Ted and Cora Bingham Family

Teddy Leon Bingham, Sept. 21, 1930 to Dec. 23, 2011.

2012-01-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

Teddy Leon Bingham- 81- peacefully passed away on December 23, 2011, at his home in Washington, UT. He was born September 21, 1930, to James Edward Bingham and Cora Emily Dunn Bingham, at his Grandmother Dunn’s home in Manassa, CO.

He attended area schools and graduated from Manassa High School in 1949. On August 29, 1950, he married Ramona Jean Coleman in the Logan Temple. They were married 42 years and together raised nine children. After Jean’s passing he married Lani Losee, on June 19, 1993, in the St. George Temple.
Leon was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had a missionary heart and served stake missions in Maricopa, Casa Grande, Chandler and Mesa AZ. He and Lani served together in the New York, Yonkers mission and at the Family History Center in Mesa, AZ. He loved people and loved sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. He was an ordinance worker in both the Mesa, and St. George temples. He devoted many years to the scouting program. Leon was a farmer, welder, truck driver, salesman, business owner and worked many years in the drywall industry. He played many sports in his younger years. He enjoyed attending and coaching his son’s baseball games and loved a good game on TV. He was a poet, a tease, a joke teller and a gardener. His greatest love in life was his family.
He is survived by: his wife, Lani; sisters, Gatha Vance, Barbara White, LaRue Lawson and Doris Faye (Bert) Tieman; sister-in-law, Erma Bingham; daughters, Teddi (Fred) Schroeder, Brenda (Lynn) Reber, Cindy (Lars) Sorensen, Carol (Derek) DePriest; sons, Jim, Jack (Kim), Justin (Denise), Jay (Kimberlee), Jeff (NiKael); Step daughters, Kari (Brent) Theobald, Debbie (Vince) Cramer, Peggy (Todd) Woolley, Judy (Chris) Fischer; sixty-five grandchildren and sixty-three great grandchildren. Leon is preceded in death by his wife, Jean; brother, Keith; and grandson, Zachary Evans.
Funeral services will be held at 11a.m. Thursday, December 29, 2011, at the Washington Fields 10th Ward Chapel 628 S. 3000 E. Washington, UT. Friends and family may call from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the church. Interment will be Saturday, December 31, 2011. at the Mesa City Cemetery, Mesa, AZ.
Friends and family are invited to share condolences online at www.serenicare.com. Arrangements are under the direction of SereniCare Funeral Home, St. George, UT 986-2085.

Family is More Than Brothers and Sisters

2011-09-18T21:08:00.000-06:00

I love my brothers and sisters, but when I think of family, it is much more. It was indeed a blessing to grow up in a small community filled with extended family. Aunts and uncles and cousins are an important part of my family. Cousins were playmates and the adults in the family were important role models for me.

I especially loved the times that we would gather as extended family at special times. There were Thanksgiving dinners and trips to the mountains when we divided up and went with our peers to play and to catch up with those who had moved away. I tired of the parade down main street each ear, but I never tired of renewing relationships with those who gathered.

It saddens me that our families have scattered and that our relationships have suffered. Seeing the photographs of those dear to me help me remember how much extended family means to me.

My Early Years

2011-03-17T06:58:00.007-06:00

This is the time that our family still lived in Manassa. We lived in a house that was across the street from the McKenzie family. I was about 5 years old when we moved from the house where the Johnsons live. Helen and I were the same age. We enjoyed each other, but our mothers didn't let us have much time together. That is were we lived when I started school.

My first grade teacher was Edna Potts. She was my dad's cousin. I don't remember a lot about that year, but some of my classmates were: Helen McKenzie; Betty Jean Johnson (DeGolyer), my cousin; Coral Bagwell (Sowards); Dorothy Weston; Coleen Sowards; ViDella McKinney (Jack); and Shirley Jackson (Lippincott).

My second grade teacher was Lois Jackson and my third grade teacher was Maxine Jensen. Our school building was the same as my children went to school in. It hadn't changed from the time I was there until it was destroyed.

We moved to the house between Romeo and Antonito when I was in the fourth grade. That is the home that I look at as my old home. That is the time that I remember the best.

New Beginnings

2011-02-21T06:30:00.004-07:00

I was born on the 24th of October 1928 in Antonito, Conejos County, Colorado, to James Edward Bingham and Cora Emily Dunn.

My parents were married in Manassa, at the home of my grandparents, Simeon Harmon Dunn and Anna Buletta Jensen. My dads parents had died when he was young, so grandma and grandpa Dunn were our only living grandparents.

I was born in Antonito, because my dad was working in a grocery store there. He was a meat cutter. We only lived there a short time and next we moved to Manassa, Colorado.

My brothers and sisters are: Keith Edward, he was born in Manassa, at the home of my grandparents, Sim and Annie Dunn. He was older than me. Leon, is my brother just younger than me. Leon and I were the only ones who were born in a home other than my grandparents. Leon was born in a house on the northwest side of Manassa. Keith, (Barbara, LaRue and Doris Faye, my sisters), were born at the home of our grandparents.

My memories of my youngest years are vague. The first that I remember was when we lived in Saguache, Colorado. My dad worked on a farm there. Keith and I were playing in a two wheeled trailer . We would go to the back and it would go to the ground , and then we'd go to the front and it would go to the ground. That seemed to be a lot of fun, until we fell our. I cut my head and Keith broke his arm. I still have a bald spot on my head from that sore.

We moved from Saguache to a home in the northeast side of Manassa. Eda and Rex Johnson own that home now. Keith and I were playing under the front porch of that home and Keith started a fire. It started the porch on fire. Mom was working behind the house and she came and saw the fire and put it our.

We moved from that house in the southwest corner of Manassa. We were across the street from Arch and Lillie McKenzie. Their daughter Helen was my age and we were good friends. We wanted to play together a lot, but our mothers wouldn't let us play very often. We lived there until I was eight years old. Helen is Gloria's, (my daughter-in-law), mother.

While we lived there, my dad's aunt Mattie, died. (She had helped to raise my dad, after his parents died). Mom and Dad went to California to the funeral and later we drove to California when they settled her estate. That time all of us went. Aunt Doris went with us, too. Doris Faye wasn't born yet. LaRue was less than a year old. That was a fun trip. Aunt Ethel and Aunt Hazel lived there and we spent time with each of them. While we were there we went to the beach and on the way back to Ethel's home there was a sign, "airplane rides $2", so Keith and Leon and Aunt Doris and Aunt Hazel and Mom and Dad and I went for a plane ride in a small plane. That was at a time that I had never seen an airplane on the ground and few times in the air.

On the way home we went to Mesa Arizona, to the temple and were sealed as a family for time and eternity. That was a great blessing in my life.

Georgia Ann Jack

2011-02-13T10:27:00.002-07:00

(Taken from the writings of Garth N. Jones Dean/Professor Emeritus, College of Business and Public Policy, University of Alaska, Anchorage)

Doris Faye Bingham—Father, James Edward Bingham—Grandmother, Ada Zoa Jack—Great Grandmother, Georgia Ann Horton

Born on the 30th of May 1841, Georgia Ann Horton, one of six sisters of part Cherokee blood, remembers that just before the Civil War, several denominations “came into the county: Methodists, Campbellites, Hard Shells…. They were very strenuous in their preaching”.

The war had taken its toll on the South, not to exclude the small hollow community of Groveoak, Alabama. Georgia Ann, now 35 years of age, and her husband James Hazlette Jack were living near extended family, in the tight knit community. In the fall of 1876, a Mormon Elder by the name of James T. Lisonbee came to their little settlement preaching the restoration of the gospel.

On November 5th, 1876, Georgia Ann attended a meeting held by Elder Lisonbee at the Pine Grove School House, about three miles from Groveoak. She opened her home for a second preaching service the very next day at “early candle lighting”. The house was filled to capacity with people sitting and standing on the front porch. She responded promptly and enthusiastically to his message. She readily accepted the gospel, made every effort to share the truth she had found and later wrote: “I don’t know how anyone with my sense could fail to see the light”

When aggressive preachers and individuals sought to drive Elder Lisonbee from the area, Georgia Ann was not intimidated. Throughout November and December, she opened door after door for Elder Lisonbee to deliver his gospel message. As opposition increased, she became bolder and bolder, finally becoming alienated from her husband’s family as well as several of her own family. Georgia Ann was a person of conviction. She had seen the light and her soul burned with the Truth.

Georgia Ann was instrumental in introducing the gospel to many of her family, friends and neighbors. Scores were baptized and would soon gather to “Zion”. Only their Zion would be Manassa Colorado: A unique settlement of southern saints.

Compiled by E.J. Dobbins

80--CONTINUED---34

2010-11-16T16:53:00.001-07:00

One year all of our family, (Gatha, Arlo and children) went with Aunt Isabel and Gordon, to see Richard and Roxanne in Iowa. We went in Isabel's pickup, which had a cover on the back, where the children and I rode. It was the only trip we ever made with all of us. Iowa was a fun experience. Alta and Tiny also lived there.

When the children were all at home, we took several trips, without Arlo. One year we went to Los Alamos to visit Keith and Erma and their family. We went in the Voltswagon pickup. Another year we went to Pueblo to visit Nona and her family. The Voltswagon died and we had to have Arlo come and get us. Tom Rogers brought it home on one of his trucks and we took it the car to Santa Fe to get it repaired.

We spent many times in the mountains, camping out and when we got the cabin, we went to the cabin and spent many good times there. We had several reunions there, One time with Arlo's brothers and sisters. Earl and Winnie and their chidren and Isabel and Gordon and Raedeen and her family, Richard and his family and Jessie and Cecil were all there. It was a special time.

Several times we had Dunn reunions there also. There were a lot of us. We have also had reunions with our family, (Gatha and Arlo). We also had reunions after Arlo was no longer with us. Those are great memories. The last time we were there with my children's families, There was a hail storm that had such big hail stones that one of the stones went through a plastic water bucket lid. It was about 2 inches across. The hole is still in that lid.

When Emery J. was born, Arlo and I flew to California, Bonnie wanted us to come, but Arlo didn't want to go. It was Christmas time so I told Arlo that I wouldn't go and leave him home alone for Christmas. He finally dedided to go, to be with Bonnie, Emery and Shandi. John Henry was already born, but was very small. We had a wonderful time. We went to Wild Animal Park, Sea World, and many other things. We carried Emery J in a child carrier that fit in the front. I carried him most of the time. That was so special. We went to Lancaster and visited Loyd and Catherine. Bonnie and Emery drove us to Provo, where Larry and Jeanette were living, as He was in school. That is the only plane trip Arlo ever took. He was surprised at how much fun we had.

After I moved to Mesa, Bonnie, Shandi, Emery J, Monica, and I went from Mesa to Albuquerque and spent a night with Barbara, We went to Manassa to Marcy's wedding and from there Bonnie, Shandi, Emery J, Monica, Danette and I went on a three week trip. We went to Yellowstone National Park. We spent several days there. That is a beautiful place. We were there when there was a forest fire there. We saw the smoke, but were not aware that it was in the park. From there, we drove across Idaho and to Portland, Oregon, where we stayed with Jane Pagett and her family overnight and then we went down the coast highway on our way back to Fallbrook. We went through the red woods. I have a picture of all of us with our hands together reaching around one of the Huge trees. We spent a night in a park there and then we stayed in a nice motel along the coast. We were the first people to walk in the sand on the beach the next morning. Ours were the only foot prints in the sand on the beach.
We spent several days in Yosemite National Park. That is a beautiful place. We went on to Fallbrook. and Bonnie took me back to Mesa, where I was living.

I went on several trips with our singles group to singles conferences. I went with a group to San Diego and met Bonnie on a beach. She brought John Henry for me to see. He was still very small. I went to 4 or 5 conferences. Those were fun times for me. Dottie and Carol, my friends were fun to go with.

While I lived in Mesa, I went back to Colorado every year. I still had my house there and Don and Gloria lived in Alamosa. I enjoyed going to the library in LaJara to see Marie and Vangie. I worked there with them for 7 year.

I have gone with Larry and Jeanette to the Salt Lake area to see their children and spend time with them. Those times are very special to me.

I have gone on several trips since I have lived in St George. Those are for another story.

80-continued -33--- More angels in my life. grand children and great grandchildren

2010-10-29T10:08:00.003-06:00

After all of Arlo and I had our children and began to have grandchildren, our lives changed. Don and Gloria gave us 3 grandchildren, Marcy, Danette and Cory. Marcy is married to Troy Zinn and they gave us Jason and Becky. Danette and Gary gave us Adam, Aubree, Katee and Riley. Cory and Lorrita gave us Brandi, Austin and Jacob. Can you think of a greater blessing than those members of our family?

Don and Gloria gave us a wonderful addition to our family. Each one of them is precious.

Kent and Betty gave us 4 grandchildren. Andrea and Robert, and Betty brought Brenda and Ed. Ed is no longer with us, but he left his mark on us. We miss him. Andrea brought to us, 3 wonderful great grandchildren, Matthew, Luke and Ashliegh. Robert has Hannah. Brenda and Tim have Aubrey and Chloe. A very nice family. I am happy that they are mine.

I see Kent and Betty cherishing their children and grandchildren. Great!

Bonnie and Emery have four children, Shandi, Emery J, Monica and John Henry. Shandi and her husband Todd have three chidren, Amber, Michael and Maegen. They are a joy to me. Emery J and Daylynn have Alex and Anthony. Two sweet boys. We are waiting for Monica and John Henry. (one day!).

I wish all of you lived as close to me as Bonnie and Emery, so I could be as close to your children and grandchildren.

Larry and Jeanette have seven children, Arlo, Craig, Brian, Julie, Anita Debra and Eric. Great people. Craig and Brina have three children. Bradley, Luke and Makayla.(she hasn't been here very long), Wonderful children.
Julie and Clint have two children, Leslie and David. I am grateful for them. Debra and Jon have a new little girl. She was born on my birthday. Elaine. (a special gift), Arlo, Brian, and Eric's days are coming. All of them are wonderful to me.

That makes us a big and wonderful family. My grandchildren are very precious to me and my great grandchildren are just as precious. Thank all of you for belonging to me. I love you.

Grandma Gatha

UNCLE LEON'S 80TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

2010-09-12T14:47:00.009-06:00

We attended the 80th birthday party for Uncle Leon on the 11th, even though his birthday is the 26th. All of his and Lani's children were there and lots of grandkids. It was a good memory for Uncle Leon and his family. Here are some of the pictures I took. See if you can recognize these people! (In this one they had both taken out their teeth and sang a song, which I was told they did often when on their mission as well!) Aunt Barbara couldn't make it and felt very bad.

Some Things I Remember About My Dad, James Edward Bingham (Ted)

2010-08-23T18:21:00.004-06:00

Ted was born in Manassa Colorado to Jeremiah Edward Bingham and Ada Zoa Jack on the 5th of August 1898. He had two living sisters. His older sister was Eliza May Bingham and his younger sister was Bessie Bingham, who was born on the 30th of May 1900 and died on the 1st of July 1900.

On the 4th of June 1901, Dad’s dad was killed in a logging accident. He was working on the Tusas, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. That was near Tres Piedres, New Mexico. His wife, my grandmother, Adah Zoa was pregnant with their daughter, who was born on the 18th of July 1901. She was named Dorothy. I know very little about Dorothy. I think she lived with Grandma Jack, Grandma Zoa’s mother until she died on the 5th of March 1909.

Grandma Zoa moved to Espanola, New Mexico where she married Charles Peterson in 1904. I understand that she went to Espanola, New Mexico to work for Mr. Peterson, and married him. Aunt May and Dad lived with their Aunt Mattie. I don’t know if Dad and Aunt May and Dorothy ever lived with Grandma Bingham. I don’t know why they didn’t live with her. Maybe she had to make a living and that is what she chose. My dad lived between the homes of Aunt Mattie and Aunt Zem and Uncle Ab Jack. Aunt Mattie never had children and Uncle Ab and Aunt Zem had a large family. Aunt Jennie was part of that family There was a house full of boys. He would stay at one place until he wasn’t happy and then went to the other. I don’t think he was happy at either place. He finished 8th grade and didn’t go back to school. Several older people said he would stay with their boys some of the time. He never felt he had a home of his own until he and Mom were married. He loved Mom and his children.

He learned several trades. Aunt Mattie sent him to barber school, but he never worked at that profession, except for family and friends. He was a guide on a dude ranch where he took people on pack trips, in the Rio Grande Canyon. . At one time he worked for the D&RGW Railroad, but he didn’t seem to stay at jobs very long. He worked as a farm hand with some people in Saguache, Colorado. He was a meat cutter for 2 grocery stores that I know of. One was Daniels in Antonito. That was when I was born. The other was in Manassa for Delbert Haynie, who owned the store where Gilliland’s own the store now.

He loved horses and we had 3 horses, the mare (Dixie), was the mother of the other two. One of the colts was half Shetland(Tiny Tim) and the other was one fourth Shetland was (Charlie).Charlie belonged to Keith. Dad was handy with shoeing the horses and caring for them. He said he was a jack of all trades, a master of none.

After Mom and Dad bought the farm, He did everything that can be done on a farm. We had cows, sheep and of course the horses. He also had a team of white work horses. They were Maud and Dobbins. We raised grain and alfalfa and one year we raised a field of head lettuce. It was the best I ever tasted. We sold it to the stores. I think they made pretty good on the crop. We had as big a garden as I ever saw a family have. We raised vegetables and strawberries and raspberries and rhubarb. Some of the people who lived up the canyon came by and bought things from our garden.

We were raised in a home of love. My Dad loved my Mom very much. He was so broken hearted when she died. Sometimes he would say to us, “if it weren’t for you kids, I would just as soon be with your mom. One thing we were never allowed to do was to talk back to Mom. There was no mistreating our Mom, our Dad wouldn’t hear of it.

After Mom died and we lived in Romeo he worked with a surveyor group, when they were surveying for the Platoro dam, up the canyon. That is where he was working when he went to the hospital to repair a hernia, the surgery caused adhesions and that lead to two more surgeries. He got blockage of the bowels and didn’t survive. He Had the surgery because he had insurance to pay for it.

There were several little ditties, that Dad used to say. One of them was a b c d puppies, o l m n o puppies, o s a r some puppies. C m p n.

He used to sing “The Man on the Flying Trapeze”. I can’t think now what some of them were. He had a better singing voice than Mom. Mom was like me. She sang in church, but she was like me. She never felt that she could sing.

Every night in the winter was like home evening. Sometimes we would sit around the table after meals and visit. Those were special times, Our parents read stories to us.

You asked how Dad showed his affection to Mom. He called her sweetheart. It was not unusual to see them kiss or for him to put his arms around her. You hardly ever saw one of the without the other when they were farming. That is why Mom was hurt. She was on the tractor with him as he was combining a field. The power takeoff on the tractor broke and swung around and cut Mom’s leg to the bone. She had complications from it and never recovered.

The boys milked the cows and got the wood and coal in. The girls did house work. We were a busy family.

One summer after Mom died. I went with Nona to the Soldiers and Sailors home up by Monte Vista, to work. I don’t know why Dad let me go but he said I should still have some childhood.

I think that Dad’s childhood made him a very compassionate Dad. Our lives were different after Mom died. All of the house work and taking care of the things that mom did were up to us girls. Because I was the oldest a lot became my responsibility. I was four years older than Barbara, so a lot was up to me. I look back now and realize what a poor help I really was..

