly youngsters. One such injury was sustained when I fell off the
blind in the one eye. Anyway, she became my little Goldie roof of the old abandoned store located just south of our Fifth
and she was the perfect companion for me. As it turned out Ward meetinghouse one block east of our home. The fall only
she was also perfect in other ways. As Uncle Rob passed our knocked the wind out of me, but during the fall I received a
home one day riding Midge and leading his prized stallion deep and long cut along the shin, between the tibia and fibula
to service a mare of an Icelander who lived farther up on the bones of my right leg. While discussing this incident recently,
Bench (the eastern part of Spanish Fork was settled mostly my oldest sister said she recalled very well my limping into our
by Icelandic immigrants and was called the Icelandic home and telling Mom that I had scratched my leg and needed
Bench or simply the Bench), he stopped for a brief visit and a bandage for it. She said that when they saw the severity of the
asked how my dog was doing. I showed him how beautiful injury, they almost passed out. Of course, I was taken to our
she had become even though she was not a large dog. He family physician, Dr Hagan. This required some fairly major
said he was soon going to send a couple of young dogs to surgery and the doctor ordered that I stay in bed with the leg
some Basque sheep men who trained dogs for him and if I elevated for some weeks. For an active boy this was worse
wanted he would send my dog with them. He further stated than a prison sentence. I recall that I did a lot of reading but
that if she proved to be any good as a sheepdog, he would soon became so bored that I was beside myself. Mom says
like to borrow her from me in the summertime to help with it was at this time that she taught me how to crochet and do
his sheep. Of course, I couldn’t refuse him for he had given other crafts. She felt I became very expert in these activities
her to me and had always treated me so kindly. Well, the and often bragged about it, to my great embarrassment.
next thing I learned was that Goldie had proved to be far
and away the best sheepdog these trainers had ever worked The doctor would visit about once each week and after
with. She just seemed to have the perfect disposition and two or three weeks he began promising that probably the
natural instincts in working with sheep and Uncle Rob following week he would let me get up. But this kept going
learned quickly to love and appreciate her just as I did. on and on, so after one such visit when I felt I could take it
So what was the lesson I learned from this? I learned that no longer, and after the doctor left, I quietly slide my legs
one simply cannot judge from the outward appearance of over the edge of the bed, stood up and tried to walk. I well
anyone or of anything what the true character or value of remember that as I put the injured leg down, the pain was
that person or thing might be. I think it has also helped me excruciating. But even worse was that when I tried to walk
to have greater patience and empathy for others, regardless forward, the leg gave way and I fell to the floor. I humbly
of how they first appeared or whatever my first impression crawled back onto my bed. When I was finally allowed to
of them might have been. It was much better to wait until I get up, I literally had to learn how to walk all over again.
really got to know them before forming a firm opinion.
Runaway Horses
Leg Injury in Fall from Building
When I was about twelve years of age I was taught how
My siblings and friends have often told me I was a very to handle a runaway team of horses by a rancher named
active boy in my youthful years. I suppose it was true for I Perry (Cap) Larsen.
always seemed to be intensively involved in whatever was of
interest to me. It also seems fairly obvious that I was not as Farming is usually hard and sweaty but healthy and
rewarding work, and for those who love the out-of-

28

Recollections of Youth

doors and the delightful things of nature, it can actually He gave me an unbelieving look but still turned his hat over
sometimes be like experiencing a bit of paradise on earth. to check and make sure. Then he swatted at me with the
It was just such a time one mid-summer, mid-afternoon battered and tattered, sweat-stained hat which he seemed
when I was stretched out on a soft pile of new-mown pleased had no sign of pigeon on it. Satisfied all was well he
hay beneath a large, leafy poplar tree. It was the only tree began mumbling half to me and half to himself...
left around an old, abandoned ranch house located near
one end of a partly harvested field of second crop alfalfa. “We’ve got to get two or three more loads into the yard
There is nothing quite like a mid-day snooze following a before dark,” I could now hear him state more plainly.
tasty snack after a steamy, hot morning of loading, hauling
and then unloading hay. I could seldom sleep the way Cap Soon we were hitching the matching pair of grey horses to
did but as a 12 year old, gangly boy it was still nice just his aged, ramshackled wagon for a return to the windrows of
to stretch out and rest my weary, developing muscles. It neatly piled haycocks in the nearby field. Actually, the horses
was also really soothing and enjoyable to simply lie there were not really well matched except for their color. Dick was
quietly and listen to the chirping chickadees, and the an “old timer,” steady and strong and easy to handle. Duke,
clucking of colorful pheasants coming from the banks on the other hand, was slightly smaller, but young and very
of a nearby canal. There was another thing I could never spooky. Cap had purchased him at an auction just a few
tire of and that was the sweet, refreshing smell of the weeks previously. He thought they’d make a great pulling
newly cut hay. It’s impossible not to take in deep, chest- team someday because they really looked much alike and
filling breaths of this richly perfumed air to satisfy the were both large and powerfully built.
pleasure derived from savoring this great gift of nature.
On the other hand, however, I kept my hat over my face to Bouncing over the bumpy field of hay stubble, Cap
discourage-- usually unsuccessfully-- the ever fleeting and guided the wagon between the closest piles of alfalfa
pestering flies that are always at the top of the list of the and we were once again back at work. Cap would lunge
few negatives of summertime. his pitchfork into a plump, pile of hay, then deftly swing
each forkful overhead and softly lay it into a low place on
I had been hired to stack and tromp hay for Cap Larsen, the wagon. Sometimes I would have to reposition it a bit
whose given name, which he detested, was actually Perry. and then jump on top of the fluffy fodder to “tromp” it
My boss received his nick-name many years earlier when down, thus permitting double the amount of the nearly
he was captain of a semi-pro baseball team that was quite dried alfalfa to be carried on each wagonload. We were
renowned in our part of the country. He had given all of fully loaded when Cap could pitch no higher and I
that up years ago, however, except for the tag of “Cap” which would then round it off and we’d head back to the corral
somehow fit this hardened, old cowboy to a tee. and barn for unloading.

