Sagas of My Life By Thor Leifson

Most Interesting Travels
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Most Interesting Travels
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Chapter 9

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

Sagas of My Life

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY

Children and grandchildren are often interested in how strong testimony, that she obviously loved children and
their parents and grandparents first got to know each other hopefully would be a stay-at-home mother, that she would
and how their friendships developed to eventually lead be more of a reserved and quiet-spoken person like my own
them to the very serious decision of matrimony. mother; in fact, in most every way I hoped she would be
much like my own lovely mother whom I thought was just
In my own situation, I suppose I followed the pattern of my about perfect in almost every way.
father who did not get married until he was over 25 years of
age. This also seems to have been the general pattern among So, following the plan outlined above, I was able to complete
my Scandinavian ancestors so, I recall deciding early on the principal things I had hoped to do before getting into a
that, if it were possible, it would probably be better for me serious relationship with any young lady.
to get my military obligation, my mission and my university
studies behind me before I allowed myself to fall in love Following my graduation from Brigham Young University
and get married. I dated quite a number of very fine young in 1955, I accepted a job offer to teach school in Glendora,
women, beginning when I was about 16 years of age. I California. Two of my high school classmates were living
remember my first two dates were to attend girl’s preference there in Southern California at that time and they and
dances in junior high school. Although I have to admit I was their wives (and others, I should add) immediately started
quite attracted to several of the girls I dated, I would always lining me up with girls they thought would be “perfect” for
remind myself of my early commitment to wait until later me. It was in the spring of 1956 that my one friend, Mark
to consider a more serious relationship. Also, in my earlier Beckstrom, insisted that the girl he had wanted me to meet all
years I can now see that I may have been perhaps a bit too along, and who had actually been in Utah until just recently,
pragmatic about this entire process for I remember even was now back in California and he felt I absolutely needed to
writing down a list of the qualities I hoped to find in the “check her out.” She was the daughter of his former Bishop,
girl I would eventually marry. I hoped she would be from Truman Partridge, was a university graduate, had served a
a loving and caring family, that she would have a warm mission in Great Britain and I remember him saying that if
and pleasant personality, that she dress and keep herself he were not already married, she was the girl he’d really go
in a more simple mode rather than the “stylish” and showy for. Her name was Loyce Partridge. So, arrangements were
attire of the day, that she be a college graduate or have good made and our first date was actually at a ward picnic. I well
marketable skills so she could care for the family I hoped remember her Bishop coming up to us and making some
to have in case I died at an early age, that she would work friendly comments that Loyce later said really embarrassed
beside me and support me in whatever vocation I chose her. He kiddingly told her that if she didn’t soon get serious
to follow, that she would be a returned missionary with a about getting married he would perhaps call her on another

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mission. That must have been good incentive for both of us some distance above the Sundance area. There were some
because our relationship seemed to grow and develop from beaver dams in a small stream along side the road and we
that point on. We dated a number of times during the next stopped there to enjoy this lovely setting. I suggested we
few weeks before I completed that year’s teaching job and get out of the car to have a closer look. As we left the car
returned to BYU to begin a master’s program in Educational I placed the small box containing her engagement ring on
Administration. the seat where she had been sitting. When we returned and
I opened the door for her, she asked what this small box
During the summer of 1956 I attended classes at the Y and could be and how it had gotten there. I told her to open it
also worked at construction. Loyce and I kept in touch and find out. I think that’s the happiest I’ve ever seen Loyce
with frequent phone calls. Early in the summer Loyce’s in all the years we have now been together.
folks brought her to Utah and they all met my family. A few
weeks afterwards I visited with them in North Hollywood. We were married later that year on December 20, 1956 in the
Then in late summer Loyce came to Utah for another visit Los Angeles Temple. A member of the temple presidency,
and it was then that we became engaged. I took her for a Adolphus Bent Peterson, performed our sealing ceremony.
scenic drive in Provo Canyon and on the Alpine Loop He was later the president of the Manti Temple and, since
this was our assigned temple for a number of years after our
marriage, we were able to see and chat with him on occasion
there in the Manti Temple.

Following our marriage, we had wedding receptions at both
Spanish Fork and North Hollywood following which we
spent a few short days honeymooning at Carmel by the Sea
on the Monterey Peninsula south of San Francisco. It was a
beautiful drive going along the coastline from Los Angeles on
Highway #1, although it was quite a winding road back then
in the 50’s. We have only driven portions of it since then such
as through the Redwood National Forest but I would really
enjoy driving it again someday. There are so many wonderful
views of the ocean all along this lovely but lengthy highway
that runs north and south along the California coastline.

After our honeymoon we returned to Utah. We first lived in
a basement rental apartment on about 2nd West and 800
North in Provo. I was attending the Y at the time working
on a Master’s program and doing construction work during
any extra time I had available. Loyce would probably not
look back on these living quarters with very fond memories
because she wanted to start a family immediately and we
did, so she suffered with morning sickness the entire time
we lived there while we waited for renters to vacate the
home we owned in Spanish Fork on 900 East Center Street.

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During these few months we lived in Provo I was asked once taking evening classes at the Y. Our first child, Eric Edward
again to serve as Elders Quorum President. Then later after was born on September 10th soon after we had settled
moving to Spanish Fork I was asked to serve in the old 8th in our own home in Spanish Fork. He was a beautiful,
Ward Bishopric with Bishop Lamb. There has always been healthy little boy, everything we could have possibly
a very close bond with the other five brethren I served with hoped for! Eric, as well as the other four children to follow
at that time. Bp. Lamb was the best organized Bishop of the over the next ten years, were all born in the Utah Valley
many really outstanding ones I have been privileged to work Medical Center in Provo, which, of course, was only a few
with. Over the years I also served two or three times as a High miles from our home.
Priest Group Leader.
After teaching at Payson High School for two years I
Prior to our move back to Spanish Fork the renters in our accepted an offer to teach at the Provo High School. This
home agreed on a date to vacate our home and so we gave was much more convenient for me as I continued taking
notice to our Provo landlady. Then just a day or two before classes towards a master’s program at the Y. However, as
the planned move, our renters pleaded for another week or children kept arriving and the need to supplement our
two, so Loyce and I spent a short time staying with my folks salary kept increasing, it was decided the classes had to be
before we could occupy our own home. delayed for the time being and I added income through the
means of my construction skills during the next two or three
In the fall of 1957 I accepted a teaching job at the Payson years. During these years at Provo High School I worked
High School in the Nebo School District and continued

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with the BYU’s teacher training program, as explained in lived in Germany the older children attended an American
the chapter on employment experiences, and in 1962 was school that was provided primarily for the U.S. military
invited to join their Education Department staff. It was also people stationed there in the Frankfurt area. Although I
at this same time that we were called to serve another LDS explained to the school director that we were not military,
mission in Europe. he insisted we would be welcome anyway if we were willing
I should add here that before we departed for this mission, to pay some incidental expenses. We were very happy to do
our little family had taken on new numbers as per the that because we felt this would be a good transition to get
following: Our second son, Hal Victor, was born on August our kids used to their English studies once again.
15, 1959; our first daughter, Shari Louise, was born on
January 14, 1961; and we were awaiting the arrival of Jon, Traveling by airplane to Europe was a whole new experience
born November 3, 1962, who arrived shortly prior to our for our three small children and a new baby. Eric would
departure for Europe. I was actually still back in North have been about 6, Hal about 4, Shari about 2 and Jon just
Carolina finishing the construction of a new meetinghouse a couple of months old. I remember we had to change
when Jon was born. We did get to spend Christmas in Utah planes in Chicago and what a chore it was to keep everyone
before leaving for this second mission to Europe. In the together as we made our way from one gate to the other. As
chapter on missions I have covered more of the details about we started off I looked around to take a count of everyone
my own personal missionary experiences during this time and discovered that Hal was missing. There were a few
and so will try not to duplicate materials in both chapters. frantic moments until we were able to track him down!

Family photo in Paris area 1964 Our stay in Holland was brief but I do remember it was a
very cold winter early in 1963 and all of the many canals
The children seemed to enjoy this next three years living were frozen over. It was quite interesting to see so many
in four countries in Europe. We first spent a short time in people ice-skating on the canals which seemed almost as
Holland, then a few months in Belgium, about one and a numerous as streets.
half years in France and the final several months in Germany.
Most of the children’s’ three years in Europe was spent in Our next stop was in Charleroi, Belgium. We lived in a
French speaking schools in Belgium and France. While we one-bedroom apartment and, with six of us; it was very
difficult to find adequate sleeping space. We actually ended
up putting the two-month-old Jon in a dresser drawer, I
recall. In Europe children can begin attending school as
soon as they are potty trained and so our three older kids
were enrolled in what was called primary schooling. They
adapted quite rapidly and all of them did very well in their
French speaking classes. I think all of them still retain some
of the language after almost 40 years.

During the winter of 1962/63 it was next to impossible to
do much on the foundation work at the Charleroi chapel
project so I was sent to Paris to do some repair work in the
mission headquarters at 3 Rue de Lota located not too far
from the Arc de Triomphe. It was especially interesting
for me to be back in the same building where I had lived

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some ten years previously and to once again be able to see walls were extensive formal gardens surrounding the villa.
members I had known and also, on occasion, visit again Although the large lily pond had been drained, the children
some of the wonderful sights of Paris. However, it was very seemed to delight in playing in it after heavy rains.
difficult for Loyce to be left back in Charleroi with the four
little children even thought she was able to take the older On some weekends and holidays we were able to take
ones to a near-by school during the daytime. Usually I advantage of the nearby Bois de Vincennes park with its
would spend a week or so in Paris and then take a train back many play areas, large zoo, lakes, picnic areas, etc. I wonder if
to be with my family in Belgium for a few days. any of the children remember our outings in this wonderful
park. We sometimes took the children to other sights
In the early spring of 1963 we were finally notified that it around Paris. I remember taking them to the top of the
appeared our Bordeaux project was nearly ready to be Eiffel Tower and trying to impress upon them that they try
started and so we were directed to pack our belongings to always remember that experience. In asking later if they
and drive from Belgium to the south of France. A two-story did indeed recall this experience, none of them seemed
home had been rented for us in a nice section of town and to have any recollection of it even though they seemed so
it seemed that we would finally be able to get our very own fascinated with it all at the time.
project underway. I think even the kids were excited to get
to a more permanent place where we expected to be living After a few months living here in Nogent near Paris, we were
for the next couple of years, or so we thought. transferred once again, this time to Frankfurt, Germany, or
rather to a suburb of Frankfurt called BadVilbel. We lived
It was a very old home with a small back yard and was here for the remaining months of our three year mission.
quite nice by European standards at the time. It even had During this time I was asked to travel throughout western
central heating, which I had never enjoyed while on my first Europe so much of the time with my assignment that I
mission in France. The kitchen sink was a very old stone don’t recall taking the family on many outings as we had
basin located on a back porch and this was typical of the previously done in Bordeaux and Paris. The children did
kitchen appliances. I soon obtained permission from the seem to enjoy themselves while living in Bad Vilbel, perhaps
landlord to install some more modern kitchen equipment partly because all of their schoolmates and playmates could
and to pour a large concrete patio over most of the back speak English (though by then it didn’t seem to make too
yard to keep our small children out of the dirt and mud. It much difference for at that time our children all spoke fluent
seems I was constantly upgrading the various homes we French). Also the small LDS neighborhood, where we lived
rented during our different mission assignments. with several other missionary families in nice new duplex
homes, was surrounded by dense woods, which seemed to
After about one and a half years we were transferred to the keep the kids entertained for hours each day.
Paris area and lived on the third floor of a big villa in the
suburb city of Nogent-sur-Marne. Just east of Paris is a very One of the memorable events for our family while living in
large and beautiful park called “Bois de Vincennes” and Germany those few months was that Eric was baptized in a
Nogent was immediately east of this park. This very old but font at our ward meetinghouse in Frankfurt.
lovely villa was on a Church-owned property where a new
meetinghouse would be built in later years. At that time, At the completion of our three-year assignment we made
however, meetings were held in a large room on the main our way back to the States. On our way home, however, we
floor with classes on the second floor and our apartment on stopped off for a couple of days in Iceland staying with my
the third. The children seemed to love this home for there cousin Brynjar and his lovely wife, Jean. Even though it was
were high walls around the entire property and within these late December, it was not that cold in Iceland, as I recall.