80--CONTINUED--32--VietNam

2010-06-23T05:28:00.002-06:00

Wars seem to be a part of our lives. LaRue's Husband Harold, was in both the Korean and VietNam wars. While he was in Korea, Eddie was born. LaRue and I were both pregnant and we decided to have our babies at home. We lived in Romeo at the time and LaRue stayed with us while we were expecting our babies. Eddie was born first and Larry was then born. Eddie and Larry were close in age, but never built a very good relationship with each other. While Harold was in VietNam, LaRue had a trailer home on the property were we lived in Manassa. Larry and Eddie just never were good friends.

After Kent's mission he served in VietNam, in the Army. Later he was in Colorado Springs, where he met Phyllis, who was also in the Army. They married and are the parents of two of my precious grandchildren. Kent is the only one in my immediate family to be in the service of our country. Keith was in the Navy in World War II. He was the only one of my brothers or sisters to be in the service. Arlo and Ward, (my husbands), both served in the Army. I was so very thankful for their willingness to serve, and for the blessing that each of them came home safely.

I love our country and am thankful to the people who put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.

80-----Continued--31--World War II

2010-06-04T17:41:00.002-06:00

I remember when The Japanese bombed Pear Harbor. It seemed like the worst thing I could ever remember. We didn't get the news then like we do today. At the weekly movie they had a news report. That and the old radio were the only way we could tell what was happening. Then we were in war with Germany. There was a lot of thing rationed. Sugar, I can't remember much about that, but tires were hard to get and gas was rationed. The gas didn't affect us that much, because being on a farm, we had plenty of gas. Grandpa Dunn delivered gas to us. He and Grandma run the Service station that we owned later.

Mama Died while the war was still going. By the time I was a senior in High School, there was only one boy left in my class. All of the rest of them were in the Service. Keith was in the Navy. I graduated from High School with two others. Dorothy Sorensen and Joe Casias. We were the last class to go to Romeo School. That summer (1946) the school building burned to the ground and the students went to Manassa or LaJara, depending on which town they were closest to.

Life was very different during the war. We lived on the ranch while Mama was alive. We owned one car. Any activity other than school, we drove to. Mutual was held on Wednesday nights. All of the family went. There was a class for the adults. I always liked that. I don't think there was an age gap then like later. Our parents went with us to the ward dances and parties. Sometimes our dates were family affairs, because we only had one car. When there were dances in other towns, parents didn't go. I loved dancing with my Dad. My best dancing partners were Keith and Leon.

After Mom died, our lives changed drastically. Dad couldn't bear the ranch anymore and he sold it and we moved into Romeo. I became the chief house keeper and a very poor one. The spirit had gone out of our home and it seemed so different.

We lived on the street North of the school. One day someone came to my class door and said, "Gatha, your house is on fire;. I was out of that class and to the house in less than a minute. Several people told me I jumped over desks and was out of there in a flash. Barbara had ironed something to wear to school and left the iron on and it had burned through the ironing board and was burning a hole in the floor. We had it out in minutes. I think back and realize that Barbara was only 13 years old at the time. Those were hard years in many ways. We still had the gospel and many good friends. Grandma Dunn and the aunts were there for us too.

In 1945 and 1946, the war was over and Keith was overseas. Arlo came home and he and I dated. We spent a lot of time with Nona and Moine. In March 1946, Arlo and I were married. We lived in LaJara and I went to school for 2 months. Some days I rode the train from LaJara to Romeo, to school and then rode it home at night. If Arlo wasn't using the car I drove.

We had been married about 3 months when Dad went to the hospital for surgery for a hernia. He had complications and had two more surgeries and didn't recover. He was so broken hearted about the death of Mama that he was never happy again. I had been married for four months and was pregnant with Donnie, but I didn't tell Dad. After I had wished that I had told him.

Keith was discharged from the Navy and sent a telegram that he was on his way home, the night that Dad died. We tried to get in touch with the Red Cross to see if they could tell him before he arrived home. No luck. Some of the family met every bus and train that came into Alamosa to tell him. He was in home in time for the funeral. For us the war was over.

James Edward Bingham (Ted) continued

2010-04-08T20:09:00.002-06:00

I don't know how Mom and Dad got together, how they courted or anything about their time together before they were married. We didn't come to the time when we questioned them about their getting acquainted or how they first went together. I think if any of us were married, we may have asked questions. I guess we never thought about those things at the age we were. It was the beginning of a love story. You hardly ever saw one of them without the other. We grew up in a home of great love.

They were married at Grandma and Grandpa Dunn's home. Arlo and I were married there, too. When they were first married, they moved a lot. They lived in Manassa when Keith was born and in Antonito when I was born. I Think all of my brothers and sisters were born in Grandma and Grandpa's home, except me. Daddy worked at several jobs. He went to Barber School, but never set up a shop. He worked on a ranch in Saguache for a man named Homer Crow. That man owned the house we lived in on the ranch. I think we bought it from Homer Crow. He worked on the railroad for a time. He was a meat cutter in a store in Antonito and just before he died, he worked as a meat cutter for Delbert Haynie in Manassa. It was the same store that Cletus Gilliland owned. After he and Mama bought the ranch he worked on the ranch through the growing season. He raised hay, grain, a big garden. He loved horses and always had 2 or three riding horses and a team of gray work horses. He never had a working tractor. He bought an old one that he never got to run. Some years when the crops were in he worked at jobs away from home. During the World War II he worked in Pando, It was in Colorado in the Mountains. I am not sure where that place is. They trained army personnel to ski. The soldiers were sent to a place in Germany, where they used their skill. He worked in Los Alamos when there was just a dirt road up to it. I think it was where they were working on the atomic bomb. Of course he had no idea what they were doing. He would work through the week and come home on weekends. My dad was a jack of all trades, but he said he was a "master of none", but he was was a hard worker. He used to repair our shoes. He could resole them. He had a last that the shoes fit on as he worked on them. We used wood and coal to heat with. Dad and the boys would take a wagon and go to the mountains to get wood. It would take them 2 days. One day to go there and load the wagon and a day to return home. Keith and Leon used to talk about going with him. It took several trips to get enough wood for the year.

I think that my Dad loved the ranch, but when Mama died, he could hardly stand to be there without her. He sold it and me moved into Romeo. He worked for the forest service when they were testing for a place to put the Platora Dam.

James Edward Bingham (Ted)

2010-04-01T06:14:00.002-06:00

Ted was born in Manassa Colorado, to Jeremiah Edward Bingham and Ada Zoa Jack on the 5 of August 1898. He was the second child. he had an older sister, May, and a younger sister, . Bessie who was born in 1900, and died shortly after her birth. When Ted was nearly 3 years old, His father was killed in a logging accident. His mother was pregnant with Dorthy. she was born about a month after their father died.

For some reason May and Dad lived with Aunt Mattie and Dorthy lived with Grandma Jack. Dorthy died when she was about 8 years old. Grandma Bingham (Zoa) married Charles Peterson and lived in Espanola, New Mexico. Grandma Zoa had two children there, Esther and Irene. Ester was the oldest of the two. Irene only live about 2 months and was buried in New Mexico, Grandma Zoa died in New Mexico in 1907, when Daddy was 9 years old. She was buried there. Esther was blind and lived to be quite old. I met her several times and when she died, (when her trailer home burned). we went to her funeral in New Mexico. Dorthy and Bessie are buried in the old Manassa Cemetery.

I think Daddy had a hard time as a child. Aunt May stayed with Aunt Mattie until she was grown, but Daddy went back and forth with Uncle Ab(Abner) and Aunt Zem(Ozemba) Jack, and Aunt Mattie. Aunt Mattie didn't have children of her own and Grandma Dunn thought Aunt May was an easier child to raise than Daddy so he was with the one he got along with at the time. He never thought he had a home of his own until he and Mama were married. He and Mama were so very close. You hardly saw one without the other. When Mama died, Daddy was so broken-hearted, it was hard to see how he suffered. Sometimes he would go the the cemetery and lay down on Mama's grave and cry. It nearly broke our hearts.

Daddy went to school in Manassa. I think he only went through the 8th grade. When he was too young to be on his own, he left both of his homes and took all kinds of work and stayed with friends or where ever he happened to be. In a way he was a lost child. As he grew up he learned many trades. Aunt Mattie sent him to barber school, but he never set up a shop. I didn't know that until just a few years ago. I know that in the Summers, he sometimes worked for a Dude Ranch, taking people on pack trips into the high mountains. He talked about that sometimes, but he rarely talked about how he grew up. Aunt Jenny used to tell me things about him. In Uncle Ab's family, there were 7 boys and they were like brothers to him. He would somestimes get into fights with them, like brothers do sometimes. My Dad had a temper that it took him a lifetime to over come. I don't remember him ever getting mad at us children. He was always a tender parent. He loved his family greatly. I think we were his great joy.

Continued. 30--Sewing that I have done.

2010-03-18T09:54:00.003-06:00

When My mom was alive she taught me how to use the sewing machine. She had a treadle machine, that I inherited. Dad had bought it for her.

Soon after she died. I was in a dance festival and I needed a dress for the dance. I was 16 years old and I made a dress like the others. It wasn't too bad. I knew that I could sew if I put my mind to it. After I had children, I made a lot of their clothes. One year Kent didn't have a winter coat and my coat was not very good anymore. I took the material from my old coat and made a coat for Kent. It turned out good. I didn't have a warm coat. One day aunt Ruth came with a new coat for me. She didn't know that I didn't have a coat. She was always doing good things for me.

Grandma Dunn made quilts and I helped her. I also made aprons with Grandma. She had several projects that I helped her with. She taught me a lot.

When we moved to Manassa, several people asked me to sew for them. That gave me a little spending money. I had a little business. The town of Manassa hired me to make banners that they hang across the street for the 24th.

I sewed for my aunts sometimes. Gloria came to my house and we sewed for Marcy, Danette and Cory, more for the girls than for Cory. We made jackets for the girls that were so cute and they wore them for as long as they fit. We made many dresses for them. Those were special times. When I moved away I missed those times a much ans anything.

When I moved to Mesa, Dottie and I made dresses for the choir and costumes for the pageant. We started a drapery business and made curtains for several chapels. I repaired stage curtains for the church. We sewed for people who needed anything made. One time I made a pair of pants for a man who was so large that he couldn't buy pants. Two teen age girls fit into those pants, one in each leg. I have a picture of them, if I knew where it is. I made a pair of pants for a girl who belonged to a riding club. She paid $100 dollars for that job. One time I dressed a bride and groom for the guest table. They were about 8 inches tall. She had a wedding dress and he had a tuxedo. I have a picture of them, too. I don't know where it is either.

Nona sold me here old quilting machine for $1500 dollars. It fit in the basement of the apartment in Mesa, but when I brought it to St George, I had it in the garage, and then I set it up in a building where there was a drapery shop. I worked there until Ward and I married. When we were in Sandy, I stored it in a room off of the garage. When we left Sandy, Wendy took it to her garage. I asked her about it and she had called Desseret Industries and had them take it away.

I have made quilts for every child when they married and for ever grandchild and great grandchild. last year I made bags for every person in my family and embroidered designs and names on them I did names on towels for many people. I have enjoyed many sewing projects.

In December in 2009 I helped finish Debra's wedding dress. The dress was beautiful but it was sleeveless and needed a top. That was a special thing for me. She looked beautiful. I also made a vest for Jon.

I still do jobs for people who need special things. I made flute bags for a man who makes Indian flutes. I made a bag for a business who needed to display samples. There is a lady who needs things altered. I do at least one job for her every month.

I have done some humanitarian things. I put about 50 dresses together. One person makes tops and skirts and I finish them. I have knit hats for them and some for family members.

I recovered a love seat that I have in my bedroom. I bought some fabric for it at 2 dollars a yard and did the work of covering it. It turned out very nice. I have tried to keep my home nice with curtains and draperies. I am thankful for the talent the the Lord gave me to sew.

80--continued--29 THIS AND THAT

2010-02-03T06:17:00.002-07:00

I haven't done a post for 2 months, I decided to try again. I was looking through the things that I had written and decided to do several things at once.

I told a little about our mission to Arizona (Arlo and I), That was a special time for me. Arlo and I spent 24 hours a day together. We walked the roads of two Indian reservations. One in Arizona, Peach Springs. Arlo was going to be put in as branch president there, because the one that was in lost his testimony and fell. They did find a man to be the new branch president and Arlo helped him learn how to lead. We were sent to Zuni, New Mexico. That was a different situation. They had a strong branch president. The Indian people had a hard time staying in the church, because they were very tempted with alcohol. That was a curse to the Indian people. We had some wonderful experiences. Arlo gave a blessing to a young Indian boy who was very sick. He said he could feel the spirit from the top of his head to his toes. I loved our Indian mission, but I had a hard time seeing all of their problems.

After Arlo was gone and I went to Mesa, I was called to the Washington, Seattle Mission. It was different being single. I had 3 older companions that I loved dearly. I also had 2 young sisters that were very difficult. They should never have been on missions. Both of them were sent home. I think the Mission President thought that I could help them, but I didn't know how. I enjoyed that mission. too.

Ward and I went to Chicago for our mission. Both of us were country people and being in the big city was a different thing. He drove the car and I was the back seat driver. We did ok. That mission was different. One day we drove around the boundry of our mission and it was over 100 miles. There were three couples, Ward and I and two other couples in the same apartment building. We really enjoyed being there together. On our preparation days we went many places. We saw Chicago! With such a big area, you would think that there would be many men who were worthy to be Bishops, but the Bishop of that ward was from a ward outside of Chicago.

I loved all of my missions and I loved serving in the temple. I was an ordinance worker in the Mesa and the St George temples. Both of those callings were very special to me.

When Arlo and I came home I worked in the Conejos County library until I moved to Mesa.
The Library was special to me. Before we had the library, in LaJara, I was the person who checked out books to the people of Manassa lending library, it was in a little building that was next to the garage. The County decided to build the library in LaJara. I was asked to be on the board of directors for that library. We worked for some time to make it possible to have the new library. Conejos County bought the books that had been sent to Manassa as a lending library and they decided to release me as a board member and I went to the Alamaos Libarary and prepared the books to be used in the new library. I was taught how to be a librarian. While I was working in Alamosa they were building the building for the new library. When it was finished, I was hired to work in the new library. They hired Marie DeHerrera to be the head librarian and Vangie and I were the assistants. I worked there for seven years. After I took leave to serve the mission in Arizona, when I returned home I went back to work for the next year. I have always felt that library was partly mine. Gloria and I painted murals on the walls in the West end of the library.
We stopped at the library last summer and some of those murals are still there. They built another room on the West end, but they didn't remove all of the murals. (2009).

80--CONTINUED--28--LIFE GOES ON

2009-11-20T06:03:00.003-07:00

I decided to write these posts so my family would know something about our lives, but decided that there was not much interest in what I had to say, but it is also for my own history and I plan to print it out and keep a record of the things that I remember.

There was a small place where the Alamosa library sent books to Manassa, as a lending library. I was asked to be in charge of it and I was at that place (it was an old building next door to the Conejos County Gas and Oil), one day a week checking out books. The county decided to build a library near LaJara. I was ask to be on the board of directors. We planned and worked on the plans for a year or two. When the time came to get books and make a library out of the nice building, I was asked to be a paid employer and to resign as a member of the board of directors. I went to Alamosa to prepare books that were given to us from their library, as they didn't need the books that had been used to loan to Manassa. I worked there for some time to prepare the books with the name of our library and to take our the Alamosa stamp, and to be taught all they could teach me about running a library. I also helped to get new books to fill the shelves. When the Library was prepared, I went to work there.

Marie DeHerrera was hired as the librarian and Vangie as an assistant. I helped Marie to learn how to be a librarian, as they had taught me. She had a degree and had not been trained to do a library. I loved my work there. It is a nice library and is well used.

I worked there for 6 years. When Arlo had surgery in Denver, I spent all of the time that he was there with him.. Larue and Harold lived in Colorado at that time and I stayed with them and rode a bus back and forth to the hospital. I worked when we were home again, and while we were waiting for him to be able to go on our mission. When we got our mission call, I was replaced and didn't work again until we returned from our mission. When I returned, I went back to work again. I was working and came home on December 7th. The house was dark and I was anxious, because Arlo was always home and had lights on. I found him in his chair. He had died. There are times when life takes a sudden change. My eternal companion and dear husband went on ahead of me.

I stayed on at the library for a year and was glad to have the work. At the end of the year, I moved to Mesa. My library days were past. That time was a special time of my life. I had spent 7 years helping to establish and run the Conejos County Library,

80--CONTINUED--27--MY LIFE CHANGED

2009-11-01T19:58:00.002-07:00

When Arlo and I returned home from our mission, it was good to get home. Our family had redone the outside of our house and it looked so nice. We were pleased. We were assigned to talk in all of the wards in our stake. I learned things about Arlo that I had never heard before. He loved our mission and it was good for both of us.

Gordon Dean was living in our house when we got home. It was good to have him there while we were gone and it was good for him to have a place to stay. We had been home a short time,(the end of October) when he died. That was a sad thing for all of us. We loved him so.

I went back to work at the library. Arlo spent some time over at the old garage. He had a wood working machine, that he enjoyed. We went to the cabin and spent some time. It was a quiet time for us. On the 7th of December, I came home from work and found him dead in his chair. My life changed.

I was glad to have my job. It was such a change for me. I didn't sleep much. Sometimes I would read all night and get up and go to work. I raised a garden that year, too. I got myself very busy. I was on the cemetrary board for a number of years and still was. I was president of Hospital Auxiliary, I was on a genealogy board at the Alamosa Library. I was on a board of directors for a building that was to house older people. I was gone before they finished it. I was the County Republican Woman. I didn't give myself any time for thinking.

Elma and Hazel were on their mission and I felt so very alone. I was glad when Larry and Jeanette came to spend the summer with me. I look back and realize that I was not a very good hostess for them. I loved having them there and I enjoyed the children. Larry built new cupboards in the kitchen for me. I hated leaving them behind when I left. They were so nice. My home was nicer than it had ever been.

Don and Gloria were there for me too. They were so considerate of me. When I moved to Mesa my life changed. I missed my children and the family in Colorado, but I loved working in the temple. I bought the honda from my boss at the library, so I was able to go home at least once a year. If there were special things going on I went more often than that. I still enjoy going back to Colorado.

Sometimes the hard things in life help us to grow in a way that we would not otherwise. I love my life and my family. The Lord has been good to me.

80--CONTINUED--26--ANGELS IN MY LIFE

2009-10-04T07:42:00.009-06:00

Arlo, He gave me a home and children. We had may good times, a mission and temple sealing.
I love my Arlo.

My Mom and Dad. They gave me life, the gospel, self-worth and love. My Angels.
My grandparents. They sustained me through one of the hardest times of my life. I love them and my aunts and uncles and their families. They are Angels to me.
My brothers and sisters. They are a mainstay in my life, along with their mates, my Angels.

Don, It is hard to say all of the great blessings he has brought into my life. He is very special to me. He is an Angel to me.
Gloria, a dear daughter-in-law. She has been there through hard times and joys. She is a daughter to me, a special Angel. I love her.

Kent, He has been a friend to me all of my life. I spent a year of joy with him. He makes my heart sing. He is one of my special Angels. I love him.
Betty, The Lord sent us a special Angel, when we got Betty. She is my Kidsie. She is a blessing to me. I love her.

