Saturday, Jan. 01, 1972
We stopped at Bob and Carroll’s for New Years breakfast at 1:30AM. Later we went up to Uncle Dale and Aunt Ester’s cabin for dinner. When we got to their cabin I realized that two or three years ago, Bob and Pauline Hein had stopped by our place in sunset, and asked us to go for a ride with them. We went and as we drove, I really wasn’t paying any attention to where Bob was taking us.  At the end of the road, Bob stopped the car and asked me what I thought of the place. It was a nice area with a small pond but other than it was just a nice place for a picnic or a camp. Bob then told me that I had the opportunity to buy this spot. I then said that it did not have any utilities and should they want them it would be quite expensive to have them brought in. I think I discouraged them from proceeding with that purchase. Bob never did say any more about that day but I have wondered if I was wrong in my evaluation. Now today we are in the same spot and Uncle Dale had purchased the spot, made a nice cabin and planted fish in the pond. They had skidoos, skis and tubs for us to use. We all had a great time. We went back to Bob and Carroll’s this evening. Irven and Sandy also came there and we played rook, until bed time.
Sunday, January 02, 1972
We went to Sunday School at the Clearfield 8th Ward. We then went to the Clearfield 1st Ward for Fast & Testimony meeting. It was sure wonderful to be back. Richard & RaNae Barney had us over for dinner. Bishop & Sister Murdock, Devin & Daleen Reed and Dale & Mary Cottral were also there.
Monday, January 03, 1972
Bob and I went to S.L. and checked on jobs. We then went to Bob and Carroll’s home they have just purchased in Sunset. I helped Bob cut off doors and laid out some new carpeting. Mae and her mother had a wonderful turkey dinner ready at 5:30 PM. We flew home to Phoenix, leaving S.L. about 8PM.
Tuesday, January 04, 1972
Work went ok but still no news about the strike. Mae got all the Christmas trimmings put up except for taking the tree out. She also cleaned the house, washed and cleaned the patio. She sure is wonderful. I finished oral evaluations and reports.
Wednesday, January 05, 1972
Mae went to M.I.A. this evening. I stayed with our children. Danny Turp came over to our house and we filled out the report for the Adult Aaronic Priesthood. When Mae came home, Mae and I took the report to the Ward Clerk. It was nice to go for a short ride with her.
Thursday, January 06, 1972
After getting home from work I took the outside Christmas lights down. We were going to go over to Larry and Tammy’s for the evening but Sandi got sick to her stomach so we stayed home and watched a TV show.
Friday, January 07, 1972
Mae and I went out to dinner after I got home from work. After dinner we went grocery shopping. We then stopped over and visited with Larry and Tammy.
Saturday, January 08, 1972
I worked for Larry for a while this morning then at 2PM Larry, Tammy, Lonny, Todd Shumway, Mae, David and I went up to the lake. We took Frances’s boat and went for a ride in it. I believe, if I remember right, Larry also took his boat. Frances wanted me to try out his boat, hopping that I would buy it.
Sunday, January 09, 1972
Mae spoke in Sacrament meeting and mainly talked about her M.I.A. class. She did very well and received several faveroble comments afterwords.
Monday, January 10, 1972
Work went well today. When I got home from work we went over to Larry and Tammy’s for Family Home Evening but Larry’s Grandparents and Aunt and Uncle stopped in form a trip to Mexico. We ate, visited with them for a little while and then came home.
Tuesday, January 11, 1972
Mae and I went for a short ride after we got the children to bed. We went over to Skaggs and bought a ledger book. We came back home and I figured the check book and bills. Mae worked on her Treasures of Truth book.
Wednesday, January 12, 1972
Mae went to M.I.A. tonight so I stayed home and watched TV with the children. After Mae got home we made new parts for the children’s Quiet Books.
Thursday, January 13, 1972
I went Home Teaching this evening but no one was at home. We played with the children, I pulled a loose tooth for Sandy, then when the children went to bed, Mae and I went for a short drive and got some milk.
Friday, January 14, 1972
We had Karen and Jerry Young over this evening and we played games.
Saturday, January 15, 1972
I went to work for Larry today. I stopped on the way home and got a haircut. I repaired Sandy’s and my bikes when I got home. Mae and I went over to Larry and Tammy’s for a little while.
Sunday, January 16, 1972
My Priesthood and Sunday school lessons went well today. Mae didn’t attend Relief Society because Shellie, Mike and David are still sick. Sandy stayed home and tended the children while Mae and I attended Sacrament meeting.
Monday, January 17, 1972
We had a nice Family Home Evening tonight. Mae gave the lesson tonight. Sandy came home from school with a fever so now all the children are sick. Mae and I drove over to look at a refrigerator.
Tuesday, January 18, 1972
Mae and I went over and looked at some new refrigerators. We decided that we should try to get our old one repaired. This evening I went Home Teaching. Sandy is still very sick with the flu. I sure love Mae.
Wednesday, January 19, 1972
I came home from work early and took the refrigerator to get it fixed. Today I also came down with the flu.
Thursday, January 20th 1972
I spent the whole day in bed.
Friday, January 21, 1972
Sandy felt well enough to go to school today. Her teacher had invited her over to her place for super and games. I am feeling some better this evening. (While I was retyping this journal entry we were with Sandi on our Hawaii tour. I told her about what I had entered and she still remembered the occasion. She said that that was her favorite teacher. She was in the 4th Grade. The teacher would invite two girls and two boys. Sandi thinks that the husband would take the boys shopping and then the girls would prepare the meal.)
Saturday, January 22, 1972
We got word that Aunt Marine died at 2AM this morning.  I was feeling much better this morning. We got our refrigerator back for the repair shop today, it cost us $40.49 for the repairs on it. I got feeling much worse this evening having pains in my chess. We finally called Bishop Price. He brought his Father with him and they administered to me.
Sunday, January 23, 1972
I had three more pain attacks today with the last one about 9PM. We had just finished holding Family Home Evening. We had been talking about Aunt Marine’s funeral and thought about Mae flying up to attend. With these attacks Mae said that she was not going to leave. After the third attacked, Mae took me up to the Hospital. She got our neighbor, Jerry Young and our Home Teacher Brother Lanny to help her. Brother Lanny stayed with our children as they were in bed. At the hospital they checked me for a heart attack and for pneumonia but neither was the case. It was late when the doctors released me to come home.
Monday, January 24, 1972
I am still feeling quite week but am much better than I was. Mae took me up to Dr. Keep who checked me and gave me a shot. Mae went to Lynn Johnstun’s for a treatment. She then came back home and took me up to him for a treatment.