After a period of resting, the rested became restless, or at “Hey, Rusty,” Cap shouted up to me. “You go ahead and
least I did, so I began looking for ways to stir old Cap from drive the outfit to the barn; I’ll swing by the corn field to see
his reverie. A couple of pebbles pelting his hat seemed to if I’ve captured any pheasants.”
succeed perfectly well.
Cap had a clever system of scattering a few plump kernels
“Hey, what was that?” Cap grumbled, as he rose up on one elbow. of corn beneath the tall plants and in one of the kernels he
would conceal a small fishhook attached to a few feet of
“I think some pigeons have flown into the top of this tree, fishing leader. The almost invisible line was then tied to the
Cap,” I chuckled. base of a cornstalk. By this somewhat questionable means
he kept himself in a good supply of fresh poultry for his

29

Sagas of My Life

dinner table. He felt perfectly justified in doing this because “Why didn’t you do what I told you, Rusty?” he shouted at
as he often said, “I feed ‘em by the hundreds so I deserve to me in a very disgusted voice. I had to wipe the blood and
harvest a few of my birds!” He always seemed to chuckle in a perspiration from my eyes to get a better view and see if
somewhat boastful way each time he repeated this. he was really directing those harsh words my way. Sure
enough, he was.
Although I have always loved horses I’ll have to admit that
I didn’t enjoy trying to handle that young, grey gelding. “Well,” I sort of whimpered, “whatever you were saying, I
He was just too spunky and sometimes downright unruly. couldn’t hear, and I sure couldn’t stop that crazy team just
But as we started off things seemed to go just fine until we to hear what you were trying to tell me,” I added with a little
came to a shallow ditch between two fields. Just as the front more bravado.
wheels dipped into the depression, I sensed trouble ready to
explode. There was something moving in the tall grass just “Well, what I was shouting was for you to drop one rein
ahead of Dick and it was gliding quickly towards Duke. Then and the horses would have spun in a circle,” he continued
to my complete horror I realized it was a large, slithering in words just a bit milder. “And if you couldn’t hear me, then
snake! Even old Dick baulked at the sight of what was swiftly why didn’t you use your head and think to do it anyway?” he
sliding across his path but when Duke caught sight of the said as he pulled a big, blue bandanna from his rear pocket
thing he reared back immediately and then lunged ahead and threw it in my lap, obviously feeling a bit guilty about
and to one side with stupendous force. I heard a sudden, my messed up face and expecting me to clean it up some.
cracking sound like the discharge of a rifle as the doubletree
directly below me splintered into toothpick-like pieces. I Not even making a move to help me, he continued on in his
had the long leather reins wrapped tightly around my hands low, grumpy voice. “Surely your Grandpa must have taught
and in what seemed like a fraction of a second I was flying you how to handle a run-a-way team of horses by now,” he
through the air as the high-stepping steeds bolted ahead said with some scorn.
after being freed from their heavy load. I hardly noticed
that first glancing thump as I hit the hard-packed sod and “No, he didn’t, but he doesn’t have such crazy nags like you
continued being tossed, dragged and bounced across that do, either,” I boldly defended myself.
hurtful, stubbled field. From a distance I could hear Cap
shouting something, but there was already too much noise “Okay, then,” he said, “get on your feet and grab those reins.
around me to make out what he was trying to tell me. I knew But this time don’t wrap them around your hands so you have
my body, especially my hands and face, were badly beaten no control of what you may need to do,” he commanded.
and bloody so after what seemed like an eternity of time I
was so relieved to see through the dust and dirt thrown up “Now you take them back out in the field and hit old Duke
from the horses hoofs that we were approaching the home on the rump as hard as you can with the end of the reins,” he
corral. The horses plowed their front feet into the turf, ordered in that deep voice of his. “And as soon as they start
almost sitting on their rumps, as they slide to a sudden stop running, you make sure you throw one rein in the air and
just a few feet in front of a large manger where they usually then hold tight on the other rein. You’re going to learn how
received their daily ration of food. easy it is to control the craziest of nags, as you call them,” he
explained as he unhooked the ends of the horse’s tugs from
Cap was there almost immediately, but to my utter the singletrees and attached them to the harnesses.
surprise and wonder, as he drew near he was cussing like
a coach and his fury seemed to be directed at me rather Well, I didn’t want Cap to think I was in the least bit
than towards the horses! afraid because he had often complimented me on how
mature I seemed for my age. But as I very reluctantly
reached down to gather those blood-smeared reins in