Bonnie Lynn, My Sweet , Angel Bonnie, She is always there for me. It is not possible to say all I feel for her. She is my only daughter and one of my dearest friends. She fills my heart with love.
Emery, He has been a help and a blessing to me in so many ways. Angels come in different packages. I am glad that he is a part of our family.

Larry, I begged to get him. He has been a great joy to me. It is impossible to say the blessing he has brought into my life. What a great Angel he is to me. I love him.
Jeanette, I told her when she and Larry married that she was an answer to my prayers. The Lord sent me an angel when she became a part of our family. I love her.

These are part of the Angels in my life. I didn't put in the grandchildren and great grandchildren. Each of them have a special place in my life. They are my Angels.

My life is full of Angels. I have friends who drive me places since I don't drive anymore, people who uplift my spirit and love me. How thankful I am to the Angels in my life.

80---CONTINUED--25--GREAT GRANDCHILDREN

2009-09-16T15:50:00.004-06:00

My great grandchildren are one of the great blessings of my life. My oldest grandchild is Matthew and the youngest is David Long. I would love it if all of them were as close as Shandi's children are. It is fun to get to know them personally.

Don and Gloria have 10 grandchildren, they are Jason and Becky, Marcy and Troy's children. Adam, Aubree, Katee and Riley, are Danette and Gary's children. Cory and Loritta's children are Brandi, Austin and Jacob. Each one is special to me. I have been blessed to have them as my family. The times I have spent with them has been very special to me.

Kent and Betty have 6 grand children. They are Andrea's children, Matthew, Luke and Ashleigh, and Robert has Hannah. Brenda and Tim have Aubrey and Chloe. When I think about these children, my heart swells with happiness. I don't know any of them as well as I would like to but I know a lot about them and love their pictures and information about them.

Bonnie and Emery have 6 grandchildren. Shandi and Todd have Amber, Michael and Meagen. Emery J and Daylynn have Alex and Anthony. Riley is a part of our family eventhough Monica and Chad are not together. All of them are special to me.

Larry and Jeanette have 4 grandchildren. Craig and Brina have Bradly and Luke. Julie and Clint have Leslie and David, David is our newest grandchild. I haven't seen him yet. It was fun to see them this summer, (not David). I always enjoy the children. I love them so.

I have had great joy with the ones that I have spent time with. All of them are part of my blessings now and I hope for eternity.

2009-08-24T20:52:00.005-06:00

I made a crude map of the Bingham family property. I hope it will show you some of the things about our home between Romeo and Antonito. When we took pictures of it, I knew that it had changed so much that you wouldn't be able to tell what it had once been. It was a nice home and the out buildings were in good shape. Time does things to places and the memories go away.

One of the Bingham Homes

2009-07-30T21:05:00.009-06:00

When we were in the San Luis Valley for a family reunion, we went on a picture taking expedition. These are the pictures of the Bingham family farm after many decades. We'll invite Mom and her siblings to write what they remember about this home.

When I was 9 years old, we moved from Manassa to this home. It was 3 1/2 miles from Romeo and 3 1/2 miles from Antonito.

It was a nice home, but the bathroom had never been finished, and water had never been piped into the house. The floors were hardwood and on the South side of the living room and dining room were french windows. They were like doors and could be opened like doors. there were three bedrooms on the North side of the house with a hall and the room that was not finished as a bathroom, was between the west room and the middle room. The west bedroom was the boys room and the middle bedroom was Mama and Daddy's room. There was a closet between the middle room and the girl's room, which was on the East. That closet was the full length of the bedroom and could be walked through from the middle room to the girl's room. The Livingroom and the dining room were one room. There was a fireplace between the 2 french windows. The door between the kitchen and the dining room, was a swinging door. There was a sink on the south wall of the kitcyen with cupboards on each end. The house was heated with wood and coal. The West entrance was into the kitchen and the East entrance was into the living room. In this picture you can see the windows on the North. Each bedroom had a window and the unfinished bathroom was the little window. The East bedroom had a front window also.

This picture (below) is the South side of the house. The trees are cottonwood trees. At one time we had a garden there, but it wasn't the big garden. On the back of the house, in line with the trees was a cellar. It was as big as a commercial cellar. It burned down one year when Daddy was in LosAlamos, working. It was big enough to park the car in the cold weather. It had double doors. For some reason, it did not burn the car, even though the car was parked in the cellar at the time it burned.

There were two big honeycycle bushes on the this side of the house. For several years there was a couple of yellow canaries that built a nest in those bushes. From inside the house we could see the nest and watch as the eggs were laid and hatched. That was so interesting. We were all disappointed the year that they didn't return.
On the North side of the house, we had a big garden. It was almost an acre. There was a row of rhubarb along the South fence. There was fence around it and there were willow trees along the West fence. We had a wonderful garden. We raised all vegetables and strawberries and raspberries. One year there were so many carrots that they filled a wagon box that was about 8 feet long and 4 feet wide. Our cellar was really used in the winter. Potatoes, cabbages, carrots, apples and anything that needed to be protected from the weather.

-- Gatha --

This is the front entrance to the house. There were bushes on each side of the porch and a beautiful lilac bush on the north corner. There was a hedge on the South side of that lawn that went from near the house to the fence in front of the house. The highway between Romeo and Antonito ran just in front of the house and a railroad track was East of the highway. There was a train that ran from Alamosa to Chama, New Mexico every morning and returned every evening.

80--CONTINUED-- 24 --Tender Mercies from the Lord

2009-07-13T09:58:00.006-06:00

In my lifetime I have been the recipient of many blessings from the Lord. They began the day I was born to Ted and Cora Bingham. I was a very loved child and member of a good family. My parents were loving and kind. I have wonderful siblings, that I love. I only remember my Grandma and Grandpa Dunn, because my dad's parents died before I was born. Daddy had one sister and many cousins and aunts and uncles, but I didn't know them very well, But my mom came from a big family and I loved them very much and they loved me.

I was blessed to learn about God and Jesus Christ, from the time I was small. I was baptized at the age of eight. I grew up in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, all of my life. Those are great blessings to me. I love the Lord with all of my heart. The gift of charity is one of the greatest blessings of my life. Paul tells in his writings that if we don't have charity we are nothing. I pray for that gift.

One of the blessings of my life is being married to a man who worked hard and furnished us with a home. Many blessings came to me because of my marraige. I was blesses to be sealed to him and my children in the temple. That is one of the greatest blessings of my life. The greatest blessing of my life is my family.

Donnie was our first child and he has been a blessing and at times a trial as all children are. He was the sweetest child and young man. He loved everyone and was kind and always saw the good side of people, when he was young. I ran over him with our car when he was about 2 years old. It was a miracle that he wasnt killed or injured, but he only had gravel burns on his back. I took him for exrays and all was well there. He has had all kinds of things that could have injured him, but he survived all of them. I used to tell him the the Lord was protecting him for better things. I believe he was. Donnie Served a mission for the church in Central America. When he returned home he got a job with the Phone Company and did that work all of his working life. He is now retired. He married Gloria Culler in the Mesa, Arizona Temple, and that has been a blessing to him and our family. Their three children, Marcy, Cory and Danette are my jewels, along with my other grandchildren. Each of their families are my joy, too. Marcy and Troy and Jason and Becky, Danette and Gary and Adam, Aubree, Katee and Riley, Cory and Lorrita and Brandi, Austin and Jacob are all very precious to me and are part of the tender mercies of the Lord, to me. Don and Goloria now live in Kanab, Utah.

Kent, our next child was such a tender hearted child. WE had a special feeling for each other all of his life. He survived bee stings all over his body and a snake bite. Both of them were frightening experiences, but they did no permanent damage. Kent served a mission in Torreon Mexico. He was the only one of our children who served in the armed services. He was in the army and served in Long Bin, Viet Nam, at headqurters. I am thankful that he was able to return home safely. He was in Colorado Springs still in the service, where he met and married Phyllis Hurtubise. They had Robert and Andrea. Kent got his BA degree in Colorado Springs and taught school for a time. He now works for IBM. Kent and Phyllis divorced and he married Betty Ann Wagner. Her children are Brenda and Eddie. The grandchildren from Kent and Betty are Andrea's Mathew, Luke and Ashliegh. and Robert's daughter Hannah, Brenda and Tim's daughters Aubrey and Chloe. Eddie was taken home to the Lord and had no children. He look forward to seeing him agaion. How can we say more about the blessings of the Lord to us. I am very thankful for Kent and Betty's family. Kent and Betty now live in Colorado Springs.

Bonnie Lynn, our next child and only daughter, When she came to our home and I was so pleased to get a girl. She is a person who never makes waves. She is as sweet a daughter as a mother could ever want. She has always been a blessing to me. She was her daddy's sweetheart. She went to Mesa and stayed with Leon and Jean and went to beauty school. When she returned, she worked in Alamosa as a beauty operator for a while. She served a mission in Idaho. After her mission she went to California and lived with Ina and Henry. That is where she met Emery. They married in California and lived there for most of their married life. Their children are Shandi, Emery J, Monica and John Henry. They went through a period of divorce. Ward and I went to Fallbrook, and lived there for almost a year. Later Bonnie and Emery married in the San Diego temple and all of their children were sealed to them. Their grandchildren are, Shandi and Todd's children, Amber, Michael and Meagen. Emery Jay and Daylynn have Alex and Anthony. Monica has no children and John Henry is not married. Bonnie and Emery now live in St George.

Larry is our last child. He was born in Romeo area. Arlo was working on a farm for Thales Smith and Larry was born at home. LaRue, my sister was expecting a baby at the same time as me and Harold was overseas. Both of us had our babies at our home. He was a big baby. Almost 10 pounds. He is such a smart person. He wore out our encyclopedias by reading them. When he was in the first grade in Manassa, he had brights disease, which is a kidney disease. His blood pressure went so high that the doctor gave him a shot that could have killed him, but it saved his life. We spent 10 days in Denver in the hospital, doing all kinds of tests. He never seemed to have anymore problems with that. Larry was at home after the other children were gone. He was 22 when he decided to go on a mission. He went to Argentina. He had many baptisms. When he came home, he went to BYU. He met Jeanette Cheshire there and they were married that winter. Both he and Jeanette finished their college after they were married. They had four children when Larry graduated with a masters degree in civil engineering. Arlo, Craig Brian, and Julie were born in Provo. Anita, Debra and Eric were born after their schooling. Their grandchildren are Leslie, Julie and Clint's daughter. They are expecting their second child. Craig and Brina have Bradly and Luke.. How very dear all of these members of my family are to me. Larry and Jeanette live in Hewitt, Texas, where Larry is working in his field on airplanes. Debra is in college at BYU Idaho and Eric is still at home. Arlo and Anita are in the Salt Lake area and Brian is in Colorado.

I have 3 sisters, and 2 brothers. Barbara, LaRue, and Doris Faye. Leon and Keith are my brothers. Keith died and now I have one living brother. When my parents died, Doris Faye came to live with Arlo and me. She lived with us for 6 years. She is like my child.

All of these people are my family and my great blessing. I love each one of them.
I believe these are tender mercies from the Lord.

THE HOUSE ON 3RD STREET (80--CONTINUED--23)

2009-06-15T15:02:00.007-06:00

Arlo and I moved our family from the house across from Maggie Weston to the house on 3rd street. That is where we basically raised our family. When we moved into that house, it was in terrible condition. It had been vacant for a number of years and there had been no care of it. Most of the windows were broken. We had to replace them. There was about 6 inches of dirt on all of the floors. The walls were plastered and it was a poor job, so there were holes in the plaster. We repaired the bad places and at later papered the walls. It had good floors and was structurally sound. There was a place for a bathroom, but it had never been finished. Arlo put in the bathroom. He found an old bathtub that was ancient. It was small and in good shape. We worked hard to make a home out of it and it did make a good home for us for many years.

The floors in the joint living room and the dining room were hardwood and were beautiful when they were cleaned and polished. We put new linoleum in the kitchen. The three bedrooms had wood floors and we didn't cover them for a few years. We painted them. There were colonnades between the living room and the dining room. I always liked them. There was a china cupboard between the kitchen and the dining room. I liked that too. There was a pantry that had cupboards. It was good. There was a big window in the dining room. I made a covered bench in front of it and it was a good place to take a nap in the winter. The sun shone in it. I put Priscilla curtains on that window and it was pretty. There was a big window in the living room. I put draperies on that window.

We had a big yard and there was no grass when we moved there. We gradually did a lawn. We just mowed the weeds and it made a fair lawn. I raised a garden every year. We had an irrigation ditch in front of the house and that is the water I used to water my garden. The land there raised wonderful vegetables. I have never had a better garden than I had there.

There was a field in back of the house that Arlo used to keep his horses at times. When the boys were home they mowed the back yard and it really looked good, but it was too much work for me after the boys were gone. The horses and small mules kept the weed down when they were there.

Our house was around the corner from the garage that we owned. It was handy for Arlo's work and we were close to the store and church also.

I'm sure those walls could tell many stories. We bought a piano when the Romeo Ward was abandoned and the ward moved to Manassa to our new chapel. The piano had been the Romeo Ward piano. Kent and Bonnie Lynn took piano lessons. Donnie bought the piano, but he didn't take lessons. Larry started, but didn't last long. I loved the music from that piano. Music is a great blessing in a home. That piano is now in Cory and Lorrita's home.

Our neighbors were: Dorothy and Shelton Sowards on the north, Elma And Boyd Padgett across the street. Donald and Deon Jarvies North of Elma, Boyd and Ouida Brady North of the Shelton Sowards' Carlyn Sowards and family on the South of us. Cecil Haslett's family on the Southeast corner of our block.

80--CONTINUED--22 OUR MISSION IN ARIZONA

2009-05-22T17:07:00.004-06:00

When all of the children were grown and had homes of their own, the Bishop called Arlo and me into his office and asked us to go on a mission. Arlo wasn't sure that we could do it. He sold the garage to Mitch and Mike 'Gary and they didn't pay anything on it and so it came back to us and we didn't have a job, except for the pay I received from the Library. Arlo told the Bishop that we would let him know our decision on Tuesday night. We talked about it and Arlo said he couldn't turn down his call, when he had expected his children to accept their calls. We didn't have an income if we went. The Bishop said the ward would send us, but that didn't feel good to Ärlo, but he decided to accept.

When we went for our physicals, Arlo didn't pass and was sent to Denver, because he had a serious heart problem. He had to have by-pass surgery. The doctor said he had a total blockage and was on the verge of a massive heart attack. He said he wouldn't have survived. He had 4 by-pass .

At the library a short time earlier, the county called me and asked several of the library staff if we were interested in a Blue Cross and Blue Shield medical policy. It would cover 100 percent of the cost of all medical bills. The agent said he didn't know how they could offer that policy. He said as an agent for the company, he was only allowed to get a 90 percent policy. I bought it and the county paid part of the payments. That insurance paid all of the three surgeries that he had.

When the surgeries were all done and paid, they called me by back to the county and told me that it was a mistake that we got 100 percent coverage. If we had not had that, we would not have been able to go on the mission, because we would have a big medical bill to pay.

On Arlo's ( Larry's son),2nd birthday, The 29th of September, Arlo and I entered the MTC. That night when we were all settled in our room, we got a phone call from Larry and Jeanette. Jeanette's father died that day.

We rode on bus to Holbrook, Arizona, where the Mission Home was. It was the only mission in the church that there was no airplane service. We stayed in the Mission home that night and the next day we went to Peach Springs, Arizona, where we worked for about 8 months of our mission.

When we first arrived there, they didn't have a branch president. The president thought Arlo might have to be the branch president. The searched the members of the branch and found a man who was not active in the church and Arlo helped him in many ways.

One of the first things that we did was go to the top of a hill near the town and Arlo took of his coat for me to kneel on and we knelt and he gave a Priesthood Blessing. That was a special experience for me.

We lived in a trailer house which was by the chapel. It was old and about ready for the scrap heap, but we did enjoy our time there. We had a lot of things that made our mission special.

80--CONTINUED--21

2009-05-01T14:12:00.006-06:00

We spent many hour in the mountains. I remember one time Alta and Tiny and Norene and Sheila and Isabel and Don and RaeDean and Gordon and Arlo, and Doris Faye and Donnie and Kent and Bonnie Lynn camped out on Wolf Creek Pass. It was a beautiful place and I had a lot of pictures that we took up there, but I don't know if I have any of them now. Arlo was holding Bonnie Lynn. I saw somewhere that it was said that in that picture the child was Donnie, It was Bonnie Lynn. There was a picture of RaeDean and Doris Faye. It was close to the highway and we heard trucks passing by all night.

We made what we called a Brigham Bed. Out side was a dad, then all of their children between the mom. Next was the next family, starting with the mom, the children of that family and then the dad. The dad of the next family was next, then their children and the mom, until all of the families were in the bed together.
Cooking on a campfire and eating on the ground on a ground cover and playing games and telling stories.

I remember another time all of the same people camped in the Conejos Canyon. It was a lot of fun and we really enjoyed Grandpa Vance's family.

One year we went to the South Fork on the Conejos. LaRue and Harold and Eddie and Grandma Lawson and our family camped. There was a raspberry patch and we made jam and ate all the raspberries that we could pick. We mad a tent with poles and blankets for the kids to sleep in. We had fried fish and fried potatoes.

I remember one year LaVerl and I took some of the cousins to the flat below the cabin where they made a camp ground. We set up two tents. One for the girls and the other for the boys. We stayed there several nights. The girls decided to move their tent after several nights, and had just got it set up and all of their things in it when it started raining. One day Edgar, Ethel and Don and Elma came to have lunch with us. Just about the time that they arrived, it started raining. The lightning struck a tree nearby. I said that it hit a tree close because I felt a chip hit me, and Edgar said he didn't think so, but he went looking at the trees near where we were and and found where it had struck two trees that were side by side. It peeled the bark on both trees from the top to the bottom in a line about 3 inches wide from the top to the bottom of both trees. I watched those trees for several years, after we bought the cabin, and I walked along the river. One of them died.

Later, we had the cabin to stay in. That was nice for all of us. There wasn't as much preparation to get ready to go and we always had a place to sleep. There are a lot of memories there. I still enjoy going to the cabin. I never get enough of it. Those are precious memories. I enjoyed the reunions that have been held at the cabin. We had several with the Vances. Cecil and Jessie and Richard and his family and RaeDean and their children and Earl and Winnie and their children. Those are times that I enjoy remembering. There is a picture of Arlo, Earl, Richard, Gordon and I don't remember who else. There is also one of Earl and Winnie, Jessie and Cecil and Arlo and me.

I remember reunions with the Dunn family. We have some great pictures that were taken at the cabin. Those were wonderful times.

I remember many times as a young girl going to Aspen Glade Camp Ground. I always loved that place Arlo didn't like it very well so we never went there often with our family. We camped more at LaManga Camp Grounds. That was good too.

What kind of man was Ted Bingham?

2009-04-26T18:43:00.003-06:00

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.

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.
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.
April 30, 1937, he was chairman of Troop 273, Romeo Colorado of the Boy Scouts of America.
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.
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.
He paid $2 for a Small Game Fishing and hunting license 16 Feb 1942.
On March 26, 1945, he paid $7.69 for 148 shares to the Manassa Land and Irrigation Company
He was Asst. Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 273 Romeo, Colorado 31 December 1942.
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.

