Vesta was Grandpa Merlins mother. Grandma Ellen remembers Vesta as the smartest women she had ever known . After Vesta had Elaine she began having seizures but she was still a talented, capable, wonderful women. She worked, made bread, ground wheat, took care of the kids and the house and kept goin'. She was a wonderful Teacher, she even taught culture refinement (relief society) at the same time as Grandma Ellen, grandma remembers having such good conversations with Vesta.
Later in her life Vesta got intensely ill. She had to have most of her intestines removed (she only had 1.5 ft left after they were done). After the surgery she stayed with Grandma Ellen and Grandpa Merlin for 3 years because Grandma Ellen was a nurse and she could take care of her. She stayed with them in Rigby in the extra bedroom while Blair was on his mission. It wasn't always easy. Grandpa Merlin would go to work and tune pianos and Grandma would spend all day with Vesta. 4 years later she passed away. Climmoth had passed away when Grandma Ellen was pregnant with Neil.
One summer Grandma Ellen and Grandpa Merlin lived with Climmoth and Vesta so grandpa could go back to school to get some extra education so he could begin teaching Math in the schools. He enjoyed teaching Music but said Math was a nice break because he could give them a lecture and then he would have an hour while they practiced to do other things.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Wedding Day
June 2, 1954 Wedding Day
Grandma and Grandpa were married in the Logan temple June 2, 1054 where they had previously gone to take Grandma Ellens endownments out (in february). They were married in June instead of December (when grandpa wanted to get married) because grandma wouldn't marry until grandpa was finished with school so grandpa finished school in may and then they were married. They never had a reception, Grandma says they didn't know many people and didn't need anything so there was no need.
At the Ceremony Grandpas Esther and Willis (because Grandmas family weren't members) and Grandpas parents and his 2 sisters and 2 brothers and their spouses attended (Earl and Elaine were in Virginia). Grandma says there was one time when she was a little nervous because Grandpa wanted to go to the very top floor of the temple to a roof exit somewhere and look out one of the big windows and she didn't want to becuase she thought they would be breaking the rules...After the ceremony Grandma and Grandpa stayed in Salt Lake at Bobs Motel (brand new motel) and then the next morning they left for their Honeymoon through the Grand Canyon. They stayed with one of Grandpas mother Vestas sisters and then went to the grand canyon. Grandma and Grandpa had a honeymoon baby! Grandma had heard somewhere that when you are a twin that one of you would be sterile so she didn't know if she would ever have children. After the grand canyon they drove home, stayed in grandmas room at Addie's and then moved out.
They moved into a studio apartment. Grandma worked as a nurse at the Veterans Hospital and Grandpa drove a Taxi until Grandpas teaching job started in Grantsville. In Grantsville Grandpa took some odd jobs fixing Televisions and tuning pianos. Soon Grandpa decided fixing the Televisions was too expensive to have all the tools. After 3 months they moved to Grantsville. In Grantsville they lived in a large house for teachers they turned different rooms of the house into apartments and they had the apartment that used to be the office. Blair was born in March at a hospital in Toelle. Right before Blair was born Vesta and Climmoth (grandpas parents) came to visit and grandma was so worried about their visit because she thought her water was going to break. She didn't want them to make her visit and talk because she was worried about having the baby but they visited and she was polite. Grandpa taught high school for 1 year (which he didn't enjoy) and then they moved to Paris, Idaho where they lived in apartment for one year while grandpa taught high school again. Then they moved to Grace, Idaho for 3 years in a teachers home (a home with small apartments for teachers). In Grace Grandpa taught High School yet again. Neil and Dirk were born in Soda Springs while they were living in Grace. When Grandma was in the Hospital after delivering Dirk Grandpa came into the Hospital and excitedly told Grandma that he found a new job in Rigby Idaho teaching Jr. High. He was so happy teaching Jr. High. In 1959 they bought a home in Rigby. It took lots of searching to find a home. When they were looking the only home was a home on main street with LOTS of stairs and they just weren't keen on that house but then they found the home. They found their home on Ramona Avenue for $13,000. They paid off the home in 5 years because they were making 6 payments a month. They loved living in Rigby they only lived 3 blocks from town and all 3 boys got to work at Brolins grocery store for Gary Hainsworth. Grandpa traveled to many schools while living in Rigby Midway, Roberts, and possibly another school. They lived in Rigby for 59 years. Their neighbors across the street, Donna Rogers and her husband had the same floorplan and had the same anniversary, they were even married in the same temple on the same exact day.