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Upon our arrival in New York, Uncle Dee and Aunt Nell The following three years in Tahiti proved to be a
Partridge who lived across the Hudson River in New Jersey tremendous adventure for our young family members.
met us. We spent a day or two with them until we were able I described the feelings I had at that time fairly well in a
to get our Volkswagen double-cab pickup out of customs journal entry dated Tuesday, Nov. 14, 1967: “Today, as a
at the docks in N.J. We had loaded the pickup in Germany family of seven, we begin another interesting experience in
with a lot of our personal belonging and shipped it a month our lives. We left our comfortable home and surroundings
or so before we left Europe. I’ll never forget the hassle and and began our journey toward the South Seas for what is
ordeal I had getting that canvas-covered pickup away from to be a three-year Church assignment. Since September
the crooked union controlled dockworkers. Only when 22nd when we officially began this calling, we have been
I threatened to call my senator would they relinquish our patiently waiting for visa clearance. During the interim
goods without my paying them extra cash! we have fixed up our home, done construction work, and
straightened out our personal affairs better than they have
I wonder if our children remember our “covered wagon” been in years and years.”
(canvas-covered Volkswagen) trek across the seemingly
never-ending rolling plains from New York to Utah. We We flew first to Los Angeles and spent a day with Loyce’s
were so heavily loaded that on many of the hills we could family during which time we enjoyed a delicious early
not get the pickup to keep up with the 45 mph minimum Thanksgiving dinner. Then the next day we flew on to
speed required to be riding on the freeway. I often expected Hawaii where we spent a couple of days with architect
a road patrolman to pull us over and order us to either speed Ross Jensen. He was the architect for several of my
up or take frontage roads! projects throughout the South Pacific. Then it was on to
our destination of Papeete, Tahiti, where we arrived in
For our arrival back in Utah, family members had set up a the very early morning of Nov. 17th. Our first day there
Christmas tree in our home, for it was just a day or two before was memorable for a number of reasons including a royal
the holidays when we finally arrived. How good it was to be welcome, dogs barking throughout the night, ocean surf
back in our own home. It was truly a double celebration. pounding only a block or so from our home, the “open”
living of the native culture (giant crabs scurrying across
During the following months our children enjoyed being our bedroom floor that first night!), chickens crowing at
back in their old neighborhood in Spanish Fork. They daybreak and, as I recorded in my journal, more than 12
probably remember playing in the large vacant property a inches of rain during the first 24 hours after our arrival!
block or so east of our home where there was a shallow pond Yet, as I also recorded in my journal, “...This is the most
and surrounding wilderness as well as the nearby train tracks beautiful place in the entire world, but quite some change
and “cut bridge.” The older ones attended school at the Park in living accommodations. We’ll need to adjust ourselves
Elementary only a block away and had a great playground to this ‘open living’, which is to be shared with myriads of
for riding bikes and for many other games, playground mammoth insects and other creepy creatures!”
equipment, etc. It was a great location for our children.
Loyce didn’t agree with my willingness to share our living
We were only home a few months when the Building with myriads of mammoth insects and insisted that we screen
Department Director called again and eventfully we as a as many of them out as possible. We lived in three different
family enjoyed another tour of duty overseas, this time in homes during our three years in Tahiti and I ended up installing
the lovely land of Tahiti in the South Pacific. We did have window screens on all three of these dwellings ‑ probably the
enough time between these assignments to add another only screened homes on the island! The insects were truly
member to our family. Kristin was born on Feb.21, 1967.

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enormous in size. For example, the many cockroaches were turned out very well and was soon ready for its maiden
often over two inches and the centipedes over six inches long! voyage. All of the family was loaded in, including Kristin
The geckoes (lizard-like creatures) could not be kept out, who was just over one year old at the time, agreeing that
however, and they were constantly scurrying across our walls we should row out across a lagoon to an atoll island off the
and ceilings. The kids really enjoyed them. Since we had no mainland of Tahiti. When we were about half way to the
television, these fascinating little creatures proved to be a good small island, a scary thing happened that could have been
meansofentertainmentforthechildren.Thegeckois anatural a real catastrophe. All of a sudden the three boys, who were
fly catcher and it very stealthily and slowly creeps up on flies trailing little toy boats and an inflated inner tube, became
and spiders and when it is within a couple of inches of its prey, interested in something and all moved to one side of the
it pounces upon it so quickly, it is just amazing to see. So, as canoe (which was contrary to sailing rule # 1) just as a wave
I said, the kids would watch them intently and often estimate hit from the opposite side. Immediately the boat flipped
and wager on how long it would be before the gecko would over and put all of us into the deep blue ocean and also into
capture its victim. a confused state as we came to the surface spewing seawater.
Loyce and I seem to remember what happened next a bit
Generally speaking, Tahiti is a very healthy place, but still, differently. As I recall, I knew all except Kristin had learned
we had our share of illnesses and other physical challenges. to swim really well, so I quickly dove and found her and
Infections set in very quickly if cuts and scratches were then ordered everyone to stay with the overturned boat
not properly cared for immediately. And it was so easy for and hold on to the sides of it. Next, I was able to convince
the children to get scratches while swimming in the coral Loyce that the best thing for our overall safety was for her
areas in the ocean and for me on construction projects, for to sit in the large inner tube and let me put Kristin on her
example. Loyce chose quite a different source for a medical tummy. We still had a real challenge ahead of us to try to get
problem when she developed a strong allergic reaction the overturned boat and ourselves all the way back to shore.
from eating mangoes that caused her face to swell terribly. The boys and I were pushing as hard as we could as we
I broke some ribs that made it hard to breathe without paddled along side, but were making little headway. Then,
pain for weeks. Eric got a bad infection in a leg that took to our great relief, we heard a Tahitian man shouting from
some time to get under control. Hal had his leg pierced in a the shore telling us to just stay calm and he would launch his
spear gun accident with a little neighbor friend, which was boat and come help us. Soon we were all on dry land again
perhaps the most severe of any of our physical troubles or and I repeatedly thanked our new‑found friend for coming
illnesses. As I recorded in my journal, all of the children had to our rescue! He was especially kind and refused to accept
the mumps while we were there in Tahiti. I should perhaps any reimbursement for his time and effort in our behalf.
mention that the worst illness Shari experienced while
there was seasickness during a sailing adventure on a yacht This good Tahitian man was really impressed with the
with an American family (the Madsens) as we sailed to the craftsmanship in the boat’s construction and wanted to
island of Moorea and back. I think she honestly felt she was know who had made it. He quickly added that he knew a
going to die before we reached land. Tahitian did not make it. I told him my young boys and I
had built the boat. He then deflated my ego a bit by saying
Mentioning sailing with the Madsen family reminds me that if I had built it the “Tahitian way,” we would not have
of another ocean adventure we experienced as a family. had the problem we did. He went on to explain that I should
During some of the free time I sometimes took on Saturday not have filled in the ends as I had done to serve as protected
afternoons, I decided to build an outrigger canoe similar to areas for storage. He explained that without the ends being
others I had seen (see a photo of it on p 226). It actually closed in I could have righted the boat and then could

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have rocked the water out as Tahitians do regularly. He During most of our time in Tahiti we lived near a very
continued to admire the boat and then paid me the ultimate lovely beach in Pirae, a suburb just east of Papeete. Even
compliment by offering to buy it from me, adding that he though Loyce and I supervised our children much closer
could easily remove the boards that enclosed the ends and than the natives did, it was next to impossible during the
thus make it a true Tahitian outrigger. I had to explain to him daytime for Loyce to keep the older kids from playing next
that I had already promised to give it to another Tahitian door with their Tahitian friends, which usually led them
friend when our assignment was finished and we returned to the nearby beaches. Very often when I returned from
to America. Upon completing the outrigger, I had agreed to work my first assignment was to track down the older kids.
leave it with Bill Mapakoi, which I later did just prior to our This caused us some serious concerns at times. We would
departure from the islands. not allow the younger children to go to the beach unless
one of us accompanied them. So, each evening when I
We had many other personal adventures and fun times as pulled in the driveway, Shari or Kristin would usually be
a family during our three years in the islands. The children waiting near the side door holding my swimming suit in
loved the black and white sand beaches around the islands hand impatiently encouraging me to hurry and change so
and spent time almost every day in the ocean. On most we could get to the beach! The kids had many wonderful
Saturday afternoons and on legal holidays we would trek adventures during this time.
to some new place either around Tahiti or on Moorea,
which was within sight of the main island. Eric and Hal Some of the adventures of the boys, however, were a bit scary
became an expert team in finding beautiful seashells. It for us. We will never forget the day the boys brought home a
seems Hal has always had excellent vision in sighting “stone fish” in a bucket. This is one of the few very dangerous
things, whether it was shells deep down in the water or fish in the islands. It has a dozen or more poisonous spines
deer or whatever. So in looking for the shells Hal would all along its back and often buries itself in sand pockets in
point out to Eric where the best ones were and Eric could corral banks. If a person steps on these almost hidden spines,
dive deeper than most of the native kids to find them. it causes paralysis to set in very rapidly, making it difficult for
They spent many hours at this and found some especially a person to breathe and this can cause death unless treated
valuable specimens, which they sometimes sold to a shell with proper medication. I don’t recall how the boys obtained
merchant. There is a special way to treat live shells. You this deadly fish without being affected by its poisonous
must bury them in sand for a week or two so the ants can spines, but we decided the best thing to do with it was to have
remove all the content of the shells. If this is not done, the it stuffed by the same taxidermist who had treated the large
shells become very smelly. The boys wanted to bring some turtle given to me in the Tuamotu Islands. (That’s a special
of their best shells back to the States when we returned adventure I’ll tell about later).
and this would not have been a problem except for the fact
that some of the shells they included in the shipping box Other times Eric brought home small sharks ‑ perhaps only
had not yet passed through the ant treatment! You just a couple of feet long ‑ that he begged to have stuffed as well.
can’t imagine how terrible a couple of our boxes smelled We did have one treated by the same taxidermist who had
when they were finally delivered to us back home in Utah! done my turtle but he did a poor job on it and after a few
Eric and Hal tried to plead innocence, but the evidence weeks the shark had shrunk so much that it didn’t look at
against them was just too overpoweringly strong! We all natural. We had similar results with his work on the
would laugh about this later but it took quite a long time stonefish. Apparently it was much easier to do turtles than
to air out some of the other items that were packed in the fish. The boys always had great sport and fun with their spear
boxes nearest the smelly shells. guns and on another occasion Eric brought home a nice

