June 11, 1983
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Why the Anderson Moved to Glendive and History of LDS Church in Glendive
This is the talk given by Ethel Anderson in the 1980s
When the fine Ogden, Utah department store called The Golden Rule was sold to J C Penney, my husband Ferrell was transferred to a J C Penney store in Evanston Wyoming. We lived there for about five years. Ferrell was being trained for managership and our life style seemed pretty well set.
Then the big depression began to haunt us. Salaries were cut, employees were laid off. Our fifth child was on the way and I began to long for my family in Ogden. For fear Ferrell might be the next to be laid off, we moved back to Ogden and Ferrell worked for my brother-in-law in a grocery and meat store.
In the meantime, Ferrell’s brother Lorin had been transferred to a Penney’s Store in Billings, Montana and then had the opportunity of going to Miles City to manage a store for Karl Johnson. Lorin became a partner and they decided to open a Karl Johnson Store in Glendive where a family-owned store was going out of business. Ferrell was urged to come to manage this store and use the experience he was trained for. The store had belonged to the Hollecker family.
Ferrell left for Glendive in February 1934. Our five children and I came in May. Dick was 10 years old (the oldest) and Janet (the youngest) was 15 months old. In between were David, Jeanne, and Marilyn. Carole was born a few years later.
We felt blessed to be given this opportunity but when I and the five children arrived on the train, it seemed to be the end of nowhere.
There were no Mormons! A woman who worked at the store advised us not to mention we were Mormons. But we never hid that fact and began to make friends and take part in the community life. We chose to go to the Congregational Church because of friends next door who had children the same ages as ours. We made many fine friends.
From some of Ferrell’s records, he says 1934 still was a depression year and Glendive was suffering from a drought. Government was purchasing a majority of Dawson County cattle for about $5 to $20 a head. Nearly all labor except a skeleton railroad force was WPA (Government). Business was at a low ebb.
Dick was 15 years old before we acquired a car but we lived nearer town then, and did a lot of walking.
In the summer of 1937 two missionaries arrived much to our joy. We had two children (David and Jeanne) ready for baptism. David had just turned 10 and Jeanne was 8. They were baptized by Elder Ray Smith and confirmed by Elder Clarence Stanger. The baptism took place in the Yellowstone River.
Our lives began to change at the start of the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation Project in 1937. Work was done mostly by WPA labor in conjunction with the Reclamation Bureau. Business began to pick up. Best of all it brought in our first Mormons.
One summer day in 1937 the Elders arrived at our home with great news. They had just passed a home not too far away with a Utah car parked in front and people were moving in. We were all so happy. I called on the new family a day or so later. I prayed it would be a family, an active family, and someone we could be very friendly with. When a young woman with a smile came to the door I felt disappointed, I don’t know why. She said, “Oh, I’m just helping them get settled. I’ll call Mrs. Neely.” Jo (Josephine) Neely came to the door. We were around the same age and we were friends at that very moment and are still friends today. They live in Spanish Fork. Her husband Parley passed away May 24, 1986. Parley was an engineer working for the Buffalo Rapids Project.
We began having church meetings in our homes. We even included Primary and sometimes invited the neighbor children. Our first missionaries to reside in Glendive were Elder Tingey and Elder Smith. The missionaries presided over the meetings for some time. It was a wonderful experience for them and I marveled that such young men could speak so well. It was our first experience with missionaries.
Those missionaries made a fine impression on the Glendive people. Many would comment to me what fine young men they were. One family especially was impressed enough to open their home for meetings and parties. That family, the Hoffs, eventually moved to Salt Lake City where they all joined the Church. Several other LDS families arrived but when the Project was finished, one by one they were transferred to Williston, N. D. or other places.
So it went on for some time. Ferrell was made a Presiding Elder which lessened the work of the missionaries but they still played a big part in teaching and giving us fine spiritual talks which we needed.
If you did not live around this area before the Buffalo Rapids Irrigation Project, you would not know the improvement and change for the good it did for the farmers and ranchers and in many ways for all of us.
The World War II made some changes, too. Some Elders who were working in Germany came to Glendive to finish their missions and showed us beautiful pictures of Germany. It was sad to hear what was taking place. They were the last Elders we would have for some time.
Dick graduated in 1942 and instead of getting ready for a mission, he went to Butte School of Mines and was selected to go on for training as an Ensign in the Navy. The World War II was raging and missionaries were not being called. At that time our membership in the Branch was low. After the war, Dick went to BYU and met Mary Templeton and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. Mary has been a true daughter me and a great support to her husband and family. David, because of serious burns on his legs received in an accident while working in a forest in northern Idaho, was not accepted in any part of the war services although he tried. He was told the scar tissue would cause him serious trouble so he did not get into the war nor go on a mission.