Tuesday, January 25, 1972
Tammy took Mae to the Airport this morning so she could fly up to Utak to attend Aunt Marine’s funeral. Mollie Ascroft tended Shellie and Mike for us. Karen Young tended David. I stayed home and slept except for an appointment with the Doctor. Sandy fixed super this evening and tended the children. I picked up Mae at the airport at 9:20PM this evening. She said that the funeral was very nice.
Wednesday, January 26, 1972
I am feeling much better but still week. Mae had M.I.A. tonight and didn’t get home until 10:30PM. We set up and talked late. She sure is a wonderful person and wife.
Thursday, January 27, 1972
I went to work this morning but came home at noon and went to bed. I rested most of the day. This evening, Mae and I went over to the Ashcroft’s to visit with them for a few minutes.
Friday, January 28, 1972
I slept and rested most of the day. Mae and I went for a ride this evening. We stopped at Larry and Tammy’s and they went with us for pizza. It was a nice evening.
Saturday, January 29, 1972
This morning I worked on our car, putting in new spark plugs, new spark plug wires and points in it. We then took the children and went to Rawhide Arizona. It is an old western town. The children enjoyed going on a stagecoach ride. It has been a good day. Mae and I attended meeting this evening.
Sunday, January 30, 1972
We participated in a special “Church of Work for Youth” program for Sunday school today. I think it went pretty well. After Sacrament meeting I attended the Adult Seminar. Mae and I stayed up talking before we went to bed.
Monday, January 31, 1972
Shortly after leaving work this evening the transmission went out on the car. I called Larry and he came and towed me home. I went Home Teaching to the Deloy Porter family this evening. Mae and the children had Family Home Evening without me.
Tuesday, February 01, 1972
When I came home from work I started working on the car. It didn’t take very long and I found what was the problem. A bolt on the tourk converter had come loose. I had a meeting about Adult Aaronic Priesthood work at 7:30PM and so I didn’t get much else done this evening.
Wednesday, February 02, 1972
After work I picked up some parts for the car. It was almost 11;30PM when I got the car repaired.
Thursday, February 03, 1972
I got up early and built a dog pen for our dog. I then went into work. Mae got things ready to go to Utah and she (and I think the children) met me at the airport. We flew up to Utah getting there about 7:30PM. Mae’s parents met us at the airport. We stayed with them tonight.
Friday, February 04, 1972
Irven and Sandra Lee Watts were married in the Salt Lake Temple by Elder Monson. Their wedding breakfast was held at the Chuck-A-Rama on 4th South and 5th West. That evening they had a very Wedding Reception. When we got back to Mae’s parents home, Mae wasn’t feeling the best.
Saturday, February 05, 1972
Mae isn’t feeling very well today. We went over to Bob and Carroll’s for dinner. Mom and Dad Jensen also were there.
Sunday, February 06, 1972
Mae still isn’t feeling well today. I went to Priesthood meeting and Sunday school with Dad Porter. I went to Sacrament meeting with Bob and Carroll as they were asked to speak today. This evening Sandy and I flew home so I could go to work and Sandy could go to school. Mae and the rest of the children stayed with Mom and Dad Porter so that Mae can get feeling better.
Monday, February 07, 1972
I got up early and fixed breakfast for Dale and Peggie Dransfield. They have stayed at our place this weekend. They left today. This evening as Sandy and I were finishing dinner I got a phone call from work about some problems. I took Sandy with me and we went into work.
Tuesday, February 08, 1972
After dinner this evening Sandy and I cleaned up the house. We then watched TV and had some ice cream. We picked Mae and the children up at the airport at 9:15PM. Mae and I stayed up after putting the children to bed, and talked until 1AM. Mae sure is wonderful!
Wednesday, February 09, 1972
Mae went to M.I.A. this evening and I stayed home with the children. It is sure hard to not get discouraged over finances. It is good that I have Mae to support me.
Thursday, February 10, 1972
Mae went to school this evening with Sandy for a special parent teacher meeting. After they returned Mae and I went over to Bishop Price’s for a Shackly meeting. We then stopped at Larry’s to borrow a can of W-2 from him. He said that he had more work for me to do.
Friday, February 11, 1972
I went into work early so that I could leave at 2PM. I went to work for Larry nailing on roofing with a power gun. This is the first time I have had the use of a power gum.
Saturday, February 12, 1972
Bryce and Deanna and their new baby, Noland, got here at 2:15AM. I went to work with Larry at 7AM so that we could finish the roofing job. This afternoon I took my family and Bryce, Deanna and baby to the Phoenix Zoo. This evening Bryce, Deanna, Mae and I went to the Old Mining Camp for dinner. Sandy tended the children.
Sunday, February 13, 1972
We enjoyed having Bryce and Deanna attend meetings with us today. We had a nice dinner on our patio today. After Sacrament meeting I had an interview with Bishop Price and was asked to be the Executive Secretary. This evening we, including Bryce and Deanna and our children went over to Uncle Van and Aunt Allison’s for a visit.
Insert: due to lack of room in a Diary I have left a lot of detail out so I am going to expand on my being called to be Executive Secretary!
Previous to this calling, shortly after we moved into the Lehi 2nd Ward, we had the Bishopric come to our home to visit us. During that visit I was asked to teach the oldest youth class in Sunday School. I was excited at this calling as my experience while in Clearfield, though I was serving in the Bishopric, I enjoyed being called to teach this age during Sunday School when the instructor had to be absent. I had found this age to be eager to learn and discuss the principles of the Church.
Also during this visit, Mae was asked to teach the Laurel class in the Young Women’s program. She too was excited for this and anticipated it with excitement.
During my first Sunday School class I was greatly surprised and came home determined to do a better job in my lesson preparation, as my lesson certainly did not go over with the youth I taught. Mae came home from her first M.I.A. class in tears. She said that the girls showed no respect to her or to each other. Over the next several months neither Mae’s nor my class showed any improvement and I would come home discouraged and Mae would come home in tears. I finally had enough and asked to be released. Mae however continued to persist with her calling and after 6 months things started changing for the better. She finally earned the respect of almost all of the girls. Over the years she saw most of these girls get married and most were married in the Temple. One of the girls a few years later, when we had moved back to Utah and then moved to Arizona a second time, even became one of Mae’s councilor in the Primary Presidency.
(Whether this was the actual date on which this occurred or not I have been unable to verify.)