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tuna, which gave us good fresh fish for a number of meals. I think all of the children were sorry to leave the islands. And,
of course, little Kristin knew nothing of America since she
Eric recently reminded me about how he had obtained was taken to Tahiti as a babe-in-arms. I remember how very
the small sharks. Native fishermen gave them to him humorous and yet how sad it was one day, after we had been
during their regular netting sweeps of our bay. This was a back home for only a few weeks’ time, when little Kristin
fascinating process whereby every month or two a large tugged on my leg and pleadingly asked, “Daddy, it seems
group of natives would get together in a community effort very nice here in America, but -- when are we going home?”
and net tremendous amounts of fish. They would do this by I think each of the others, except perhaps for their Mom,
letting out a long net from their boats in a lengthy half circle really did miss Tahiti for years after we left there.
or arch around the inside of our bay or lagoon. They would
then draw the net onto the shore and harvest and place in Once again, however, it was good to be back in our own
large woven baskets the many varieties of fish including, of home in Spanish Fork, but because I had been asked to
course, some sharks, which they often gave to the youngsters. work at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City, we soon
The shark meat was not as good for eating as the other fish, realized it would be much more practical to live nearer my
but the jaws of the sharks would be preserved as souvenirs work. Therefore, after we were home only a short time, we
because once the skin and flesh were removed, with only purchased a lot and began building a new home in West
the jawbone and teeth remaining, it makes an interesting Jordan. It was here all of our children spent the remainder
and fiercesome show piece. We brought back two or three of their youth and their school years until leaving home.
sets of shark’s jaws as part of our shell collections. We enjoyed very much the approximately 23 years we lived
in West Jordan. I always felt I had roots in this community
Hal was baptized soon after we arrived in Tahiti and Shari a for it was here, as a young boy that my great grandfather
couple of years later. Hal seems to remember his baptismal Sylvester Bradford settled with his mother and step-father
experience in vivid detail and recently described to me Archibald Gardner, after crossing the Plains with the
the beautiful setting with the palm trees surrounding the Mormon pioneers in 1847. Later Grandfather Bradford and
blue tiled font, which was located in a large atrium within his brother Pleasant moved to Spanish Fork where there are
the meetinghouse courtyard. The four older children all now many Bradford descendants, of which we are a part.
attended the Church Elementary School and all of them
did very well in their studies, finishing at or near the top in I shall now add here just a few comments about each of our
each of their classes. Kristin was about five years younger five children.
than Jon and was the only one who didn’t attend school
while we were there. Eric married soon after graduating from high school. He
and his wife Patrice Gallow had two children, Christopher
During most of our time in Tahiti we lived in a nice home (Chris), and Erika. Eric and Patrice were later divorced. Eric
near a lovely beach and lagoon. It is no wonder the kids then went back to school and obtained a degree in Electrical
enjoyed their time here so very much. We took a lot of Engineering that has since provided him really steady and
drives and picnics on weekends and holidays and there productive employment in computer related companies.
were always fun things for the kids to do and see. We had
so many fascinating experiences while in Tahiti that I could Hal fulfilled a mission to Thailand after graduating from
probably write a fairly interesting book about them. I have high school. He then completed a university degree in the
related in Chapter 4 a number of our other experiences in Computer Design field and later a Master’s Degree as well.
Tahiti, so there may be some duplication here. He married Jan Robison from the Denver area and they
now have five wonderful children: Megan, Collette, Trevor,

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Alisha and Rachael. In July 2002 Hal also obtained his was smitten with an illness, which has restricted what
MBA degree. Hal has worked for several years for Hewlett- we all expected would be an especially productive and
Packard Company in Boise. fulfilling life. Jon has never married, but is able to live a
fairly independent life in spite of his illness. He lives on
Shari fulfilled a mission to Japan following high school and his own in Salt Lake City.
some university studies. She later graduated from the BYU
in the field of Sports Therapy. Shari was our outstanding Our youngest child, Kristin, also fulfilled a mission. She
athlete and won many trophies with her athletic skills, served in the Paris France Mission following her graduation
mainly in basketball and volleyball. Shari later married from high school and some college studies. While on her
Glen Walbeck of Draper, Utah. Glen also served a mission mission she met her future husband, Bryan Ballif. They
in Japan and is a BYU graduate as well. He has worked for both graduated from BYU prior to their marriage and then
finance companies. Shari and Glen have four wonderful both obtained master’s degrees from BYU. Still later, Bryan
children: Kelsi, Kendra, Peyton and Landon. They live in received a doctoral degree from Harvard University and
South Jordan, Utah. they now live in the Boston area. They have been blessed
with two fine children: Ashlin and Nathan.
Jon seemed to be every bit as outstanding as each of
our other children. He was an honor student into high Much more could be written about each of our children but
school and had exceptional talents in art and other I think it may be best for each of them to write up his or her
crafts. However, in his junior year of high school he own history. I should add, however, that I can’t help but feel

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Marriage and Family

very good, and even proud, that each one of them, with the condo in the Rock Canyon development where we lived
exception of Jon who has been so ill for years, has obtained for over a year while I was completing our Sundance home.
university degrees and some even advanced degrees. I’m We then sold this really fine condo unit and moved into our
especially pleased that each of our two daughters, as well as Sundance place for only a few weeks before leaving for our
a daughter-in-law, has chosen to be stay-at-home mothers temple mission in July, 1995.
to devote full time to their wonderful little children. That,
to me, is as important as the fact that each of the three has a We truly enjoyed living in Sundance following our return
university degree. from Switzerland but decided after three winters there
that perhaps we were getting too old to live full time in
Our sincere hope is that each of our children will stay “true this truly wonderful setting that had such deep snows in
to the faith” which we have tried our best to instill in them the wintertime. So late in 1999 (Nov 23rd) we sold our
throughout the years we were responsible to help them Sundance property and purchased a nice condo in the
establish a solid foundation for their future lives. We can’t Rock Canyon Temple Estates located in the foothills just a
help but feel good about how all have thus far developed block or so east of the Provo Temple. A few months later
into very good, productive citizens and who are such we also had a new patio home built in the Entrada area of
great parents to our choice grandchildren. May they all be St. George. After a couple of years we decided to sell this
blessed to find much true happiness, some prosperity and beautiful St. George home and simply rent a condo unit
especially worthwhile fulfillment in their lives. during the three months or so we usually spend there in
Dixie during the coldest months of the winter. So, for the
Loyce and I found it a bit strange being by ourselves next few years we plan to continue to spend the summer
without any children at home after Kris and Bryan were months in the cooler climate of Provo and our winters in
married on May 8, 1992. It took over 35 years from the the warmer climate of St. George.
time we married until our last child was “out of the nest.”
We then spent just one more year in our home in West We have had so many wonderful family experiences and I
Jordan prior to my retirement on May 1st, 1993, at wish to acknowledge before one and all that, although we
which time I had already started our new home project at have had some real challenges at times, we have truly been
Sundance in Provo Canyon. blessed beyond measure as a family.

I’ll add just a few more details as I conclude this chapter. Places Where I Have Lived During
We completed our Sundance home in 1995 just prior My Lifetime
to leaving on another mission to the Washington, D.C.,
and Swiss Temples. I had completed a service mission in Some time ago a friend was complaining about the
1993, which I began soon after my retirement and served turmoil his family was going through in moving to a
on this mission during the same time I was working on new home. The person then said that our Leifson family
our Sundance home. I’ve told about these missions in a must have experienced the same painful ordeal several
separate chapter so I’ll say no more here about those fine times with all our different missions to far-flung places
experiences. throughout the world. It got me to thinking and I replied
that, in reality, we had no doubt moved more times than
In May of 1993, after selling our West Jordan home, (where almost any other family I knew of, probably 30 or 40
we had lived longer than in any other place during our times and maybe as many as 50. Someone chuckled and
marriage), we moved to Provo and rented an apartment for said that would be almost impossible. Later, when I had
a few months in the Marrcrest area. We then purchased a time to carefully review this matter, I was astonished to

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Sagas of My Life

find that I had really not exaggerated, for I myself have my lifetime. I will conclude this chapter with a listing
actually moved and resided for at least a few weeks’ time, of the different locations where I have lived throughout
but usually months or years, in over fifty places during my life. The places are as follows:

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Marriage and Family

1. Born in 1928 and spent early youth at 590 East Center 19. Returned home to Spanish Fork, Utah.
in Spanish Fork, Utah.
20. Roomed with other students at about 200 S. 600 E. in
2. Moved to our new home at 263 East Center in Spanish Provo one year.
Fork, Utah, at age 14 (1942).
21. Upon graduation I took a job in Glendora, California,
3. Inducted into Army and spent some time at Ft. as a teacher.
Douglas, Utah, in 1946.
22. Returned to Spanish Fork in 1956 and began master’s
4. Took basic military training at Ft. Bragg, NC. degree at the Y.

5. Took parachute training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. 23. Married on 20 Dec. 1956 & first lived in a basement
apt. in Provo, Utah
6. Returned to Ft. Bragg, NC, and spent most of my
military time there. 24. We later moved into the home I built at 885 East Center
Street in Sp. Fork.
7. Spent a few months on special duty in New York City,
NY. (at Brooklyn Army Base) 25. Called on 2nd mission and first spent time w/ Bp.
MacPherson in Elizabeth City, NC.
8. Returned to Ft. Bragg, NC, to complete military service.
26. Moved in with Bro. and Sr. Patrick to do meetinghouse
9. Returned home to Spanish Fork in 1948 and project in Creswell, NC.
commenced university studies.
27. Returned to 885 E. Center in Spanish Fork before
10. Spent summer of 1949 in northern Idaho woods leaving for Europe.
fighting fires with the Forest Service.
28. Left for Europe and spent short time with family in
11. Returned to Spanish Fork and continued university Laren, Holland.
studies & did construction work.
29. Transferred to Charleroi, Belgium, where we spent
12. Mission to France. Spent some time in Paris at winter of 1962-63.
mission headquarters.
30. I spent some weeks in Paris, France during this winter period.
13. Assigned to Nancy, France. Lived first at 70 Rue des
Anges near cemetery. 31. Transferred to our own project at Bordeaux, France.
Spent abt. 1 1/2 years here.
14. Moved to second location in Nancy, France, near tennis courts.
32. Transferred to Paris (Nogent), France, which was
15. Transferred to Orleans, France, my second city. central for my European travels.

16. Transferred to Bordeaux, France, my third city. Served 33. Transferred to Frankfurt, Germany, near our Area
as Br. & Dist. Presidents. Construction Headquarters.

17. TransferredtoParis,France,myfourthcity.Multipleassignments. 34. Completed our mission and returned to our home at
885 E. Center, Sp. Fork.
18. Spent several weeks in Iceland after my mission. Lived
in Reykjavik.

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Sagas of My Life

35. Called to serve in Tahiti. First home was in Taunoa, a N. Provo Condo in Nov. 1999.
Papeete suburb.
51. Spent winter of 1999/2000 in St. George. Rented apt.
36. RelocatedtoFaaaabovetheairportonwestsideofPapeete. in Southgate near golf clubhouse.

37. Relocated to Pirae near the beach on east side of Papeete. 52. Returned to Provo condo for summer of 2000.

38. Returned to our home on 9th East Center in Spanish Fork. 53. Built new patio home at Entrada in St. George and
spent winter of 2000/2001 there.
39. Built & moved into a new home in West Jordan, Utah,
in 1970. 54. Returned to Provo condo for summer of 2001.

40. Retired, sold home & moved into an apt. in Marrcrest 55. Spent winter of 2001/02 at our home at Entrada in St.
area of Provo 5/93. George.

41. Purchased & moved into a new unit at Rock Canyon 56. Returned to our Provo condo for summer of 2002.
Condos at 464 E. 2260 N., Provo.
57. Spent winter months of 2002/03 at unit #209, Las
42. Constructed and moved into our Sundance home in Palmas, St. George
June of 1995. Sold the condo.
58. Returned to our Provo condo for summer of 2003.
43. Calledon5thmission&livedfirstat10213Kensington
Pky. #202, Kensington, MD. It seems almost unbelievable that anyone would have
moved this many times in a period of about 60 years, and
44. Continued on to Swiss Temple. Meienstrasse 1, Apt. 8, over 30 of these moves have been since Loyce and I were
Zollikofen, Switzerland. married. It hardly seems fair that I would have dragged my
family through this many relocations.
45. Completed mission and returned to our home in
Sundance, Utah, in Dec. 1996. As one can see, Loyce and I have lived in so many places
and moved so many times throughout our lives that we are
46. Moved to St. George for winter of 97/98. (860 So. quite solidly committed that our permanent home base
Village Rd. # T-5, Sports Village). will now, and in the foreseeable future, be our lovely Provo
home most of the year, and we’ll continue to spend only a
47. Returned to our Sundance home for summer of 1998. short time during the winter months in St. George. We plan
to do this until we are so old we will have to be placed in
48. Spent winter of 1998/99 in St. George. Rented some sort of assisted living quarters, or be moved to that
Faucette’s place in Bloomington Hills. more permanent place in the ground where we will need
no assistance!
49. Returned to our Sundance home for summer of 1999.