While Grandpa was teaching one of the schools burned down. So the students had to be bussed to another school so Grandpa was able to teach Blair and Dirk but he was never able to teach Neil because Neil had to be bussed to another school where grandpa was not able to teach and Neil was always sad about that. Grandpa loved teaching Jr. High because he Loved teaching beginners! He wanted them to learn it RIGHT! He didn't want to teach them after they had another teacher.
Grandpa continued teaching and tuning pianos, at one time Grandpa wanted to quit teaching school because he was making as much money tuning pianos as teaching school but grandma knew they had to have a consistent income. So Grandpa kept teaching and they used the extra piano tuning money to pay for lessons and buy pianos for all of the boys wedding gifts.
Extra Info:
One of Grandma and Granpas first dates was with Granpas sibling Earl and Elaine. They went to a movie together, grandma doesn't remember what movie was but she remembers it was "high class".
Every time grandmother would go visit grandpa, every other week in Logan, Grandma and Grandpa would go to the temple (Grandma was living in Salt Lake living in an Apartment with Addie J Barney. Addie owned the home and Grandma rented the big front room and Addie lived in the enclosed porch. There were two other girls living in the home).
Grandma and Grandpa were married in the Logan temple June 2, 1054 where they had previously gone to take Grandma Ellens endownments out (in february). They were married in June instead of December (when grandpa wanted to get married) because grandma wouldn't marry until grandpa was finished with school so grandpa finished school in may and then they were married. They never had a reception, Grandma says they didn't know many people and didn't need anything so there was no need.
At the Ceremony Grandpas Esther and Willis (because Grandmas family weren't members) and Grandpas parents and his 2 sisters and 2 brothers and their spouses attended (Earl and Elaine were in Virginia). Grandma says there was one time when she was a little nervous because Grandpa wanted to go to the very top floor of the temple to a roof exit somewhere and look out one of the big windows and she didn't want to becuase she thought they would be breaking the rules...After the ceremony Grandma and Grandpa stayed in Salt Lake at Bobs Motel (brand new motel) and then the next morning they left for their Honeymoon through the Grand Canyon. They stayed with one of Grandpas mother Vestas sisters and then went to the grand canyon. Grandma and Grandpa had a honeymoon baby! Grandma had heard somewhere that when you are a twin that one of you would be sterile so she didn't know if she would ever have children. After the grand canyon they drove home, stayed in grandmas room at Addie's and then moved out.
They moved into a studio apartment. Grandma worked as a nurse at the Veterans Hospital and Grandpa drove a Taxi until Grandpas teaching job started in Grantsville. In Grantsville Grandpa took some odd jobs fixing Televisions and tuning pianos. Soon Grandpa decided fixing the Televisions was too expensive to have all the tools. After 3 months they moved to Grantsville. In Grantsville they lived in a large house for teachers they turned different rooms of the house into apartments and they had the apartment that used to be the office. Blair was born in March at a hospital in Toelle. Right before Blair was born Vesta and Climmoth (grandpas parents) came to visit and grandma was so worried about their visit because she thought her water was going to break. She didn't want them to make her visit and talk because she was worried about having the baby but they visited and she was polite. Grandpa taught high school for 1 year (which he didn't enjoy) and then they moved to Paris, Idaho where they lived in apartment for one year while grandpa taught high school again. Then they moved to Grace, Idaho for 3 years in a teachers home (a home with small apartments for teachers). In Grace Grandpa taught High School yet again. Neil and Dirk were born in Soda Springs while they were living in Grace. When Grandma was in the Hospital after delivering Dirk Grandpa came into the Hospital and excitedly told Grandma that he found a new job in Rigby Idaho teaching Jr. High. He was so happy teaching Jr. High. In 1959 they bought a home in Rigby. It took lots of searching to find a home. When they were looking the only home was a home on main street with LOTS of stairs and they just weren't keen on that house but then they found the home. They found their home on Ramona Avenue for $13,000. They paid off the home in 5 years because they were making 6 payments a month. They loved living in Rigby they only lived 3 blocks from town and all 3 boys got to work at Brolins grocery store for Gary Hainsworth. Grandpa traveled to many schools while living in Rigby Midway, Roberts, and possibly another school. They lived in Rigby for 59 years. Their neighbors across the street, Donna Rogers and her husband had the same floorplan and had the same anniversary, they were even married in the same temple on the same exact day.