On November 21, 1971 I indicated that I visited with the Sunday School Superintendent and asked to be released. Actually it was a demand to be released, as I quit! The problem started first during Junior Sunday School. Brother Marsdon, was the advisor to the Adult Aaronic Priesthood group and I had been called to assist him. We had gotten permission for those, that we could encourage to attend the priesthood meeting and class, to be able to pass the Sacrament during Jr. Sunday School. Today we had one Brother attend the Priesthood class and he expressed interest in passing the Sacrament today. I volunteered to assist him. During the Sacrament, I became quite upset at the two Priests that prepared and blessed the Sacrament as they made (in my opinion) a mockery of the Sacrament. A member of the Bishopric was in attendance and did nothing about the problem. Had he not been there, I think I would have dismissed the two boys and found another Priesthood holder and we would have completely re-preformed that Sacred Ordnance. With a member of the Bishopric in attendance, I didn’t feel that it was my place. I left the Jr. Sunday school quite upset and went to my Sunday school class. During my Sunday school class the youth were again very disrespectful. But that wasn’t bad enough; as when I saw a boy and a girl petting, I came unglued. I walked out of the room and slammed the door. Just a few feet away was the Sunday School Superintendent visiting with the Bishopric Counselor. I walked up to the Superintendent, handed him my manual and said “I quit”. I added that I would never prepare those youth another lesson and then I left. This evening we attended Sacrament meeting. Prior to the meeting starting, the Sunday School Superintendent came to me and asked if I could take the class one more week, to give him enough time to get a replacement for me. I told him, “If he wanted me to baby sit them during class time, I would do that, but I would not waste the time to prepare a lesson for them”. He agreed to that. The following Sunday I finished with the Adult Aaronic priesthood class and I went into my Sunday school class room. I was the first there so I just set down by the door and started studding my next Sunday’s priesthood lesson. As students started coming into the room I wouldn’t even look up. When the last seem to have come in I looked up as not a person was saying a word. I told the class that I hadn’t prepared a lesson but was there just to baby sit the class. I went back to reading. Without anything being said, I again said that I had no lesson for them, but if anyone had a question we could discuss that. No one said anything so I started reading again. Finally one girl cleared her thought and said Brother Browning, I have a question. That opened up a discussion and the rest of the class went well.
******
May I also include another experience I had with this Sunday School class, just a short while before my call to be Executive Secretary. Again I am unable to pinpoint the date. At this time on Fast Sunday, a Sunday School class would be assigned to give the Opening Exercises to the meeting. One member was to give the opening prayer, two class members were to give talks on the Scripture that the class had chosen and then the entire class was to stand and five a Scripture Recitation. The class was given a month advance notice so there was plenty of time to prepare. My class had been chosen. I had tried to get the youth to participate but I could not get them too corporate at all. As the month went by I tried to find ways but to no success. I finally got one girl to agree to give the opening prayer. I asked a second girl if she would give a talk and I asked the Bishop’s son if he would give a talk. I also got one girl to agree to just stand and read the assigned scripture. On that Sunday Morning I was notified that the Bishops son wasn’t going to be there as he didn’t feel well. I thought that as my lesson was on the ability to open the Scriptures, pick a Verse from the page and give your ideas on that scripture, so I thought I would do that. The girl that was going to give the opening prayer, decided that she wouldn’t come up to the stand and didn’t even though the member of the Sunday School prescience announced her name. I was also new to the calling as he had just been put into the calling a couple of week earlier. This frustrated him and he had to call on an adult to open the meeting with prayer. Then, the girl that was going to give the talk wouldn’t come up to the stand. I got up to give my talk but instead I let the parents of the Ward have it with both barrels and really told them that they needed to teach their children better respect. I don’t know just what I said but Mae had taken David into the cry room and from there she said that she could really see the anger in the Bishops wife, who was the music chorister and was setting behind me. Well, opening exercises were dismissed and my Sunday school class didn’t go very well, with what few there was in attendance. On Fast Sunday, Sacrament meeting follow Sunday School with Fast and Testimony meeting. The first person to take the stand where the time was opened for the bearing of testimony said that our children were good and Brother Browning had no right to criticize them the way I had. The next person was the Scout Master and he said that Brother Browning was right, and our children needed more parental discipline. Then a parent disagreed with Brother Browning, then the Primary President agreed with Brother Browning and that is the way it went the entire meeting went. I was glad to get out of that meeting.
*******
When the call came to me to be the Executive Secretary, I felt that in reality the call was just to give me something to do beside be with the youth. The position of Executive Secretary was a relatively new calling and as of yet had little training information as to what the position detailed except to fulfill what the Bishop needed to be done. The Executive Secretary was to attend all meetings that the Bishopric attended.
I do not want to, in anyway, downgrade Bishop Price, he was a Brick Masonry Contractor by profession and worked very hard during the week. Also, the position of Bishop, which he had fulfilled for over 4 years, required many unseen hours of time and responsibility and so it is easy to understand that after being in meeting from early morning until after noon, bishop Price would start the Ward Council meeting and then would fall asleep. His first counselor would just pickup and continue the meeting. Each person in the council, in turn would make reports, requests or receive assignments. Then it would be the next person’s turn. I always sat next to the Bishopric and would be the last to report. When it came my turn I would be asked if I had anything for the meeting. As executive secretary, I had no assignments unless given to me by the Bishop or his counselors. During the first three weeks, I had never been given an assignment and so I would just say that I had nothing to report. During the first three weeks, I was beginning to feel embarrassed to have nothing to report. However, I began to see a trend in the meetings. The first person to give a report, was the Ward Clerk and he would read the minutes of the last meeting. In those minutes, assignments would have been noted but I realized that very few of them ever surfaced again as far as a check up to see if the assignment had been completed. Deciding that I should do something, I got a note book and wrote down the meeting, the date and the assignment given. For example: it had been requested that the High Priest Group Leadership were asked to check on a family that had some serious sickness. The Elders Quorum Presidency was asked to check on a new family that had been reported to have moved into the Ward. On the next meeting when it was my turn to report, I said: last week the High Priests were asked to check on a family about their health, has that been done? The High Priest Group Leader, cleared his throat and said “I forgot, we will do it this week. I then said, Last week the Elders was to check on a new Family that moved in, has that been done?” The Elders President reported that they had gone by but no one was at home but they would go by again. I then said that was all I had. The meeting was closed and we went home. At the next weekly meetings, I again would bring up past assignments and if completed, I would cross them off, but if not completed they would remain in my note book. On the second week when I again reminded the high Priest that they were assigned to visit a family two weeks ago, the Group Leader turned to the Elders President and asked he had a piece a paper and a pencil, adding “he expects me to do this, so I better write it down.” I continued with this note book as long as I held this position.