We began meeting in the Odd Fellows Hall for Church and by this time the Derby Whitmers and Audry Wilkinsen and her two little boys Karl and Fen had come back to Glendive to live. We had some lady missionaries by then and had an active Relief Society. Audrey was a big help with her talents and willingness to serve. l remember we served a turkey dinner at the Odd Fellows Hall and sold tickets to just enough people we could accommodate. It was a big success under the supervision of Audrey. Later, she married Chris Christianson and they both were very supportive. We were sorry when they moved to Livingston but were happy when Fen moved back as a young man with his wife Margie.
Through the years many fine active families moved in. Some stayed longer than others but sooner or later they would be transferred. We hated to see anyone leave but each left their mark and used their talents and energy to keep the Branch going while they were here.
We very seldom had a piano player to accompany us in our singing but we sang anyway. Also, families were building the branches in Billings, Miles City, Baker and in North Dakota. The Mission President’s home was in Minneapolis and we were in the North Dakota District. We attended conferences as far away as Minot and Bismark and Billings. A morning and afternoon meeting would be held with lunch served between meetings. It was prepared by the members of wherever conference was held. Most always there was one of the General Authorities who traveled with the Mission President and we were thrilled by their presence and the spiritual food they offered us.
In Glendive not all who came left, but some stayed and are still here and were for many years the backbone of the branch. Harold and Olive Mercer lived here for a short time and then went to live in Sidney. For many years Sister Haas, Olive’s mother, was the main stay of that Branch. Kim and Beatrice Mitchell, Joe Keller, and Debbie Chouinard’s grandparents played a big part in our activities. The Orcutts with their fine growing family were a great help. We just couldn’t have gone on without them. When the Getz came we always had music and Edythe Brown and son took over the piano. By this time we had acquired the old Lutheran Church and we had fun hanging curtains, furnishing the kitchen with dishes we brought from our own homes along with other donated articles. We held bake sales to earn money for the things we needed to buy. We had many suppers and get togethers.
In 1950 at a conference in Glendive, Ferrell was asked to become Branch President. He served until 1960. During that time the Gene Jensen’s were baptized in the Church, Santa Hrubes, (Derby Whitmer’s sister) joined the Church and later John became a member. Elaine Whitmer was Relief Society President and Audrey Christiansen and I were her counselors. We all taught either Sunday School or Primary or both.
All those youngsters we taught so many years ago are now teaching my grandchildren and have other responsible Church duties in the Branch.
Best of all, the big dream finally came true and we have a beautiful chapel to meet in.
Ferrell and I moved to Idaho Falls to let Dick take over the managing of the store and Howard Henabrey became a fine Branch President.
I feel very blessed to have had these experiences and the different callings in the Church.
Glendive Chapel, Church at Home, and Main Street
Sunday I sat by our Stake Relief Society President in Sunday School and found out she has a daughter who lives outside Glendive. This was fascinating to me so I sent her Mom's talk which she gave on Why the Andersons Settled in Glendive and some pictures of our early Church group. I mean, who knows anything about Glendive, no one I have ever met!!!
I thought Mom had given the talk in the 60s but it was probably after the new Chapel was built in the late 70s. They celebrated her 80th Birthday in the new Chapel and that would have been in 1981. Mom had sold her house in Idaho Falls and moved back to Glendive after Dad died.
Curious as I am I called my sisters and sister in law to get more information on the building of the chapel and I heard one interesting story of the roadblocks they were having getting enough members and it appeared to be caused by a member of the ward. I remember him well from my high school days. It was her opinion that he had bad feelings toward my brother who was the President at that time and spread rumors about him and caused a lot of contention. He had this strange death in which his truck or car fell down on him when he was repairing it. The funeral in the old Lutheran Church where the Glendive Ward was meeting was packed. He was a colorful and well-known person in the County. This helped a lot of people to learn about the Church and may have stimulated the missionary work. The thing that alerted her to the fact it was a strange death is that a friend commented on how strange it was that he would be working on his truck without setting up a second jack as protection. It was evidently something he was continually preaching about so why in this instance did he not do it. Anyway, membership grew rapidly after this. Just an observation but an interesting one.
So as I thought about the fact there were no Mormons in Glendive until 1934 when my family arrived in town and the fact they had enough members to build a Building in 1976 (or so, not sure of exact date) is a pretty amazing feat to me. 42 years!!! Impressive.