30

Recollections of Youth

my similar looking hands; I noticed they were shaking Winning a Ski Jump Contest
uncontrollably. Then pausing for only a moment and
taking a deep breath, I grabbed the leather reins and Still another serious injury occurred during a ski jumping
ordered the horses to turn toward that miserable field contest, which I was fortunate to win, for during the
that had scratched me up so badly only a few minutes jump in which I was injured I shattered the skis I had
earlier. I couldn’t help thinking to myself, Well, if what made myself in a junior high shop class. As I said, I was
Cap says doesn’t work, at least I know one thing for sure fortunate to win the meet, for the winner’s prize was a
and that is that without the reins wrapped tightly around new pair of skis! As I recall, this was a regional scout event
my hands, I’ll be able to release myself this time and not held at Timp Haven (called Sundance today), and each
be dragged across the bumpy, hay-stubble field again. contestant had three jumps. As it turned out, I had the
best mark after the second jump, but the day turned cold
Then, as bravely as I could muster myself in the task and the course became icy and extremely rough, and on
at hand, I followed Cap’s instructions as nearly as my third and final jump I landed in a rut and was flipped
I remembered them. To my happy relief and utter head over heels down the steep slope. I was wearing
amazement the horses responded just exactly as the glasses and, of course, they were shattered in the fall. We
master teacher said they would. I ran them in that tight could never tell whether it was the broken glasses or the
circle for a very long time, until I felt some pangs of ice, but either way my face was severely lacerated, both
guilt that I was probably doing this in large part out of inside my mouth and two or three places on my face. I
revenge for the hurt I felt they had caused me, when in remember it was especially embarrassing to me that the
reality it was not their fault at all that the incident had hillside was so covered with blood. They wanted to take
even happened. me immediately to a doctor but I insisted on having them
wait until the meet was concluded to see if my mark held
I didn’t want to show it, but I’m just certain old Cap could up to win the contest. I felt somewhat compensated for
tell I was feeling pretty proud of myself as I drove the my injury when the final jumper’s mark fell short of mine,
somewhat tamer team back to the barn for a replacement thus assuring me of the winning prize of a new pair of
doubletree so we could continue on with our work. skis. Once again it took quite a lot of stitching to repair
the damage I had suffered. The worst part afterwards, at
Fall from the Rafters least for a couple of weeks, was that whenever I smiled, it
would pull on the stitches and hurt terribly. This turned
Another injury type of incident happened while some out to be a literal fulfillment of the often- heard expression
of my buddies and I were swimming at the Arrowhead that “it only hurts when you smile.”
Resort located in the small community of Benjamin a few
miles west of Spanish Fork. A couple of us climbed into the Strangely enough, even though I have been knocked
rafters high above the pool where we would swing back and unconscious two or three times and have had several cuts
forth and then on the backward swing we would release our severe enough to be sutured, the only broken bones I’ve
grip and dive forward down into the pool. On one attempt suffered were some cracked ribs from a fall on a hay wagon
when I was swinging very hard, my hands slipped before I in a simple farm accident and a second time in falling from
was ready and I swung back so far that when I landed below, a ladder in Tahiti. I also broke the index finger on my right
I hit flat on the concrete apron surrounding the pool. Even hand while doing stone work on our Sundance property.
after regaining consciousness, I struggled for some time Fortunately my tolerance level for pain must have been
before I could breathe normally. fairly high because many times I have been quite badly