About a year later, the 2 Lehi Wards were divided and the 3rd Ward was formed. The week prior to the division, I was called into the office to meet with our Stake President. When I was called into the office, the Stake President was sitting behind the desk, with Carl Reese setting to his side. I knew Carl as he had been the 70’s Group Leader in our old ward. I entered into the office and the President welcomed me. He then informed me that the information that I was going to be told about was strictly confidential and was not to go outside that room until the action had been announced from the pulpit during a public meeting. I told him that I understood. He then asked if I knew Carl Reese. I replied that I did. He then told me of the upcoming ward division and that Carl Reese had been called to be the new Bishop of our ward. He asked me if I could support that calling. I assured him that I could. He then told me that Bishop Reese had asked that I be extended the calling of Executive Sectary to serve with him. I told him that I was willing to accept that calling. At that the Stake President turned to Bishop Reese and said, Bishop Reese, do you have any instructions for your new Executive Secretary? Bishop Reese then said “yes! You know that note book you have been keeping”. I said “yes”. He told me that that was the main job he wanted me to continue to do.
Monday, February 14, 1972
Mae took Bryce and Deanna around Phoenix and Scpttsdale today. I took off work so we could go to Casagrandy but Mae didn’t get home in time. While waiting I worked on our income taxes. When Mae, Bryce and Deanna and the children returned we went out to eat and enjoyed that. When we returned home we played some games before going to bed.
Tuesday, February 15, 1972
Bryce and Deanna left for home today. When I got home, we held our Family Home Evening as we had missed it last night. I then went over to Brother Glen Wood’s to learn a little about my new calling as Executive Secretary. When I returned home, I called and had a nice visit with Roy.
Wednesday, February 16, 1972
Mae had M.I.A. this evening so I stayed home and tended the children. We popped popcorn and watched T.V. Later I worked on income taxes and got them ready to send to Roy.
Thursday, February 17, 1972
I was able to mail our income tax papers to Roy for him to figure them for us. Mae had a Stake M.I.A. meeting to attend this evening. I stayed home and tended the children. When Mae got home from the meeting she and I stayed up and talked, mainly about our finances. We decided that Mae might try selling Shackle products as a part time job. She is willing to do anything she can to help me with our financial situation. I am sure blessed to have such a wonderful wife and companion. I sure love her!
Friday, February 18, 1972
After work and dinner this evening Mae and I went shopping. We then went over to Ron and Audrey Shumway’s. We played rook with them until 11:30PM.
Saturday, February 19, 1972
Mae attended a Laurel conference and was gone most of the day. I tended the children and built them a play house. Dale and Peggy Dransfield invited us to go to the dog races with them. They lost $20.00 in their betting and we lost $2.00.
Sunday, February 20, 1972
I started today at 6:30 with Bishopric meeting. Meetings continued one after another until 12 noon. After dinner I went back to Stake Priesthood meeting followed by Stake High Priest meeting. This evening Mae and I set some goals to get up at 5:30AM each morning. We planned on jumping rope around the block and then reading for a half hour. Mike isn’t feeling very well this evening.
Monday, February 21, 1972
I had the day off work and the children were home from school to celebrate Washington’s Birthday tomorrow. At 6AM Mae and I started our exercise program. After breakfast we worked around the house and yard. This afternoon we took our family to the park. We came home from the park to hold Family Home Evening. That went very well.
Tuesday, February 22, 1972
Mae and I went exercising this morning before I went to work. This evening, after dinner, I went to Bishopric meeting. I didn’t get home until 11:45PM.
Wednesday, February 23, 1972
Mae attended M.I.A. this evening. About 9:45PM Cora and Dale Thinnes stopped to visit. It was a surprise to have them come. We had not know that they were coming down from Utah. It was very nice to visit with them and to hear some of the news about the Mount Fort Ward and how people are doing.
Thursday, February 24, 1972
I had a bad day at work today. I came home at 5:30PM and ate dinner. I then went to bed so I could get a little sleep before going back into work ay 11PM.
Friday, February 25, 1972
I got for home at noon after working all night. I slept for a while. At 5:30PM Larry, Tammy and their family came over for dinner. Larry, Tammy, Mae and I played games after outing the children to bed. It was a very nice evening. We sure seem to have a special relationship with Larry and Tammy.
Saturday, February 26, 1972
Mae and I went up to the Church house to help with the Ward cleanup. We got home about noon. I then helped Glenn Wood move to Phoenix. While I was gone Mae took the children to the park. David fell and skinned his face. This evening Mae went with me Home Teaching.
Sunday, February 27, 1972
Today was our Ward’s Ward Conference. I had meetings all morning. Shellie could hardly wait for us to have dinner, so that I could open my Birthday presents. I received a pen and a binder for my Church work. Conference meetings went very well today. Sandy and Shellie are not feeling very well this evening.
Monday, February 28, 1972
Work went well today. I had to take an hour off so that I could meet with our attorney. He had an affidavit concerning the fire in the apartment that we rented when we first moved down to Mesa. I had met with an insurance attorney some time ago. He had asked me questions about the fire. I found out that the way I answered to the insurance attorney questions, we would have been automatic guilty for starting the apartment and would have been responsible for all cost. It was a good thing that we hired an attorney to represent us. We had a nice Family Home Evening and Mae made a nice Peach Cobbler for refreshments.
Tuesday, February 29, 1972
At work today Ron Shumway was released from his position as Manager over the Programming staff. I am not sure just what this means but I am worried about it. I attended Bishopric meeting this evening.
(I would like to make an insert here. Maybe more of this story will surface as I continue to digitize 1970 – 1974 Diary but due to the small space in a Five Year Diary, I am not sure. I have taken some of the information here from my personal Employment records.)
June 1970 I went to work for Browning Arms Co. in Morgan, Utah. I had been out of the Data Processing field for 2 ½ years and felt that I needed to find a company that would let me back in. I found that when most of the companies I applied with, looked at the time I had been out of the field, that would end the interview. When I got the opportunity to apply with Browning Arms, I left the wage question blank. During the end of the interview, the Data Processing Manager told me that I hadn’t filled in the wage that I requested. I told him that many were concerned about my time out of the field and I asked him if he could give me an offer. He said that he couldn’t and that I had to fill it in. Being almost desperate for the job, I put $600 per month. He said: “Even if you can’t program, I could give you a broom and dust pan, as I pay my janitors more than that.” He then said “If in 90 days you can prove your abilities I will bring you up to where you should be paid.” I accepted the job on those terms. It didn’t take long until I realized that we could not exist on $600 a month. Bishop Murdock put me on Welfare and he also had the McKay Dee Hospital write off the bill from the birth of David.
