Grandpa Don's Memories

While in Bear Lake, we had the opportunity to sit down with Grandpa Don (Ben's Grandpa) and hear many of his stories from his life. I tried to get Ben to record it, but he couldn't figure out his phone to do it, so I am going to try and type up as many of them that I can remember. Sorry if it reads a little like a list and isn't in chronological order- I figure it is better than not having these stories written down, as I want our children to know a little about their Great Grandpa:

-His father was a Bishop of our church for about 30 years. Grandpa Don left the church, but he still remembers his dad as being the kindest man who would do anything for anybody. His mom would say, "You care more about those other kids than you do for your own!" I asked him if resented his father for that, and Grandpa Don said no way- he knew he was always taken care of. He spoke incredibly highly of his father over and over again. It is evident that Great Grandpa was an incredible man.

-On his death bed, Don's dad said to him and his brother, "Don't you try to collect the money that is owed me!" Those were his last words- and Grandpa Don got teary eyed as he told us this story.

-Grandpa Don had 3 siblings. However, one of them died during an outbreak from scarlet fever. His family was quarantined- she was two years old and was the only one not sick. She was bringing food and water to everybody and then she got it. Because she was so young her body couldn't handle it. Grandpa remembers his dad holding her as she died in his arms. Because so many were dying, they had to keep her body in a spare room until the quarantines ended. How awful would that be?

-He spoke very fondly of his first wife, June. It is obvious he loved her dearly. He kept saying how beautiful she was, and that Beth looks just like her. He seemed quite taken aback by how much she looked like June. They went to the same county school. so that is how they met. Both were from Ogden.

-He told us June was the Belle of the Ball- all the boys wanted to date her. He says he has no idea why she chose him, but he's glad she did. She followed him to Arkansas where he was stationed during the war. They were going to go back to Salt Lake to get married, but they couldn't wait so they got married at a train station in Denver (maybe by President Hinckley, who worked on the trains in Denver during WWII?)

-June was never a member of the church and always wanted to move to CA. Don wanted to continue to work on the farm. She did not want to be on the farm, so they compromised and ended up in Ogden where he worked at Hill Air Force Base, but she always longed for CA.

-June died when Ben's dad was only 8. There were two boys in the house. Grandpa Don said what he hated the most was thinking of his boys coming home every day to a cold, empty house with nobody to welcome them. He said he had no idea what to do, so he taught them what he knew: How to work. He said, "I couldn't teach them how to play, but I could teach them how to work."

-Grandpa Don later re-married and was married to Jeanie for 50 years. It did not end well, and they got a divorce a few years ago. Grandpa Don said his mother told him when he married her, "This is the biggest mistake of your life." He would now agree to that.

-He picked up dancing in his 70s and fell in love with it.

-He kept saying that you have to love in your head and your heart in order for it to be real.

There are a lot more stories he told, but these are some of his memories. We need to get a tape recorder the next time we see him and just let him talk! It was wonderful to hear the little bit that he did tell us, though. What a blessing to still have him at the age of 94- and going strong!