On January 26, 1944, he signed his Union Card for the Santa Fe, New Mexico Local 1353 Brotherhood of Carpenters.

On June 10, 1944, He purchased a Resident Combined fishing and Small Game hunting license. He was a resident of Romeo.

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

2009-04-12T20:01:00.002-06:00

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

2009-04-12T17:50:00.004-06:00

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?

2009-04-02T21:02:00.002-06:00

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)

80--CONTINUED--19

2009-03-29T08:13:00.008-06:00

I have been trying to think of things to add to my posts. Some of the things that come to mind are some of the thing we did as my children were at home. Arlo never had time to go with us as we wandered here and there, but we did do a lot of things. We went to Las Alamos several times. One time we went with my sisters and all of the children. There was a crowd of us. We went to see Nona and were in the VW pickup and it broke down. I don't remember how we got home, but Arlo had Tommy Rogers load the pickup on his truck and bring it home. The motor was replaced several times on that vehicle. It also gave us a problem as we drove it home from Los Alamosa. We did get it home that time.

Several times we went to Denver to take Bonnie Lynn for a check up on her ear. I went back to see what I had written about these things and found that I had told most of these things before. I know that as I am getting older it is easy to tell the same story many times, sorry about that. I could erase this but it took time and thought so just read it again. I don't think anybody is reading this much anymore anyway.

It has been fun to watch the great grandchildren come along. Our first great grandchild is Matthew. He is a blessing to us. I don't know the order of the grandchildren, so I need to go to my records to check that out.

Wow, I got comments before I finished the post. I was taking some time to think about the things that happened in those times.

Kent reminded me of the floats we made for the garage. The year that he was talking about was the year that Jack Dempsey came to Manassa. Kent helped me make a whale on the VW pickup. I think I have a picture of it. If I can find it I will put it on the blog. We made the whale out of the pickup and a float on a trailer behind it with a chain and a spear attached in the whale. Diane Luster was riding in the float behind. That was a big job. It was shown on Albuquerque television. It got second prize in the parade. I don't remember how many floats I made, but I did one every year for a time. We lived around the corner from the highway that run through town. The parade started on the West end of town and went the mile to the East end of town. It went through town both directions. So we could watch it twice. Cars were parked on both sides of the streets. The town was full. Many side streets had cars parked and they walked to watch the parade. I think our parades were as good as any small town parade. There were beautiful floats.

Manassa was really busy the year that Jack Dempsey came for the celebration. The 24th of July was a special time in Manassa. We always had two days of celebration. The first day started with a blast of dynamite to wake everyone up. There was a parade both days at 10 o'clock. Some years they had a program about the early days of the town or of the church. A barbecue was served in the cultural hall both days. There was a hamburger stand, a carnival and a rodeo at the fair grounds. The rodeos were pretty professional, with bucking horses, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing. and other fun things. They had cotton candy and snow cones and other food.

The town became a large place as families had family reunions and people coming to help celebrate. The stores closed for the parade and the rodeo. There were people everywhere.

80--CONTINUED--18

2009-03-22T08:23:00.004-06:00

I decided to tell some of the things that happened to us through the years.
When Arlo was in the hospital with his back, I went to work at hot lunch in the Manassa grade school. I worked with Maggie Weston. The hot lunch was a great blessing to the children. Our meals were well planned and I learned a lot about planning meals for a big group and how to prepare well. We made our own bread. Maggie mixed most of the dough, but I did it once in a while. We even made the buns for the hamburgers. Once Bruce Jarvies came back 9 times for another hamburger. I often wondered how he held so much. They were sloppy Joe hamburgers and were very tasty. We served as much food as the children wanted as long as it lasted. We cooked beans once a week and we did many good things. The government furnished many good foods for us. We got real butter, turkeys, and many other foods. Our meals were really good. Many times we had leftovers and we took them home. That was a real blessing to us, as Arlo was not working and my pay was small. I worked there for several years. I learned to clean up after doing a job and putting things away when I was through with my job. That is a simple thing, but it has made my life more simple.

When Arlo was able to go to work after his surgery, we bought the home across the road from Maggie. That was our first home that we owned. Things in life happen in small steps. Line upon line. We lived across from Maggie when we bought our first television.

I remember when we lived there Arlo bought a red pickup. I could not drive it in the snow. It took me a long time to be able to drive it on snowy roads. Arlo could get in it and drive very well.

We lived in a house with running water in the house and a bathroom, when we lived in Romeo, That is the first indoor bathroom we had, but when we moved to Manassa, we had a hand pump in the kitchen, but an outhouse. When we moved the our home across from Elma, Arlo installed a bathroom and we then had running water in the house. We did live simple, but I loved my life, eventho you would feel that it was surely awful.

We spent a lot of time in the mountains. Arlo was a fisherman and enjoyed hunting. He took us to the mountains often. I enjoyed that.

James Hazlett Jack and Georgia Ann Horton Jack

2009-03-15T14:57:00.005-06:00

James Hazlett Jack was born October 24, 1831 in Knox county, Tennessee, the eighth child of Allen Jack and Elizabeth White McCouley.

Georgia Ann Horton was born May 30, 1841 in Lebanon, De Kalb county, Alabama, the daughter of Preston Betty Horton and Elizabeth Malone. the oldest of 15 children. Her father was very prosperous, and her childhood was a happy one. Her education was complete for that time. One of her teachers was James Hazlett, a mild mannered young man. She married him on July 22, 1858. T

hey had 3 years of real happiness and prosperity. Then came the Civil War. James had seven brothers in the Confederate army, most were officers, but he joined the Union army. Because of his brothers he was not put in the firing lines, but acted as home guard, scout and spy.

One day he was swimming across the river with some papers. His son was on his back hold up the papers. Someone shot James in the back. They were near the shore so he made it and his son helped him. They hid him in the bushes. James told his son to take some papers to James' wife, Georgia as she would know what to do with them. Before daylight, Georgia was back with medicine and food. She hid him a hollow gum tree. He stayed there until he was better, but he was always stooped over for the rest of his life from being crouched over in the gum tree. He was in poor health for the rest of his life.

Mr. Berry was a good friend of Jim's and was also a runner for the Union army. As soon as Jim was able, Mr. Betty helped and they went to a Mormon settlement hiding by day and traveling by night. They then wrote Georgia and Mrs. Berry and told them to come to them. Georgia had a mule and Mrs. Berry had a spring rig. They loaded just what they had to have into it and started out. When they got to the river, the guard wouldn't let them cross until Georgia showed him a letter from Jim. He told them to go back a ways, pretend to camp, feed the children, and put them to bed. In the night, they were to come back and get help from them.

They did as they were instructed. They crossed the river in Chattanooga, Tennessee and proceeded on. As they passed a grove of trees, they heard some soldiers talking about hanging five men. They said Jim Jack was through being a spy, that he was hanging to a tree. Georgia could not go on without knowing for sure. She unhitched the mule and straddled him. She took her old musket and went to the place of hanging. None of the five men was Jim. When she returned to the spring rig, the soldiers had taken everything off the rig and scattered it looking for important papers and other items. Georgia, still astraddle of the old mules said, "I just turned that old musket on those men and made them load everything back on the fig." It was unheard of for women to straddle a horse much less brandish a gun as Georgia had.

When they reached their husbands, thy were destitute for food and somewhere to stay. Their son, Bob, was only 6 or 7 years old and he got a job in a blacksmith shop running the bellows. He stayed with this many years. He learned the blacksmith trade.

After the war, Georgia states that there seemed to be a curse on the land. It didn't produce as it had before.

Elders Morgan and Lisbon brought the Gospel to them. Georgia was ready for baptism right away.

She said, "I don't see how anyone with sense could fail to see the light." Jim was slower to accept the Church but was a staunch Latter Day Saint once he accepted it. It was the final blow to the Jack family when James Hazlett and Georgia Ann joined the LDS Church. It was bad enough for them to join the Union army, to to join the Mormon Church was unforgivable.

In 1879, the James H. Jack family was called by the Church to settle the San Luis Valley. They came to Pueblo, Colorado by train. They stayed for a while, then bought wagons and teams before proceeding on to the valley. They came to the fort at Los Cerritos in April 1879. They had just been in the valley 16 days when their oldest daughter died of pneumonia. She was the first Anglo woman buried in the town of Manassa. Untold hardships were their lot in their new home. They were used to the mild climate of Alabama and Colorado was so cold.

Food was scarce. Flour was sold for 8 a hundred, but Georgia was resourceful and managed to have food when other families were without. She always shared with others.

James Hazlett died May 13 1893 following an operation performed on their kitchen table in the Jack Bend.

Georgia died January 27, 1927 at the age of 87. She was survived by only three of her eleven children.

Simeon Adams Dunn, The Mormons; 100 Years in the San Luis Valley of Colorado; 1883-1983, Compiled and Edited by Carleton Q. Anderson, Betty Shawcroft and Robert Compton, Published by the La Jara Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Adobe Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico

80--CONTINUED--17

2009-03-11T09:31:00.006-06:00

After Arlo Died, my life changed. I was still working at the Conejos County Library. I worked there for 7 years. The following year I was very busy. I kept myself so busy that I didn't have time to think. in all. I was on four major boards. I was president of the Conejos County Hospital Auxiliary, I was on the board of directors for the building next to the Hospital that was built to house people who were in need of housing where they had help from hospital personal. I was Republican Committee Woman, and I was on the Cemetary Board of Directors and I was also on a group of people from the Alamosa Library, (genealogy).

I stayed home for a year and then moved to Mesa, Arizona. I lived with Georgiana Lillywhite, as a companion. She was 90 years old. I worked there for her for one year. While I was there I was called as an ordinance worker in the Mesa Temple. One day Kent called me and said he needed me to live with him. He and Phyllis had divorced and his life was difficult at the time. I lived with Kent In Colorado Springs for a year. That was a special time. Kent and I had a great time. He met Betty while I was there. We did singles things and he worked at the job he has now, but the company changed. He has been there a long time. I worked for a drapery company. Kent and Betty married on the 30th of January 1987. With their marriage I gained two more grandchildren. Brenda and Eddie. I am glad that they have been a part of my family. Eddie is the first death of the family, other than my husbands.

I moved back to Mesa and lived with LaRue and Harold and with Leon and Jean. I went back to work in the temple. Dottie Vance and I rented a house and shared three different homes in Mesa.

On the 15th of June 1987, Anita was born. in Greenville, Texas, where Larry was working as a civil engineer for an airplane place. I went there and stayed with them to help out with the children. Anita has been special to me ever since and still is. I love her dearly. I pray for her happiness.

On the 8th of August, 1989, John Henry was born. Shandi had been staying with Dottie and me, which she did several Summers, when Bonnie called that John had been born. Bonnie had toxemia and was in serious condition. The doctor sent her to SanDiego hospital by ambulance and they took John early. He only weighed a ltttle over 3 pounds. As soon as he was born, Bonnie was OK. Shandi and I drove to SanDiego in my Honda car, which had no air conditioning. It was a rather hot ride. He was small enough that Emery held him in his hand and he came from Emery's finger tips to his wrist. I have a picture somewhere. You would never know it know it now. He is a big young man.

On the 22 August 1990 I entered the MTC to go to the Washington, Seattle Mission. I served there for one year. I was released on 8th of August 1991 I was in the mission field when Debra was born.

Larry and Jeanette moved from Texas to Denver, where he worked for Martin Marietta. That is where Debra was born, on the first of February 1990. She was a beautiful child. She is a lovely person.

In 1992 I moved to St George. Ina called and said that Henry was seriously sick and she needed help. I left Mesa that day and never returned to Mesa to live. I lived with Ina after Henry died. I met Ward Wilson and we married on the 7th of August 1993, for time only in the St George Temple. On our first anniversary we were in the MTC, going to the Illinois, Chicago Mission. We served there for 14 months. Ward had parkinsons disease and was not able to do the work after that. We were released in October, 1993

On our way home from our mission, we went by to See Kent and Betty, in Longmont and, Larry and Jeanette, in Denver. I remember Ward saying that Debra was the prettiest little girl that he had ever seen.

Our last grandchild, Eric was born in Denver on the 28th of May 1994. That makes 18 grandchildren. That is our heritage. Those who came to our family, hopefully will be ours for all eternity. because all of their families are sealed for eternity and I believe with all my heart that they will all be there, because it it a promise.

TO BE CONTINUED

80--CONTINUED--16

2009-03-05T10:43:00.008-07:00

in 1981,on 27th of November, Craig was born. Now Larry and Jeanette have two sons. Larry was working at a shop where they make bedroom sets. He was still going to BYU and Jeanette was doing everything she could to help. She baby sat, sold tupperware and whatever she could to help. They were a growing family.

About this time, our bishop called Arlo and me (Gatha) into his office and ask us to go on a mission. Arlo was a little undecided. We didn't have an income to supply the money to pay for our mission and he didn't want anyone else to pay for it. The bishop said the ward would pay for it. He told the bishop that he would let him know on Tuesday following the Sunday when he ask us. I think it was a difficult decision, but he said, "he had expected his children to accept their mission calls and he couldn't tell them that he had turned his call down." He also knew that I wanted to go, so he told the bishop that we would go. We filled out the papers and when we went for our physical, we were told told that his heart was not healthy enough to go. He was sent to Denver, where he had bypass surgery. The doctor told us that his heart was on the verge of a massive heart attack. He had two more surgeries. One of them was to resew his sternem back as the first scar opened. Then he had bypass into his legs. I don't remember how long all of this took us.

Several months before our call, I was working at the Conejos County Library, I was asked if I would be interested in purchasing a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical Insurance. I decided to take it. I offered 100% coverage. The agent told me that he didn't know how they could offer me this policy, He worked for them and could only get 90%. This policy paid 100% of the bills for all three surgeries were completed, and when they were over, I was called to the county again and was told that they didn't know how I got that policy. After the time for healing and being ready, Arlo got Social Security, which paid for our mission. It was a time of miracles as far as I am concerned. The Lord made it possible for us to serve a mission. We entered the MTC on the 29th of September 1982, on Arlo, (our grandson)'s 2nd birthday. That night we received a phone call from Larry and Jeanette that Jeanette's father had died.

Our mission was a very special time for Arlo and me. We enjoyed the work and had a good time growing together. We got home on September 10th 1983.

Brian was born while we were on our mission. He was born on the 9th of July 1983. We saw him for the first time when we went to Provo for Thanksgiving.

All of our family went to Provo, to spend Thanksgiving with Larry and Jeanette. That was a special time. Gloria said that Arlo told Donnie how much he loved him. That was a thing that he did very seldom. Talking about his feelings was not easy for him. That was the last time all of us were all together as a family. Arlo died on the 7th of December 1983.

The next Summer Larry and Jeanette and their family came to Manassa, from Provo and spent the summer with me and were a big help to me. Larry built cupboards in my kitchen and it was fun to have the there. I wish I had a better memory.

Monica was born in 1984. She was born in Fallbrook, California. She was a beautiful little girl. Bonnie and Emery now had Shandi, Emery J. and little Monica. She is my eleventh grandchild.

Julie was born the next summer on the 7th of May 1985. Larry and Jeanette had been in school ever since they were married. Now it was time to move on. Jeanette had graduated from BYU earlier and now Larry graduated with a masters degree in civil engineering. They had four children and it was time to find work.

TO BE CONTINUED !

80-- CONTINUED--15

2009-03-01T20:47:00.004-07:00

Bonnie and Emery were married on November 11, 1978 in California. Bonnie had been living with Ina and Henry in California. She met Emery at a singles dance and he began coming to see her and they were married. On 23 August 1979, Shandi was born. I went to California to be with Bonnie and help take care of the baby. She was the first one to be born out of Colorado. Emery was so pleased with Shandi. She was a sweet child and I am so glad that she is my granddaughter.

Larry and Jeanette were married on the 15th of December, 1979. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple. Their wedding was special. They had a reception in Utah and one in Manassa. Jeanette's parents came to colorado and stayed with us for the reception. That was nice.

They were living in Provo, Utah where both of the them attended BYU. until Jeanette graduated. James Arlo was born on 29th of September 1980, in Provo. Arlo is a very special person and I have always admired him. One time I went to Provo and stayed with them for a few days and I pulled him around in the wagon that his dad made for him. He cried when I went home. I have always felt bad that I didn't live closer to all of the grandchildren.

Emery J. was the next grandchild. He was born on the 1st of December 1980. Bonnie and Emery were living in Torrance, California when he was born. Bonnie wanted me to come and help her with Shandi. He was expected so close to Christmas that I tried to talk Arlo into going with me, but he said no, so I said that I wouldn't go and leave him home alone for Christmas. Arlo decided to go with me. That is one of the times that he and I had a wonderful time together. Emery J. came a little early so by the time we got there, he was about 10 days old. We had Christmas with them. Bonnie and Emery took us to San Diego to Sea world and Wild Animal park and to Lancaster to see Ina and Loyd and family. On the way home they drove us to Provo to see Larry and Jeanette and Arlo, who was 3 months old. We flew home from Salt Lake. That was nice to see three of our grandchildren, Shandi, Emery J. and Arlo. Also to spend time with Bonnie and Emery and Larry and Jeanette.

TO BE CONTINUED !

Where have the years gone?

2009-02-26T19:02:00.005-07:00

I dearly loved my cousins in Manassa. It was good to share our lives with one another.

If I had run into EJ on the street, nose to nose, I'm afraid that I wouldn't have known him, but when I saw his boys, each of them bears his father's mark.

I used to love it when EJ would come into the Filling station in Manassa. Dad would give him a soda and a sack of peanuts. He would sit in the old desks in the station and swing his feet as he drank his pop.

I went on a mission and away to school. EJ and his family moved to Arizona. I don't think I saw him more than once or twice in the years that followed. Many years later, when I was in Arizona to visit my Mother, EJ and his wife took me in for the night and made me feel welcome.

Last year, I was diagnosed with cancer of the thyroid and was uneasy about the diagnosis. I was grateful when EJ reached out offer his support. It was so good to talk to him, and how I yearned for those simpler times in my life. Alas, we can't turn the clock back.

I was excited today when I saw Doris Faye and some of her family on Facebook. That's where I pulled the picture above. I am hoping that although we can't go back in time, we'll be able to rekindle some of the relationships that we hold dear.

80--CONTINUED--14

2009-02-24T21:12:00.007-07:00

Danette was the next grandchild. She was born on the 30th of August, 1970. She was always a wonderful granddaughter.

It was so much fun to have two sweet little girls. They lived in Alamosa and we lived in Manassa, so we saw them often. It was fun to watch them grow and to be loved and enjoyed by them.

Arlo loved his little girls. It was fun to watch them together. I think grandchildren are a blessing to grandparents. I think they can enjoy them in a way that raising your children, you don't have time to cherish them in the same way grandparents do.
Cory was next in the line of grandchildren. We were pleased to have a grandson. He was born on 15 of June 1972. Trying to write about them is difficult, because you can't express the feelings you have for each of them in a way it would be good for them to know just how precious they are.

When these sweet children were small, Gloria had migraine headaches about every three months. She would be in bed for two or three days and I would go stay with them until Gloria was able to take care of them. Those headaches were so hard on her. It was a great blessing when she outgrew them.

kent and Phyllis were married in 1973 and Andrea Kay was born on on the 11 of October 1974. That is the anniversary of my mom's death. It was good to have something special happen on that day. Andrea was a beautiful baby and has ever been full of love.