31

Sagas of My Life

injured but was hardly aware of it. I imagine this can be might be.” So, I took this as another good lesson and have tried
both good and bad, but it probably explains why I may not to follow her advice. Even though my wife thinks it strange of
have been quite as careful as I perhaps should have been in a me to wave to just about anyone, I think it’s a good practice just
number of cases when I have suffered physical injuries. the same. I should add that it was soon after this that I accepted
to get my first pair of eyeglasses. I was amazed at the difference
Eyeglasses and the Vanity of Youth this made, and then realized just how ridiculously vain I had
been to deprive myself of seeing so much more clearly all of
There was another important lesson I learned in my youth the beauties about me because I was afraid of being teased for
that I should probably include in this personal history. When wearing glasses, and also thinking it would detract from my
I was a few years older, probably in my early teens, a pretty girl vainly, self-appraised “good looks.”
who lived across the street from our home at 263 East Center
Street taught me to be friendlier to everyone. Here’s how that Cook-out in a Tree
all came about. During my early years of schooling my eyesight
began to weaken, perhaps because I read a great deal, or it may Another childhood experience that some of my brothers
be that it would have happened anyway. I hated the thoughts and sisters have reminded me I must include in my personal
of getting eyeglasses so I would ask my teachers if I could be history was what could be called the “tree house warming.”
seated at the front of the class. They could see that I was still Along the east side of our property at 590 East Center Street
having difficulty for I would squint my eyes to see what they was an irrigation ditch and spaced along one side of the
had written on the chalkboard only a short distance in front ditch was a row of large poplar trees. These trees were the
of me. A number of times I was given notes to take to my source of much enjoyment for us kids, and perhaps more
parents to inform them that they should get glasses for me. importantly, they provided a shady relief in the hot, sultry
For some reason these notes never seemed to find their way summertime for those walking along the unpaved sidewalk
to our home. It was at this time that the girl from across the just outside our fence line.
street stopped me one day and asked if she could speak to me
in private. I well remember she was extremely nervous and When I was probably about 10 years of age some of the
had probably practiced what she was going to say before she neighborhood kids and I built a comfortable tree house in
found the courage to approach me. She began by telling me of one of these large poplars located just south of our old garage.
a number of fine qualities she felt I exhibited most of the time Apparently the large, central trunk of the tree had been
and she really thought I was among the handsomest boys she hit by lightning so at about 10 feet high new branches had
knew. Then she took a deep breath and, almost in tears, stated grown out from the main trunk, thus providing us an ideal
she also felt that my fine qualities were “going to my head” and foundation on which to build the floor for our hut. Since the
I was becoming just too conceited. I was flabbergasted for a main trunk was dead above this 10-foot level, woodpeckers
moment and asked her why she would even think such a thing, had hollowed out a large nest area 3 or 4 feet above the floor
for I felt I had always treated her fairly. She then related that only level of our shelter. It was large enough that we were able to
the day before she had waved to me from across the street and, store or hide things in this abandoned nest space. One day
even though I was looking right at her, I had snubbed her by Paul Warner and I were playing in this hide-a-way when one
not returning her wave. She said the same thing had happened of us came up with the idea (Paul always claimed it was my
a number of other times before. I was somewhat relieved and suggestion and I always claimed it was his) of building a fire
explained to her that I really needed glasses and could not in this cavity to roast some potatoes. Just a day or two before
actually see anything but a blurry figure from that far away. She we had tried cooking a pigeon over an open fire at Earn Hales’
then made another good point by saying, “Well, if you really home a couple of blocks away. The results of that culinary
weren’t conceited, you’d wave to anyone regardless of who it event were anything but successful. Earn had provided all

32

Recollections of Youth

of the materials, including matches to build the fire. For this incident that he felt should be included in my life’s history. We
new adventure, we first considered going over to Earn’s place were talking about holding Icelandic reunions years ago at
for the necessary matches, but then one of us came up with the old Geneva Resort, which was located on the east shore
an easier solution. We decided to go to Paul’s home and tell of Utah Lake. This resort was closed when the government
his mother that my mother needed to borrow some matches. developed the Geneva Steel works during World War II. The
This little ploy worked just the way we had hoped and, after incident that Allen told about was my saving a little toddler
confiscating a couple of potatoes from our storage pit, we from drowning. A few of us young boys, including Allen, were
soon had them cooking away in an easily started fire within playing on some equipment near the large pool that had a
the woodpecker cavity high in our tree. high slide at the west end which was really fun to descend and
splash out into the deep water. Somehow this little boy had
The potatoes warmed quickly, but so did the surrounding climbed up onto the lower part of the slide and slipped out into
space and we were soon so hot and uncomfortable that we the water. I glanced over just as he was going under and, when
were forced to scurry down the makeshift foot cleats to the he didn’t surface, as I knew he should have, I ran to the edge
ground. By this time the flames were shooting into the sky of the pool and took a flying dive and got him to the surface. I
and neighbors with buckets in hand came running from every struggled to get him to the edge of the pool where a lifeguard
direction shouting, “There’s a fire at the Leifsons!” took him from me and lifted him clear of the water. Just as I
also climbed out of the water a frantic lady, who was obviously
One of the neighbors must have seen what Paul and I were the mother of the little toddler, rushed up and started slapping
doing from the start, for when Dad arrived on the scene; he me. I was really shocked, but I suppose she must have thought
was quickly told how this conflagration had come about. that I had thrown the little guy into the pool. Immediately
He then grabbed me by the scuff of the neck and ordered the lifeguard put the boy down and grabbed the lady to stop
me into the house, saying, “I’ll deal with you later!” As her from attacking me. He tried to explain to her that I had
I dejectedly took my leave, I could see they had formed actually saved her little boy from drowning. She obviously felt
a bucket brigade and were passing the buckets of water quite embarrassed for, without even acknowledging me, she
along the line from our water hydrant to the tree. These grabbed her child and hurried off. It was quite apparent she
volunteers soon had the fire under control, but our tree hut had felt guilty to have let the child get so far away from her, and
and the tree were a complete ruin! Strangely enough I have her first instinct was to try to blame someone else (me) for her
completely forgotten about the lecture I no doubt received negligence. Anyway, as I recall, the lifeguard then took me to a
from Dad afterwards. concession stand and bought me an ice cream treat.