50. Sold Sundance home & purchased our 1272 E. 2300

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Chapter 10

SPECIAL FRIENDS AND
AQUAINTANCES

Sagas of My Life

SPECIAL FRIENDS AND
AQUAINTANCES

One of the most interesting and also most rewarding whom this level of mutual feelings could be enjoyed. This
aspects of our lives is the development of friendships. There is what I would call “true friendship.” There is little doubt
are different types as well as different degrees or levels of in my mind that our very best “true friend” should be our
friendship that almost everyone seems to enjoy or at least Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! It was interesting how Jesus
should enjoy if they are to find the greatest amount of real himself uses this term in the scriptures.
pleasure, contentment and fulfillment in life. The simplest
degree of friendship would likely be in just liking to be in I feel I have been especially blessed to have had several very
another person’s company on those occasions whenever close friends throughout my life. I would even classify two
you happen to encounter each other. It is quite simple to or three of them in the higher category outlined above. I will
know if other persons enjoy your company for if they do, list a few of my closest friends in the paragraphs that follow.
they will take time to visit and exchange pleasantries with
you. However, unless these associations develop into the My very first and most enduring
next level, perhaps these persons should be classified as close friend was and is Paul Warner.
merely casual acquaintances rather than friends. But, even Paul’s family lived directly across the
so, there are people in this category that you really feel street from my family and so from our
close to and with whom you wouldn’t mind becoming earliest childhood, until his family
even closer, if only circumstances permitted. The next moved to Idaho at the beginning of
level of friendship is usually indicated when one or both of our teen-age years, we spent a great
you makes an effort to contact the other and, on occasion, deal of time together. We shared
suggests doing some activity together. I suppose the so many of the usual childhood
majority of friendships would likely be on this level. Yet adventures (I’ve written elsewhere of one or two) and we played
there is still a higher level of friendship that every person many games along the wide street between our homes and in
should be fortunate enough to enjoy. Ideally, all siblings our large back yards, as well as in the huge ball park just east of us
and every married couple should be blessed with this (an entire city block) which had ball diamonds in each corner.
degree or level of friendship. It would involve having a deep Another fun activity was hiking the short distance to the “Cut
desire to help, to comfort and to please the other person; Bridge” where we could walk along the railroad tracks and find
and for each of the two to be willing to care for and show “fool’s gold” or just watch the trains go by as we would wave to
unquestioned trust in one another. In my view, every the engineer and caboose man. Occasionally we even got into a
man and every woman should also have at least one other bit of trouble with our parents when we confiscated “extra” eggs
person, in addition to his or her spouse and siblings, with from our chicken coops and traded them for penny candy at
one of the two nearby grocery stores.

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Special Friends and Aquantances

It was a sad day for me when Paul and his family left for the Great Depression years, as it was commonly referred to.
Idaho. Since that time we have seldom lived close enough When the church was finally completed and dedicated, Vic
together to be able to spend much time together but and I would have been about 11 years of age. During some
through the years our friendship has remained strong. of those construction years we held Sunday meetings in the
Even though we have both been heavily involved with our cultural hall in the south wing and classes were held in the
individual families and in recent years have lived at opposite basement directly below the large hall.
ends of the valley, we occasionally get together for lunch or
for sporting activities or taking our wives to dinners. I vividly remember one incident with Vic that took place in
one of these classrooms on the west side of the building. The
The void in friendship that I teacher, Bro. Moore, had to step out of the room for some
felt when Paul moved away was chalk or something and while he was gone Vic challenged
soon replaced by other friends me to open a tall window and sneak from the room. So I
including mainly Vic Thurgood, did, expecting him to follow me. But, to my surprise, he
Earn Hales, Socks Argyle and didn’t and it was only I who got in trouble because of our
Mark Beckstrom, all of whom little escapade. Afterwards Vic often kidded me about this
lived fairly close to me and and we both laughed about it whenever it was mentioned.
attended the same LDS ward that After that Vic and I had many varied and fun experiences
I did. Among these, however, I together. I’ll have to admit that some of them were a bit
found myself spending far more of my free time with Vic dangerous, I suppose, and sometimes a bit mischievous, I’m
Thurgood. He and I seemed to have had quite a lot of sure, but never with any intent to be mean or hurtful to each
similar interests, especially in sports. other or to anyone else.

In May of the year 2000, at the request of Jerry Thurgood From our earliest years I remember that Vic was always a
Snyder, my friend Vic Thurgood’s former wife, I wrote happy, fun-loving guy. He had tremendous, natural, athletic
several pages of material about some of my recollections abilities. He loved all sports and excelled in most of them.
of Vic’s early life and of some of the experiences we had He was an especially pleasant, agreeable person and,
shared growing up together as really close friends. Jerry although he was always large for his age and very strong,
wanted to be able to share this information with the two I never saw any indication that Vic ever played the part of
children born to her and Vic prior to his untimely early a bully or started fights or arguments during all the years I
death. Jerry was very appreciative of the information I knew him. He did finish a few fights, however, that were not
was able to provide to her at that time. In as much as the of his making.
information seems to fit quite well at this point in my
personal history, I will insert it here, even though it is a bit As I recall, we were together in all of our elementary
lengthy. The material is as follows: school classes. I recently consulted with our close mutual
friend and kinsman Reed Braithwaite to try to refresh my
My earliest recollection of my very close and long-time memory about some of our early experiences with Vic.
friend Vic Thurgood dates back well over 60 years ago to Reed also thought that the three of us attended the same
when we both attended Sunday School and Primary classes classes throughout our schooling. We attended the first
in the old 5th Ward church which was located on 7th East and second grades in the old Central School on 1st North
and Center Streets in Spanish Fork, Utah. As I recall, the and 3rd East, and then we were sent to the Thurber School
church house was under construction during most of our located on Main and Center Streets for the third grade
early youth from about 1930 to 1939. This was also during and then finished the 4th, 5th and 6th grades back at the

223

Sagas of My Life

Central School. Reed reminded me that we Icelandic kids money, we would take the train or tram, which in those
from the East Bench had to stick together in order to defend days ran from Payson to Salt Lake and on to Ogden. Vic’s
ourselves, especially when we attended the Thurber School, stepmother was an excellent cook who served us much
because the Jones boys and some of the “ruffians” from the fancier meals than either of us was accustomed to at home.
west side of town often tried to pick fights with us. Reed I vividly recall that she usually served a chilled half peach in
reminded me (and I do now remember the incident) that a fancy dish as an appetizer for breakfast, for example. Both
one day the Jones boys and some of their gang followed a Vic and I were really impressed with the fine hospitality and
few of us Icelandic boys up Center Street challenging us to the fine food we received there. He usually reminded me
a fight, especially wanting to tangle with Vic. Reed recalled of this when coaxing me to accompany him into Salt Lake
that even though we were outnumbered, we agreed to City. As I recall the Thurgood home was located on about
square off with them, on condition that we be paired off 9th East and 23rd South in the Southgate area of the city.
one-on-one. Fortunately, just at that very moment, Vic’s
mother, Sophia, came along in her car and stopped to see Later Vic’s mother was remarried to a really fine man from
what was going on. When she was told, she immediately Payson, Utah. His name was Brentnell Curtis, but everyone,
agreed to sort of referee the melee, if it were done as we had including us younger guys, called him “Doc.” I think he had
outlined. Furthermore, she felt so confident in Vic’s abilities studied to become a veterinarian and this is how he came
that she even suggested that she would allow him to take by this nickname. As I recall, Doc had some farm land in
their entire gang on, one at a time, if they would accept the Payson area, but I think he was semi-retired when he
to do it that way. The Jones gang quickly lost interest and married Sophia. Vic had a hard time accepting Doc the first
sheepishly headed back down the road. few years, but he was such a kind, patient and considerate
man that Vic eventually could not help but accept and even
When I first got to know Vic well enough to go to his home, love the guy just as we all did. I remember trying for some
I learned that his mother was divorced from his father. time to help Vic overcome this problem.
I’ve forgotten his father’s given name for I always called
him Mr. Thurgood. He was a very fine and distinguished I personally think that Vic’s mother, Sophia, was so loving,
looking man, tall and well built like Vic. He seemed to be caring and helpful to her only child that she actually
a quiet spoken and gentle man. I liked him from the very made it difficult at times for him to properly develop his
first time I met him. He was very supportive of Vic and self sufficiency, initiative and independence. I know that
often attended sporting events in which Vic was involved. in our later school years he would ask for my help with
He was obviously very proud of Vic and showed it in his school subjects that she should have taught him to do
kindness and sincere concern for his welfare. His lovely on his own in earlier years. I loved Sophia dearly and she
wife seemed just as kind and considerate. She was quite a always treated me so kindly and just as one of their family,
petite, refined and beautiful lady. She had a daughter about but I remember thinking many times (I obviously didn’t
our age who seemed quite infatuated with Vic. But that was have the courage nor the wisdom to actually tell her) that
not uncommon because a lot of the girls were attracted to she needed to allow and even encourage Vic to do many
this tall, lanky, handsome, but somewhat shy guy. things that she herself insisted on doing for him. In spite
of this, however, Vic became a really good man, I’m sure.
On weekends Vic occasionally invited me to hitchhike with I should perhaps add at this point that after high school,
him to Salt Lake City to visit with his father. We usually Vic’s and my paths went in somewhat different directions
traveled by this means (which was quite common and very (as is usually the case with most school chums) and I
accepted in those times) but, of course, when and if we had really wasn’t as close to him later on as I had been in our