I was working 60 plus hours a week on salary and I had been called as First Counselor in the Clearfield 1st Ward’s Bishopric. Anyway, this became a very stressful period in our lives. I kept thinking that as soon as the 90 days were up I would get a raise. Well as things went, just before the 90 days were up, Mr. Browning sent out a memo to all personal that he had put a freeze on all wages and that no more than a 1% increase in pay would be given during the next year. That was really a blow to me. It was early spring and had been a very wet spring. I came home very discouraged and down and told Mae that I needed to get away. Mae asked me where could we go this time of year? I said that I didn’t care but I couldn’t take it any longer. The thought then came to me of Larry and Tammy now living in Mesa, Arizona. We questioned where we could get the money for gas. Mae visited with her mother, and because Uncle Van and Aunt Allison also lived in Mesa, she said that she would pay ½ the traveling expenses if she could go with us. We, therefore, took a week’s vacation time and drove down. While there with Larry and Tammy and attending Church with them, Larry introduced me to a neighbor and member of their Ward, Ron Shumway. Ron asked me to come over to his home after meetings as he would like to talk to me. I did and he asked about my computer programming experience and abilities. He said that he would like to bring me a programming manual on the language they were using and have me write him a short program in that language. He said that he didn’t want me to work on it while I was on vacation but when I had time when I got back home. During the remainder of our trip I did do a little studying in my spare time. When I got home I rewrote a short program in the new language. I got one of my associates there at Browning Arms to key punch the program. As I didn’t have a computer compiler, I just packaged it up and asked Mae to mail it to Mr. Shumway the next morning. When I came home from work the following day Mae said that Mr. Shumway called and wanted me to call him back. I was surprised as I was sure that the program had not had time to get to him that fast. I called and he was not home but they would give him the message when he got there. The next day Mr. Shumway called me at my work number and asked if I could come in for an interview. The day of the week was then Thursday. I said that it would take me about 16 hours to drive down, to which he said, no! I don’t want you to drive. He said that if I could go to the Hugh’s Air West ticket counter at the Salt Lake Airport the next morning, tickets would be waiting for me. I told my supervisor, Roger, that I needed Friday off. He said that I could. Mae took me to the airport early Friday morning and I flew down to Phoenix. Ron met me at the airport and took me to his office. There he had some of his staff interview me. They then took me out to lunch. We returned to his office where he offered me a job at $900 a month. I asked him if I could talk it over with Mae and call him back. He said that it was ok with him. I flew back home very excited. We thought it over and I visited with Bishop Murdock and he also felt good about it although he wasn’t excited about us moving. Monday morning I went into Roger and told him that I wanted to turn in my resignation. He said that he was afraid that that was why I had taken off work. He asked how much he would have to offer me to keep me there. I said that if he could give me ½ of the increase that I was offered I would stay. He said that he would soon be back to talk to me. I went back to my office to wait. Morning break came and went, noon came and went, and then afternoon break came and went.  He had been in Mr. Browning’s office since he had left me that morning but could not give me the raise. Two weeks later I was on my way to Arizona. We had decided to have Mae and the children stay until school was out as we didn’t want to take Sandy out of school and put her in a new school for such a short time. That also gave Mae time to sort out things and pack. I stayed with Larry & Tammy for that length of time.
Ron Shumway was one of the greatest people I have ever worked for. He expected a lot out of you but he also saw that you were rewarded for the effort that you gave. Just a couple of days, before the day Ron was demoted, I was in Ron’s office talking over a project that I was working on. A phone call interrupted our visit and I sat quietly while he took the call. The call went something like this. “Hello Mr. Bair.” (I believe that was the name of Ron’s boss.) “No, Mr. Bair, I don’t think that would be legal”. “Mr.  And that ended the call.
Wednesday, March 1, 1972
Work went fairly well today but I really don’t think much work got done. Moral is really low with everyone in the department. I took time and went over to American Express to check on any openings for employment. I didn’t find much there. Mae had M.I.A. this evening so I stayed home with the children.
Thursday, March 2, 1972
This morning I flew to San Francisco on company business. Ron Shumway also was there on company business. This evening Ron took me out to see the town. We first went to Fisherman’s Warf where we ate. Ron then took me to a street that was very steep. The street dead ended and so we had to turn around. I really didn’t think the car could tip that far without rolling over. Next Ron took me to North Bay Street. We parked the car and walked a couple of blocks. We saw many women offering them self for money. We also were walking behind a couple in front of us. The one in a dress and the man with his arms and hands all over her. The only problem was that the one in the dress had a very deep base voice. As a teenager I had to go downtown in Ogden and pull or carry my sister Margaret out of a bar on lower 25th Street. This was the first time I had ever seen so much sin and filth. I was glad when we left and went to our hotel.
Friday, March 3, 1972
I finished my work in San Francisco and flew back home. Mon and Dad had arrived at our place about mid-night last night. Mae and Mom came to the airport to get me about 2PM. When we got home I took a nap for about 1 ½ hours. We were going to attend a session at the Temple but Dad had miss-placed his wallet and so didn’t have a Temple Recommend. After some searching, Mom and Dad insisted that Mae and I go without them. We got to the Temple just after the last English speaking session closed. The Brother at the desk invited us to attend the Spanish speaking session which we did. That was quite an experience as we just had to watch for every clue as to where we were in the session. All in all it was an enjoyable experience but one that I never want to do again
Saturday, March 4, 1972
I took Mom and Dad Porter and the children to the Lehi Day Treck.  We then went back to the Lehi Days. We came home for dinner. We then left the little ones with a baby sitter. Mom, Dad, Sandy, Mae and I then went back to the Lehi Days where we enjoyed a play and a dance. Sandy is becoming good dancer.
Sunday, March 5, 1972
Today being Fast Sunday I was in meetings from 6:30AM until 2PM. Mae had a nice dinner ready for me when I got home. in the evening we went for a ride and stopped at Mr. Swiss for a treat. We then went to Ron Shumway’s to get my check. There is a mistake in my pay check.
Monday, March 6, 1972
After I came home from work we took our family to Pioneer Park for dinner. We then went for a walk around the park looking for all the things we could see that was part of Nature. This all fit in with our Family Home Evening lesson we had this evening. We had a wonderful evening and I sure feel blessed.
Tuesday, March 7, 1972
After dinner, I attended Bishopric meeting, getting home about 10:30 pm.
Wednesday, March 8, 1972
This evening Mae attended M.I.A. Dad and I went to the Golden Health Spa for a couple of hours. Mom Porter took care of the children for us. After returning home I filled out my monthly Home Teaching repot but was too late to turn it in tonight.
Thursday, March 9, 1972
After work I met Mae, Mom Porter and the children at the Pioneer Park. We had dinner there and then played shuffle board for a while. The little children just enjoy the park. I think everyone had a good time.
Friday, March 10, 1972
I drew $20 out of the credit union this afternoon. This evening Mae and I took Mom and Dad out to eat at the Old Miner’s Camp. The Old Miner’s Camp is a restraint in Apache Junction, east of Mesa. They serve dinner on tin plates and metal cups on old wood tables. It is very rustic but a fun place to go. We had a very enjoyable evening. David has a bad cold and stuffy nose this evening.
