Spencer Tanner Winn born 7 Oct 1920

Today is Spencer Winn's birthday and we are missing him.  He would have been 94. Here is a picture of him on his 92nd birthday. Hope you are having quite the party with some of our favorite people.  We love you!!!!  Happy Birthday Spencer!

Anna Rozella Forsgren Palmer Childhood

Anna Rozella Forsgren Palmer

4 August 1888 – 8 December 1967

 

Anna, the second child of Eli Forsgren and Francis Mary Smith was born on August 4, 1888. She had beautiful brown eyes and black hair.  She was taught to work and do it well.  Also, to build for the future. Eli, with others, worked long years to bring water to the higher land and when Anna was thirteen years old, on her birthday, they all went up to the banks of the canal to see the precious contents—water.  This was to quench the thirsty dry farms. The farms yielded too, in response to the people’s untiring efforts, and Riverdale Idaho began to blossom as a rose.  How they worked to care for their produce. They would keep the milk in pans until the cream came to the top, then to skim the cream and store it until it was ready to churn into butter, then to mould it into pound rolls, wrap it in paper with their name written on the wrapper.  This name on the butter meant the same as the name or brand on food today, and was just as important in selling the product.  Then with their eggs and butter they would travel to Preston in a buggy or wagon, some seven miles distance.  At the grocery store they would exchange their produce for items they needed.  Anna and her siblings always looked forward to the sack of candy the grocer would place in their groceries. For weeks before Christmas they would save this candy so as to have enough for the holidays.

Notwithstanding the hard work, they were a happy family enjoying the association with neighbors, friends and relatives. Many a winter evening the grown-ups played card games such as “Hi Five” and “Rook”, while the children went sleigh riding, played house and “raised the devil.”

Eli and Francis were strict with their children, they weren’t allowed to associate with anyone with a questionable character. Drinking and smoking placed people in this class. If a girl was to make a mistake of losing her virtue, she was ostracized from society. The other girls weren’t even allowed to speak to her.  Thus, Anna was raised to look on those things as real sin, and served as a background for standards by which she taught her own family.

Remembering Kevin Spencer Winn 

by Loni Ford Winn & Vance William Winn

Today I spent a couple of hours picking raspberries in our raspberry patch. I can’t pick raspberries without thinking of Vance’s mother, Thora. She also had a large raspberry patch and would pick raspberries and then make the most delicious jam. Then my thoughts wandered to Vance’s brother Kevin. Today, July 5th is his birthday. I only knew him a few short years. He was born in 1951 and died way to young in 1982 at the age of 31. I asked Vance to write about one of my favorite stories. This happened when Vance was about 6 and his younger brother Bob was about three years old. Here is what he wrote.

“My older brother Kevin had a very active mind. He didn’t think like the rest of us. He always noticed the funny in anything. One summer day just across the driveway from our raspberry patch was a performance stage Kevin had made. He decided to do a magician’s trick and so he stuck little Bob in a makeshift playhouse made out of straw. He had a little trap door set in the back so that Bob could move away, then he stuck a piece of bacon out there so I and all the other little kids would think he had turned Bob into a piece of bacon. When he lifted up the canvas top Bob was gone and the bacon was there. Then our dog Laddie came running in and ate the bacon in one bite. All the little neighbor girls (Robin Shaffer and the Bowen’s) when running home crying thinking the dog ate Bobby. Kevin got in trouble but that’s just the kind of guy he was, he was always thinking out-of-the-box and was funny. He always had a funny thing to say or different take on the situation.”

Remembering Amanda Matilda Johnson Nilsson born July 14, 1864.

Amanda Matilda Johnson (1864-1940)
By Ada N. Ford her Daughter

Amanda Matilda Johnson was the first child born in North Bend, now known as Fairview, Sanpete County, Utah on July 14, 1864. She was the third child in a family of six children born to Carolena and August Johnson who had immigrated to Utah from Jonkoping, Sweden. Because of Indian hostilities in this area the family moved to Salt Lake City in October 1865 it was there that Amanda spent a happy childhood.