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Special Friends and Aquantances

younger years. It was only on rare occasions that we were at all funny. But I just kept on and suddenly he picked me
able to get together in later years to reminisce over “old up and dunked me head first into a large 50-gallon barrel
times,” but these were treasured times for me. of water we were using for the cement mixture. He made
me promise I’d stop singing before he would let me keep
In our early teens before we could drive a car, Vic and I really my head above the water. We later laughed a lot about this
enjoyed a lot of activities that we got to mostly by hitchhiking. experience as well.
These included swimming at several locations, movies in
nearby towns but mostly Provo, skiing at Timp Haven and Near the end of the summer break when we were about 15
various activities in Salt Lake City. I recall going swimming years of age, Vic, Earn Hales and I decided to go on a sort
most often at Park-Ro-She just north of Springville. The of hobo trip. A friend of ours, Paul Warner, had moved to
swimming ticket cost only 10 cents, then afterwards, we Idaho Falls a year or two earlier. Also Vic’s family had good
would buy 2 for 1 hamburgers for 10 cents and a large root friends living in the Los Angeles area so we decided to visit
beer for 5 cents. So, in those days you could have a whole both of these places and whatever lay between. Our parents
Saturday afternoon’s entertainment for 25 cents! were not at all in favor of this but we had worked hard all
summer and they must have realized it was something we
In those earlier years, when school was out for the summer, felt we needed to do as part of our passage into manhood or
most of us boys worked in the fields for the area farmers some such thing. This proved to be a really great adventure
- harvesting hay, grain, peas and tomatoes; or thinning, and I think the best thing that came from it was that we
weeding and topping sugar beets, etc. Then when we were gained a much greater appreciation of our comfortable
a little older we got jobs such as helpers in various trades homes and our loving families.
or labor jobs at the canning factory, pea vineries and even
at the steel mill in Orem, when we were in high school. I’ll mention just a couple of the interesting things we
During the depression years and later during the war years experienced. We didn’t want to spend all of our hard-earned
(World War II) you just took whatever job happened to be summer earnings and we also wanted to be really tough
available, sometimes with friends and sometimes on your hobos so we spent most of our nights sleeping in haystacks,
own. I worked a couple of jobs during those times with Vic on park benches and I remember one night on a hard,
at the cannery and at a pea vinery one year but most of my wooden floor in a small, one room post office that we found
time was with my dad in construction. There were a few open somewhere in Southern Idaho. As we were walking
times when Vic worked construction with us as well. alongside a highway while hitchhiking one really hot, sultry
day, we came to a farmhouse and noticed a hose of running
I remember one summer we were pouring concrete on a water on their front lawn. Vic easily jumped their short
blistering, hot day. Vic and I were assigned to shovel sand picket fence and began gulping down the cool, refreshing
and gravel into a large cement mixer and it was really hard water. Then just as he paused to take a deep breath, the farm
keeping ahead of the other crewmen. Lux Braithwaite, lady came out on her front porch and yelled to us that we
who was one of the cement finishers, came out to us and were drinking irrigation water that would probably make us
kiddingly said that we might be good athletes but that we sick. She was certainly right, for just the thought of what she
were not real men if we couldn’t keep the other crewmen said caused Vic to immediately step to a nearby ditch that
busy. So we worked all the harder and Vic couldn’t seem he almost filled with what he had just consumed.
to quench his insatiable thirst. We were stripped to the
waist and were perspiring from every pore. To tease him I As mentioned before, our means of travel was mostly by
began singing songs such as “How dry I am” and “Cool clear hitch-hiking , however, after a really fine visit with our friend
water.” Vic asked me to stop because he didn’t think it was Paul Warner in Idaho Falls, we made our way back south

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to Ogden where we were able to hitch a ride in a boxcar of days later. I’m sure we were much happier to be back home
a freight train headed for California. I think we got over than we let on to our families. All in all, it proved to be a
into Nevada someplace where we were discovered, kicked really good experience that bonded the three of us together
off the train and chased by a train detective. We couldn’t much closer than ever before.
figure out why he was chasing us but we didn’t stop to find
out. We then went back to the highway and eventually It must have been this same autumn time that Vic’s step-
made our way on to sunny, Southern California where dad invited us to go deer hunting for our first time. He
we stayed with a Jamison family that was originally from had given Vic a small 25-35 rifle but I didn’t have a gun
Spanish Fork. They treated us royally and we had a great so I was a bit reluctant to accept to go. At this same time
time at the beaches and at amusement parks for a few that Vic was trying to convince me to go anyway, we were
days. But school was soon to start so we had to call off the in Payson one Friday afternoon for a sophomore football
fun and get back home. game. After the game, a few of us stopped off at Sil’s Cafe
for a treat and milkshakes. As we finished and were paying
We had previously learned in hitchhiking that it was almost our bills, Vic looked up at a beautiful 30-30 rifle above the
impossible to get a ride when the three of us were all snack bar and his eyes suddenly lit up. It was the main prize
together, so we would usually draw lots to see who would on a punchboard game and each punch cost 10 cents. The
go out on the highway first to seek a ride while the other waitress had just placed my change of 15 cents, which I had
two stayed out of sight. When a kind person would finally intended to leave as a tip, on the counter in front of me. Vic
stop, we would ask if he had room for the two other friends. had just received his change of 5 cents. He immediately
Sometimes they would accept all three of us but usually they pushed his 5 cents over with my 15 cents and said, “Okay,
wouldn’t. In the beginning of this arrangement we agreed Thor, that rifle is yours. All you need to do is take those two
to try to meet at some city farther along. I well remember punches and we’re set to go deer hunting.” Well, I’d tried
when one gentleman stopped for me. It must have been that punch game before and had never won anything on
when I was the final of the three to get a ride. Anyway, as I slid them in several previous tries. But it was something to do
into the front seat beside the man and looked over at him, with the change you received from a bill, so I punched out
I was startled to see that he had a revolver pointing at me! I the two tries and was completely shocked when I opened
couldn’t imagine what his intentions were but immediately the first one and it was the winning number! I remember
thought that if he meant to rob me, he would have very poor that Vic and I jumped up and down and danced in circles
pickings. He then calmly told me that once before he had with people in the cafe obviously thinking we had imbibed
a bad experience with a hitchhiker and although he was in something stronger than root beer.
willing to help me, he didn’t want any trouble from me. I
assured him he had nothing to worry about. As I recall, I It turned out that the hunting trip was really fun but not all
rode all the way to St. George with this man and he proved that successful for either of us. Doc was a good friend with
to be delightful company and at the same time gave me the Dixon brothers who had a large and really nice ranch
much sound advice for my future. in Spanish Fork Canyon. I especially remember a couple
of incidents that took place. Doc and one of the Dixon
Also, as I recall, when we were preparing to leave Los Angeles brothers suggested that Vic and I hike up a steep ridge to
we decided to pool what little money we had left and a sort of pass about half way up the mountain and wait
divide it up so we each had enough for a couple of meager there for deer to come to us. We took off before daylight
meals on the way home. As it turned out, we straggled into and positioned ourselves as we’d been instructed. We could
Spanish Fork separately making our way home a couple of make out that there was a good game trail coming across

226

Special Friends and Aquantances

this pass. As it began to get light, we could hear something younger brother showed us the large cellar dug into the
stirring in the oak brush just below us. We were really getting hillside where they stored their fresh meats. This shooting
anxious and excited and obviously had plenty of “buck incident was just another experience that Vic and I laughed
fever,” as it is called when you fairly shake in anticipation of about as we related it many times thereafter.
some expected action. I think it was Vic who suggested we
should lie down prone so we could hold our rifles steadier. Age 16 brought about big changes in our lives. One of the
As it got lighter, we could tell there was a good-sized herd biggest items was getting our driver licenses. Vic was often
directly below us within easy shooting range. I remember allowed the use of his mom’s automobile, which opened
we debated back and forth about waiting for clearer daylight up for us many new and exciting adventures. We no longer
or whether we should just shoot away. Finally, it dawned on had to hitch-hike to get to interesting places. For example,
us that these animals were much too big to be deer. They going to swimming holes increased by about three-fold
were monsters and then we could plainly see that they and we tried many from the Warm Springs near Goshen
were elk! One big bull meandered closer and closer to to the Mineral Springs north of Salt Lake. Then a year or
us and we were completely engrossed as we watched his two later there were such things as dances in Moroni, trips
every move. As we lay there with our rifles pointed in that to state and national parks, skiing at several locations and
direction, Vic whispered, “What a simple shot it would be attending athletic events in different places both near and
to drop that big beast.” He no sooner said that than a shot away from our town. I remember a couple of skiing events
rang out and the massive bull elk slumped and fell over. I that were worth mentioning. One was at Timp Haven
turned to Vic and said, “Are you crazy, Vic, that’s not a deer, (currently Sundance in Provo Canyon) where Vic and I
that’s an elk!” He immediately responded, “I didn’t shoot, often skied. One day while we were there Vic swerved to
that was you, Thor.” We both denied it and we both were avoid someone at the very bottom of the ski run and then
convinced the other had fired the fatal shot. In the midst of shot straight for the river. He made a good effort in trying
our argument, we could make out a loud chuckle coming to jump all the way to the other side, which he had done
from along the ridge just above us. It was one of the younger many times before. However, because he had lost so much
Dixon brothers. He was really a tough, young man. He had speed to avoid hitting the person who had run out in front
been the state Golden Gloves boxing champion just a of him, he smashed into the snow bank on the opposite side
year or two earlier. He came down towards us leading his of the stream. It was amazing, but also amusing, how the
beautiful, little mustang pony that he had ridden up the front tips of his skis stuck into the icy snow bank a couple
mountain to a point directly above us. After he had laughed of feet below the regular snow level and perhaps four or five
heartily at our discomfort, he told us not to worry about feet above the rushing and freezing cold water in the stream.
what we had just seen. He further explained that because It was really not funny -- and yet it really was. It was just like
their ranch provided good nourishment for hundreds of slow motion as one of Vic’s skis started to settle and thus tip
wild game, the Fish and Game Department allowed them him slowly towards the icy water. We had taken my brother
to take whatever deer and elk they could use for their own Ted with us for his first experience at skiing and he and I
needs and that this nice bull elk would simply restock their were on the opposite bank unable to do anything except to
depleted supply. He then proceeded to show us how to suffer with Vic as he desperately tried to avoid sinking into
field dress the animal that he deftly cut into quarters. Next the icy water. Perhaps it was fortunate that just before his
he loaded one quarter on his horse and started down the head reached the water, the skis pulled from the bank and
mountain, telling us he would come back later for the other Vic was able to free himself from serious danger. I remember
quarters. Later when we returned to the ranch house, this it took us some time to dry him out and get him warm in
a nearby, old shack that had a pot bellied stove in the one

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end. This was somewhat typical of our adventures. Vic was would often remind me to hike the ball just as far out ahead
courageous, to a fault. He seemed to have no fear and was of him as I possibly could and I don’t recall him ever missing
very confident in his physical prowess. And, of course, this a snap. Reed Braithwaite and I were talking recently about
was usually not a problem. our playing football with Vic. Reed was our quarterback.
He reminded me that whoever we played against would
There was another skiing experience when Vic’s lack of fear always change their attack after only a couple of plays and
did cause a problem. I had just finished making a new pair of avoided trying to get around Vic’s end. He was so quick
skis in a shop class at school. Vic wanted to try them out so and strong they had no success trying to penetrate his area.
we went out to Skunk Hollow just beyond the cemetery where Reed also said that in his more than 20 years of coaching
we had made a sort of ski jump. The skis worked just fine on high school teams, he had worked with some tremendous
our makeshift ski run and small built-up jump at the bottom. athletes, two of whom had been selected as All-Americans
But then Vic decided that he needed more of a challenge (that would be athletes ranked in the top 100 in the country
and could see the possibility of doing a different run that he that particular year). But Reed felt that none of the fine
thought would allow him to jump over a snow covered canal athletes he coached were as good as Vic Thurgood was in
bank. Well, he didn’t quite make it over the high bank and his prime! That’s also quite a fine compliment, for sure.
slammed into it really hard. I could tell immediately that he
was hurt by the way he was holding his right arm. When I got Vic was selected as an All-State athlete in football, basketball
him to a doctor, it was determined he had broken his wrist. and track while in high school. In track he was especially
Soon, however, he was back on the basketball court playing strong in the longer sprints. I think he was state champion
with a cast on that arm. in the 440 run in both our junior and senior years.