Saturday, March 11, 1972
I had a job interview this morning but didn’t qualify for what they wanted. Mae and Mom went over to the spa and then shopping. I didn’t feel very good so Mike and I laid down and took a nap. This afternoon all of us went over to The Lakes and saw the model homes there. This evening Dad Porter and I attended the Saturday Evening Stake Conference session.
Sunday, March 12, 1972
We attended Stake Conference this morning. We didn’t do much else as Mae, Mike, Davie and I all have bad colds. Mon & Dad Porter, Sandy and I did attend Sacrament meeting.
Monday, March 13, 1972
I had an interview with the 1st National Bank of Arizona today. It went well except I don’t know if it is enough money. This evening we took our dinner to the park. After dinner we held Family Home Evening and Sandy led us in a activity. We finished with ice cream for dessert.
Tuesday, March 14, 1972
I stayed home from work today. Sandy and I are still not feeling well. this evening I went to Bishopric meeting any way. It was about 11 PM when I got home. Mae put a spice plaster on both Sandy and I before we went to bed.
Wednesday, March 15, 1972
Sandy is feeling much better this morning but I am not. I stayed home from work and continued to doctor up. Mom and Dad Porter left about 11 AM to go home. It has been nice having them here. I think we have all enjoyed their stay with us.
Thursday, March 16, 1972
I took off work about an hour early to get home and help Mae pack to go to Fresno California. We flew out of the Phoenix Airport at 8PM and Roy met us at the Fresno Airport about 9AM. We enjoyed visiting for a little while before going to bed.
Friday, March 17, 1972
This morning we got things ready for Roy, Steve and I to go deep sea fishing with Roy’s Elders Quorum. We still had some time left so Roy and Linda drove us around Fresno to show us the town. Roy took us to a large sub-division and as we were driving down the road, I looked behind us and an airplane was following us. It about shook me up and I shouted at Roy that he must be on a runway. He just laughed and told us that this sub-division was built on a private air-port and the roadways were taxi ways so the planes could taxi right to the homes. They had hanger car ports attached to the homes. After seeing some of the area, Roy drove to one of his friends, Dee McMillian. There Linda and Mae let us off, as we will ride with Dee to Morro Bay this evening. Mae, Linda and all the children, except Steve, will stay at Roy and Linda’s tonight. Dee invited us to go for a swim in their pool. This afternoon Dee, Roy, Steve and I left for Morro Bay. We got there about 9:30PM and met up with others from their Ward. We all slept in sleeping bags on the beach.
Saturday, March 18, 1972
We got up about 4AM so that we could be to the boat dock by 6:15 AM ready to board. Someone in the group was passing out a sea sickness pill, and because I woke with a stuffy nose, I felt it might be wise to take a couple. Roy and Dee thought it was nonsense and that sea sickness was all in one’s head. It was 7AM when the boat left the pier in quite a windy day. There was some that were sea sick before we even got under way. I believe that the boat had room for 74 fishermen aboard and we only had 71 from our group so the captain let 3 other men on. They took their cases of beer up to the bow of the boat and kind of kept to themselves. The ocean was very rough with waves that I estimated being possibly 40 feet high. The winds continually pushed the boat sideways. I had to enjoy watching the three men on the bow. They would drink down some beer and then hang over and through it up again. With all the beer they consumed I doubt if any of it made it to their blood stream. Dee and his son were soon sick. Roy did ok until he had to use the rest room. When he came out of the little room he was green. As he would lean over the railing and heave Steve would ask, what is wrong daddy?  There was one man that kept running around offering everyone crackers, saying that they would help them. However; before we got back to shore I saw him heave up everyone he had eaten. I believe that everyone on board, except the crew and myself, got sea sick. The captain said that he had never before taken a group out in that bad of weather. I don’t think there were very many fish caught, though I did catch 4. Everyone had put a dollar into the pot for the largest fish caught during the day. I don’t think anyone even checked that when we got to the dock. Everyone just wanted off the boat. It was about 8PM when we got back to Fresno.
Sunday, March 19, 1972
We attended Priesthood and Sunday school with Roy and Linda. After dinner we caught the 2:30PM flight to Phoenix. It has been a very nice weekend. We had Sandy tend the children while Mae and I went out for something to eat. Mae sure is a wonderful wife and sweetheart.
Monday, March 20, 1972
After I returned home from work, we held our Family Home Evening at the Pioneer park with Larry and Tammy’s family. It was good to be together with the two families.
Tuesday, March 21, 1972
Mae has been busy getting things prepared for a M.I.A. party. This evening I attended Bishopric meeting getting home about 11:30PM. When I got there Mae was waiting up for me. She sure is a beautiful and wonderful doll! I sure love her.
Wednesday, March 22, 1972
Mae had her M.I.A. party and was very pleased with the way it went. I stayed home and tended the children this evening.
Thursday, March 23, 1972
Work went well today. Brother and Sister Sherman brought me some tomato plants that they had extra. I planted them in our garden this evening. Mae went over to a Shakily meeting this evening. I stayed with the children.
Friday, March 24, 1972
Mae and David went to the Doctor today. He said that he thought that David would out grow the limp and everything looked ok with Mae. This evening I went Home Teaching. After I went over to Brother Judd’s where we took care of some church work.
Saturday, March 25, 1972
This evening I made a bid for a fellow to do some remodeling for him. He wants to convert a patio into a extra bedroom. I then went over to Brother Judd’s and hung 4 doors for him. He paid me $30 for the job. I took Mike with me. This evening all of went over to Larry and Tammy’s for dinner and to visit.
Sunday, March 26, 1972
I had meetings until 12:30PM before going home. We met Dale and Peggy Dransfield at the park for lunch and had a very nice time. This evening in Sacrament meeting Mae sang with 6 other Sisters. Deloy & Lois Porter came to our home and we played Rook.
Monday, March 27, 1972
This evening we went over to Dale and Peggy Dransfield’s for dinner and we held Family Home Evening. We got home about 9:45PM. It has been a very enjoyable evening.
Tuesday, March 28, 1972
After getting home from work and eating dinner, I went up to the Church house where we met in Bishopric meeting. It was around 10:30PM when I got home.
Wednesday, March 29, 1972
This morning I helped Ron Shumway pour concrete. We started at 6AM and by the time we finished and I got cleaned up and to work at Air West, I was ½ hour late. Mae had M.I.A. this evening so I stayed home with the children.
Thursday, March 30, 1972
After work I stopped at and employment service to see what is available. When I got home Mae was defrosting the freezer and the outside refrigerator. I had a meeting attend this evening. David and Mike are both coming down with colds this evening.