Amanda, always eager to learn, attended school whenever one was available. Her teachers were often well-educated ladies from the East who made a deep impression on her. She especially enjoyed attending dramatic presentations in Salt Lake Little Theater and at times have roles in the plays given there.

Intuitively Amanda loved people. As a child she spent many hours with neighborhood children reading to them, organizing games and plays and reciting poems often of her own composition. She loved to pick the wildflowers that grew along the city creek near her home. She loved the stately mountains and the shimmering waves on Great Salt Lake.

During her early teens Amanda often visited her married sister who lived in Monroe, Utah. This Salt Lake City teenager was quite possibly the most vivacious person ever to visit this hamlet. She had a zest for good, plain fun quite alien to the Victorian sentimentality of that day. Her smallness of statute was compensated by flashing responses made more striking by her dark hair and pale, clear skin. These qualities made her the central focus of most any group. This prominence became a lifelong habit and was an inherent part of her nature.

Marilyn Winn Green 1945-2009

Marilyn 2009

Marilyn 1964

Vance's beautiful sister passed away 5 years ago today. She was the oldest daughter of Spencer & Thora Winn, and so much of her time was spent watching her younger brothers and sisters while her mother worked at Petersen Draperies. One day Vance really freaked Marilyn out.  He was running around and dove through the window and the window won.  He was bleeding everywhere and glass was stuck all over his body.  Marilyn got busy plucking glass out of his shoulder, head, and arms and then took care of him.

Vance after he ran through a window

Marilyn was very popular in Preston among her classmates and her friends.  She always took time to style her hair and wore the most fashionable clothes, which always looked really good on her.  She kept her room clean and tidy.  She also learned shorthand and Vance wondered how she knew what it said because it looked like a foreign language to him. If there was an award for the most likely to succeed of the seven siblings, Vance said Marilyn would have won it.

One of the main reasons we moved from Idaho to Utah in 1987 was because of Marilyn.  She loved to learn and always encouraged others to keep learning. When Vance was at BYU Marilyn would proof read his papers, because that is what she loved to do. She would read text books just for the fun and joy of learning.  She stayed up on all current events and could talk about anything.  She was an amazing conversationalist. She loved to listen to Rush Limbaugh and watch Fox News. If she couldn't find her glasses she'd wear her sunglasses inside the house so she could watch Fox News on her stool in the kitchen.

Even though it has been 5 years, it seems like it was just yesterday we were driving around town laughing after Ed tried to help her get into the mini van and yet it also seems like forever because we miss her so very much!

Spencer Tanner Winn & Thora Palmer Winn's Marriage

Wedding Picture taken April 20, 1942 of Spencer Tanner & Thora Palmer Winn

Spencer & Thora Winn were married 20 April 1942 in the Logan Utah Temple.

I married their son, Vance William Winn and loved to hear stories about them before I became part of the family. They accepted and loved me as if I was one of their own children. They loved each other very much and watching Spencer take care of Thora for many years while she suffered with Alzheimer's was truly touching. He always tried to make her life more pleasant and treated her like a queen until the day she died. They were such good people and I love them very much!

In remembrance of their wedding anniversary this week I decided to share how their love story began. 

Spencer Winn and Thora Palmer were in the same grade, but unaware of each other until 1935 when they were sophomores and had the same art class. That was when their relationship began.  They started as friends but Spencer must have had romance in his heart because he would walk Thora home from school, which was quite a tell-tell sign since he lived only a block from the Preston Academy where they went to school.  He would walk Thora home which was well over a mile farther north and then walk back home again.  They officially started dating when they were juniors and dated until he left on his mission in March 1940. While serving in the California Mission his Mission President gave permission for Thora and her friend to visit. After her visit Spencer was made District Supervisor and the mission was so large he had to purchase an old Chevy car with his own money. When his mission came to an end Spencer's mother and Thora took the bus to California and drove home with Spencer in that Chevy car.  They arrived home in March 1942 and Thora and Spencer were married April 20, 1942, just a month later.  Their love story of 65 years and union of almost 58 years, took a hiatus when Thora passed away April 16, 2000.  Spencer spent 13 years without her until July 18, 2013 when they were united once again.  Their love story now continues on eternally!