As mentioned earlier in this little biography, Vic had great, Right after our graduation from high school I enlisted in the
natural, athletic ability. He also had tremendous drive and army and that brought a big change in our close relationship
determination to go along with these physical talents and that had endured for many years. Vic was offered a sport
all of this together made him a real winner. He especially scholarship to the BYU so he decided to accept this fine
excelled in football, basketball and track but was also an opportunity and hold off on his military assignment until
excellent skier, swimmer and tennis player. I recently had a later. What took place in Vic’s life after this was no longer
good chat with our old high school coach, Gus Black, and first hand information for me and, as I mentioned earlier,
we talked at length about “old times.” He said he had some Vic and I were not able to spend much time together
really outstanding athletes during his coaching career but after our years together throughout our elementary and
not one that was as good as Vic Thurgood. He concluded secondary school experiences.
the discussion by saying he only had one regret in regards
to Vic and that was that he didn’t start him earlier than he Vic did tell me later (and Reed also confirmed just
did. He felt he could have improved his winning record if he recently) that things had looked very promising for him
had done so. He said there was a lot of community pressure as he started his first year at BYU. Joe Nelson was doing
to play the older guys, but if he had it to do over again he great in basketball there at the Y and he and Vic had
would have started Vic as young as he possibly could have. played together at Spanish Fork High School. Also Mel
I thought that was a really fine compliment. I especially Hutchings who was a consensus All-American and later
enjoyed playing with Vic our senior year. He played running an outstanding professional basketball player was there as
back on offense and end on defense. I played center on well, so Vic was certainly in excellent company to be able to
offense and line backer on defense. On end sweeps Vic develop his promising God-given talents. But Vic was also
recruited to play football and that first fall, as I recall, he

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Special Friends and Aquantances

received a serious injury at the start of the football season to some people more than to others. The first of these
thus bringing to a close any future accomplishments he new friends was my Greek-born Egyptian buddy, Alias
no doubt would have attained. Halkitis. It was he who helped me get into the paratroops
at the completion of our basic training. He was, of course,
I was recently skimming through an old high school from a completely different background but we had similar
yearbook prior to a scheduled class reunion and came habits such as not being interested in smoking or drinking
across an entry Vic had written in it. He wrote: “Dear Thor, and it may have been this at first that drew us together.
Best of luck to you in whatever you do. You will always be I’ve told of some of our associations in the chapter on
the best friend I will ever have...” I was very touched by his my military experiences. Alias was released early from
comments. his military duties since he was not a U.S. citizen. So, after
Alias left, I became closer to Dan Morgan and Dan Keith,
One final thing I should add is what a tremendous shock both of whom came from Greenwich, Connecticut, which
it was when Jerry called to let me know Vic had suddenly was located only 25 miles or so north of New York City.
died of a heart attack. I could hardly believe that my dear, Although they were both “easterners” and of the Catholic
close friend, who was such a perfect specimen of physical faith, once again we seemed to have similar habits as far as
vigor and strength, could be taken at such a young age, I not smoking or drinking, which was quite unusual among
think only in his early forties. And although I considered most of the troops. Dan Morgan invited me to come home
it a great honor when Jerry asked if I would speak at the with him for the Thanksgiving holidays I think both years
funeral, I was also really surprised at how difficult a task it I was in the military. I remember having long discussions
proved to be. As I recall, I was unable to finish what I had about Mormonism with his mother who seemed to be
prepared to say. Perhaps what I have put together in this a very well read and intelligent lady. I was quite surprised
tribute to Vic partly compensated for what I had intended that she seemed so interested in our Church. Anyway, we
to express during his funeral. three young men did a lot of fun things during our time
together and became really good friends. I remember
In conclusion, I explained to Jerry, and to her two children, that we assured each other we would keep in touch after
whom I had never been privileged to know, that I sincerely finishing our military duties so I always expected to receive
loved her Vic and their dad very much. To me and to the a visit from one or both of them ever since, but it has never
many others who grew up with him, he was a true and loyal happened as yet. While passing through Greenwich several
friend. I’ve always known and recognized that I was blessed years ago, I searched through the telephone directories for
to have enjoyed especially happy years of childhood and Greenwich and its environs but could find neither of my
youth, and a good part of that happiness during these early former friends listed.
years was because of my friend Vic Thurgood.
After returning from my military service, I found that most
Soon after finishing high school I went into military service. of my high school buddies were now married and setting
It was during this time that I met off in different directions with their lives. It quickly became
my next three close friends. The evident that it was not feasible to try to reestablish the old
parachute training and related associations of bygone years. I then started my university
activities seemed to have bonded studies and later left on my mission to France. Although
our entire very diverse group I enjoyed working with all of my several missionary
quite closely together. However, companions, I really didn’t get all that close to any of them
you just seem to have a natural such that I would classify any one of them as a close friend.
inclination that draws you closer

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Upon the return from my mission, I once again enrolled at also fished, hunted and simply camped out together many
the BYU and fortunately for a year or so I was again in close times. We also enjoyed taking our wives out to dinner and
contact with my old time friend Paul Warner. However, it to other special activities. Lars and Helen were helpful with
was only a few months later that he too was married with Loyce when she was in the late stages of pregnancy during
me serving as his best man. By then I was really busy with the several months I was in North Carolina in 1962.
studies and construction work so I really didn’t have a lot
of time for making new friends. I did have a few girl friends I was probably closer to Lars than any other of my many
that I dated during this time, but nothing serious developed close friends. He was well read in the Gospel and taught
from these associations. The girls I dated in high school our Gospel Doctrine class. He also loved to read and had an
were actually closer friends than any of the girls I dated in excellent knowledge of many subjects. Probably his greatest
college. These earlier girl friends included Madge Gardner, intellectual talent, however, was in “good old common
Barbara Smith, LaReece Ottesen and LaVon Williams sense.” He was a hard working, practical minded man and
among others. I have remained really good friends with all we seemed to be a really good match or team. We would talk
of these girls throughout the years since high school. hours on end while driving long distances to places such as
the Boulder Mountain, the Hole in the Rock and the Henry
After graduating from the Y in 1955 I took a teaching job in Mountains, or while sitting by a campfire or lying in our
California and it was while there that I met my next really bedrolls as we shared our innermost thoughts well into the
close friend, my wife Loyce. She has proven to be the best night until he or I would not answer questions posed by the
girl friend I have ever had and we have enjoyed (most of the other, thus letting the questioner know that the other had
time, at least) the past 48 years together. dozed off to sleep. Lars died of a heart attack in 1970 shortly
after our return from Tahiti and I have sorely missed this
Speaking of family, I hope that each of my five children especially close and really true friend.
feel that I am a true friend. This kind of association should
probably be classified as a separate category of friendship, A couple of other good friends I must comment on were
I would imagine. A similar closeness would apply with made while we lived in Tahiti. There were actually several
siblings. There is just something that bonds family Tahitians that I really liked but two stand out as special
members together that actually far surpasses most other friends. One was Viriamu (William or Bill) Mapakoi and
kinds of friendships. the other was Jean Sun who was of Chinese descent.

Following our marriage we moved into our own home Bill was my chief assistant in the construction program.
in Spanish Fork and not long He was the hardest working and
after I was called to serve in the most conscientious Tahitian I ever
Elder’s Quorum Presidency. Lars met. He was so handy at all the
Peterson was the 1st Counselor building trades and I also found
and I the 2nd. He and I quickly out in one of our emergencies that
became fast friends. He was a local he was an excellent shipwright. He
dentist, but more than that he was and his good wife Emma became
truly an old time cowboy, through our closest Tahitian friends. They
and through! He kept a large herd loved our children and so we often

of cattle on BLM land north of the Escalante River and visited them at their home on the beach and they would
would move them in the spring and in the fall. Several times visit regularly with us. At each visit they usually brought
he insisted that I accompany him on these cattle drives. We us bunches of bananas and baskets of other tropical fruits.

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Special Friends and Aquantances

I’ve related some of our delightful experiences with the wanted to come and be married in the Salt Lake Temple,
Mapakois in other sections of this history. which they were able to do a couple of years later. We were
delighted to host them and help them go through the temple.
Jean Sun and his good wife Celina were also very special. They spent a few days of vacation time with us and seemed to
They were the hardest really be fascinated with all they were able to do and see here
working people I think I in Utah. One of the things about their visit that Loyce and I
have ever known and yet could never forget was Jean making up a mammoth pot of
they always made time what they called “peasant soup.” It was simply delicious and
for us. When bunches we enjoyed it for several meals afterwards. It seemed to get
of bananas would be better with every rewarming.
found hanging under our
carport, we knew it was Jean gave or sent me money several different times over the
years and I invested it, mostly in real estate purchases. It was
either the Suns or the Mapakois who were the anonymous surprising how he trusted me with his hard earned cash.
donors. Jean was the president of the Chinese Branch most He shared with me about how others had taken advantage
of the time we were there so we attended different meetings of him but he was emphatic in stating that he knew I was
on Sundays, but we still got together with them frequently. completely honest. Even though I invested in conservative
We were invited to their home or to go out for dinners many ventures, I was able to make him a very good return on his
times with Jean and Celina. They ran a curio shop as well as money. For example, I made them over $30,000 on the
a grocery store and were without children so they seemed to Sundance property investment alone. The only properties
try to make up for it by giving unselfishly to everyone else and I was unable to make much profit on were the ones he had
especially helping other families with children. purchased through others before he turned to me for help.

Because the Suns were so kind and helpful to us while we Each time I visited Tahiti to inspect the temple after it was
were there in Tahiti, I have tried to be of some assistance to built in 1983, the Suns insisted that I stay with them and they
them over the years since we returned from Tahiti. It started really treated me royally. I haven’t visited there since 1993
when Jean placed an envelope in my jacket pocket as we were but we still keep in touch from time to time and exchange
boarding the plane to return to the States. I didn’t get a chance Christmas greetings each year. I hope to be able to visit them
to check the envelope until we arrived home in Utah, but again within the next year or two. I’ve tried to get them to visit
when I finally had some time and opened it, I was completely here again but they are so involved in their business and work
shocked to discover it contained ten crisp one thousand dollar routine that they keep postponing any such trip.
bills! My first thought was that I could have been arrested
coming through customs in Los Angeles with all that money. W hile on our building mission in Europe in the early 60’s I met
My next thought was whatever on earth Jean may have had in another truly good friend, Henry
mind in sending this money with me. So, I immediately got Haurand. Henry supervised a
on the phone and called Jean. I remember I scolded him and chapel project in Germany at
kiddingly told him I was calling from prison. He laughed and the same time I was doing my
said he knew that was not so. I then asked him what I was to project in Bordeaux, France. All
do with the money. He was really complimentary and said he of the project supervisors would
was certain that with my great intelligence I would surely be meet in area conferences each six
able to invest it for him or just keep it in a savings certificate months and Henry and I seemed
for when he and Celina might come to the States. They really to be drawn together at these

231

Sagas of My Life

times. Our two projects seemed to be moving along better carpentry work on the temporary chapel/construction
than any of the others and so we often compared notes to try shed I was building on the meetinghouse property. Fred was
to be of help to each other to make things even better. Later we an Ogden banker before he was asked to join the building
were both made District Supervisors, he in northern Europe committee. I remember we sat on some saw horses and
and I in southern Europe. Henry was a native German from visited for some time and from the questions he asked, it
the northern part of the country so he felt he was somewhat became quickly evident to me that he had a very thorough
of a Norseman like me. understanding of the construction field. He later attended
one or two of our areas building conferences that were held
A few years later, while I was Fred Baker’s assistant in the each six months and he always made a point of chatting
Church Building Department, Fred asked me one day if I with me before or after the sessions. In 1966, shortly after
could recommend another good man who had previous completing our building mission in Europe, it was Fred
experience with our building program that we could bring who invited me into Salt Lake City to try to convince me to
into the central office. I immediately reminded him of take the Tahiti assignment.
how well Henry had done in Europe and he directed that
I contact Henry and invite him to come from Seattle for an Then after returning from Tahiti, it was my privilege to
interview. Henry was hired as soon as he was able to free work as Fred’s assistant for some years. Even though he
himself from other work. That would have been in the early was my boss and a much more accomplished man than
70’s and although Henry and I never worked together, we I, Fred never treated me as anything other than his equal.
did work in the same department and often got together for Our offices were side by side with a separate or private door
lunch or to take in a noon time session at the temple, etc. We between that allowed us to have direct communication
occasionally skied and did other outdoor activities as well. whenever either of us needed it. Later when he was the
We both retired in 1993 and although he lives in Bountiful director of the building program, he was often invited to
and I live in Provo, we still meet about once each month at meet with members of the First Presidency or other of the
the Lion House in Salt Lake City to have lunch together Brethren. It was interesting that he would almost always
and chat about old times. Henry is a deeply spiritual man so ask that I accompany him and afterwards write up a brief
a lot of our discussions are on Gospel subjects. Henry and report for him on each of the meetings. On a number of
I have had so many similar and parallel experiences that it occasions Fred asked that I accompany him to visit older
makes it easy to talk about many things. We always run out meetinghouses in various parts of the state to determine
of time long before we could ever run short on discussion if they should be remodeled or replaced. Some of these
materials. Henry is another really outstanding close friend trips involved long drives which allowed us to have lots of
that I truly appreciate. time for discussions. I truly enjoyed the assignment that
the Presiding Bishopric later gave me to manage the newly
Fred Baker is a man I greatly respect and admire. And I formed Temple Renovation and Maintenance program of
must certainly rate him as another the Church, but I also really missed the close association
of my close friends. We first met I had enjoyed with my good friend Fred Baker. I call Fred
during a visit he made to Europe from time to time and I drove to Ogden a few months
in 1993 in the official capacity as ago and went out to lunch with him. He seemed to enjoy
Assistant Director of the Building showing me his very fine stable of horses. He always took
Committee. He came to Bordeaux great pleasure in riding the several horses he kept.
unannounced and walked in on
me while I was doing some finish When I was given the Temple Renovation & Maintenance