Then when I looked up the building on the internet I find it is located on N. Anderson Ave!!! Mary and Marilyn did not even realize that but Carole said she thinks the street was named that because of the construction company at that time building in the area was Anderson. Makes more sense than having been named after my Dad anyway but an interesting coincidence. Mary says she only knows one person in the ward anymore it has changed so much. I was amazed it was a Stake Building with so many branches!!!
I was also amazed as I studied the map of Glendive that they have two Dairy Queens when it is hard to find even one out here. It looked like a second one had been put up on the way out to Makoshika Park. Probably a great place for business in the summer months.
Curious as I am I called my sisters and sister in law to get more information on the building of the chapel and I heard one interesting story of the roadblocks they were having getting enough members and it appeared to be caused by a member of the ward. I remember him well from my high school days. It was her opinion that he had bad feelings toward my brother who was the President at that time and spread rumors about him and caused a lot of contention. He had this strange death in which his truck or car fell down on him when he was repairing it. The funeral in the old Lutheran Church where the Glendive Ward was meeting was packed. He was a colorful and well-known person in the County. This helped a lot of people to learn about the Church and may have stimulated the missionary work. The thing that alerted her to the fact it was a strange death is that a friend commented on how strange it was that he would be working on his truck without setting up a second jack as protection. It was evidently something he was continually preaching about so why in this instance did he not do it. Anyway, membership grew rapidly after this. Just an observation but an interesting one.
So as I thought about the fact there were no Mormons in Glendive until 1934 when my family arrived in town and the fact they had enough members to build a Building in 1976 (or so, not sure of exact date) is a pretty amazing feat to me. 42 years!!! Impressive.
Then when I looked up the building on the internet I find it is located on N. Anderson Ave!!! Mary and Marilyn did not even realize that but Carole said she thinks the street was named that because of the construction company at that time building in the area was Anderson. Makes more sense than having been named after my Dad anyway but an interesting coincidence. Mary says she only knows one person in the ward anymore it has changed so much. I was amazed it was a Stake Building with so many branches!!!
I was also amazed as I studied the map of Glendive that they have two Dairy Queens when it is hard to find even one out here. It looked like a second one had been put up on the way out to Makoshika Park. Probably a great place for business in the summer months.
Anyway, lots of nostalgia when I think about Glendive. It was a great place to grow up.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
In Remembrance of Len
My sister Carole's husband Len passed away at 5:40 am today April 29, 2017. She said she had a feeling last night that he was near the end, his breathing was raspy. He had fallen asleep on the couch and was very peaceful the whole night and then gave a final gasp in the early am.
They had rearranged the furniture yesterday to make room for the wheelchair. They had decided not to get a hospital bed and not to put him in a home for his final days. All her children gathered except for the ones in Florida. He was cremated and they talked of having a Life Celebration in the summer at Makoshika outside of Glendive. There were over 150 loving messages from their many caring friends on Facebook. Len had recently celebrated his 79th birthday so he did well.
They had rearranged the furniture yesterday to make room for the wheelchair. They had decided not to get a hospital bed and not to put him in a home for his final days. All her children gathered except for the ones in Florida. He was cremated and they talked of having a Life Celebration in the summer at Makoshika outside of Glendive. There were over 150 loving messages from their many caring friends on Facebook. Len had recently celebrated his 79th birthday so he did well.
Len and Carole were married June 20, 1964 in Pacific Beach, California so it would be their 53rd Anniversary this coming June.
Carole and Len met at the San Diego Stake Dances when Carole was teaching kindergarten in San Diego. Their wedding was held in the 7th Ward Chapel and the reception on the patio. Many of her students and their parents were there. We then had a luncheon and our home in University City. Jeanne and Stan and family plus Mary and Dick and family and Mom and Dad had all traveled down for the wedding. Marilyn and David missed it.
The following day we were all at the Pacific Beach beach and here comes Carole and Len.
Carole and Len joined us at the Pacific Beach the following day as they did not want to miss any of the family time together. It was such a fun family gathering. There were some sunburned boys though!
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Finally, Back to Normal
On the night of February 22 I was hot, and then chills and really feeling sick. Yes, I did have a fever, first time in forever. I was not sure I would make it through the night, I felt like my heart was giving out (over active imagination I guess but my blood pressure was sky high and I had the worst, worst headache ever) and I went to the clinic as soon as it opened. Probably for the first time in my life I did not even have makeup or hair combed, I felt that bad. He gave me a prescription for UTI and Sinus Infection and I know I had tendonitis in the knees as well as a back ache and that headache which went on and on. I think the pain pills are worse for you than the suffering so I did not take any, and got rid of meds as soon as able. I spent about three weeks in bed or on the couch, seldom dressed, went nowhere and now I am working outside 2 hours a day to start to do the spring clean up.