Little Thanks for Saving a Life There were so many fun and interesting incidents in my youth,
but the ones I have outlined above will have to suffice for now.
At a recent family party my brother Allen reminded me of an

33



Chapter 3

SCHOOL EXPERIENCES

Sagas of My Life

SCHOOL EXPERIENCES

Probably because my older siblings seemed to really enjoy was expected to live up to. Just recently a retired teacher,
their school experiences, I looked forward to this new Mrs. Helen Rowe Cragun, who now lives in our Provo
adventure of my life with much anticipation. For the most Canyon Ward, told me she had taught for several years at
part it proved to be just as I had expected. Also, because the junior high school in Spanish Fork and she indicated to
my older siblings had done very well in their studies, I was me that the very best student she ever had was one of my
always treated with kindness and respect by my teachers, older sisters. Being reminded of this in those early school
and more than once I was reminded that the older Leifson years gave me somewhat mixed feelings. I naturally had to
kids had established a really good reputation that I in turn feel proud of my siblings, but at the same time it put me

Thurber School, Second Grade. Kristine Cowman - Teacher
36

School Experiences

under pressure to do well in my own studies so I wouldn’t as time went on and eventually I really began to enjoy it.
shame our family name. I think it proved to be a very good One of the very best of the girl dancers was Helen Jones.
incentive for me. Although at that age she was perhaps a size over normal,
she was so light on her feet that I really enjoyed dancing
When five years of age I was sent to Kindergarten at the with her and so usually selected her when we were to
Thurber School which was located on the southwest choose our own partners. We have remained good, close
corner of Main and Center Streets. I recall even yet how friends ever since.
after our lunch each day, we were required to take a nap
on our small blankets laid on the hard floor. I had ceased Another interesting thing in junior high school was the
taking naps long before this and, since I was a very active annual girl’s preference dances. The first year Madge
little tyke and was unable to sleep like the other kids did, Gardner invited me to this activity. Since we were only
it was real punishment for me to lie still there for what 12 years of age, Madge’s father escorted us and another
seemed like an eternity each day during this activity. I couple. A few years later Madge presented me with an
was surely pleased when this was no longer required the interesting ultimatum when she explained that she wanted
following year. an expression of some commitment from me regarding
our possible future lives together. If I had more interest in
In September of 1934, at the age of six, I began the first grade someone else, then she had decided to accept an offer from
at the Central School, which was a couple of blocks closer another young man who seemed much more interested in
to our home. It was located at the northwest corner of First matrimony than I at that time. I felt she handled the situation
North and Third East Streets. My teachers from the first in a very intelligent, forthright and sensible manner. This
through sixth grades were: Gladys Gardner, Kristine Cowan, made me realize what a challenging thing this type of
Florence Stoker, Cora Gardner, Darwin Elliot and John F. situation must be for many young women, and it certainly
Warner. I remember very little of special importance during made me far more sympathetic regarding their much more
these first six years of school. There were a few incidents difficult role in courtship matters. It also made me feel a
such as Mr. Elliot taking his belt to some of us who were great deal of respect towards Madge for the courageous and
late coming in from recess and Mr. Warner often polishing diplomatic way she handled this.
or dyeing his shoes with very smelly material. I recall that I
liked all of my teachers over the years, even Mr. Elliot who Other girls who invited me to the preference dances in
some felt was really quite a mean guy. Strangely, I seem to the following years were Clara Fuller (who was quite
remember the exact location of most of the classrooms that determined we would one day be married, and even
I attended at the different schools. I attended the first grade reminded me of her feelings at that time while chatting
in the Central School, then the second and third grades in with me at a recent Iceland Day reunion); Barbara Smith
the Thurber School and returned to the Central School for (who asked for a goodnight kiss after a date even though
the final three years of grade school. I told her I had a cold); LaReece Ottesen (who invited me
to her home and played a recording of “Why don’t we do
Our junior high school, located on the northeast corner this more often”) and LaVon Williams (whom I was going
of 1st North & 2nd East, was even more interesting with when I left on my mission. She kept writing that she
because we changed classrooms and teachers every hour. just couldn’t wait until I returned - and I learned she really
Since sports were of great interest to me, I especially meant it, for she got married before my return). These were
enjoyed a gym class each day, except for Fridays when all fine young women and I’ve remained good friends with
we were taught coeducational dancing. This was a bit of each of them ever since our school days.
a scary thing in the beginning, but it got better and better