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Special Friends and Aquantances

assignment, I was informed that I could choose an assistant serving in the First Presidency or as Apostles: Thomas
and a full time secretary to work with me. I chose Joy S. Monson, Elders Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, David
Thomas as my secretary and she was surely the most B. Haight, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert
efficient, hardest working and truly loyal person I’ve ever D. Hales and Henry B. Eyring. Also I worked with the
worked with. She was also an especially good friend. following former members of the Twelve: Elders LeGrand
Richards, Marvin J. Ashton, Henry D. Moyle and Marion
Karl Lagerberg, whom I had replaced as District G. Romney. Other General Authorities I was privileged
Supervisor in Europe a few years to associate with were Marion D. Hanks, A. Theodore
earlier, had been assisting the Tuttle, Franklin D. Richards, Bernard Brockbank, John H.
Church Architect in taking care of Vandenberg, Robert L. Simpson, O. Leslie Stone, Thomas
the physical needs of the temples, Fyans, William Grant Bangerter, Robert D. Hales, Adney
so he already had a good feel for Y. Komatsu, Dean L. Larsen, Royden G. Derrik, G. Homer
the work we would now be doing Durham, James M. Paramore, J. Richard Clarke, L. Aldin
under the new program with the Porter, Eugene Hansen, Jacob de Jager, Friedrich Enzio
temples. I had worked with Karl Busche, Yoshihiko Kikuchi, Derek A. Cuthbert, Rex C.
in Europe and really liked this Reeve, Angel Abrea, Devere Harris, John Sonnenberg, F.
Arthur Kay, Keith W. Wilcox, H. Burke Peterson, Waldo
Swedish immigrant to America. He loved the temples and P. Call, Glen L. Rudd, Gerald E. Melchin, Glen L. Pace,
so did I. He also loved hiking and so did I, so we became Neil L. Anderson, W. Craig Zwick, Legrand R. Curtis,
a really good team for the next few years. We also became Sam Koyei Shimabukuro and Earl M. Monson. Members
especially good friends during this time. Karl was ten years of the Presiding Bishopric I worked with were John H.
older than I but he could outdo almost anyone in hiking Vandenberg, Victor L. Brown, Robert D. Hales, H. David
and skiing! On weekends, when we were not traveling; Burton, Richard C. Edgley, and Vaughn J. Featherstone.
we often hiked and skied together. We hiked most of the I may have missed some of the others who served on the
high peaks along the Wasatch Front and even climbed Physical Facilities Advisory Committees and the Temple
to the top of the Grand Teton peaks. Karl is really an Advisory Committees. There were several others of the
interesting, outgoing, loveable and kind person. He is also General Authorities that I was personally acquainted with
a real gentleman - with emphasis on the gentle! His very but did not actually work with on committees, so I have not
heavy brogue or accent seemed always to draw people included them in this listing.
to him. He is now in his mid 80’s and no longer does the
strenuous hiking that we did until only a few years ago. I I had interesting experiences with each of the four Church
still keep in touch with Karl by telephone every month or presidents that I knew personally. These included a bear hug
so but he now declines to hike with me. from Pres. Kimball in the barber shop and buying the same
two-for-one suits as he in ZCMI’s bargain basement, the
During the years I worked with the Church Building meeting with Pres. Benson in Liege as well as the meetings
Department I was privileged to meet and associate with in his office while accompanying Fred Baker, the interesting
quite a number of the General Authorities as well as four exchange with Pres. Hunter in Tahiti and finally, receiving
of the Church presidents. The presidents I knew personally the sealing power in Brussels from Pres. Hinckley as well
were Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. as working with him on the refurbishing project in the Salt
Hunter and Gordon B. Hinckley. Pres. Harold B Lee was Lake Temple several years earlier. He amazed me with his
serving when I began working at church headquarters keen recollection and memory.
but I didn’t personally know him. I was also acquainted
or worked with the following Brethren who are currently

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Sagas of My Life

A few experiences with some of the other Brethren that me his being corrected by an overzealous temple worker
I best remember were: 1) the trip to the South Pacific in the Salt Lake Temple for having his hand in a trouser
with Elder Marvin J. Ashton, especially his struggle pocket and for leaning against a wall. The good brother
for inspiration. 2) The meetings with Pres. Marion G. didn’t recognize Elder Richards as a General Authority
Romney in his office where he usually wore a dark sun and ordered him to take his hand out of his pocket and to
visor to shield his eyes from the lights, and especially his stand up straight. Elder Ashton asked Elder Richards what
making me promise that if the documents I was having he had done then. Elder Richards simply replied that he
him sign caused him to be put in jail, then I had to bring had done what he was told to do! Every general authority
him bread and milk every day. Also taking President I knew had a great sense of humor.
Romney to visit the possible temple site in South Jordan
and his not wanting to drive over the dilapidated bridge. These are but a few of the many touching and wonderful
A third experience with Elder Romney was his asking if I experiences I was able to be a part of in my associations with
would consider changing the minutes that I had prepared these brilliant, accomplished, but humble and dedicated
regarding a discussion in a previous meeting so it would Brethren who sacrifice so much, and willingly give of their
not put the Real Estate Division in such a bad light. He time and talents to further the work of the Lord.
said that I had taken the minutes exactly as the discussion
had unfolded, and he had never before asked that I Following my retirement in 1993, my next major project
change the minutes, but he just didn’t want these brethren was building our home in Sundance. There were a number
to suffer embarrassment, in spite of the fact they had of fine people who worked with me in this interesting and
obviously made a serious mistake. What a compassionate challenging venture but one person stands out from the
and tenderhearted man he was! 3) Meeting with Robert others and that was Kip Apostle. I traded the lot next to ours
L. Simpson in the Los Angeles Temple shortly after he to Kip in exchange for labor from him and his construction
had a hip replacement and how he insisted on holding our crew. Kip is really a skilled craftsman, especially in timber
meeting in spite of his obvious pain and suffering. 4) Elder works. A part of his involvement on our project was doing
Burke H. Peterson thanking me with such emotion when the large timber trusses or beams over our great room. Kip
I called him “my good friend.” 5) Elder LeGrand Richards and I became really good friends during this project and have
addressing me by different combinations of Norse names remained close friends ever since. Even though he is much
almost every week when we met in the Physical Facilities younger than I, we seem to have a lot in common, particularly
Committee Meetings. 6) Elder Henry B. Eyring’s playful our interest in construction matters.
grilling regarding a number of the projects for which
I was seeking the committee’s approval. He has such a Immediately upon the completion of our new home in
keen sense of humor. 7) The chastising I received from Sundance, we left on our next mission. This was a temple
Elder Brockbank when he couldn’t get approval to form mission to the Washington, D.C., and Swiss Temples.
a new stake in Europe and then later the bear hug he Some of our very dearest friends have been made while
gave me when he asked for my forgiveness. 8) The kind we were on missions. This proved to be the case on
and considerate reception I received from Elder Boyd K. this mission as well. We became well acquainted with
Packer when the Advisory Committee commissioned me several couples at each of these temples, but the Kellys
to instruct him about correct procedures in forming new at the Wash., D.C., Temple and the Gardners at the Swiss
stakes. 9) Elder Richards sharing with Elder Ashton and Temple seem to have been the ones with whom we have
developed the closest friendships.

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Special Friends and Aquantances

Sam and Joyce Kelley are Provo natives who have spent we were now in the Oak Hills 9th
most of their adult lives Ward, the same ward as the Ballifs.
in Grand Junction, In just a couple of years’ time we
Colorado where Sam have become really close to Bryan’s
practiced dentistry parents, Jae and Carma. Jae and
for many years. We I have become almost like blood
enjoyed going on a brothers and so I would definitely
number of the weekly classify this good man as one of my
very best friends today. We find ourselves drawn to each
outings and also daily walks with them around the temple other and usually sit next to one another in Church meetings
area there in Washington, D.C. during the few weeks we almost every Sunday. He is our Stake Patriarch and each of
served in that lovely temple. Then when we later returned us is quite busy with our individual families, but we have, on
from our missions we found them spending their winters in occasion, gone fishing together with Bryan and others. As
St. George just as we were doing and we picked up where we our grandson Nathan gets older we hope we can do more of
had left off with our friendship. We have truly enjoyed their such activities with him and his dad Bryan.
company and we have visited with them in the summers
in Grand Junction and they with us at our Sundance home These then are some of the wonderful friends and
and also here in our condo near the Provo Temple. Sam acquaintances that I have been privileged to know and
and I have a lot of common interests such as BYU sports associate with throughout the world during my lifetime. I
and 4-wheel trekking. As a four-some we enjoy such things say some of my friends because I readily acknowledge that
as visiting at each others homes, going out for dinners and I have many others that I haven’t included in the above list
attending musical programs. At the present time, we probably who would perhaps be somewhat disappointed if they were
do more activities with the Kellys than with any other couple. aware I had not included them in this listing. I hope I will be
They are really great people and we love and appreciate them able to make even more good close friends in the future that
tremendously. I can then add to this fine group that I have associated with
thus far in my life.
Morris Gardner and I had such a great time during the few
short months we served together in Surely the world would be a much lonelier and unhappy
the Swiss Temple. He was my trainer place without good friends of each of the types or
as a temple worker. Neither of our categories I outlined in the beginning of this chapter.
wives really cared to travel much so Many of the deeper pleasures and happiness I have
Morris and I took some fun train enjoyed during my lifetime have come from the close
trips around that wonderful little friends I have known and I am so very grateful to all of
country of Switzerland during the them for adding so much to my life.
time we were together. Morris is

another BYU sports fan so he and I often take in the football,
basketball and baseball games as often as we can. He is great
company and a great friend. He’s also our home teacher!