I am monitoring my work time because otherwise I will be so achy. Saturday I cleaned both decks of all the winter muck and I could not even walk in the morning I was so sore. Anyway I am 84 going on 25 the way I want to get things done but trying to go slow. I may get the Handyman to do the bagging and disposal of waste, I will see. I don't mind the raking as long as I don't overdue it. The bagging is harder for me. But since I have lost weight it is easier than it used to be. I feel fairly good except for the knees and legs. Today I got some compression sox and I think they help alot with the varicose veins. And the knee stopped hurting. See how I feel tomorrow. I am an old lady but I do not want to just sit, sit, sit, but I love being home. March Madness is starting and I will enjoy that. Mostly in the day time I leave the tv off. I love the quiet. Although I did watch a series while I was sick and listen to a lot of books. I did not want to move. I think the antibiotic used on me for the last two years has caused the tendonitis, will talk to Dr. Nelsen about that.
I love living up here, I love getting the yard cleaned up, I just wish I could paint and do more of the things needed. Oh, well, the sun is shining and I am finally feeling well!!!
I found out it was late April or May that I had my annual exam last year so I will schedule with Dr. Nelsen and see how he thinks I am doing and if he recommends anything. I decided after several years of no regular Dr at the clinic but Dr. Tonya I need to go back to Dr. Nelsen and he is not at the clinic anymore. So life moves on.
Somehow my computer tricked me and went over to Internet Explorer and everything Microsoft instead of Chrome and Google. I do not even know when or how it happened. I like some of the things and not others. But I just ask Cortana to find Chrome and I am back to the way it was. It is very strange. Have not decided yet what to do about it.
I have learned how to edit the Instagram pictures and put in my Picasa and print out. I love the way my little Brother printer prints out such nice pictures and uses little ink. I have been sending them to Matt. I finally bought a little scale and read the rules of usps mailing. Letters should not be over 1/4 inch thick. I have been mailing them thick with too much postage. I wonder if they get to him. I will do better now.
This is a status letter for me. I have worked 4 1/2 hrs on the fire prevention cleanup so far and I still have much to do, I will keep better track this year. Actually last year Matt did most of it, I just did the back lot.
Today I watched the Kings/Heat game from last night. Since I had not heard the outcome I was pleasantly surprised. They won! The Kings are Baaack--lots of new young ones who looked great!!!!
Oh, yes, I washed my lettuce really well this week and actually iced it and everything, it has been crisp all week. Love that. Marilyn thinks it is the lettuce that made me sick...not sure about that.
Yes, that is still snow in my yard, but I am cleaning where it has melted.
I love living up here, I love getting the yard cleaned up, I just wish I could paint and do more of the things needed. Oh, well, the sun is shining and I am finally feeling well!!!
I found out it was late April or May that I had my annual exam last year so I will schedule with Dr. Nelsen and see how he thinks I am doing and if he recommends anything. I decided after several years of no regular Dr at the clinic but Dr. Tonya I need to go back to Dr. Nelsen and he is not at the clinic anymore. So life moves on.
Somehow my computer tricked me and went over to Internet Explorer and everything Microsoft instead of Chrome and Google. I do not even know when or how it happened. I like some of the things and not others. But I just ask Cortana to find Chrome and I am back to the way it was. It is very strange. Have not decided yet what to do about it.
I have learned how to edit the Instagram pictures and put in my Picasa and print out. I love the way my little Brother printer prints out such nice pictures and uses little ink. I have been sending them to Matt. I finally bought a little scale and read the rules of usps mailing. Letters should not be over 1/4 inch thick. I have been mailing them thick with too much postage. I wonder if they get to him. I will do better now.
This is a status letter for me. I have worked 4 1/2 hrs on the fire prevention cleanup so far and I still have much to do, I will keep better track this year. Actually last year Matt did most of it, I just did the back lot.
Today I watched the Kings/Heat game from last night. Since I had not heard the outcome I was pleasantly surprised. They won! The Kings are Baaack--lots of new young ones who looked great!!!!
Oh, yes, I washed my lettuce really well this week and actually iced it and everything, it has been crisp all week. Love that. Marilyn thinks it is the lettuce that made me sick...not sure about that.