37

Sagas of My Life

Some of my closest high school buddies during these control, the water master (Uncle George Jex) came by and
years were Vic Thurgood, Earn Hales, Reed Braithwaite, said he had to give me a second stream. So I was scurrying
Fred Milner, Socks Argyle and Mark Beckstrom. Paul back and forth at both ends of the farm trying to tend the
Warner and I were always close friends, but his family two streams all that day and through the next night. Even
lived in Idaho Falls during our high school years so we though it was chilly during the night, by early morning I
were unable to spend much time together during that was so tired that rather than just resting for a few minutes
time. Many of the guys I played sports with and several between changing the canvas dams, I lay down on the
of those (both guys and gals) I associated with in student ditch bank and quickly fell sound asleep. The next thing
government, school plays, etc., were also good friends as I knew I had somehow rolled off the bank and into the
well. Some of these will be included in a separate chapter ditch filled with icy, cold water! Fortunately Aunt Ad
of this history where I’ll cover friendships that I have (Uncle Jack’s wife) came by soon afterwards to deliver a
enjoyed throughout my entire lifetime. hot breakfast. Seeing my plight, she insisted on driving me
back to the farmhouse for a change into dry clothes and a
High school experiences proved really interesting for me. more comfortable sit-down breakfast.
Our school at that time was located on the west side of Main
Street between 3rd and 4th South. The campus was actually Because I was so involved helping my Uncle Jack on the
comprised of three buildings. There was the main school farm, I missed quite a lot of school days at the beginning
building, which has since been torn down, a gymnasium to of my first year in high school. And because of that, one of
the north and a nice Seminary building to the south, with our the things I missed most was not being able to play football
sports facilities to the west of these buildings. that first year.

Although by nature I was somewhat shy or reserved at this My older brother Ted had been heavily involved during his
time in my life, I was invited to participate in various extra- three years in high school serving as an athletic assistant to
curricular activities such as sports, theatricals and student Coach Gus Black. So, soon after I was able to start attending
government, which seem to have brought me out of my high school that fall, I remember Coach Black calling me
reserved mannerism to a great degree. Even though quite aside and asking if I would like to also serve as his student
a lot of my time after school and on weekends during these athletic assistant. This was an interesting assignment, which
school years was spent working for my dad in construction I did during my three years of high school. At the same time,
and for my grandfather and uncle on their farm, I still however, I also played football and ran the mile in track
managed to take an active part in many of the school during my junior and senior years.
activities mentioned above.
During our senior year we had a really good football team
At the beginning of my sophomore year I was heavily and a good part of our success could be attributed to my
involved working for my Uncle Jack Bradford on his best buddy at that time, Vic Thurgood. Vic was just a
farm, because he had been seriously injured in a hunting tremendous athlete. The coach didn’t play him much as
accident and had pretty much turned the farm over to me a sophomore, but during our junior and senior years Vic
until he could regain his health. As I recall, his accident received All-State honors in basketball, football and track.
had been in mid summer and we were still doing a lot He was the fastest man in the state in the 440 yards in the
of irrigating. I’ll never forget trying to keep the water in state finals. In football Vic was our half back and defensive
the furrows of a tomato patch on a sort of terraced field. end and I played center and linebacker. On end sweeps I
I worked at that until I was almost completely spent of would hike the ball just as far out ahead of Vic as I possibly
strength. Then just as I felt I was getting things under could and I don’t think he ever lost yardage on that play. The

38

School Experiences
39

Sagas of My Life

only team that beat us during that senior year was Orem to me about my fear in greeting the student body each
and that kept us out of the state playoffs. The Orem coach week at the beginning of our student assemblies on
had irrigated the field the day before our game and it was so Fridays. She could see how nervous I was that first week
wet that Vic kept losing his footing. of the new school year. She wrapped her arms around
me in a motherly embrace and assured me I would be
I really enjoyed sports during my school years, as well as just fine. I shared with her how frightened I was. Then
during my entire lifetime, and have actively participated in she said, “Now look, young friend, I hope you will always
many of them, even though I have never excelled at any one be frightened when you stand before a group of people
particular sport. It is, I think, a healthy thing for everyone to like this. It’s only if you didn’t have fear and respect for
be involved in sports activities without spending excessive an audience that you and all of us should be concerned.”
time at it. I’ve remembered that advice all these years and it’s
helped me in standing before many similar groups since
During my junior that time.
year I served as Vice
President of the LDS It was also great fun performing in some of our school
Seminary program theatrical productions during my senior year. I took a
and during my senior speech class in hopes it could help me do better in my
year I was the Student speaking assignments. A side benefit was that they made
Body President of the me a member of the Thespian Club and encouraged me to
high school. I certainly take part in some of the school plays performed that year.
didn’t lobby for any
student government Perhaps I should also mention that we had only one
assignments. In fact, fraternity club in high school. It was a service organization
during the week when as well as a social club. I was invited to join this group
the Student Body President campaign was being held in which was called the WojWoda Club. We did some fun
the spring at the close of our junior year, I had to help on the and worthwhile things, but I never felt comfortable
farm most of that week, so I only made one speech at the with these types of organizations and so avoided such
final student assembly just before the voting was to be held. affiliations in college.
During that week my opponent had campaigned heavily,
even hiring an airplane to drop leaflets over the school, and
yet I was told the margin of victory was substantial.