Friday, March 31, 1972
Sandy went to work with me today. This evening we let the kids color Easter Eggs. Mae and I then went grocery shopping. When we got home we cooked and colored more eggs. The boys still have colds.
Saturday, April 01, 1972
After we ate breakfast, the children went outside to fine Easter Eggs. When they had found all the eggs and their Easter Baskets, we all worked together in cleaning up the house and the yards. We then had fun making chocolate, marshmallow Easter eggs as well as other items for Easter so that we were ready for tomorrow.
Sunday, April 02, 1972 Easter
I had my regular Sunday meeting to attend. Larry, Tammy and their children attended our Wards Sunday school and Fast & Testimony meeting’s with our family. Mae had invited them for dinner with us. She also invited Larry’s brother Melvin, his wife Doddy and their family for dinner. She had prepared a lovely dinner and then we visited and played games. It has been a very enjoyable day. Mike and David were much better today but Shellie still isn’t feeling the best.
Monday, April 03, 1972
When I got home from work we decided to go for a ride for F.H.E. We stopped at an amusement called “Smash-n-Dart” and took everyone for a ride. Shellie was going to drive one by herself but then became frightened so I took her on another ride. When we got home we had 7 up floats for refreshments.
Tuesday, April 04, 1972
Mae did quite a lot of work in her flower garden today. This evening I attended Bishopric meeting.
Wednesday, April 05, 1972
Today I put a application in for employment with Air Research. I also had an interview with Valley National Bank but they can’t offer me enough for me to make a change. Mae hasn’t felt very well today but she went to M.I.A. anyway. Larry, Tammy and I went shopping this evening and bought the groceries for a trip we are going on tomorrow. After returning home I filled out the Ward’s monthly Home Teaching report.
Thursday, April 06, 1972
I left work at 1:30PM and came home. Larry and I changed the refrigerator in his camper. We left on our trip about 5PM. We hadn’t gone far when we had trouble with the car overheating. We stopped at a gas station and checked the water fluid. After adding coolant to the radiator we went on. As it got dark we realized that we had some troubles with the electrical connections to the trailer so we had to stop to work on that. By then we were all getting hungry. We found a restaurant and stopped for super. We then found a place where we could pull off the highway and camp for the night. We were about 30 miles from Tucson.
Friday, April 07, 1972
We got up and prepared breakfast. After eating we again started out. We hadn’t gone far when the car ran out of gas. We began to wonder if this trip was going to be worth continuing. However, we had made it to a trailer park where we had a fellow help us with enough gas to get to a filling station. We arrived at Nogales, Arizona about noon. We were able to find a place where we could park the trailer for the night. We then crossed the border into Nogales Mexico. We did some shopping but mainly touring. Larry had a young boy ask if he could shine our boots for a quarter. Larry asked if he meant both Larry’s and my boots for a quarter. The boy said yes. Feeling that it was a good deal, we let him shine our boots. When Larry handed the boy a quarter, he said no, a quarter each. Larry told him that is not what he had agreed on but the boy refused to take the quarter. Finally Larry told him either he took the quarter of nothing. He finally took the quarter but then followed us down the street, about two blocks, calling “Cheep sons of a bitch”. After shopping we drove into some of the housing areas. The difference between the Mexico and the U.S. residential areas were so completely opposite. Where the U.S. side was beautiful homes and yards, the Mexico side was shacks, without doors or windows and no yards except bare dirt. After a while we returned to our camp on the U.S. side of the border. We prepared dinner and ate, and then we again went across the border. About 8PM a band began to play and couple’s began coming out from everywhere to joined in street dancing. The amazing thing that we noticed is that the girls were all wearing very beautiful white dresses or white blouses. From what we had seen of the housing earlier, we wondered how they could get so clean or even where they could keep clothes so beautiful. At 10PM the band stopped and everyone went home. It was a special experience to be there.
Saturday, April 08, 1972
This morning we drove across the border and then continued south. We soon realized that if a semi-truck was coming towards us. you pulled over to give them the right-of-way. Several times we almost had head on as they took the entire road. We first went and stopped at the city Magdalena, which from the highway just looked like a dirty Mexican town but when we turned off the highway and went into the town was a very beautiful community. There was well kept stores with a well kept board walkways. The road way was mainly cobblestone and the area was very clean. A wedding was just finishing as we looked across a very clean grassy park to the Catholic Cathedral. The bride and groom were getting into a decorated carriage to leave. The whole scene was almost like out of a fairy tell. As we walked around town we went past a Buick Automobile dealership. We went in and Larry asked a salesman the price on the new car. It was much higher than it would be in the U.S. When Larry asked why the salesman explained that the prices in the border town were cheaper because most items there were manufactured in Mexico for sale to the tourist but all items manufactured in the U.S. had to be imported through Mexico City and then trucked back up to the northern towns which that cost had to be add to the item. After we left the dealership we heard the clock on the cathedral tower strike noon. We then noticed that all the stores closed and everyone went to the park square, set down under a tree and took a siesta. We then left and drove further south. When we to Santana it too looked very dirty and when we drove into the town it was nothing like Magdalena, but it was a dirty Mexican own. We didn’t stop to look around but got back on the highway and drove back to Nogales. We got there about 3PM and did some more shopping for a while. We then went back across the border to the trailer. Larry and I worked on his car for while Tammy and Mae prepared dinner. After eating the four of us played Rook. This had been an enjoyable game that we had often done together. However this time
Larry had determined that if a person always took the bid, whether or not he had a good hand or not, in the end he would win the game. He therefore would out bid any other player even if he just throw the hand in and went back the bid. The game lost all fun and after that trip we never played another game together.
Sunday, April 09, 1972
We got up about 7:30AM, ate breakfast and got ready to leave by 9:30AM. We stopped about 30 miles north of Tucson and fixed dinner and rested before going on. It was about 5PM when we got home. We spent the rest of the evening with the kids, not making it to Sacrament meeting. Mom Jensen called this evening to see if it would be ok if they came down tomorrow.
Monday, April 10, 1972
I left work at Air West at 12:15PM in order to pick Mom and Dad Jensen up at the airport. I had planned on taking them home and returning to work but on the way home the front bearing went out on our car. I spent the rest of the afternoon working on the car. This evening Mom, Dad, Mae and I were up until 11PM just visiting and playing Rook.
Tuesday, April 11, 1972
Today was a very busy day at work. This evening we had planned on taking Mom, Dad and our family to the Pioneer Park to eat but the wind was blowing so hard that we stayed home. After eating I went with Larry to look at a remodel job and get things lined up to do it. as soon as I got back for that I went up to Bishopric meeting. I didn’t get home until 11:20PM, very tired.