After returning from our mission in Switzerland and then
later in 1999 selling our Sundance home, we purchased
our Provo condo just east of the temple and found that

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236

Chapter 11

HOBBIES AND SPECIAL
INTERESTS

Sagas of My Life

HOBBIES AND SPECIAL INTERESTS

Some people, even at a very young age, seem to have almost be more interested in one than another and then that
an innate something that draws them to a particular field of interest may be less than the others later on. Nevertheless,
interest, which can be so confined in scope that they have the following are the main interests that I have enjoyed
no difficulty in deciding on their life’s work or profession. during much of my life.
This was not the case with me because from my earliest
years I have enjoyed so many interests that it has, at times, Building and Construction
been somewhat of a problem for me to decide on which
of them to spend more time and efforts, especially when it Hobbies, and also special interests, as I have associated them in
became time to choose my principal field of work or life’s the title of this chapter, are generally things we enjoy spending
profession. But, even so, I think this characteristic of mine time with outside our usual employment or profession.
has probably made for a more diversified and perhaps even Sometimes a hobby can even lead into a profession which is
a more satisfying life for me. It seems, however, that those actually what happened in my case since my keen interest in
who are the most productive and who make the greatest building led to my working with the Building Department of
contributions to society are people who can channel their the LDS Church for over 30 years. As early in my childhood
interests in a specific area such as we see with famous as I recall, I was really interested in building things, whether
scientists, explorers and musicians. Even though I didn’t have it was toys such as stick horses, scooters and small wagons,
great talent in any particular field, it has still turned out to be or pens for pets, ramps over which we jumped our bicycles,
a really fulfilling life in simply enjoying my various interests huts, play houses and other such structures. I often spent
which seem to have meshed fairly well into the main field hours building these items without even wanting to stop for
of endeavors where I spent most of my working years, that meals. And my Dad had plenty of tools and scrap materials
being a specialized part of the construction business. so it made it fairly easy to build all sorts of interesting things.

Of course, one’s primary interest and concern should It was only natural therefore that I should take the extra
naturally be his immediate family and his closest friends money I received when discharged from the military
and associates, but I won’t include these in this section as service at the age of 20 and use it as a down payment to
I have written separate chapters in this history about my finance the building of my first home. Since that time I have
family and friends. built or directed the building of nine homes for our family.
These included the first home in Spanish Fork, a home in
Listed hereafter are several of my special interests or West Jordan, our modified cabin/trailer in Indian Canyon,
hobbies that I have enjoyed throughout my life. They are a town home in St. George, our Rock Canyon condo, our
not given or listed in any priority because at times I may Sundance chalet, remodeling our Provo Temple Estates

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condo, the St. George patio home and lastly our cabin at carpentry work was what the Savior himself chose as a humble,
Palisades. I also remodeled two duplex buildings I owned yet very worthy and fulfilling profession. I like to think that my
for several years in the SLC area. interest in building and having my sons work with me as much
as possible in the construction of some of our homes has, to
It would be difficult to imagine a feeling of more satisfaction than some degree, influenced them this same way. I think it did
completing some fine finish carpentry work such as a perfect because my sons Eric and Hal have each directed the building
cut on an intricate molding or roof fascia and then standing of their own homes, which thing I feel is a great educational
back and admiring the look of it. Then too, at times when it was experience as well as giving the one so involved a real sense of
suggested that I might have accomplished more in some other accomplishment. Probably the most fascinating construction
professional field, I simply reminded myself that building and project throughout my life was our Sundance home.

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LDS Temples Temple where Loyce and I were married, the Washington
D.C. Temple where Loyce and I served part of our most
Pictured below are four significant temples in my life: The recent mission, and the Swiss temple where we also served
Salt Lake Temple where I was endowed, the Los Angeles for approximately one and a half years.

Four particularly significant temples in my life

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Although it could hardly be called a hobby, a great interest actually led me to full time involvement and proved to be
I have had during most of my lifetime has been our LDS a truly enjoyable experience and a most rewarding work
temples. From my very first visit inside one of these sacred during the concluding years of my working career.
buildings (Salt Lake Temple) at about the age of 12 as
a member of a ward baptismal group, I have had a deep Following my retirement from full time employment, my
interest and feeling for these special facilities. The first open interest in temples has not subsided for my wife and I have
house of a temple that I was privileged to attend was during served as full time missionaries in the Washington D.C.
a visit to Idaho Falls in 1945. Then in 1951 I went through and the Swiss Temples. I served as counselor to two of the
the Salt Lake Temple for my own endowments just prior presidents at the Swiss Temple and was given the sealing
to leaving on my first mission. A few years later, in 1956, I power by President Gordon B. Hinckley. Following the
was married in the Los Angeles Temple. I suppose it was return from our temple mission to Switzerland I have served
because of my keen interest in these holy edifices that a as a temple worker and temple sealer in the Provo Temple.
number of years later, while I was working for the Church
Building Department, I was assigned to do demographic Sports Activities
and other studies relating to temple properties and was
even asked by Church leaders to personally purchase land One of my interests that is definitely more of a hobby is
adjoining what was to become the Jordan River Temple in sports. I have always greatly enjoyed both participating
property in order to facilitate the development of the in many sports and observing good athletes perform.
site. It was particularly gratifying to be a part of the initial Sometimes I feel guilty that I probably spend too much
stages of this project. Soon after my involvement with time at this. But, I know it is healthy when one is directly
the Jordan River Temple, I was excused from my regular involved in most sports and it is certainly enjoyable for me
duties with the Building Department and assigned by the to observe really good athleticism on the part of others.
Presiding Bishopric to visit all of the temples worldwide Some of the sports I’ve enjoyed actively participating in
and undertake a comprehensive study with the goal during periods of my life include: swimming, horseback
of developing a program to provide “better care and riding, high school football, tennis, bicycling, water skiing,
keeping” of these facilities. It was a really challenging yet snow skiing, ski jumping, and parachute jumping (most of
wonderful and fulfilling assignment. Several weeks later, these during my younger years).
after submitting my study, I was completely surprised to be
asked to be responsible in putting this proposed program Another area of sports that I enjoyed during earlier years
into operation for all of our temples throughout the was hunting. I’ve hunted rabbits, pheasants, ducks, geese,
world. I then spent the remaining 16 years of my Church deer, cougars, and I was going to say bear, but we didn’t
employment overseeing this very important work relating actually hunt bear, we only trapped some. Fishing is a
to the temples. It was such an enjoyable experience to visit sport I have enjoyed and still do on occasion. I’ve fished
and inspect from the very top to the bottom of every one in many steams and lakes and on a couple of occasions I
of our many temples throughout the world. For example, have enjoyed deep-sea fishing. I’ve never experienced an
I have applied gold leaf to the head of the Angel Moroni uninteresting or unsuccessful fishing trip – even when we
on top of the Salt Lake Temple and I have helped turn the caught no fish! It’s a great way to relax and unwind and just
large screw jacks in the basement under the Mexico City enjoy the great out-of-doors.
Temple to level the building after a severe earthquake. So,
once again, one could say that my early interest in temples One sport I have been able to do throughout my entire life is
hiking and mountain climbing. I was only a very young lad
when I climbed to the top of the mountain east of Spanish

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Fork and since then I have climbed many of the higher peaks I’ve found that people who hike are a “special breed.” I have
in Utah and Wyoming and also on several mountains in never met a disagreeable person on the more strenuous
Switzerland. The toughest ones have been the Grand in the hiking trails. People who willingly exert the kind of
Tetons and King’s Peak in our Uinta Mountains. These both effort that is required for challenging hiking also seem to
required more than one day and we had to use climbing demonstrate an outgoing, friendly nature. There is sort of
gear for the Grand. It was especially interesting hiking in an unwritten code of comradery among those who make
the Swiss Alps. They have so many hiking trails all over their this a part of their exercise routine. I feel hiking is a terrific
mountains and along their myriad of streams. I was able to way to enjoy the beauties of nature and at the same time
climb on the Matterhorn a couple of times as well as in the commune with our Maker in a quiet, meaningful way.
Eiger and Jungfrau areas south of Interlaken. I think this
particular region is among the most beautiful, picturesque But now at my age (mid 70’s) most of my involvement in
parts of Switzerland, so I trekked in this area several times. sports, other than hiking, is as an observer. I really enjoy
I’ve hiked on Mt. Timpanogas many times, especially watching BYU sports teams. I have been a lifetime Cougar
during the five years we had our Sundance place. The last Club member for over 20 years and usually buy season tickets
time I climbed to the top was when I was 70 years of age. to the football and basketball games. The past few years we
I’ve also hiked Mt. Nebo (both peaks), which proved to be have spent 3-4 months during the winters in St. George so
tougher than I had expected. Now that we live at the mouth I miss many of the basketball games, but a lot of them are
of Rock Canyon, just above the Provo Temple, I try to hike shown on TV so we can follow them that way as well.
up its very interesting trail to at least the sixth footbridge
two or three times each week. It takes me a couple of hours Speaking of St. George, there are many wonderful hiking
of steady hiking to go up and back, if I go all the way to the trails in this beautiful and picturesque part of our state. I try
upper campground which can be accessed by auto from the to get in a couple of hours of hiking two or three times each
Squaw Peak road from Provo Canyon. It also takes me just week during our time there. The following photos show
under two hours to hike to the top of Squaw Peak. This is hikes and sports I have enjoyed.
the most challenging hike in Rock Canyon.

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Traveling continent in Europe. I’ve always been welcomed with open
arms by cousins and friends.
One of the things, which could be classified as a hobby, that
I have always especially enjoyed is traveling. Interestingly Over the years my dad hosted folks from Iceland a number
enough, my work assignments and my missions have of times. Following his demise in 1983, I also began getting
provided a great deal of this over the years. I have actually requests from our government agencies and also from the
written a separate chapter in this history (Chapter 8) outlining Icelandic Embassy in Washington, D.C., to do the same
most of the major journeys I’ve taken over the years. It took thing, as I have explained in more detail in a previous
two single-spaced pages just to list the more important trips chapter. Then later the Embassy asked that I accept the
I have made throughout the world in my lifetime. Probably position of Honorary Consul for this area of our country
the very most interesting one for me was a month long trip I and I served in this position for several years until 1995.
recently took (summer 2002) to Iceland, the land of origin of
my paternal forbears (see chapter 8 for more details). I have served as president of the Icelandic Association of
Utah and also on the Association Committee a number
Things Icelandic of times over the years. This association is very active in
fostering some of the old traditions and values of our
Another item of special interest for me has been anything Icelandic pioneers and of the “Old Country” as well.
relating to the little country of Iceland and/or the people
of Iceland. This interest no doubt began at a very young One of the “things Icelandic” that I really treasure is a small
age when I first became aware that my name was so collection of Icelandic books which Grandfather gave to
different from my friends’ and associates’ names. Some Dad and which he in turn passed along to me. Among these
minority groups have a real problem with perceived or real books is a large family Bible, which was printed in the year
discrimination. Although the Icelandic people in the town 1619. It is written in Old Norse and has beautiful scrollwork
of Spanish Fork where their forbears settled were certainly on many of the pages. This and the other books are of great
a small ethnic group, I certainly never experienced any sentimental value to me.
negative feelings about my origins. In fact, it seemed like
it was just the opposite. When other people learned I was I feel very fortunate to have been able to visit Iceland several
of Icelandic descent they always seemed complimentary times. In addition to my first visit in 1951 during the many
and often expressed their expectations that I had a lot to years I traveled the world I stopped off in Iceland a number
accomplish to live up to what was expected of the Icelandic of times on my way to or from Europe.
people. So, I was always very proud to be known as a
Western Icelander, as the people in the old country refer to Languages
those who emigrated and to their descendants.
There seems to be nothing quite like speaking a few
Upon the completion of an LDS mission to France in 1953 words of another person’s language to draw them into
I made my first visit to Iceland and stayed there for a few your circle of immediate friendship, and that applies even
weeks. During that time I was able to re-establish contacts though you may not do too well in the pronunciation of
with relatives and also establish friendships that have their tongue. Of course, if you do speak their language
endured over the years since then. Family members have fairly well, they really appreciate it. Fortunately, I was
since visited there in Iceland and relatives from there have able to learn my second language, that being French, well
visited with us here in America. I personally have visited enough that the natives have seemed quite surprised and
Iceland several times during my travels to and from the have even questioned a number of times that I was an
American. This was because they don’t meet many of us

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