Serving as the Student Body President was an especially
good experience for it gave me the opportunity of
working closely with all of the students, with the
administrators of our school, with other student leaders,
both at our school and with student leaders from other
high schools in our district. There are friendships I have
retained over the years with some of these acquaintances.
I especially admired our one faculty advisor, Mrs. Zina
Johnson. She was my English teacher as well as the
advisor for our student council. I remember her counsel

40

School Experiences
41

Sagas of My Life

Although I didn’t put as much effort into my scholastic Upon graduation from the BYU and knowing I needed
endeavors as I should have done, I did graduate as an honor to get some years of teaching experience if I intended
student, which I felt was more meaningful than many of the to work towards a later administrative role, I looked for
other so-called accomplishments of my preparatory school a good teaching assignment and also decided to begin
years. After my high school graduation in May of 1946 immediately taking classes each summer towards a Master’s
there were delays and interruptions in my university studies Degree, which I intended to complete in Educational
while I served in the US military and later in serving an LDS Administration. Changing subjects for a moment, but as
mission. (These experiences are covered in other chapters). an interesting sidelight to this discussion, it was interesting
to note as I was checking an old transcript of my college
I commenced my university studies at BYU in the fall of grades, that after my mission I was receiving mostly A’s and
1948 after my release from the military and attended for a few B’s, whereas before my mission they were mostly C’s
a couple of years, while at the same time building my first and B’s. I guess I could make excuses for these grades in that
home in Spanish Fork. I don’t think my dad ever looked I was doing the equivalent of more than a full time job at
upon schooling as a full time endeavor and so, at this time, the time, but I don’t think that was much of a factor. The
he strongly suggested I should do something constructive improvement in grades was because of my mission. This is
with my free time (?). He knew I had saved the extra money simply another good example of what a difference a mission
paid me during my military parachute experience and that I can make in the lives of young people. After a mission
had received several hundred dollars in a regular discharge experience most young folk are so much more focused in
payment. He also knew I was receiving GI Bill money to whatever they choose to do in life. They don’t lose any time
attend the university. at all serving a mission but greatly improve their future and
their entire existence.
My original intention after my discharge from the military
was to attend school for a year, during which time I would I did attend summer school in 1955, then took a teaching
work and hopefully save enough money which, combined job in Glendora, California, for the following school year
with my military funds, would make it so I could finance of 1955-56. This was a delightful experience and let me
myself on a mission (remember there were 10 children in know I really would enjoy the teaching profession as
our family and I wanted to pay for my own mission). Dad a lifetime pursuit. Another important plus in being in
had a better idea. He suggested that I should use my savings California that year was meeting my future wife, Loyce
as a down payment for a home, which I could build as a Partridge, whom I later married in the Los Angeles
duplex. Then the rental funds from one unit of the duplex Temple on 20 Dec. l956.
could pay the bank mortgage and the rent from the other
unit could finance my mission. It worked out just as he In the summer of 1956 I once again returned to the Y
suggested, except that it took me somewhat longer to finish to obtain a Secondary Education Certificate and also
my project than expected. I actually spent over two years continue courses on my Master’s program. This I continued
attending college while completing the construction of my throughout that school year of 1956-57.
home before leaving on the mission.
In the fall of 1957 I accepted employment with the
Then after an almost three year period for this first mission Nebo School District teaching English and French
(I was delayed a few months before leaving on the mission), at Payson High School. I wanted to be near the Y so
I returned to the BYU for the Winter Quarter of 1953 and I could attend classes there whenever possible. Near
graduated in June of 1955 with a BA degree in Education the completion of this first year at Payson High, I was
and a minor in French. contacted by the principal of Provo High and offered

42

School Experiences

a job there. I told the principal, Deb Tregeagle, that District. However, I also didn’t feel right in reneging on
he was a week or two late for I had just signed an my already signed contract and would therefore have
extension on my contract in the Nebo School District. to decline his kind offer. He then asked that I keep our
He then stated, “Thor, I’ve got a list as long as my conversation confidential, but also added that I should
arm of applicants who would love to join us at Provo let him know before signing another extension because
High School. Isn’t there some way you can cancel out he said there was a possibility of another opening the
on that contract and come with us for this coming following year. As it turned out I taught those two years
year?” I had done my student teaching at Provo High at Payson High and then accepted the offer to teach at
and Deb and I had become good friends. He said he Provo High School the following year. At Provo High
had understood I had planned to return to California, I also taught English and French for the next three
but when he learned I was here in Utah he decided to years until we were called on our next mission for the
offer me the position that had recently opened. I told Church in late 1962.
him how I really appreciated his considering me, for I
knew it was very difficult to get into the Provo School Early in 1962 I was invited and became a member of Phi

43

Sagas of My Life

Delta Kappa, a national education fraternity. I was honored were fourteen of us from Utah who were initiated as new
but somewhat surprised because on the letterhead of the members into this highly regarded organization that year. I
invitation which I received it read: “Phi Delta Kappa, should add at this point that while teaching at Provo High
a professional education fraternity connected with School I was often visited by professors from the BYU
colleges and universities of graduate rank maintaining Education Department. After some time the BYU people
schools, colleges, or departments of education.” I asked asked if I would accept to have Y students observe my
Royce Flandro, who was my assigned sponsor, if they classes. Later I was asked to serve in their student teaching
had made a mistake for, although I was working with program. At that time some of my classes were what we
the BYU Education Department at the time, I was not called Beta Classes. (These consisted of advanced high
officially of university rank. He assured me there was no school students who were able to earn college credit by
mistake and urged me to accept their invitation to join completing these advanced level courses). These students
this fine organization. He felt it would be especially good were such a delight to teach and work with.
for my future in the field of education. As I recall, there