Next came Robert Kent. He was born on 20th of February 1976. Phyllis had toxemia before Robert was born, so I went and stayed with them for 2 weeks because Phyllis was confined to bed. Robert was special to me and still is.

TO BE CONTINUED !

80--CONTINUED--13

2009-02-21T09:01:00.009-07:00

If I remember more things of the school years, I'll go back. I was thankful that Don chose to go on a mission, but I pushed too hard and he didn't feel ready. It is good to let children be more responsible for their decisions, as they get old enough. I wish at times I could go back and be a wiser mother.

I mentioned before that Arlo and I were sealed in the Mesa Temple. That was the happiest day of my life. I will forever be thankful for that blessing. Now it is up to all of us to make that eternal. When my mom died my dad said that if there was nothing to the power of the sealing, it would be a great blessing, because of the peace it gives when one is gone on before. I know by the Spirit that those sealings are from our Heavenly Father. It is a great blessing to know that families can be together forever. My prayer is that every member of our family will work toward that blessing, that we may all be prepared for that. I also believe that living the principles of the Gospel, makes for a happy life here and now.

Don came home from his mission and right away was ready to find a wife. I'll forever be thankful for the choice he made. Gloria is a special part of our family. He was married to Gloria Culler in the Mesa Arizona Temple, on the 28th of September 1968. They have been together for many years. They have survived many trials and have grown from them, as all of us do.

It was in natural order that Marcy Lynn was born. Warren and Helen came from Farmington to be with them when the baby came. Don had worked for the phone company ever since he returned from his mission. He was working on a crew that worked out of town some of the time. He was In San Luis, with the person he was working with. Gloria was ready to have the baby and they couldn't find Donnie. They called the hotel here they were staying and they said they had checked out the night before. They called Arlo and me and we drove to San Luis and went to the hotel where they were supposed to be and they told us the same thing, that they had checked out the night before. We didn't know what to do. We drove around town to see if we could find their truck. We gave up and started home, when we saw a car from the phone company and stopped him. He said for us to follow him. He came to see what had happened to his crew. He went to the hotel and demanded to see the room where they had been staying and there they were in the bed. Marcy was born, before Donnie got home, but all was well.

Marcy was our first grandchild, she was born on the 24th of July 1969 in the Alamosa Hospital. She is the first grandchild for Warren and Helen, too. She gave us a good start. It is wonderful, the way a family grows. She is small but mighty. I do love that girl.

When Marcy was old enough for them to take her to Farmington to show her off to Gloria's family, they had a car accident. They hit a bridge abutment and it threw all three of them out of the car. Gloria was thrown a long way and had many cuts and bruises. Don didn't seem to have any serious problems. Marcy was in a car bed. The bed went out with her in it. She got a cut on her finger and that seemed to be all. That was one of the miracles of our family that all of them survived. It destroyed the car that Gloria had worked for. Life goes on. I am thankful for that.

TO BE CONTINUED

80--CONTINUED--12

2009-02-18T15:06:00.007-07:00

A lot of things happened through the years that my children were in their school days. A lot of things were going on, but because I wasn't involved in many of the things, I didn't know much.

Everyone had their friends I'm sure I don't know all of them. Donnie had Freddie Holman, Eddie Holland, I can't think, Don, you add, if you like. Kent had Eddie Holland and I think he liked his cousins best. Bonnie had Her cousins, Nancy, Delores, Jill, and Ramona McGinnis, Janice Johnson, Larry had Robert Sorensen, Irene, Jeff Horton and Larry Dean White. My memory is gone.

There were school proms, church dances, wrestling matches, football and basketball games. Life was busy and full. We had family reunions, Then came the missions and college and many other things. Donnie played football for a season. Larry wrestled. Bonnie belonged to the cheerleaders. Kent worked in the school library.

I was busy with church callings. I was on the Relief Society Stake Board for 7 years. I was on the Primary Stake Board for seven years also. I went into Salt Lake City for the meetings for each that were held before General Conference. I had the privilege of staying for General Conference each time I went.

After Donnie graduated from high school, he went to college for one quarter. That wasn't his thing. Next came his mission.

Kent graduated and went on his mission. He came back and went to Adams State. Then came the Army for him. I think one of the best times for him was when he was in college. There was a group of them that had a lot of fun. I'll write more later.

TO BE CONTINUED !

80--CONTINUED--11

2009-02-13T10:05:00.008-07:00

The week that my car, that had been Elma and Boyd's burned, Larry had a terrible mishap. He was working at a service station, a part of a school program, He was trying to take the steering wheel off his car, for some unknown reason and I called to tell him to hurry home or he would be late for Grandpa Dunn's funeral. A short time later Gordon Dean came to the mortuary and said Larry had been in a car accident and was in the hospital, which was by the place where the accident happened. Larry did not put the screws back in the steering wheel and it came off in his hands. The car was hit broadside by Mr and Mrs Zinn and their baby (Troy, Marcy's husband) and Mrs Zinn was in the hospital also. Arlo and I were in a state of shock. We didn't know if we should go to the funeral or the hospital. I called the hospital and talked to Doctor Thomas. He said Larry has cuts and bruises and some broken ribs, but he will be alright, so go to the funeral. Larry had cuts on his throat by his jugular vein, but he as OK.

Kent Had an accident on the way to Colorado Springs, after the funeral, where he was stationed in the Army. He was on the east side of Wolf Creel Pass, almost to walsenburg. Kent called Arlo but he wasn't at the station. Ronnie Nite went to see how he was and take him where he needed to go and I didn't even know anything about it until Ronnie had already gone. I was really upset that they didn't give me a chance to go to see how he was. His car was in a garage in Walsenburg until it was repaired. The insurance that Kent had on the car sent a check to pay the damage, but the man at the garage would not accept the check, so Kent had to go back again with the money to pay for the car. I went with him, the man was not going to accept the money either. I was so aggravated at the man. Kent told him to take the money or the car. He then said take your car. I told the man that he was not an honest man. I embarrassed Kent. He had been afoot for quite a while and needed the car. He made three trips to pick it up. Kent, please, add some of the things about your accident.

That was three cars in three days. Kent got his back. Mine was ruined. Larry's was as bad as a car could be and he got out of it alive. I think there is a picture of it somewhere.

I got a long way ahead of my story. After we went to the temple, the missions, began. Donnie went to a Central American Mission. He served in several countries. I would like for each of you to tell us (in this history), some things about your missions.

Kent went to Mexico on his mission. Bonnie went to Idaho on her mission and Larry went to Argentina. Arlo and I went to Arizona, Holbrook for our mission. After Arlo died I went to Seattle Washington and after I married Ward, we went to Chicago, North. Our missions were a wonderful part of our lives. Please each one of you tell about your missions.

Before these things happened, The Manassa High School was joined with LaJara, in a new school building, South of LaJara. The School was called Centauri. Donnie and Kent and Bonnie all graduated from Centauri High school. Larry was a senior. Donnie had played football and broke his shoulder and wasn't able to play anymore. All of my children were smarter than I was in school. Kent was working in the school library and they were combining an old library in Capulin and had duplicate books. Kent brought several boxes of books home. There were some of the classics.

I was helping Arlo in the garage, because all of his helpers were busy at other things. The books that Kent brought home were such good books and as I helped in the garage, I read most of the books. I enjoyed working at the garage with Arlo. I think that was the best time we had together. We really enjoyed each other. Well, our mission was also a great time.

I'm not sure the order of things. I'm just telling things as they come to my mind. Not necessarily in the time they happened.

TO BE CONTINUED!

80--CONTINUED--10

2009-02-10T17:31:00.006-07:00

My children and I went on several trips. Arlo had to work and never was able to go with us. We went several times to Los Alamos, where Keith and Erma lived. A few times my sisters, Doris Faye, LaRue and Barbara and their children went at the same time. We went to Bandalier Indian Ruins, the Laboratories where they worked on the atomic bomb. Keith worked in one of the places were they did some kind of scientific research. That was always fun.

My dad, Ted Bingham worked in LosAlamos when they were working on the atomic bomb. Of course he didn't know what was going on there. He would work away from home in the winter, sometimes, when the farm work was done. and the boys could take care of the farm. Mom sometimes took him to work, so she had the car. At other times he rode with someone else. At that time there was not a very well finished road up the mountain and it was a scary ride. There was a gate at the entrance where nobody could pass, without a pass. I never went with them to LosAlamos then, because I stayed home to keep the house and whatever I had to do.

When we went up to visit Keith and Erma, Keith or Erma had to come to the gate and sign a pass, so we could go in. The gate was there for many years. It is no longer there.

We also went to Pueblo and visited with Nona and her children. One time we went in the VW pickup and it stalled and we had to find a ride home. Tom Rogers brought the pickup home in one of his trucks.

Arlo was pretty good about our little mishaps. I guess he was accustomed to our car problems. Sometimes we went through cars like women go through hosiery. I never had a car of for my use after our little Plymouth car was no longer usable, until Arlo bought Elma and Boyd's used car. It was short lived. Doris Faye took it to Alamosa to get some things for Grandpa Dunn's funeral and the car caught fire and that was the end of my car. I only had Arlo's pickup or one of my children's cars. I don't think I can even name all of the cars we wore out or wrecked.

Our Christmas' were special times. We had a hardwood floor, that had to be waxed and polished by hand. It was beautiful when it was polished. When Arlo and I married, he had never really celebrated Christmas the way we always did. He didn't think we needed a Christmas tree. I told him that when the time came that I didn't have a Christmas tree, he would know that I was too old. I have always had a tree. His family were very poor and didn't buy Christmas presents. Arlo learned to love Christmas. One of the traditions that we had was on Christmas Eve. we did the story of the birth of Christ and after had a family testimony meeting. Everyone didn't have to bear testimony, but everyone told of their love for each other and how special our family was. I believe that is one of the things that helped Arlo gain a testimony of the Gospel. He loved Christmas. He would sit in his chair by the fire and watch the lights on our beautiful tree. It shone on the floor where the floor was polished.

Arlo loved beautiful things. He was really interested in Bonnie Lynn's ballet concerts. He would watch an opera on television. He loved good music. Those are things that helped me to know how deep and sweet his feelings were for good thing.

80--CONTINUED--9

2009-02-09T12:55:00.008-07:00

Time all runs together, There are so many things to remember. Kent has talked may times about Aunt Lori and I, taking Him, Don, Mitch and Mike to Aspen Glade to spend some time in the mountains, To this day I can't figure out why I was so foolish to take you to the mountains when you were so young, without supervision. The stories get better with time. I think that is what Larry meant when he said He didn't remember going to Denver and the things that happened. Memory of the same things are different in different minds. If several people tell a story about the same experience there can be, three different stories. I hope the things that I have told are good memories.

When Arlo and I were married, I was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Arlo was baptized, but knew nothing about the church and didn't care to be involved. For several years, it was difficult for me to get to church, but as you children grew old enough to go to Primary I made up my mind that you would be thaught and raised as I had been, in a very active situation. I began taking you to church and trying to teach you all that I could. Arlo's interest was in hunting and fishing. Sometimes we went to the mountains with him and all of us enjoyed that. Sunday was the only day Arlo had off work so he had his interests and I had mine. After we moved to Manassa, he did go to church with us sometimes. There began to be more interest. When Don was reaching mission age I was very anxious to be able to go to the temple with Arlo and our children. We were going to a cottage meeting each Monday night, where several men and their families were being prepared to go to the temple. I was afraid that if we didn't go before our children were out of the home, we may not be able to go all together. I fasted for 2 days a week for nearly a year to have that great blessing. The ward was planning a temple excursion. Elma was teaching a temple preperation class. Arlo was interested. He had tried to live the word of wisdom, but it was hard for him. When the time came and he didn't mentiuon going, I was anxious. Two days before the time to go he came to me and ask me if we could be ready to go. I believe that was the happiest time of my life. We did go and Don got his endowment at the same time that Arlo and I got ours and we were sealed as a family. I will forever be thankful for that blessing.

For several years I went into General Conference. I was on the Stake Relief Society Board and at that time, there was a Relief Society Conference several days before General Conference. I went for seven years with the Relief Society and was later changed to the Stake Primary Board. I still got to go to Salt Lake. The Relief Society Conferenes were held at Fall conference time and the Primary Conference was held in the Spring. I went to Primary Conference for seven years.
The church discontinued those special conferences. All together I went for fourteen years.

Arlo used to tell me that I didn't cook fish right. one year when I got home from Salt Lake,one of you tokd me that Dad didn't know how to cook fish either.

TO BE CONTINUED--

2009-02-07T20:21:00.001-07:00

It is interesting to look at the faces and see similarities to children of another generation.

Mike Lawson

2009-02-07T05:54:00.001-07:00

Looks like his dad, doesn't he?

80--CONTINUED--8

2009-02-06T10:27:00.006-07:00

I don't remember the year that we moved to our home on 3rd street. A lot of things happened while we lived there. Arlo was still working for Boyd Pagett. We lived across the street from Elma and Boyd. Grandma Dunn had died and Doris and Verden moved into Grandpa's house. Loyd and Cathryn still lived in Manassa. Keith had married Erma Rae and Leon Married Jean, LaRue and Harold were married. Barbara was alone with her children. Doris Faye and Bill were married. Our lives were surrounded by family. Isabel and Alta had died.

Arlo's back was doing good. He worked from daylight until dark at the station. He loved fishing and hunting. Those things took his off time. I took the children and went to LosAlamos and visited with Keith and Erma and their family. I think Barbara and Doris Faye went too. We also went to Pueblo and visited Nona and her family. We went in the VW pickup and it broke down in Pueblo. We had to find another way home.

Larry got Brights disease and when I took him to the Doctor. (Dale Thomas), He said we needed to take him to Denver, the next day, to a specialist. That night I took him to Alamosa to the hospital, because he couldn't go home. Before we I took him, we went by Mrs Brothers, Jerry Dunn was the and gave him a Priesthood blessing. We waited in the waiting room for about 3 hours, because they didn't have a bed for him. The hospital was full. It was getting late and Dr. Thomas hadn't come yet. I decided to go home and get some things ready to go to Denver the next morning. I hadn't been home long when Dr. Thomas called and said that Larry's blood pressure had gone so high that he didn't know if he would be alive until we got there He said that he was going to give him a shot that could be fatal. All of the way to the hospital, I prayed that whatever was best for Larry would be. When we got there the shot had worked and his blood pressure had come down. Arlo took us to Denver the next morning and Larry was admitted, then Arlo went home. That was in January and it was so cold in Denver, I wasn't prepared for that cold. I got a room close to the hospital. I walked to be with him each morning and back to the room each night. The temperature didn't get above zero the ten days that he was there. That is the coldest I have ever been. Larry and I rode a bus home.

I think it was earlier when Bonnie Lynn had surgery to correct her eyes. Later Bonnie got hit in the ear by someone when she was swimming and got an infection in her ear. We took her to the doctor right away, but they couldn't stop the infection and it destroyed her ear drum. I took her to Denver, where she had surgery to replace the ear drum. It was like a miracle. She didn't loose any of the hearing in that ear. She couldn't go home so we stayed in Denver for a week and then we went to Nona's for a week. We couldn't take her over a mountain pass, because it would have too much pressure on her ear. We had to wait two weeks.

We took her back several times for check ups. I think all of the children went with us and we went to shows and ate at a restaurant where they had a toy train that ran around the the top of the restaurant. We also went to the museum while we were there.

TO BE CONTINUED--8

80 CONTINUED--7

2009-02-04T09:28:00.003-07:00

When we moved to the Christenson house, I was still working at hot lunch. I don't remember how long I worked there. Arlo was still working for Boyd. Arlo had an old red pickup, that he drove to work. When it was snowy, and the roads were slick, I tried to drive the monster and it would just jack knife. I didn't know how to drive that pickup when the roads were icy.

We bought a Plymouth coupe that was just right for our family. I don't know what happened to that car. It was a good little car. Later Arlo did some work on the model A and we drove that for quite a while.

We were living there when we bought a T V. Everyone else seemed to have one and the children were going to other homes to watch them so we decided to buy one. Arlo watched it as soon as he got home from work until it went off at night. He really loved to watch television. It did keep the children home, too. The first T V, I ever saw was just after World War II. The programs then were so good. I Love Lucy was so popular that everything seemed to stop when it was on. There were good musical shows and fun things. It has really changed in the last 50 years.

The first time I heard of a recorder, I thought that was strange. Why would anyone want to record things. I surely didn't understand all of the things that came because of that instrument.

I remember times when Bonnie Lynn would go to Nancy's after school or would go back to the garage with Arlo after lunch and one day I tied her to the clothesline with a rope that went the full length of the line. She still tells me about tying her to the clothesline. She didn't go again without permission.

Maggie Weston worked at hot lunch with me. I learned a lot from her. I loved that lady.

While we lived there, Donnie and Kent were in scouting and the ward was taking the Mutual boys to Arizona to the Dam. The boys were all ready to go, but our alarm didn't go off and they were left. I have always felt bad about that.

While we lived there, Barbara was left alone in Denver. Doris Faye and I went to Denver to get her and the children. It was quite an adventure. Barbara's car broke down on the way back home and we left it there and all of us rode in Doris Faye's car to Manassa. Barbara and her children lived with us for a time. We bought the house on 3rd street. where we live for the remainder of the time we lived in Manassa. Barbara lived in our old house for a time, until she moved into the house that Doris Faye and Bill owned.

80--CONTINUED--6

2009-02-02T18:01:00.006-07:00

We were settled in Manassa, in Lucille Jackson's house. Donnie, Kent and Bonnie were in school. Grandma Dunn was taking care of Larry. Arlo was home after surgery and life was going on as usual. Arlo was working at the Conejos County Gas and Oil Company, for Boyd Pagett. I was working at hot lunch at the school where the children were going.

We were there until Larry was in school. LaRue and Doris Faye and Leon were living with Grandma and Grandpa at that time. We were surrounded with aunts and uncles. Elma and Boyd lived on the same street, but on the next block to the north. Loyd and Catherine lived in the northeast side of town. Edgar and Laverl lived on the highway about three blocks into the town on the west . We had Christmas eve parties with the family and always had a big Thanksgiving Dinner at different houses. Belonging to a big family was wonderful to me.

Life was simpler then. We didn't have television and I don't remember if we had a radio. Cousins and friends came often or you each had things to do. We picked asparagas and pepermint off the ditch banks. Grandma had a big garden and had milk and eggs. we took advantage of those thinga. Life was good.

One day Lena Sowards called me and said that Donnie was on the roof and she was afraid he was going to fall. There was always things to keep kids having fun.

We had the chance to buy a house in the northwest side of town. It was across from Maggie Weston. I think I mentioned that in my last chapter.

I worked at hot lunch with Maggie for several years. She taught me a lot and I enjoyed working with her.

Through these years we went camping with Arlo's sisters and their families. One year we went up on Wolf Creek Pass. We went with I sabel and Don and Raedeen and Alta and Tiny and their two girls. Bonnie was quite young. We probably lived in LaJara at that time. I suspect that I will have a memory jog and add things out of time. One time we went up the Conejos Canyon camping with them, when Alta and Tiny came to visit. We made a Brigham Bed. It was quilts on the bottom and the top. It was spread out long. The ends were dads, then their children then the mom, next was a mom and their children and then that dad, then the next dad and the children and then the mom. There were three families of us. That was so fun. The camp fires and the stories told around them. The meals. were all fun.