While Grandpa was teaching one of the schools burned down. So the students had to be bussed to another school so Grandpa was able to teach Blair and Dirk but he was never able to teach Neil because Neil had to be bussed to another school where grandpa was not able to teach and Neil was always sad about that. Grandpa loved teaching Jr. High because he Loved teaching beginners! He wanted them to learn it RIGHT! He didn't want to teach them after they had another teacher.
Grandpa continued teaching and tuning pianos, at one time Grandpa wanted to quit teaching school because he was making as much money tuning pianos as teaching school but grandma knew they had to have a consistent income. So Grandpa kept teaching and they used the extra piano tuning money to pay for lessons and buy pianos for all of the boys wedding gifts.
Extra Info:
One of Grandma and Granpas first dates was with Granpas sibling Earl and Elaine. They went to a movie together, grandma doesn't remember what movie was but she remembers it was "high class".
Every time grandmother would go visit grandpa, every other week in Logan, Grandma and Grandpa would go to the temple (Grandma was living in Salt Lake living in an Apartment with Addie J Barney. Addie owned the home and Grandma rented the big front room and Addie lived in the enclosed porch. There were two other girls living in the home).
Monday, June 29, 2015
Look at those Pearly Whites
Grandma Ellen had never seen a dentist until she was 18 years old! In fact to this day Grandma Ellen has only had 7 fillings (3 or 4 were root canals). Grandma Ellen is 91 years old and still has all her real teeth. Her dentist says they are the most healthy teeth he has ever seen on a 91 year old! She has had one tooth pulled that was dead but other than that she is a model patient. Grandma says that you have to take care of your teeth! Sugar is bad for your body but it's worse for your teeth so she likes to brush her teeth often but if she can't brush her teeth she always rinses her mouth with water after eating so that her teeth can stay healthy and strong. 91 with all her teeth and only 7 fillings I think I am going to start following her advise.
Move to Oklahoma NOT Nevada
Grandma Ellen spent many years in Oklahoma at The Home of Redeeming Love with Aunt Bertha and Aunt Hilda. They were very strict and were devoted Free Methodists. It was in Oklahoma where Grandma Ellen Attended Nurses training. Naomi ("Omi") had lived there for 2 years previously and Aunt Bertha wanted Helen and Ellen to move there to join them. I was surprised to discover that Grandma didn't want to go to Oklahoma like her twin Helen did. She had decided that she was going to move to Nevada where her oldest sister Esther was living with her husband Willis. Willis' brother Wayne had arranged to come pick up Grandma Ellen, Wayne had arrived and Grandma was about to leave for Las Vegas to be a waitress at the Naval Base where Esther lived but her Mama told Wayne Ellen wasn't going to Nevada she told wayne to "Get on out of there, get going" and he left and Grandma Ellen was left and sent to Oklahoma.
Aunt Bertha worked placing babies from unmarried mothers with other families, Aunt Hilda became a nurse a little later and became the charge nurse. Grandma stayed there 3 years and worked another year and then attended Bethany College (about a mile away) where she would walk to school every day. Helen and Ellen then moved to an apartment to attend Nurses trianing in Oklahoma city. After Nurses training grandmother worked in the nurses training and had to wear and white uniform which she wasn't found of, she enjoyed her gray uniform from school much more. Anyway she wasn't fond of where she was living and didn't seem to enjoy the same social circles as Helen so her boyfriend Charly (1 of 19 boys she dated) helped her move to a different apartment.
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