What kind of man was Ted Bingham?

He owned a 1929 Chevrolet Coach that he purchased from "La Jara Filling Station." The title was recorded 10 Nov 1936. He lived in Manassa, Conejos County, Colorado in 1936.

1. 3 Sep 1916. Ted was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was confirmed by Christen Jensen.
   
2. 27 Dec 1935. James Edward Bingham was ordained an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This took place in the Manassa Ward.
3. April 30, 1937, he was chairman of Troop 273, Romeo Colorado of the Boy Scouts of America.
   
4. 7 February, 1942 He paid a license fee of $5.45 to the State of Colorado to register his 1929 Dodge Sedan. His address at the time was Romeo, Colorado.
   
5. He held a Chauffer's License for the state of Colorado. It was issued on Valentine's Day 1945. It give his birth date as Aug 8, 1998. He had brown hair and blue eyes and was 5' 7" tall.He registered for the selective service board of Manassa, Colorado 16 February, 1942. He was a resident of Romeo, Colorado at the time.
6. He paid $2 for a Small Game Fishing and hunting license 16 Feb 1942.
7. On March 26, 1945, he paid $7.69 for 148 shares to the Manassa Land and Irrigation Company
8. He was Asst. Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 273 Romeo, Colorado 31 December 1942.
9. He was a member of the Railroad Union for the D. & R.G.W.R.R. Co. His payroll number was 30434, but no date was given on the card.
   
10. On January 26, 1944, he signed his Union Card for the Santa Fe, New Mexico Local 1353 Brotherhood of Carpenters.
11. On June 10, 1944, He purchased a Resident Combined fishing and Small Game hunting license. He was a resident of Romeo.
    
12. On the 21st of January, 1946, he paid a $5.45 license fee to the State of Colorado to register his Chevrolet Coach. His address at the time was Romeo.

I never knew my grandfather personally, but after seeing copies of these documents, many of which were at one time carried in his wallet, I feel that I know him a little better.

The original documents are in the possession of Gatha Wilson. Thanks Mom for sharing them with me.

80--20--CONTINUED

I am wandering in my thoughts. I was thinking about the marrying in our family. Don and Gloria were the first. Don and Gloria met as Warren and Helen when they would come and visit us from Farmington, they came to see their family. We usually had a dinner together at our house. When Don went on his mission, He and Gloria wrote to each other. On his way home from his mission, he first flew to Farmington, before he got home. From that time, they spent time getting prepared for a wedding. They were married in the Mesa Arizona temple.

They had a reception in Farmington and one in Manassa. It was a lot of fun. Gloria is a wonderful daughter-in-law. I have always appreciated what a special person she is. Don is also a wonderful person. As a small child he was very considerate of me and always spoke kindly to me. They and their family are a wonderful part of my family. I feel that the most important thing in our lives is family and the fact that we will be a family forever.

Don went to work for the phone company Aunt Ruth heard about that job and it was a blessing to them from the start. They lived in an apartment over a store at the beginning.

Marcy, Danette and Cory are our first grandchildren. They are precious to us.

The next wedding was Kent and Phyllis. Kent met her as they were in the army in Colorado Springs. They were married in Manassa in the Relief Society room. They had a reception at our home. They lived in Colorado Springs, where their children were born. Andrea and Robert are a special part of our family.

Divorce is a sad thing and it was hard on everyone. We missed the children for a long time and that was hard. Great blessings are ours because of the children. We love them very much.

Kent was alone in Colorado Springs and after a time he called me and ask me to live with him. I was in Mesa, Arizona. I was working as an ordinance worker in the temple. Because Kent had a job and I didn't have a job. I went to Colorado Springs. That was a good time for Kent and me. We enjoyed the singles program in the church. That is how Kent met Betty. We were like a threesome. When they decided to marry, I went back to Mesa. They were married by a justice of the peace. The wedding wasn't wonderful, but the marraige was a blessing to all of us. How thankful the have Andrea and Robert back and to have Betty. She is such a special person, she is my Kidsey, and is great for our family. I love her and Kent and Andrea and Robert and children. We also gained Brenda and Eddie. Eddie is the first one of our family to go home to Heavenly Father. We miss him. Our family is growing.

Bonnie and Emery were in California. Bonnie was staying with Ina and Henry. Bonnie met Emery at a Singles dance. Emery was not a member, but he went to the dance. He persued the friendship. He was baptized there.