TO BE CONTINUED

Lawsons

2009-02-01T16:25:00.009-07:00

One year, Harold Lawson was deployed to Vietnam and his family was left behind. They parked a trailer home next to our home and during that year, they were our next door neighbors.
David was the newest member of the family, and I remember how proud his parents were of him. Even at this age, I enjoyed listening to David laugh and loved to watch his nose wrinkle up as he did. His handsome dark brown eyes were such a contrast to LaRue and Eddies beautiful clear blue eyes.

Uncle Harold's military career took the family to a number of places. I remember that they lived for a time in Alaska and by the time that David was in high school, they lived in Bloomfield Colorado. David played football there. In this photo, he looks like he really means business.

I was so involved with my own life that I haven't done a good job of keeping up on the doings of the Lawson family. I know that for a while Harold and LaRue lived in Mesa, Arizona

Everyone grew up entirely without my involvement.

For a time, Eddie (John) and his wife lived near us as did David. Eddie and his wife moved to Missouri where his wife is from.

David called after he had back surgery and we went up to visit. David and I rekindled our friendship. Now and then we get together and laugh and remember old times.

David now lives in Commerce City, Colorado. He and his girlfriend, Marti came to visit a couple of weeks ago. I always love David's infectious laugh. Marti is a sweetheart and we enjoyed getting to know her a little better.

Someone talked me into joining Facebook. I've really enjoyed the conversations with friends on Facebook. I especially have enjoyed these photos that David shared on Facebook. I thought it would be nice to share them with you.

I even saw that Michael was on Facebook. He posted some pictures of his life in the Caribean. It has been fun to get reacquainted.

This picture of the Lawson family is more recent than any I have in my collections. It is good to see their faces again. I'm looking forward to seeing them more on the blog and on Facebook. I love them very much and want to know them better.

80 CONTINUED 5

2009-01-30T14:32:00.004-07:00

I moved my little family to Manassa, while Arlo was in Denver in the hospital. I rented a house from Lucille Jackson, which was one block west of Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. Arlo was not happy about that. He thought Manassa was a terrible place. It didn't take him long to love it there.

Grandma Dunn helped me tend Larry so I could go to work in the school hot lunch. My hours there were the same as my children, who were in school.

Arlo had surgery on his spine and was not supposed to go to work for a time, but he was very anxious to make a living for his family. He did a job for uncle Loyd and was paid with a pig, to butcher. He killed the pig and I cured the bacon and ham, we cut it up and put it in the locker (a place to freeze food. They had places like wooden crates built into the walls, where we rented a locker to store our meat. Dale sowards owned the locker. That didn't give us any money. I made a small salary and we got by, but it was scant.

Arlo went to work for Boyd Pagett, who owned the service station that had once belonged to Grandpa Dunn. He worked for Boyd, until Boyd died and then he bought it from Elma. That was our income until Arlo sold it to Mitch and Mike. They didn't pay anything on it so it came back to us. That is another story.

The Christmas following the time Arlo came home from the hospital, Arlo said we would not have a Christmas that year. I said, äs long as I live there will be a Christmas for the children. We bought a pickup load of scrap lumber from a sawmill and Arlo made a elevator garage for the boys and we got some little cars for it. He made a table and chairs and a doll cradle for Bonnie. I think that was one of the best Christmases that we ever had.

We got a skunk under the house and it took a long time to get rid of it or them and the smell that went with them. We did finally get the hole closed up and that was the end of the skunk.

Grandma Dunn thought that Larry was the nicest little boy. He never made a mess when he ate and she could rock him to sleep. He never let me rock him. Grandma had a special touch.

We bought a house in the northwest corner of Manassa, and we lived there for a number of years. We lived across the street from Maggie Weston on the North side of Jake and Stella Parker.

TO BE CONTINUED!

80 CONTINUED 4

2009-01-27T19:40:00.005-07:00

After Bonnie was born, Ed Guymon built two rooms on the 2 room house we were living in. That was roomier and made it possible for Doris Faye and the boys to have a room, and for Arlo and me to have a bedroom. All of us had shared one room. It was the living room and our bedroom.

Arlo enjoyed hunting and fishing and that was where he spent his extra time. Sometimes we went with him, but most of the time we didn't.

At some time later Arlo didn't work for Ed Guymon anymore, and we moved into Grandma Vance's house in LaJara, for a short time. From there we moved to a house between Sanford and Bountiful. Arlo worked for a man named Gylling. I don't remember his first name.

At that time Grandma Vance had alziemers disease and she spent part of that year living with us. She had the kind that she became a wanderer. It was hard to keep track of her. We loved her dearly, but it was hard to keep her, since I hardly ever had a car, as Arlo went to work in it.

Kent wrote a post on the blog about Donnie dropping the manure fork from the top of a shed and it cut a hole in Kent's head, We were out in the country and had neither a phone nor a car that we could use. That was quite a year.

From there we moved to a farm house Northwest of Romeo. That is where we lived when Larry was born. LaRue and I were both expecting babies, we decided to have them at our house. Doctor Davis was willing to come to our house to deliver them. I took care of LaRue when Eddie was born and LaRue took care of me when Larry was born. (Harold was in the army, overseas.)

Arlo was working for Thales Smith and the farm house was a part of the pay for his work.

I was so excited to get Larry. He was born on the 20th of October, 1954. Arlo had lived a life of poverty as he was growing up and didn't think it was fair to have a big family. I begged for Larry. He is a great blessing to me. How can you thank the Lord enough for a good family?

The winter after Larry was born, Donnie got rheumatic fever and saint vitus dance. Arlo had a pinched nerve in his back and suffered terribly with it. Donnie had a priesthood blessing and the saint vitus dance was instantly healed. It was a disease of the nerves that went with rheumatic fever. He shook so bad that he could hardly hold a spoon, to eat.

Richard and Roxann and Gerald Lynn came to have Christmas with us. Larry and Gerald Lynn were both blessed in the church while they were there. That year the weather was very mild. In fact it was very warm.

Richard And Roxann took Arlo to Grand Junction to the veterans hospital. He was there for about a month and was transfered to Denver Vetrans hospital. He had back surgery in Dencer.

I had to move, since Arlo was no longer working for Thales, I moved my little family to Manassa, so I'd had some help taking care of the children while I worked at hot lunch, in Manassa.

TO BE CONTINUED!

A letter to a teacher

2009-01-24T19:07:00.007-07:00

Mom has told me that when Uncle Keith was in the military, he would write letters home. There was a teacher that Keith was especially fond of and he decided to write her a letter.

The teacher received the letter from the young soldier and decided that his grammer needed correcting. She marked up his letter and returned it to him.

According to Mom, that kept uncle Keith from ever writing letters again. I think that I would have been crushed as well. I can't help wondering if that teacher ever knew how devasting her criticism of his attempt to communicate with her was.

80 -- CONTINUED --3

2009-01-21T19:52:00.006-07:00

I hope to touch on all of the things in the 2 lists of 80.

I missed telling about my baptism. I was baptized in Manassa in the old brick Stake building that is on the northeast corner of the church lot, on 1 November 1936. There was a baptismal font, in the basement, at that time. I don't think it is there anymore. I don't remember much about it, but I am thankful for that blessing in my life.

Arlo and I moved several times before he went to work for Ed Guymon, and we moved into their two room house. There was no indoor plumbing, so we had a path. There was a running artisian well. The water was wonderful, sweet and icy cold. We had an oil heating stove and a cook stove that was heated by oil also. We heated water for washing and we carried the water for any use we had.

TO BE CONTINUED !

Doris Faye was living with us when we moved there. We lived there when Don was born. He was a sweet red head. Both Arlo and I thought that he was the best child that was ever born. He slept through the night, from the time we brought him home. Arlo washed out his dirty diapers. Can you believe that. He was so proud of him. Life does a drastic change when babies come. It was a cold winter night when Don was born. We had the model A and there was no anti-freeze, so we drained the car every night. When we were preparing to go to the hospital, Arlo had to fill the radiator with water and He had such a hard time getting it filled. He was so nervous. Don was born in the Alamosa hospital. Everything went well. The doctor that delivered him was Dr Hurley. He was the doctor that had delivered me and all of my brothers and sisters. He talked about my mom as he was waiting for Don to get here. I felt the presence of my mom at the time. I think she was there when each of my children were born.

I often took the children, Doris Faye and Don and the other children as they came, to see Grandma Dunn. She was like a mother to me and I felt her need at times.

Eighteen month later Kent was born. He had dark hair and was a good son. Kent has always been a special person to me. I was so proud of my boys. There are a lot of things that make a family. I loved my little family.

We were in the Richfield Ward when we moved there. I was a counselor in the Primary while we lived in Richfield. The LaJara chapel was built when we lived there and Arlo worked on the building. In the winter, there wasn't much work to be done on the farm, so Ed paid him to work on the chapel.

I taught a primary class there. One day the car wouldn't start. It was a heavy car. Not the model A. Arlo had made a crank for it, because that happened sometimes. I cranked and cranked and couldn't start the car. Finally I went into the house and prayed that the car would start, because I felt a great responsibility to be there to teach my class. I went back out and turned the crank once. The car started. I got there, but I was really tired. I know that prayers are answered. I love the Lord and am thankful for his care.

Three years after Kent was born we had Bonnie Lynn. I had always wanted a girl and was so pleased to get my sweet Bonnie. She was a red head, although it didn't really show red until she was about a year old. I told Grandma Dunn that it was red, but she didn't think so. I liked her beautiful hair. The Lord greatly blessed us as a family. When Bonnie was four years old, her eyes were crossed and she had surgery to correct them, Uncle Bill payed for that surgery. It is wonderful to belong to a good family, who are there for you when you nave a need.

80 CONTINUED--2

2009-01-18T16:38:00.004-07:00

When I was just about 16 year old my mom was injured as she was riding on the tractor with my dad as they were harvesting a field of grain. The power take off on the tractor broke and cut Mom's leg from the knee to the hip, almost to the bone. She had complications from that injury and never recovered from it. I was really naive, we were called out of school, to go see her in the hospital and even then it never occured to me that she could die. On the 11th of October in 1944 she died. I believe that was the hardest thing that ever happened to me. There was my dad, who was so broken hearted that he would go the cemetery and lay down on the grave and pound it with his fists. He never really recovered from losing his best friend and dearly beloved wife. The six of us children were devistated, too. Life was never the same again. Se stayed on the farm for about a year and Dad couldn't bear the place without Mom.

Shortly after Mom died, I was chosen to be the queen at the Gold and Green Ball. That was a special thing that was held throughout the church at that time. Leon was my escort, all of the boys my age were in the service. Wilma Christensen was my attendant and her escort was Elwin Christensen. Adah Culler was the other attendant and Jessie Hawkins was her escort. I made my formal dress for that. I wasn't very good at that thing at that age, I was 16 years old.
So he sold the place and we moved into Romeo town.

Dad sold the farm and we moved. When we lived in Romeo, I met Arlo. Nona and I were just getting out of school when Arlo and Moine, Nona's boyfriend and later her husband, were waiting outside of the schoo for us. That was the first time I went with Arlo. He had recently been discharged from the army. We spent the next 3 months getting to know each other. I knew him by sight when they lived in Romeo. I went to school with Betty, Jessie and Richard.

Arlo and I were married on the 30 March 1946 at the home of Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. He lived in LaJara. I had 2 months to finish high school, when we married. After we were married, I drove the model A to school when Arlo wasn't using it or I rode the train that went to Chama, New Mexico in the morning and returned to Alamosa, Colorado each night. I posted a letter on the blog that I wrote to Keith while he was overseas in the Navy. Irma gave me that letter when she was going through her things after Keith died. I had forgotten about riding the train.

Arlo and I had been married 4 months when He and I took Dad to Alamosa to the hospital to have a hernia repaired. We went to Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bill's, and ate dinner with them and went to a movie. Then we left Dad at the hospital. He had complications from that surgery. He had two more surgeries to fix the problems. He got lockage of the bowl and died from that. That left my brothers and sisters without a home. Losing Mom was hard, but losing Dad, left a big hole in our lives. There was never a home to go home to after that. Keith just got home from being discharged from the Navy, when Dad died. He was on his way home but there was no way to let him know that Dad had died. The aunts and uncles met every train and bus that came into Alamosa, until he arrived. He was in time for the funeral. I have said before and I say it again. We were a sad bunch of kids. keith went to Los Alamos, where he lived with Bud Richardson and family, Leon went with Aunt May and Uncle Charlie Schofield, to Farmington, New Mexico, Barbara went with Aunt Ethel and Uncle Don, to California, LaRue stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Dunn, and Doris Faye went home with Arlo and Me.

All of my life I have been so thankful to the Lord for the gospel in our lives. That was our real source of peace and It brought all of us together ever after that. We are a close family. All of us have been married in the temple and have our children sealed to us. In that there is peace, to know that we are an eternal family if we live worthy of that blessing.

TO BE CONTINUED

# 1 of 160 years or 2 80's

2009-01-17T15:31:00.008-07:00

I told Kent that I would post some of the things that were in the two 80 lists of accomplishments. I will start at my birth. I was born in Antonito, Colorado, on 24 October 1928. We lived in Antonito for a very short time. My dad was working in a store, in the meat market. He was very apt at many things. He said "he could do all things but master of none" , We moved back to Manassa, we had lived there when Keith was born, I was born, between Keith and Leon. Leon was born in Manassa while we lived there, that time.

After Leon was born, we lived in Saguache, next. We lived there one summer. Keith broke his arm and I cut my head as we fell out of a two wheel trailer. Dad worked for Homer Crow. The man that we later bought our farm from.

We moved back to Manassa, we lived there when Barbara and LaRue were born. We lived across the street from Gloria's grandparents. Helen and I were good friends at a very early age. The house that we lived in was in the south west corner of town.

When I was eight years old, my dad's aunt Mattie died, as a small child Dad's parents died and his sister May and Dad lived with Aunt Mattie part of the years as he was growing up. Our family went to California to settle Aunt Mattie's estate. She owned a home near Los Angles and she had no children. Dad and Aunt may inherited that home. All of us went. Ethel and Don lived there then and Also Hazel and Jimmy. We stayed with them. Mom's sister Doris went with us, too. One day we went to the beach and on the way back to Ethel's home there was a sign which said "Airplane rides $2:00, Keith and Mom and Dad and Hazel and Doris, and I went for a ride in a small plane. The others went back to Ethel's. We were in two cars. That was before I had even seen an airplane.

On the way home from California, we went through Mesa, Arizona and were sealed as a family in the Mesa Temple. That was the first time I had ever seen orange trees and palm trees. All of that was very interesting. Because of the money from the estate we were able to buy the farm.

We moved from there to the farm which was three and a half miles south of Romeo and three and a half miles north of Antonito. That is where we considered home. Doris Faye was born in manassa at Grandma Dunn's home, we lived in Romeo. Our family was complete.

I was in the third grade in Manassa, when we moved to Romeo. The school in Romeo was in a large two story brick building that had been built for a bank and other purposes. All of the classes were in that building, from first grade through high school. There were two class in each of the rooms from the first grade through the eighth. High School was in two rooms. we had the best hot lunch. The cooks were the best. I loved school though I was never as good a pupil as my brothers and sisters. Keith and Barbara were math genius', I was never good in math or science. My favorite subjects were reading and English. Leon was so great at memorizating. He could read a thing once and had total recall of it.

The top floor of the school had regular basketball standards. The hot lunch was also on that floor. There was a kitchen and one class room. There was a stage, too. I was in the last class that graduated from Romeo High School. Three of us graduated that year. Dorothy Sorenson, Joe Casias and Me. The following summer the school burned. the students were divided between LaJara and Manassa schools.

One of the things that I loved was my good friends. Nona Camp, Edith Hicks, Dorothy Sorenson, Cleo Carr, and a number of boys. When I was a senior all of the boys my age, except Joe Casias were in the service.

First epistle. TO BE CONTINUED.

David and Marti

2009-01-10T16:50:00.009-07:00

Last night, I got a phone call from David to let me know that he and Marti would be in Colorado Springs today. It's been a number of years since we saw David. When we were both North of Denver, we saw each other frequently, but since Betty and I have moved to Colorado Springs, we haven't seen each other. We were eager to see David and get to meet Marti. They got here at about 8:45 this morning.

David and I would drop in on one another now and then and I have always enjoyed his visits. David loves to laugh. He has a smile that starts on the corner of his dark eyes and spreads to his whole person. I got a kick out of him today when he told me the same jokes that he had told me last night. The sad part is that I couldn't remember the punch lines and the jokes were new to me all over again.

These photos are shuffled so I am not going to try to put them in order. I need to learn a better way of handling the photos.

I sat down on the sofa between Marti and David and we looked at pictures from the blog and talked about our memories of our family and of Manassa.

It's funny how two people who grow up in the same town and in the same family can have such different memories of the past.

I sent invitations to both Marti and David to join this blog. I really hope that they take me up on that invitation. I don't want to lose track of David again.

It has been fun to reconnect with some of our family members through the blog, and to keep track of what is happening in each other's lives. It will be fun to do that with David's family too.

80 more

2009-01-05T12:35:00.002-07:00

I told Larry that I could do 80 more.
1. Mesa
2. Atlantic Ocean
3. Pacific Ocean
4. 27 temples
5. Ordinance Worker
6. Singles
7. Rode in an airplane at age 8
8. Los Angles
9. Fallbrook
10. Disneyland
11. Library
12. Taught
13. Sunday School
14. R S
15. Seminary
16. wedding Cakes
17. Hospital Auxiliary
18. Cemetary Board
19. R Committee Woman
20. Cruise Mexico
21. Board of directors-Home by Hospital
22. Married Ward
23. Tuscan Usher
24. Appendectomy
25. Nona
26. Elva
27. Dottie
28. Reunions
29. Tour Mexico
30.Niagara Falls
31. Nauvoo
32. georgia
33. Texas-Anita
34. 1 month-Aunt Ruth
35. Washingtron D C
36. Statue of Liberty
37.New York City
38. Adam on Diamon
39. Calendars
40. Canned food
43. Flute bags
44. Humanitarian
45. Philmont Scout Ranch
46. Girls Camp
47. Cub Scout Day Camp
48. Saguache
49. Repair stage curtains
50. Camping
51. Home Evening
52. Don't drive
53. In a play
54. swim
55. DUP
56. Library board of directors
57. President WCHS
58. Queen-G&G ball
59. F H Consultant
60. Yellowstone
61. Played Anna
62. Have a boarder
63. Holbrook
64. MTC- 3 times
65.Issiquah
66. Peach Springs
67. Renton
68. Rode train to school
69. School bus
70. President- Hospital Auxiliary
71.Stake Primary
72. Stake Relief Society
73. Mutual
74. Read Scriptures daily-26 years
75. School plays
76. Salt Lake to Conference 14 years
77. Drapery shop

78.Buried 2 husbands
79. Have a great family
80. Made it 80 years

The Last Photo

2008-12-11T20:14:00.001-07:00

This BLOG is Published

2008-12-03T04:47:00.003-07:00

The articles and comments from this BLOG have been compiled into a bound volume for 2008. If you wish to have a bound copy you can purchase one from LuLu.com.

Ted and Cora Bingham BLOG book

Books of some other BLOGs I have published can be found at

My LuLu Store Front

Georgia Ann Horton Jack - A Tribute by Sadie Jack Johnson

2008-11-23T18:44:00.004-07:00

In my search of genealogy, I find that the most interesting part is to find the histories, journals, and life stories of my ancestors. When you find a story or a history of a family or person, it means so much more than just a name. You can connect the name to the person and they become a real person, not just a name.