44

School Experiences
45

Sagas of My Life

Then in November 1962 Dr. Edwin A. Read, the Director I had not completed my Master’s Degree and I thought
of the College of Education at BYU, asked me to submit one needed that to qualify to teach at the university level.
an application for a position which they needed to fill in My reason for not responding to Dr. Read immediately,
their Department. He sent a second letter a few days later however, was that we had already been asked to serve
expressing real urgency that I respond as soon as possible another mission for the Church, so I had to let the BYU
as to my interest in this position. I was surprised because know I could not accept their offer to teach there at that

46

School Experiences

time. I’ve often wondered how our lives might have differed free tuition, which they had awarded me for assisting with
if we had not been asked to serve that second mission at their student training program. I recall taking a couple of
that particular time. classes (perhaps only audited) with my good friend Lars
Peterson when we served together in an Elder’s Quorum
It would most certainly have been an honor as well as an Presidency while living in Spanish Fork.
interesting and, no doubt, very fulfilling experience to have
been a member of the BYU teaching staff. I suppose they In about 1975 I also took a series of real estate classes at BYU
would have assisted me in continuing on with my advanced in order to become certified as a real estate appraiser. There
studies. At times I have also thought how nice it might have was quite a large number who took these studies but only a
been to have had the honor and title of Professor or Doctor handful of us passed the exams and received our qualifying
in front of my name. But, obviously, this was not to be my lot certificates. I did home appraisal work for several years after
or calling in this life because, as those who know us are well that during the time we needed additional funds to help our
aware, my family and I have been asked by the Church to children with missions and college expenses. This experience
accept a number of mission calls and working assignments helped me later in real estate purchases.
since that time and I was, therefore, never able to continue
on with my outlined or planned studies, nor in my earlier In recent years Loyce and I have spent some of our time
chosen field of formal teaching and education. If this sounds during the winters in St. George. The college there offers
as if I have serious regrets, however, I assure whoever reads a tremendous educational program for retired folks.
this account that my family and I have been blessed beyond For a very minimal registration fee one can select from
measure in accepting the callings and assignments we have perhaps thirty different classes or other activities such as
received over the years. If, as is so often stated, I had it all to botany and geology treks. Most of the classes are taught
do over again I, for one, would choose the same path I was by retired university professors and, I should add, most
asked to follow. I have enjoyed tremendously the works that I of the instructors are excellent teachers who provide this
have been involved with and feel so very grateful to have been outstanding service simply because they love to teach
privileged to associate with so many of the finest people the and share their vast knowledge with others and at no
good Lord has put here upon the earth. Also, and I add this cost to these older students. I’ve taken the opportunity of
very humbly, I have at times felt that I have actually been used attending many of these classes for they are tremendously
as one of the Lord’s humble “instruments” in bringing about educational and interesting. The field trips are also really
or accomplishing some of His important works. entertaining and great learning experiences as well. I’ve met
some really fine friends through these activities.
I should perhaps also add that I attended a special summer
school session at Utah State University in 1960. I had always Speaking of Dixie College reminds me of another surprising
loved the beautiful city of Logan, and it was a real pleasure job offer I received relating to the field of education. Early
to attend school there doing some post graduate studies in 1967 I was asked to accept another assignment for the
at that time on a government grant to further improve my Church to serve as Construction Supervisor over the South
teaching ability in the French language. Pacific Area. We tried twice to turn them down on this call, but
Brother Fred Baker just wouldn’t accept a decline. It was right
Even though I was not able to continue in the field of at this time that I received a letter from Dr. Andrew H. Barnum,
education, I have always loved to read, to study and to take Dean of Academic Affairs at Dixie College, explaining that
classes and seminars on various subjects whenever I was he and the college president (President Lossee) would be
able to do so. Before we moved to the Salt Lake Valley in in Provo on April 3rd and 4th and wanted to meet with and
1971 I occasionally took classes offered by BYU for I had interview me about a position I had been recommended for

47

Sagas of My Life

there at Dixie College. I called Dr. Barnum and explained we In conclusion, I must add that a good part of my current
had just accepted a Church calling and so would be unable education comes from my own personal library of over 500
to accept whatever position was being offered. He explained volumes, which I’ve accumulated over the years. For me
that it was an administrative assignment to oversee a large there is never a dull moment, because I make it a practice to
program of new construction and campus expansion. He keep good books at hand in different rooms of the home, in
indicated that with my educational background and my my travel bag and even in my car. Reading and study are two
construction experience I seemed very well qualified for the of my most favored pastimes. One of the principle reasons
position. So, once again, I have sometimes wondered where I have especially enjoyed my retirement years is that I now
this might have led if we had not been called by the Church have much more time for reading and study.
to serve in Tahiti right at that particular time. Both Loyce and
I have always loved St. George and feel quite certain we could
have been very happy there and would have probably had a
fine future with Dixie College.

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