They were married in Lancaster, California. Kent and Phyllis and Robert and Andrea and I drove to California to the wedding. They had a reception in a big hotel in Lancaster. It was very fancy. They also had a Reception in Manassa. They brought roses from California in 5 gallon buckets. The hall was full of roses. It smelled sooo good. I made their wedding cake. It had a fountain.

Bonnie and Emery lived in Torrance, California for a few years. Emery and his brothers owned an apartment complex there and that is where Shandi and Emery J were born. Monica and John Henry were born in Fallbrook, California, where they moved.

I am thankful for Bonnie and Emery and their children Bonnie is a special daughter and I am thankful for Emery. He is so good to me.

Larry and Jeanette are our last children to marry. When Larry returned home from his mission, he decided to go to BYU to school. He met Jeanette there. Larry went to BYU for the Summer term. On Decemer 15th that year, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple.

They had a reception in Murry, Utah and one in Manassa. Both Jeanette's mom and I had chosen to have gingerbread houses as center pieces on the tables. It was christmas time and the halls smelled so good.l

Jeanette's mom and dad came to Colorado for the reception. I said that Jeanette was an answer to my prayers. They said that she must be an answer to someone's prayers. She had been going to college in a small college and had never wanted to go to BYU, but she felt a reason to go to BYU. They said she had considered a mission but decided not to go. I still feel that she was an answer to my prayers. They have worked so hard to raise a righteous family. They have had home evening every monday night of their lives and have done many family things. I know that great blessings are in store for them.

When Larry graduated from BYU with a masters degree in civil engineering they had Arlo, Craig, Brian and Julie. Ainta was born in Texas and Debra and Eric were born in Colorado.
I am very thankful for Jeanette. She is a special lady. I am also thankful for Larry. He has worked so hard to make a good life for him and family. I am thankful for each of the children from this family. They are special to me.

I love my family with all my heart. They are the reason for my happiness. I look forwarde to an eternity with them.

Dentures

Betty and I went to the movies one evening. I decided that in order to take full advantage of the environment, I needed a good chewy caramel. It tasted wonderful until I heard a loud crack when the anchor tooth snapped off. There was no pain, but my partial was loose in my mouth and had to be rebuilt to add another tooth.

Mom (Gatha) was forever using Super Glue to repair her dentures. She looked so cute when she smiled and her front tooth was missing. I prefer her smile however, with a full set of pretty white teeth.

I remember many, many years ago, Doris Faye got her first set of dentures. She was really young when she got them. She was having a hard time getting used to them. As we knelt around the bed for family prayer, Doris Faye had hardly begun and her upper dentures came flying out and onto the bed. We all had a good laugh.

We had a similar experience this week when Betty's dad went to the restaurant to celebrate his 88th birthday with Betty and Wick Bohanan. He was trying a new adhesive, Sea Bond. It didn't work as well as he hoped and he ended up with his dentures in his plate rather than in his mouth.

I watched Dad (Arlo Vance) for years eat without dentures. I appreciate his sacrifice for us, but he would have been so much more attractive with a mouth full of ivory cutting instruments. I'm personally very grateful for my dentures. They may be a bit hard to get used to, but food is so much better when we can chew it well before we swallow it.

I have been so tempted to take the plaster impressions of my teeth as a white elephant gift to a church party. Betty tells me that would be in very poor taste. Can you think of a humorous denture adventure to share with the family for a little fun?

How does one express love?

There are three little words, "I love you." How can we be sure that people hear them and know that we feel that way towards them?

There was a little poem that I used many, many years ago when I gave a two and half minute talk. The poem says it all.

WHICH LOVED BEST?

"I love you, Mother, said little John;
Then, forgetting his work, his cap went on.
And he was off to the garden swing,
Leaving his mother the wood to bring.

"I love you, Mother, said rosy Nell,
"I love you better than tongue can tell."
Then she teased and pouted full half the day.
Till her mother was glad when she went to play.

I love you, Mother," said little Fan,
"To-day I'll help you all that I can;
How glad I am that school doesn't keep!"
So she rocked the babe till he fell asleep.

Then stepping softly, she took the broom,
And swept the floor, and dusted the room.
Busy and happy all day was she;
Helpful and happy as a child could be.

"I love you, Mother," again they said,
Three little children going to bed.
How do you think that mother guessed
Which of them really loved her best?

by Joy Allison (1917)