Perhaps the most precious and interesting thing that I have found in my genealogy research is the life story of my grandmother on my father's side, Georgia Ann Horton Jack. I knew my grandmother so well as she lived close by when I was a little girl and I saw her every day until she died 27 Feb. 1927. We called her "Glassy Grandma" because she wore eye glasses and they were rare in those days. Long after she died, we found her life written in the first person, but there are no paragraphs, no capitals, commas or punctuation; but it is beautifully told. After knowing my grandmother all those years, I never realized that she had such a colorful background. She was born in DeKalb County Alabama 30 May 1841 and her parents were apparently well-to-do. They had slaves and lived on a plantation and were prosperous. Grandmother married a northern man, James Hazelett Jack, who was a spy for the Union Army. Her story tells about the Confederate rebels and hard it was to have opposing factions within the family. She told about how grandfather was wounded and had to flee to save his life. So after the war, the family immigrated to southern Colorado where they settled and where all my people helped pioneer that part of the state.

We also found that our people were prominent people and leaders in the Revolutionary war as my grandmother states in her story that my great-great grandfather, James Jack helped form the Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence from Mecklenberg, North Carolina to Philadelphia. This happened in 1775 and this document is believed to be the fore-runner or pattern for the Philadelphia Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The Jack family were also prominent leaders in the Civil War. My grandmother often related to me the story of how my grandfather took my father, Robert Jack, who was then six years old, with him on one of his spy missions. He swam a river with my father on his back, received important papers from General Morgan Le Smith's headquarters and started back. He swam the river again with my father on his back, holding the papers up out of the water to keep them dry. As they neared the bank, the rebels started shooting at them and hit my grandfather in the back. He somehow scrambled to shore, sent my father on home with the papers and told him not to let anyone but grandmother have them. This happened at night and was a frightening experience for a little six year old boy. Grandfather then hid himself in a hollow tree. Grandmother found him in the tree, dressed his wounds, but had to leave him all cramped up in that tree as the rebels vowed to track him down and kill him. He remained in this cramped position for several days until some Union supporters helped get him into Union territory. He had stayed in this cramped up position for so long that he could never again straighten up. And this bent over position is how we remember him in his later years in Colorado.

There are so many stories and experiences told in this life story of my Grandmother Jack. I can read between the lines and tell of hardships she experienced and of her love for her family, and for the appreciation for the freedom in this country. I vowed I would write my life story so my children and grandchildren can know my inner feelings. A story of one's life is one of the most beautiful heritages anyone can leave for their children.

________________

This was taken from a photocopy of a manuscript in the possession of Larue Bingham Lawson.

Keith Edward Bingham

2008-11-21T21:00:00.003-07:00

Keith was the oldest child of Ted and Cora Dunn Bingham. He went to school in Manassa and Romeo. He graduated from Romeo High School in 1945. He spent sixteen months in the Navy in 1945 and 1946. He has worked as a laborer, a truck driver, an iron worker for 17 years and then finished his work career as a field engineer and quality assurance supervisor for the Zia Company in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Keith married Erma Rae Reynolds in Sanford, Colorado. ... Six children blessed this family. Keith and Erma and their six children were sealed for time and eternity in the Mesa Temple on January 3, 1961.

Both Keith and Erma have held many church callings during the years in Los Alamos. Erma has worked in Primary, Young Women's and Relief Society. Keith has been a scoutmaster, stake missionary, branch president and counselor in two bishoprics. The The Bingham family has lived in Los Alamos, New Mexico for more than 45 years.

(We'll depend on Keith's family to add more to this history published in 1993.)

For the complete historoy, see pp 73 - 75 of History of the Ancestors & Descendants of Simeon Harmon and Anna Buletta Jensen, Compiled by Vera Olivier, Published privately June 1993.

80

2008-10-25T16:50:00.002-06:00

80 years ago Gatha was born into this world. It seems she has had a variety of things happen in her life. These are some things she has done etc.:

Born
Baptized
Orphaned
Married
Mother
Grandmother
Great-Grandmother
Survived the great depression
WWII
Korea
VietNam
6 day war
Establishment of Israel
Hot lunch
CCG&O
Manassa
Romeo
Antonito
Grand Canyon Mission
Chicago Mission
Washington Mission
Cub Scouts
Boys
Girl
Gardens
RS
Scouts
Drove
Flew
Walked
Ran
Horse
Widowed
Saint George
Sandy
Model A
Chevy
Ford
Nash
Pontiac
Carpet
Concrete
Lilac
Temple
Float
Parade
Romance Novels
Stolen Nail
Waterless cookware
World Book
Sew
Embroidery
Indexing
LDS
Paint
Draperies
Quilt
Bags
BLOG
Colorado Springs
Reverse Mortgage
Survived Breast Cancer
Chrysler
Sister
Aunt
Niece
Daughter
Grand-Daughter etc.
Cook
Pickled Beets
Drip Irrigation
Pluck a chicken
Make Bread
Farmer
Drove over son
Fish
E-mail
Family history
She loves
I love her

My Childhood--again

2008-10-07T14:05:00.004-06:00

Our farm was 60 acres. It was a mile long and wider at the North end and narrow on the South end.

We had 3 ponies. One was a full grown size and was a wonderful horse. She was named Dixie. She was the mother to the other two horses. Tiny Tim was half shetland and was a small horse. Charlie was one fourth shetland and belonged to Keith. Our horses were very special to all of us. One day Keith took Dixie into town and she stepped in a hole and broke her leg and they shot her, as that is what they did with that kind of injury. We were all broken hearted. When our parents died, the shetland ponies were sold at the 24th of July rodeo. A man bought them and paid for them and gave them back to be sold again. Dorothy (Vaughn) Sowards' dad bought them and Dorothy told me that they loved those horses just as much as we did.

Our farm supplied most of the food that we had. During the end of the great depression, we had plenty to eat. Getting shoes and clothes was not as easy. We fared better than people in the city. Growing up on a farm makes a close family. We had a playhouse in the top of the granery. That was really a fun place to play.

When the hay was harvested, all of us helped as we got older. The hay was cut with a mowing machine, It was hauled to the barn and the stack on a wagon, pulled with a team of horses. Our work horses were white. They were Maud and Dobbins.

My Childhood--Gatha

2008-09-18T09:54:00.003-06:00

Growing up on a farm that was two and a half miles from either Romeo or Antonito, it was necessary to travel to stores. Romeo didn't have a clothing store or a drug store, so sometimes we drove to Antonito for things that were not available in Romeo. We had an old car, but it was quite serviceable. There were eight of us in our family. so sometimes we were crowded in our car. Seat belts changed the number of people that can ride in a car. There were eight of us. I grew up through World War II, so there was a lot of things that were not available to purchase. Nylons, sugar, tires, gas was rationed, Being on a farm, gas was more available.

We had a garden that was about an acre. All of us pulled weeds and hoed. Our garden was very productive. One year we raised enough carrots to fill a wagon bed. We had a cellar that was big enough to park our car in through the winter when it was cold. There were bins for different vegetables. We always had enough potatoes to last until the next harvest. We had enough carrots that year to feed many people. The vegetables, and fruit that was raised in the San Louis Valley had a better flavor than any I have tasted since leaving there. We always had cabbage, onions, beets, and many other things. We raised rhubarb and we had a big strawberry patch, and we raised raspberries. I think the reason that I like raspberries so well is because Mom canned them. She did them in hot water bath. They were so good.

We had meat that we raised. We always had pork, beef, and sometimes mutton. We lived through the depression, but on a farm there was always food. That was a blessing.

The best part of growing up was the great love and acceptance we felt. I always felt that I was loved and approved of. I think my growing up years were very special.

New blogs added to blog list

2008-09-14T15:29:00.008-06:00

Recently, Larry and I have added some new blogs to the list:

Jordan and Candice is Laraine's son and his wife who live in NY City. They both graduated from BYU in April and Jordan got a great job working for an ad agency in NY. They always have lots of fun and Laraine tells us they are a bit crazy.
Are they still alive? is the blog Laraine's daughters posted in Europe last summer (2007). They documented their trip sailing around the Mediterranean with their dad. They came home in July and never finished blogging about their adventures because they all went back to their busy lives. But it is entertaining.

I would like to add other blogs of family members. If you are aware of one I have missed, please contact Kent Vance with the URL and a little about why the link should be added.

Growing up in Romeo

2008-09-04T18:57:00.005-06:00

We had a kitchen table in the kitchen, where we always sat down together for our meals. We had an assigned place at the table. In the winter when the nights were long, we would sit around the table and visit about what had happened through the day and what our plans were. Sometimes we would read stories or play table games. We had a fireplace and it was fun to have a fire there. Our heat was all wood and coal. Daddy and the boys would go to the mountains in the Summer to get wood. It would take them 2 days, with a team and wagon. We bought coal by the ton. We had a coal shed. We didn't have a pickup or a truck.

We often had friends stay with us. Nona and I spent a lot of time together. We would often go to family members and visit. Our life was good. The church was our life. That is where our friends and neighbors met and had church, mutual, parties and dances. We had a good life.

Laraine's Family

2008-08-04T23:12:00.007-06:00

My children are all adults now. Amazing!

I live in Rocklin, CA. Before moving here in 2002, we lived in Danville, CA near Oakland. I have 6 children, 5 daughters and 1 son. This picture was taken at Christmas 2007. Rebecca (aqua sweater) is the oldest and she teaches art in Littleton, CO. She just got married Aug 26th and is now living in Arvada, CO. She married Dawson Jones and we should have pictures soon. Juliann (black sweater, red hair) lives in San Francisco and works in photography and web design. Lindsay (black sweater, blond hair) also lives in San Francisco and works for a graphic design/advertising firm. Jessica (white shirt) and her husband Scott DiMaggio (baseball cap) are remodeling a cute home in Walnut Creek, CA. Jessica is a real estate appraiser and Scott works at the Berkeley labs. Jordan (tall blonde with white collar) and his wife, Candice (beautiful smile, brown hair) live in New York City. They both graduated from BYU in April and Jordan has a job at a big advertising company in NYC. Candice is still shopping for a fabulous job. Malorie (orange coat) and her husband, Richie Smith (tall with dark hair) live in Rocklin and work for Richie's dad's construction company. We were all together last weekend for Rebecca's wedding and we had a great time. I love spending time with my kids. They are great people.

Family at Dad's funeral (Keith Edward Bingham)

2008-08-03T00:13:00.009-06:00

Many family members came to be with us at my Dad's funeral. Back row: Kelly, Barry, Doris Faye's husband, Doris Faye, Harold, Gatha, LaRue, Leon and David. Front row: Laraine, Barbara, Sue Ann, Mom (Erma Rae) and Dick. We were so glad to have these wonderful people together.

On March 9, 2008 my father passed away in Belen, New Mexico. My brother, Kelly, directed the construction of a beautiful casket for Dad. It is made of pine and cedar wood. All of my brothers and Sue Ann's husband, Keith, and many grandsons helped to make this beautiful casket. Sue Ann and I lined it. My brothers added Dad's brand. See the BoxK on the lid? In this picture, David, Laraine, Kelly, Mom, Sue Ann, Barry and Dick are standing by the finished casket.

My Dad's siblings came to be with us for the funeral that was held in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Doris Faye's husband, Doris Faye, Harold, Gatha, Barbara, LaRue, Leon and Mom (Erma Rae) are in this picture.

Grandma Cora 100

2008-07-29T21:04:00.004-06:00

I did this once but don't find it on the blog. Today my Mom would be 100 years old. I have never been able to see her in my mind since she died 64 years ago. She was a wonderful mother and I think of her so often. The years have gone by so fast and so slow. It seems forever.

Mom and Dad were very in love. Dad could hardly leave the house without Mom being with him. I think that is why it was so hard for him when she wasn't there any more. They were fun parents. We did a lot of fun things together. I remember sitting around the table after supper in the winter, we visited for long periods of time. Those are special memories for me. We didn't have TV or even radio that was plain enough to listen to very well. Living on a farm and spending evenings together was special. Sometimes one of our parents read to us or we played table games. We had a good life. The gospel was center in our lives. We talked about many things. Those were the days!!!
Doris Faye was 70 today.

I am sure that they would both have been very pleased with all of you. They didn't get to know any of you. I think it will be a joyous day when we are all together again.

Grandma Cora

2008-07-29T20:40:00.005-06:00

Today, July 29th, my mom would be one hundred years old. The time has gone fast in a way and slow in another. It has been 64 years since my mom died. It always makes me feel sad that none of you children and grandchildren have never seen her or my dad. They would have been so pleased with all of you. The were good parents and everything was for our good. I feel that I was raised in a home full of love. My dad didn't want to go anywhere without Mom. They were very in love with each other. I look forward to the time when we will all be together again. Today Doris Faye is 70. She and Bert are in Alaska. They will be home tomorrow.

Cora Emily Dunn Bingham

2008-07-25T08:09:00.000-06:00

Cora Emily Dunn (Second from the right in the back row of the picture to the left) was born on 29 July 1908. Her parents were Anna Buletta Jensen (known as Annie) and Simeon Harmon Dunn. Cora was born 25 August 1901 in Eastdale, Costilla County, Colorado. Her older sisters were Frances Edna, Ethel Leona, Ruth Carrie. Cora and these sisters were born in Eastdale.

The family then moved to Manassa, Colorado. Cora's younger siblings were born in Manassa. They were, Edgar, Ina, Hazel, Elma, Doris and Loyd. Her mother then had a stillborn child they named Keith Melford. Cora's baby brother was Rex.

Cora grew up with seven sisters and three brothers. Because the girls were born first, they milked cows, fed chickens, and helped in the fields. Cora was very good with math.

Cora had several friends that she spent time with. Nora Christensen, Dollie Christensen, and Leta Kaneaster were the closest friends. Cora was a good basketball player.

(Taken from Ted and Cora, A love story by Gatha Bingham Vance Wilson)

Crazy Drivers

2008-07-23T17:40:00.003-06:00

You wonder why those drivers that always have a cell phone up to their head drive crazily. Their brains are cooked.

Where do we go from here?

2008-07-13T18:05:00.003-06:00

I never knew Grandma and Grandpa Bingham. I have only the memories of stories I have heard from Mom and her siblings. I have searched for more, but have no more to contribute. If there is no contribution to this blog in the coming month, I wonder if it should be removed. Let me know what you think.

It would be valuable too if descendants of Grandma and Grandpa Bingham would like to share news of their families. I will be happy to add authors if there is any interest.

Kent

Dad died - 62 years ago today

2008-07-11T16:17:00.003-06:00

Today is the 62nd anniversary of the day my dad died. It is really hard for me to even think of that time.

In June Arlo and I drove him to Alamosa to enter the hospital as he was having surgery the next morning to repair a hernia. We went to Ruth and Bill's and had supper and then went to a movie. He had the surgery and there were complications. He had pains from adhesions from a former surgery. They operated to remove the scars, but that was not successful either. He developed a bowel obstruction and it progressed to the point that it burst.

The day he died, Keith sent a telegram that he had been released from the Navy and was on his way home. We tried to find him, but were not successful. Some of the aunts and uncles met every bus and train that came into Alamosa. He was home in time to go to the funeral. We no longer had a home and Keith wanted to buy back the farm and take the four (Leon, Barbara, LaRue and Doris Faye), to raise them. He didn''t have the means to do that.

After the funeral, Leon went to Farmington, New Mexico, Barbara went with Ethel and Don, to California, LaRue stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. Doris Faye went home with Arlo and me. Keith went to Los Alamos, New Mexico and lived with his friend Bud Richarson. He found work and remained there to marry Erma Rae and to raise his family.

The years go by, but the facts don't change that there was no place to go home again. After a year Leon went to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn's home. After 6 years Doris Faye also went to Grandma and Grandpa's home. Barbara was the last one to go to Grandma and Grandpa's home. All of them graduated from Manassa High School. I will forever be thankful to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. They were a great blessing to us.

Posted by Kent for Gatha

Ted and Cora's Family

2008-06-22T14:13:00.005-06:00

Thank you, Bonnie Lynn Olsen, for sharing this picture. The pictures date about 1956.

Leon's Family

2008-06-09T17:29:00.002-06:00

Yesterday we went to visit Uncle Leon. He lives in Washington, Utah. We talked for a while. They had a basketball game on TV. Leon took me out to his garden and showed me around. He then said come in here and let me show you a photograph. It is the one below. I e-mailed it to me so I could post it.

Justin, Jack, Jimmy, Jeff, Jay
Carol, Cindy, Leon, Loni, Brenda, Teddy

He was proud of his family. He says that two of his sons are in Bishoprics. All of his children have been to the temple. He said that all them, except Jim, are active in the church.

Offspring

2008-06-09T10:45:00.002-06:00

My offspring are growing quite nice.

The oldest of three just obtained his first tax paying job.
He must sweep and mop the floors while taking cash from hungry patrons.

The middle child mows on Tuesdays for our neighbor across the street.
He plans on swimming with his buddies at the local swimming hole.

The youngest full of energy she is.
Growing strong muscles as she rides her two wheel up and down the street.

My Offspring

2008-05-31T21:33:00.004-06:00

I have wanted to show all of you to my mom and dad, but that has not been possible. I think my dad's buttons would pop with pleasure for all of you. Dad Died before Don was born and I hadn't told him that I was expecting a baby. We had only been married for four months when he died and I knew that I was going to have a baby, but I didn't think to tell him. I think they know what is happening here with their family and I know that they would love to talk to each of you. I have always wanted my parents to be proud of their posterity. I can just see him with Don, Kent, Bonnie and Larry. I think they know our pleasures and our heart aches, just like we do. I love all of you so much and am thankful that you are my family.

Lurking

2008-05-15T18:51:00.003-06:00

Are you Lurking;
Your duty Shirking?
Please say Something
About your Offspring!

James Edward Bingham

2008-05-08T19:04:00.002-06:00

James Edward Bingham (right) was born in Manassa, Colorado on the 5th of August, 1898. His parents were Jeremiah Edward Bingham and Ada Zoa Jack. His older sister, Eliza May, was born 19 May 1897. James Edward, known as Ted, was born 5 Aug, 1898. His little sister, Bessie was born 30 May, 1900. She died 1 Jul, 1900. Ted's baby sister, Dorothy was born 18 Jul 1901.

Ted's father was killed in 1901. He worked for a sawmill. He was hit by a falling tree. Ted was just 3.

Ted's mother remarried to Charles Peterson. They had two more children. She died in 1907. Ted was but 9 years old.

Ted lived with his Aunt Mattie and Uncle Ab and with His Aunt Zem Jack until he was about 14. He was then on his own.

Ted's sister May and her Husband, Charlie Schofield lived accross the street from Simeon and Annie Dunn. It was there that he met Cora Emily Dunn. When they married, Ted was 27 and Cora was 17. They were married in the home of Cora's parents in Manassa, Colorado on 25 May, 1926.

Uncle Charlie and Aunt May

2008-04-23T20:47:00.003-06:00

Recently, Mother mentioned "Uncle Charlie and Aunt May". I believe it was to mention that Leon had gone to live with them after Grandma and Grandpa Bingham's death. There have been many times in my life that I have heard the names, but I have never understood what our relationship was to them, or much about them.