Monday, February 20, 2017
Catching Up, Forever Catching Up
I am must catching up on about four months of Blog entries, so what have I been doing that I have gotten so far behind? Well, for one thing, I have been depressed and trying to pull myself out of it without much luck. Last night, Linda gave me quite a good encouraging pep talk and I realize I am silly to get so down, I have so many blessings, I love my home, I love the quiet lovely place I live, I am healthy, and I have so many wonderful things to think about, write about and do, I just have no time for such nonsense as depression and feeling lonely!! I also started knitted, if I ever finish this project and it looks at all decent, I will take a pix... Also...
There was Christmas and getting ready for Christmas. I made about 15 fleece blankets which I hope the recipients enjoyed. I enjoyed doing it, tried to find material that personalized them but then the material I would choose would not be available so that did not always work.
Then there was Thanksgiving and Christmas. I decided to fly to San Diego for Thanksgiving week and that turned out really fun. And Maria's family, all but Matt, came for Christmas the week before Christmas. They were only here a few days but that worked out really well. We had such a great time and played such interesting games and ate such good food.
And then there has been the snow every since. It seems that most of my day is just taking care of me, Sadie and the house and the steps and deck. And it snows and snows. Luckily I have had such great service from Nathan's Handyman Service. They have been wonderful. Sometimes not getting to me till it was getting dark but always seeing that I had wood on my deck and my deck, stairs and driveway clean. I also have a new home teacher, Joe. He and his wife Monica have been wonderful to me and he has cleaned my driveway several times and even took my broken mailbox home and fixed it.
So I need to start uploading the pictures from the past few months. I am going to run out of time in my life, the way the months just fly by and I had my 84th birthday.
Oh, yes, and then there has been the books, I have listened to so many books. I listen to more books than I watch tv, though I also do that. Although I have stopped watching the news since the election, it is all such negative atmosphere since before and after...I just don't want to deal with it, especially since we have no control over anything anyway.
And then there have been the power outages this winter, about four so far I think. Snow, power out, snow power out...such is my life. And my eyes get so dry and hurt, seems I am always dousing them with Systane, is there another problem?
There was Christmas and getting ready for Christmas. I made about 15 fleece blankets which I hope the recipients enjoyed. I enjoyed doing it, tried to find material that personalized them but then the material I would choose would not be available so that did not always work.
Then there was Thanksgiving and Christmas. I decided to fly to San Diego for Thanksgiving week and that turned out really fun. And Maria's family, all but Matt, came for Christmas the week before Christmas. They were only here a few days but that worked out really well. We had such a great time and played such interesting games and ate such good food.
And then there has been the snow every since. It seems that most of my day is just taking care of me, Sadie and the house and the steps and deck. And it snows and snows. Luckily I have had such great service from Nathan's Handyman Service. They have been wonderful. Sometimes not getting to me till it was getting dark but always seeing that I had wood on my deck and my deck, stairs and driveway clean. I also have a new home teacher, Joe. He and his wife Monica have been wonderful to me and he has cleaned my driveway several times and even took my broken mailbox home and fixed it.
So I need to start uploading the pictures from the past few months. I am going to run out of time in my life, the way the months just fly by and I had my 84th birthday.
Oh, yes, and then there has been the books, I have listened to so many books. I listen to more books than I watch tv, though I also do that. Although I have stopped watching the news since the election, it is all such negative atmosphere since before and after...I just don't want to deal with it, especially since we have no control over anything anyway.
And then there have been the power outages this winter, about four so far I think. Snow, power out, snow power out...such is my life. And my eyes get so dry and hurt, seems I am always dousing them with Systane, is there another problem?
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Oh, How They Grow Up--James Hardy Family
Pictures of Lea and her boyfriend at the beach at sunset.
Is this neat or what!
Jacob and his date for Prom.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Keira Turns 6!!!
I wasn't there but Keira celebrated her birthday six wearing a dragon costume and her Grandpa held a balloon for her to punch and graffiti fell all around her.
Tuesday, February 07, 2017
February Snow for the Stewart Children
Kristi and her children came up on Sunday and have found the snow is delightful to play in. That is, except Molly, the little one, who does not like to wear winter gloves and hats and all those things that keep you warm.
The children were delightful to have around and Kristi has them all well in tow. Kristi did most of the cooking and she left my house looking better than when they arrived!!! Here is hoping they will come and visit me again.
P S They live outside Las Vegas but were in Reno visiting Mike's family...lucky for me. Why didn't I do more with my hair and makeup that day ??? I get lazy living alone.
Brynn
Ryan
Molly
Kate
Wednesday, February 01, 2017
Pretty Mermaids
Maria is always looking for interesting things to do in her search for JOY this past year and so she and Linda ended up in this Mermaid exercise class at the Hotel Del Coronado. They said it was great fun and don't they look beautiful!
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