Spence & Thora Winn at my Wedding June 8, 1978

Thora Palmer Winn

Anybody know what happened on March 14, 1920?

Thora Palmer (Winn) was born at 7:45 p.m. in the Preston Hospital. I think sharing some memories of her would be a fun way to celebrate her birthday!

I asked Vance to think of 5 words that would describe his mother. He said Charitable, Funny, Loving, Energetic and Beautiful. He said one of the things he admired was that she would do almost anything for almost anybody. He also said she was the life of every party with her quick wit and fun sense of humor.

I remember Thora as being a hard worker. She spent many hours in the kitchen cooking delicious food and would only stop if there was a baby to hold. I remember her getting up very early in the morning with a dishtowel tied around her waist to go pick raspberries. She had a certain way to pick them and didn't like others to help for fear they might break a precious plant or not do it correctly. But she did let me help make her delicious Raspberry Jam! It was YUMMY!

Lillie Belle Church Ford Obituary

OBITUARY OF LILLIE BELLE CHURCH FORD

SISTER OF LOCAL MAN KILLED IN CAR ACCIDENT

C.W. Church received word that his sister Lillie Ford had been killed in a car-bus accident. Following is the account as taken from the newspaper clipping.

Mrs. Fred Norris passed away on Thursday, September 29 near Hot Springs, Montana in an auto accident. Mrs. Norris and her close friend, Mrs. Lillibelle Ford of Coutts, were killed when their car slammed into a slow moving school bus. According to the coroner, the bus, not a regular school bus, but a red and white vehicle used for transporting children, had slowed again when a passenger was spotted.

The funeral of the late Mrs. Henry (Lillie Belle) Ford was held on Wednesday, October 5 at 3:00 p.m. in Coutts United Church with Rev. Ormand Lavenne officiating. The host of friends who were present and the many floral offerings attested to the high esteem in which the grand old lady was held by all who knew her.

Interment was in the family plot in the Milk River Cemetery with Martin Brothers of Lethbridge in charge of arrangements. The members of the Iris Chapter OES performed the graveside cemeronies.
The late Mrs. Ford was born in Postville, Iowa on April 4, 1882, the daughter of Charles and Charlotte Church. When she ws two years of age her parents moved to a farm at Chamberlain, South Dakota. Here she grew to womanhood and on December 14, 1899 she married Henry Spencer Ford. To this union six children were born, five boys and one daughter. All survive and were present at the funeral. Other survivors are 13 grandchildren, 17 great great grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters.

Mrs. Ford was a member of the Coutts United Church and took a very active part in the establishment of the church. An Eastern Star member for almost 50 years, she had recently been honored with a Life Membership in the Iris Chapter at Milk River.

Henry Spencer Spellman Ford 1863-1935

Happy Birthday Great Grandpa Henry Spencer Spellman Ford!

We come from people who like to have a good time. Here is what Lillie Belle's brother Wellington said about a time Henry changed the wheels around on some guys buggy and then noticed he had done the same thing on his buggy.

"We had our music along and we had a big dance til about 3:00 a.m. Henry, knowing that another guy and I were at the head of the affair, decided to play a joke on us, while we were having a big time, he went out and changed the wheels around on the other guy’s buggy. One front behind and hind wheel on the opposite side in front. Kind of a laughing matter, and as I was taking my girl home, we were laughing and talking about it when I happened to think and discover both my front wheels were behind and hind wheels in front, so now we had to laugh at our own predicament. Funny enough, I had to get along without kissing her cause I couldn’t lean ahead to do it. Oh, we had fun those days. So Henry did get a good joke on us and I didn’t notice mine til I had laughed about the other fellows."