This last week, I got a DVD from mom. The tile on the disk was "Schofield pictures and histories". I believe this is our Uncle Charlie and Aunt May.

I think that there is a possibility that May was Grandpa Bingham's sister. Mom, is that the case?

There were several pictures on the disk that were simply labeled, "Auntie". I don't know who this is or what her name might be.

Ted at the right I believe to be Ted Bingham.

I believe this is a picture of our Aunt May, our grandpa. Who is Dot?

There is a story about Grandpa, Aunt May, and a flower. Mom, could you please tell us that story?

My childhood

2008-04-15T10:42:00.004-06:00

The first memories I have are when we lived in Saguache. Keith and I were playing in a two wheeled trailer , going back and forth in it until it hit the ground on front and then back. I fell out and cut my head. I still have a scar from that.

We moved from there to Manassa, We lived in a house that Eda and Rex Johnson live in now. We lived across the street from Wayne Rogers. They was an older couple, Aunt Tea and Uncle Al Nielson, that lived on the Southwest corner of the block on the South of us. We bought milk from them. Aunt Tea was Grandma Dunn's sister. She died and Phil Married Uncle Al. That is Nancy Dunn's mother.

While we lived there Mom was washing clothes in a washing machine in the back of the house. Keith and I got under the front porch and started a fire. It burned a hole in the porch. We ran to tell Mom that the house was on fire. She hurried and got the fire out.

We moved from that house to a house on the southwest corner of town. That is where we lived across the street from Lillie and Arch McKenzie. They were Helen Culler's parents. Helen and I always loved each other. We lived there until we moved to Romeo to the farm that is two and a half miles from Romeo and two and a half miles from Antonito. That is the home that we spent most of our lives with our family.

Doris Faye's Family

2008-04-10T08:33:00.004-06:00

I got this email from Gloria and thought you would all like to see a picture of Doris Faye's family:

"Here is a picture of the family we saw in Mesa: Doris Faye and her children with new husband If you are not able to open the attachment let me know.

The names should be under the picture. maybe some of you will not know them, but they are cousins.

Maybe some of you may not recognize them either! Hope you all have a good day.

love ya gloria"

Slideshows

2008-04-06T10:19:00.004-06:00

I have added a new slideshow to this site. I would have liked to start with Uncle Keith, but I'll have to rely on Laraine and her siblings to do that. I don't have enough pictures to make it work.

Life has taken its toll on the pictures I have. Thanks to Larry who took the time to scan some of Mom's albums, I was able to gather a few pictures of Mom.

I took the slideshow that was on the site and moved it further down on the web as it made me sea sick for them to be going at the same time.

I stuck a picture of a cabin in this slide show. I know why, do you?

I have really enjoyed working with the pictures I have. I am hoping that some of you will be able to add more. I am hoping too that you will be able to add more memories to this site.

A couple of the pictures in the "Gatha Bingham Vance Wilson" slideshow were taken when mother was an employee of the school hot lunch system in Manassa. At one time they used the kitchen of the old opera house in Manassa. She would being leftovers from the school home. She brought the food home to feed her "pigs" at home. My favorite was when she would bring home shepherds' pie or American pizza.

Visiting Family

2008-04-01T17:56:00.005-06:00

Leon, Bonnie Lynn, Don and Gloria went to Belen, New Mexico for Keith's funeral, and on Friday evening we had dinner with Erma and Keith's family. The ward provided it. All of Keith's children were there and most of their grandchildren also. Loraine lives in California, three of her children are married and 2 of them are not. Dick and Cindy live in Los Alamos, I don't know about their family, Sue Ann and Keith live near Provo, We saw all of their chidren but I don't know about them. Barry and his wife live in Los Alamos. I know his wife's name but I can't think of it. Kelly and Ruth live by Belen. We didn't have time to get acquainted with them as I would have liked. The funeral was wonderful. The boys and grandsons and sons in law made Keiths casket. It was beautiful It was made of white pine with cedar panels. The girls made the liner. The funeral was good. The children did the talks and music. It was a real tribute to Keith. We returned home on Saturday after the funeral. Don and Bonnie had to be to work on Monday.

On March 24 I flew to Phoenix and Joe and Doris Faye picked me up at the airport. I spent the night and the next day with Doris Faye, getting her final things done before moving to Phoenix. On Tuesday Erma came and we rented a car and went to a motel. It was nice spending time with Erma. We went to the temple then helped get things ready for the wedding the next night. All of Doris faye's children were there. Joe and Darla came first. of course. Warren and kathy live in the valley and Carl and Naelene live in Mesa, I think. Pam and Philip live west of Phoenix so they were already there. Jacob and Ellen live in Minnesota. So does Joe and Darla. EJ lives in Alaska. There are a lot of grandchildren and some great grandchildren too.

The wedding was very nice and they are so happy. Erma and I went to Sun City West and saw Rex and Nancy. On Friday night Bonnie and Gloria came. We had breakfast with Leons three girls and Jay and Kimberly. That was special. We went to Phoenix on Saturday night for a reception with Bert's children. that was special too. On Sunday morning, Bonnie and Gloria came home. It was a good trip. Doris Faye and Bert are very happy.

Where are the Dobbins now?

2008-03-30T18:06:00.003-06:00

Not too long ago, I had to have throat surgery and have my thyroid gland removed. I was feeling really anxious and learned that EJ had similar surgery. I reached out and sent EJ an email with questions and concerns. I was not disappointed. EJ responded and was a real support to me.

I learned that EJ and Bonnie are living in Alaska and he works the airlines. He travels a lot.

I understand that Billie Jean and Tom are in the Mesa area.

Warren and Kathy were in the Denver area. We saw one another at Larry's house in Littleton. We talked about getting together. We never did and I have lost contact with them.

I don't know where Joe, Karl, Jacob and Pam are now. There was a time that our families were close. We have all moved and I would love to know where everyone is. I love my cousins and draw strength from being part of an extended family.

Doris Faye is getting married this month. We wish her the very best and wish we could be there to pull some ornery pranks, but it's too far to go to be mischevious. Best of luck Doris Faye!!

Los Alamos

2008-03-18T21:04:00.003-06:00

Dad worked in Los Alamos after it had been a boys school. They were preparing for the atomic bomb there, He worked in the winter, when there wasn't so much to do on the farm, so there was some cash. Sometimes Mom would take him to work so she had the car. some of the other kids rode with them, but I never did. Keith and I usually stayed home to do the chores and keep the house. They told us that the roads were awful in the winter time. They can be bad now. I think they must have been terrible. Dad said the they built a building that had six foot thick walls. He couldn't imagine what they were doing there. He worked there as a carpenter.

After Keith came home from the navy, he went to Los Alamos and lived with Bud Richardson's family. That is where he met and married Erma Rae. There was a time when we went to visit, we had to wait at the gate for them to take us in. People were not allowed to just drive in. They had to have a pass.

While Dad was working in Los Alamos, our cellar burned down. It was a big potato cellar and it was big enough to park our car in it. Luckily the car didn't burn. Our lights were out and the fire engine came. It was a scary time.

Dad had a lot of talent. He could do most any job. One winter he worked at Pando, a place where they trained soldiers to ski. That was for skiers who went into Germany through world War II. It is in Colorado mountains. He did carpenter work there too.

Keith's Obituary

2008-03-12T07:06:00.007-06:00

On the web site at www.riversideofbelen.com is Keith's obituary. The information about the viewing in Belen is there. Gatha

Keith Bingham
(March 4, 1927 - March 9, 2008)

Keith Edward Bingham stepped into eternity from complications due to Parkinson's disease March 9th, 2008 in Belen, New Mexico. The son of James Edward Bingham and Cora Emily Dunn, Keith was born March 4th, 1927 in Manassa, Colorado.

He graduated from Romeo High School in 1945. He served in the United States Navy from 1945-1946. Keith married Erma Rae Reynolds on August 6th, 1949 and they were sealed in the Arizona LDS Temple. They are the parents of Erma Laraine Bingham Wheeler, Richard Keith Bingham (Cindy), Sue Ann Bingham Cook (Keith), Kelly Lawrence Bingham (Ruth), Barry Lynn Bingham (Cheryl), and David Alan Bingham (Bonnie). He is survived by his wife Erma Rae, brother Leon Bingham, sisters Gatha Wilson, La Rue Lawson, Barbara White, Doris Faye Nottingham, six children, twenty eight grandchildren, and twenty three great grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all family and friends.

He worked in Los Alamos as a Welding Supervising Engineer for the Zia Company, Pan Am, and Johnson Controls. He loved working with his co-workers. Keith was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in many positions in the church, and especially loved serving as the Branch President in Llano, New Mexico. He enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts of America where he served more than 10 years.

Family and friends are invited to visit with the family Friday March 14th, 2008 from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on, 2199 Hwy 304, Belen.

Family will also receive visitors, Saturday March 15th 2008 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. at the Los Alamos Ward Chapel, 1967 18th Street, Los Alamos. Interment will follow at Guaje Pines Cemetery, Los Alamos.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund or the Humanitarian Aid Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or The Boy Scouts of America.

Arrangements are being handled by Riverside Funeral Home of Belen, 418 W. Reinken Ave. An online guest register is available at www.riversideofbelen.com

More Pictures of Keith and his family

2008-03-10T20:49:00.008-06:00

This is a hurried collection, but here are some more pictures of Keith and his family:

Maybe with time, we can ask Keith's family to add more photos of their family.

Keith's Funeral FridaySaturday

2008-03-09T12:50:00.008-06:00

Gatha called and informed me that Keith died this morning at 5 AM. She said that it is a relief to have his suffering removed. His family is there today and the funeral will be ~~Friday~~ Saturday to accommodate having the family there for the funeral.

My condolences go to all those that knew and loved Keith.

Our Ranch Home

2008-03-08T09:45:00.003-07:00

When I stop to think of the past, I feel it is too far back. I remember the things about our home and yard. We had a big grainery. It had a floor plan that had a room to work in. That is where Dad fixed bridles and other leather goods for the horses. He repaired our shoes and fixed a lot of things. There were three bins to store grain and an upstairs, that was one big room. We used to play house in the loft. There was a stairs that could be raised up to the ceiling or let down to go up stairs.

There was a shed on the north side where machinery was stored and an ice house where the guys went to the river and cut ice and covered it with sawdust to use through the summer.

We had a cellar where potatoes and other foods were stored. It was big. One winter it caught fire and burned all of the wooden parts. The adobe walls were left standing but it was never restored.

Mom

Grandma Cora

2008-02-28T10:31:00.007-07:00

My parents didn't have the pleasure of knowing any of their grandchildren or great grandchildren. She was the kindest person I knew. She never said a bad word about another person. If someone said something unkind about someone, she would say something nice about them. That had a tendency to stop bad rumors. Mom was a gentle person. She would be so proud to be your grandmother.

My Mom and Dad were so in love that being apart was painful for my dad. He was so sad when Mom died that life was too hard for him. I always felt that he died of a broken heart. They spent as much time together as it was possible. That is why she was on the tractor with him when the power take-of on the tractor broke and cut her leg from the knee to the hip to the bone. It was a terrible thing. She never recovered from that injury.

I didn't know that my mom could die. That kind of thing only happened to other people. We were back in school and almost everyday when we got off the bus and opened the door, someone would say "Mama", that was a hard time for all of us. That is the reason why we never talked about our parents. It was a too hard subject. I guess we never got over it.

I have great respect for my mom and hope when I see her again she will be pleased with the kind of person that I am. I also hope she and Dad will be be happy with all of you. I know they already love all of you. Grandma Gatha

Some things about my Dad

2008-02-27T13:05:00.005-07:00

My Dad was a person that could do anything he set his mind to do.

As a young man, he was a guide for people who fished the high lakes or for hunters in the mountains. He worked for a dude ranch. He loved horses.

He was a trained meat cutter and worked for several stores as a meat cutter. He had training as a barber, but never set up a shop.

He farmed and raised cattle.

He was a great Dad. It was important for us to respect our mom. We were not allowed to talk back to her or in any way be disrespectful to her. My dad didn't allow it. I have always loved that in him.

I hope that my parents are proud of each of you. I'm sure they would be proud to be you grandfather and grandmother.

The Cockroach

2008-02-26T09:34:00.007-07:00

The image above is one that Debra created as a consequence of a story that I related about a night in Argentina. I was sleeping when I felt something with claws on it feet crawl across my face. I was startled awake and jumped out of bed to find whatever it was that had just traversed me. I turned on the light and found on the wall a large cockroach. I reached for a shoe to eradicate the little bugger, but before I could muster the pest took to flight and out the window it went. We were sleeping with the windows open to help cool the room during the night.

Don't you think that Debra did an admirable job painting a cockroach?

How would you like to have a cockroach for a pet. Here is Debra showing her bravery when she went with her mother to visit the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver.

These cockroaches were large, I was told.

And demonstrating her outstanding courage is Jeanette when she was so bold as to hold a young Tarantula.

What kind of pet do you have?

Home in Romeo

2008-02-19T16:29:00.005-07:00

I feel that it is a great blessing to grow up in a home where love and acceptance is. That is the way it was in our home. Winter nights we sat around the dinner table and talked, sometimes into the night. The church was our life. Because it was war time and we had an old car, sometimes our dates were family affairs. Our parents went to mutual and dances with us. There are some great memories.

The cousins.

2008-02-17T06:18:00.010-07:00

I have fond memories of my cousins. I can say that I miss seeing and knowing them. My uncle Leon Bingham would visit Manassa to come celebrate the 24th of July. I always wanted to see Jim, Brenda, and all the others. We would play together, I don't remember just what, but we would. It was an exciting time to have them come. I remember going to Mesa Arizona once to visit them. It does not seem like a fair trade. I thought that they were the perfect family.

Sometimes we would go on a road trip to New Mexico to visit uncle Keith Bingham and his children. Kelly and Barry were the boys that I remember playing with. I do remember riding down the streets of their town in a wagon. They lived in Los Alamos. I vaguely remember going to the atomic processing plant and touring the facility where the atomic bomb was created. I can't remember anything other than the wall with the glass that had long rubber gloves attached to work on the materials on the opposite side.

The Whites lived in Manassa for the years when I was in early grade school. Barbara White lived in the white house a few blocks away with her children. Bob, Connie, Larry, Danny, and Jeff.

Larry, Danny, and Jeff were my buddies. They are all gone now. I get somewhat melancholy when I dwell on it. I don't have any good pictures of them. Only of few.

Larry Dean and I (Larry Arlo) are kneeling down in the front in the picture below Aunt Barbara. Barbara moved to Albuquerque New Mexico and we did not have much contact after that. I miss the days when we boys would go on our adventures. (I do not miss getting into trouble.)

LaRue Lawson came to live with us in Manassa while her husband Harold was serving in Viet Nam. They had a trailer that was parked on the lot where the garden plot used to be. Eddie and I were about the same age, but Eddie was a little older and quite a bit larger than me. I don't have any pictures of them.

Eddie and I play together, after a fashion. Eddie always wanted things his way (anyway that is the way I remember it) and I did not want to always do what he wanted, so we would sometimes engage in arguments and what our parents thought were fights. Go figure!

One day LaRue and Gatha determined that they were going to have an end of our fighting. They were going to make us fight until we wanted to fight no more. They secures some willow switches to use to threaten us if we did not continue to fight. We fought. But as seeing that Eddie was much larger than me, it was not long before he had the upper hand. I was on the bottom and he was sitting on me while we pushed each others hands and arms around. Nobody was really getting hurt, but I was getting tired.

I laid down on the ground and rested. Eddie exclaimed, "I KILLED HIM! I killed him!" and started to get up. As he did I actually hit him with a right cross to the head. I don't remember how the fight ended, but there we were having fought with probably no clear victor, and as I remember, not much changed in the way we played. Maybe Eddie, Gatha, or LaRue could add some light as to what really happened then and thereafter.

Doris Faye was mostly like a big sister. I don't remember her living with us, but I do remember her living in the house that Barbara used to have. Doris Faye and Bill and their children were close enough that we spent a lot of time interacting. Billy Jean was the one that we played with the most. When Bill died things changed a bit. I hear Aunt Doris Faye is getting ready to get married again.

I have lost touch with all my cousins. I wish then all well.

Memories

2008-02-16T19:25:00.005-07:00

Although I never knew Grandma and Grandpa Bingham, they have touched my life.

For many years, I had a two drawer dresser that I put my clothes in. Grandpa Bingham had made it from an old upright Radio cabinet. I think that LaRue has it now.

I still have a picture that hung in the home of Grandma and Grandpa Bingham. I have really enjoyed it over the years. When it fell from the wall one time and the glass broke, I realized that it was actually the cover of a Relief Society magazine.

As I look at photos of Grandma and Grandma Bingham, I can see their grandchildren. I see Leon's boys in Grandpa, and I see Connie White as I look at Grandma Bingham. They left their marks on our contenances and on our hearts.

Gatha's family

2008-02-16T12:05:00.002-07:00

There are 60 people in Arlo and My family. I don't have a large family, but we are growing slowly.

How this BLOG works

2008-02-15T14:02:00.003-07:00

Some people who visit here may have an interest in being involved, others may just want to come look. There are two levels at which a person can be involved with a BLOG.

Post comments to articles published
Publish articles

The information for the BLOG is stored by blogger.com as a service. One person creates the BLOG and sets the limits on how the BLOG is used. There are two levels of privilege associated with a BLOG as an author. The original author is the site administrator. The site administrator can invite others to be contributing authors. Contributing authors can also be designated as administrators by the original administrator or subsequent administrators.

This BLOG is set so that the general public can view the BLOG. Anybody in the world can visit and look at what is published here. The administrator(s) can change the permission on viewing the BLOG to just those who have OpenId accounts, those invited by the administrator, or just authors. This BLOG is wide open to everybody for comments and viewing.

So in review, there are three levels of participation.

Administrator
Author
General Public

Anybody can look and comment. Only authors can post articles. The administrator controls who can do what.

If you are a part of the Ted and Cora Bingham family and would like to have permission to be an author, then please notify Kent or me (Larry) that you would like to be invited by an administrator.

My address is larryavance1954 at gmail dot com. Replace the at and dot with the right symbols.

My Aunt Doris Faye

2008-02-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

Doris Faye and her family lived in Manassa for the years when I was a teenager. She was very kind to me. She and Uncle Bill would allow me to use their vehicles. I don't remember now much about what I did when I was out with their cars, but I do remember the exchanges.

Doris Faye was good enough to let me try to learn to drive in her Chevrolet sedan. We went out of town behind the "M" where the roads are not level, but have an incline. As we were going down the hill I stepped on the clutch. This allowed us to accelerate along the road. The road curved. I lost control. Doris Faye grabbed the wheel and told me to step on the brakes. I tore the muffler from the exhaust system on the rocks at the side of the road. What an adventure.

I am a member, but ....

2008-02-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

I am a grandson of Ted Bingham and Cora Dunn. I have completed family group sheets and pedigree charts that include them, but I have no memories of my own. Knowing dates and places is not really knowing someone. I must rely on Mom, Doris Faye, Leon, Larue, Barbara, Keith and others who knew them to tell us what they know. This is the best source of information we have right now.

Others have heard stories about them from their parents. Those would be wonderful sources of information too.

There are a lot of cousins like me, with children and grandchildren. It would be wonderful to see some posts about that portion of the family as well. Please, Please join us in talking of Ted and Cora's family. We could have fun, gain strength, and draw closer to one another if we would but take the time to share with one another.