Born: 17 April 1863 in Clinton, Indiana
Died:   1 Nov 1935 in Coutts, Canada

Remembering Lillie Belle Church Ford, 1882-1960 My Great Grandmother

Today is My Great Grandmother's birthday, she would have been 132 years old.  She was born April 4th 1882 in Postville Iowa.  She was the instigator of much fun and entertainment at neighborhood gatherings.  Here is one neighbors description of a typical gathering. "On the east side of the Ford house was a long open porch where the picnic tables were set up and things were going full swing. The grown-ups had eaten and the kids were being fed and watered and having fun. Someone said, "Look what's coming across the yard."  There came an old prospector riding on a little donkey. This character was well equipped with all kinds of paraphernalia tied on with ropes and binder twine.  His old straw hat pulled well down over his rugged countenance, his pants held with binder twine.  His ragged clothing was flapping in the breeze. Pots and pans clattered with each step the animal took. What excitement!  Who, what and where did this outfit come from? On closer scrutiny it was discovered it was Lillie Belle Ford just having fun entertaining the crowds."

Born: 4 April 1882 in Postville, Iowa
Died:  29 September 1960 in Plains, Montana

Remembering Grandpa John Henry Ford 1901-1986

Grandma & Grandpa Ford

My dad Gordon Ford with his father John Ford

John Henry Ford

Today, January 4th is my Grandfather's birthday. He was born January 4, 1901 in Chamberlain, South Dakota. His parents are Henry Spencer Spellman Ford and Lillie Belle Church Ford. He must have been a small baby because he told his daughters that he was carried around in his mothers purse as an infant. He was the oldest of six children. He only attended school until he graduated from the eighth grade because he was needed at home to help his father with chores on the farm. I am not sure why or when but he went by the name of Jack instead of John growing up. When he was about 17 years old his family moved to Milk River, Alberta Canada. He was a very hard worker in many different areas. Not only on the farm but he also worked on the railroad, for a dray line business hauling water, ice and coal. He also completed a study of mechanics and became a skilled mechanic. He also played the piano.

He was converted to the Mormon church in June 1928 shortly after he married Ada Nilsson on March 2, 1928 who was a school teacher in Milk River Canada. They lived in Raymond, Alberta Canada. While in Raymond Grandpa worked as a mechanic in his own shop and as a maintenance man at the Raymond Sugar Factory. They had three children, Shirley, Marilyn and my father Gordon.

In 1938 they moved to Washington where he found employment as a automobile mechanic and then in 1939 moved to Ogden Utah as a Chief Mechanic and Inspector for Hill Field, later known as Hill Air Force Base.  They moved to California in 1956 where he worked for Disneyland until he retired in 1968.

Shirley said she remembered her father "as a quiet, steady man, slow to anger; pleasant and helpful to friends and neighbors, or someone in distress. In the good old days, when we were driving, if we had room in the car and a hitchhiker loomed ahead, he would always stop and give them a ride, or if someone were stranded with a stopped automobile, he would offer his assistance.  He was a hard worker and labored long hours doing physical work all his life, from boyhood to your adult, husband and father."

Grandpa passed away quietly the morning of March 14th 1986 at his home in Paradise California.

(Most of this information came from a life sketch by his daughter Shirley Ford Marshall.)

Since today is his birthday I decided to ask my brothers and some of my cousins to share a memory of Grandpa Ford.  Here is what I sent and what they shared with me.

I just realized that today is my grandfather John Henry Ford's birthday which has caused me to think about him today. I hate to admit this but I am getting old and my memory is not very good. So I wondered if you would be willing to share some of your favorite memories of him with me. I remember him as a quiet man who was slow to anger. Grandma seemed to nag at him a lot but he always remained pleasant. He was always so loving with me. I loved sitting next to him because I felt so loved. As I deal with pain in my hands I remember him always having pain in his knees but never complaining, which is something I can learn from him. I remember him being a hard worker and always willing to help his neighbors when they called. I don't remember him working at Disneyland but I do remember going to California and going to Disneyland and spending time with my cousins which I loved to do. I am grateful for my Ford family and the good times we had together. I am sad that I do not know more about my grandparents and hope that each of you will share a memory you have of Grandpa so I can get to know him better. Happy Birthday Grandpa Ford!

Born: 4 January 1901 in Chamberlain, South Dakota 
Died: 14 March 1986 in Paradise, California

 

Memories of John Henry Ford

By my brother Kevin Ford

      My last memory of Grandpa John Ford was when he was living in Paradise California.  He was a happy go lucky guy. I can't remember how old I was but we were in Paradise, where he was living.  He woke up and cooked us breakfast.  I vividly remember him being bowlegged and one leg being a little shorter than the other so he kind of waddled like a penguin.  He loved cooking pancakes for us which is what he did that morning.  After breakfast it wasn't long until I remember him sleeping on the couch sawing logs, doing some snoring like all of us Ford's do. Then Larry and I went for a little walk.  Next thing I know, about an hour later we realized we were lost. We never did make it to our destination. I think we were going to go get a candy bar or something from a convenience store.  Unable to find the store we kept walking back and forth until we were lost. We must have been out there for a couple of hours when finally some boys on their bicycles found us and asked us if we were lost, and sure enough we had walked by the street that we needed to turn on. We ended up finding our way back home and that is the last thing I remember which I am sorry to say is mostly about getting lost more than about Grandpa. I don't have a lot of vivid memories about Grandpa John because I was pretty small.

Kevin,
    Thanks so much for sharing your memories!  I can’t believe that I actually forgot that he was bowlegged. I think I went on the walk too.  I can kind of remember being lost or maybe just overly concerned about you guys being lost.  My memory of younger days is not so good. Which is one reason I was hoping others would share their thoughts. Thanks again.  Loni 

Memories of Grandpa Ford

By my cousin Darrel Marshall

    Grandpa was quiet and hard working. Grandma was educated and basically the matriarch of the family, However, Grandma respected Grandpa and listened when he spoke (unlike what happened in my family). Grandpa was also a head mechanic at Disneyland and we always got in free and we would always ask people on the rides if they knew him and when they would say yes, we would tell them who he was to us and usually we got on a ride for free or went to the head of the line. He was well-liked and respected there.


Memories of Grandpa Ford
By my cousin Bob Marshall
    Yes grandma would nag grandpa. He just took it in stride. Always super nice. I remember one time we were riding in the back seat and grandma was giving grandpa a piece of her mind when grandpa had enough & he argued back. He put his foot down. She soon became quiet. It was funny. 

Bob,
     I’m glad to know Grandpa could put Grandma in her place when needed and especially that he still did so with kindness.  Loni
 

Darrell Marshall said, “Loni, there is a good lesson in that for all to learn. Grandma was educated and Grandpa was a hardworking grunt. For whatever reason she became the titular family head as a Matriarch. However she respected her husband and his priesthood callings and listened when he spoke; JR will tell you this has he told me when he lived with them in Long Beach prior to becoming a Jarhead (Marine). It wasn't that Grandpa was a weak man and let her run things, it was just the natural order in their household but respect for each other was the key.”

Loni’s reply, Darrell, I appreciate that perspective so much. I wasn't around them much and wondered if they were happy together.

Bob Marshall said, They seemed happy to me. Grandpa laughed a lot.

Darrel gave this perspective, “It is interesting as JR and I have had long chats about the misadventures in our family and the difference between Grandma as a matriarch and my Mom who tried to be a matriarch like her Mom but did not understand the respect aspect. My Dad was an honest hardworking man like Grandpa Ford but emotionally weak and did not get the respect from Mom like Grandma gave Grandpa. Grandpa Ford was the same, only not emotionally weak. He and Grandma assumed certain roles in their family and respected the other in those roles. I like strong women, maybe why I always had a lot of liking and respect for you. I married a strong woman, too late I realized her strength came not from character as does yours and Grandma Ford, but from manipulation. Grandma and Grandpa Ford taught us a lot by their examples if we but listen.”