Wednesday, April 12, 1972
I left early this morning for San Francisco, where I was to be in a meeting at Hugh’s Air West headquarters. When I got there I was told that the meeting was rescheduled for this afternoon. I was able to take care of some other business until noon. I went out for some lunch and when I came back, I continued to find things to do, waiting for the meeting. At 2:15PM I was told that the meeting was canceled until Friday. I made arrangements to flight back to Phoenix on TWA. This evening we just relaxed and enjoyed being with Mom and Dad. We again had a game of Rook and as usual enjoyed having a cup of hot Postum and ginger snap cookies.
Thursday, April 13, 1972
Today was a bad day at work. Several of my systems had problems that I spent a lot of time working on. Mom and Dad Jensen flight left about 11AM for Fresno. I was so busy that I didn’t make it to terminal to see them off. When I got home I found out that Mae also had a very bad day. I decided to take her out to dinner to cheer her up.
Friday, April 14, 1972
I worked late today because of problems. The meeting that I had been told would be scheduled for today was re-scheduled for next Wednesday, April 19th. I did get some good news that off set my other problems. My supervisor, Scott Fry, called me for performance review and a $53.00 a month raise, retroactive to April 1st. After work I went to Chandler to measure and figure materials to give a Lady a bid to install two doors for her.
Saturday, April 15, 1972
Ron Shumway and I work 10 hours for Bob Willis, building an addition to his home. after getting home and cleaning up I took my family out to dinner. After eating we went to Dash & Smash, it is am entertainment center where they have bumper cars. We all had a lot of fun riding them. It has been a nice day.
Sunday, April 16, 1972
Ron and Audrie Shumway and their older children planned a trip to Nogales Mexico for the day. They asked if Mae and I would tend their baby, Ronda which we agreed. She is about the same age as David. I stayed home from Sunday school with David and Ronda, while Mae took the rest of our family. Ron and Audrie got back home about 5PM which left us time to attend Sacrament meeting. After that meeting we took the children and Sandy tended them while Mae and I went to visit Lois and Deloy Porter.
Monday, April 17, 1972
Ron and I worked two hours, from 5:30AM to 6:30AM on William’s home before we went into work at Air West. We went home to clean up and change and then Ron came by my place and we road together into work. On the way home this afternoon I had Ron stop so I could go into Nationwide Finance where I paid of our loan with them. Mae had bought material for new drapes for our kitchen so I helped her with them. Sandy started with piano lessons this afternoon. We held Family Home Evening tonight and it went very well.
Tuesday, April 18, 1972
I flew to San Francisco this morning on business. When I go to San Francisco, it takes most of the day to get there. I leave Phoenix before 10AM flying to Los Vegas, then to San Jose and from there to San Francisco. I think there also was one other stop between Las Vegas and San Jose which might have been Fresno, I am not sure. Anyway it would be almost 4PM by the time I got to the office in San Francisco and the day would be gone. I will attend my meeting tomorrow. I would then have to get a hotel room for the night and find some place to eat. Being by myself for the evening and night is not my definition of FUN. I sure miss Mae and my children. Mae got her kitchen drapes completed today.
Wednesday, April 19, 1972
My meeting this morning was with Norm Odonald, (I believe that Mr. Odonald is the director of Air Cargo). After the meeting I met Ron Shumway back at the General Offices of Hughes Air West. Ron and I then caught a flight on an Air West flight leaving at 1:40PM and arriving at Phoenix at 5:40PM. This evening Mike and Ed Dransfield and their family came over to visit. They are here in the area, visiting their son and his wife. Their son is in flight training, stationed at the Air force base in Queen Creek, which is south west of Mesa. We enjoyed the evening visiting and remembering old time in the Farr West Stake, in Ogden. After they left I helped Mae clean up. I sure love that girl and it is sure good to be loved in return.
Thursday, April 20, 1972
Work went very well today but very busy. I had planned on hanging two doors for a lady in Chandler, but when I got home and called Larry, he had forgotten to pick them up for me. That was ok with me, as now I could stay home with my children while Mae attended a Stake M.I.A. meeting.
Friday, April 21, 1972
This morning I took Mae and my family to the Airport. They will fly to Salt Lake where Mon and Dad Porter will pick them up. They will then take them to Doctor Stutsnigger for a dental checkup. They going to enjoy the weekend with Mae’s parents. I then went to the office and worked the day. This evening I went to the Temple. Not having anyone to go home to I stopped at the Visitor Center and enjoyed that. The Spirit that I felt this evening sure makes you look forward to the next life.
Saturday, April 22, 1972
This morning I hung two doors for a lady in Chandler. I worked the rest of the day at Willie’s. After coming home I showered, ate some dinner and then went out Home Teaching. I didn’t find anyone at home so wasn’t very successful at that. Being at home without my family is sure a lonely place. I sure miss them.
Sunday, April 23, 1972
This morning I started meeting as 6:30 and went until 12:30PM. From there I had been invited for Sunday dinner with Dale and Peggy Dransfield. They were very kind to me and I enjoyed my time with them. After coming home I tried to call Mae at 3PM. She had just left with the children to attend Sacrament meeting. I took a nap until 5PM, Day light Saving Time when Mae called me. We had time to visit for a few minutes before I had to leave for our Sacrament meeting. It was sure good to visit with her. Our Ward’s Sacrament meet was very good.
Monday, April 24, 1972
I straightened the house before going to work. I have been very busy at work today. After getting home from work I started working on my Home Teaching monthly report for the Stake Presidency. I worked on that until 10PM when I went to the airport to get my family. it was sure great seeing them get off the airplane. I sure have missed them.
Tuesday, April 25, 1972
I played with Mike on the floor for a while before Mae had dinner ready. Mae and I went to the Church house to meet with our Bishop for Temple recommends interviews this evening. Following our interviews, I went with the Bishopric to our Stake Oral Evaluation with the Stake Presidency. After that meeting we met together in a Bishopric meeting.
Wednesday, April 26, 1972
This evening Mae went to M.I.A. We had Sandy tend the rest of the children while I went Home Teaching. I got home about 7:45PM and got the children to bed. Mike hasn’t felt very well all day and this evening is running a fever. I went to the church house and picked Mae up after M.I.A. Mae and I stayed up late talking until after 12:30AM. I sure love that girl!
Thursday, April 27, 1972
I had planned on flying to San Francisco today but I had some problems arise at the office and had to cancel the trip. Sandy came home from School sick. Later this evening Shellie also got sick. Sandy asked me if I would give her a Priesthood blessing so I called our neighbor, Jerry Young to assist me.
Friday, April 28, 1972 Mike’s 3rd Birthday
I stopped on the way home from work and bought Mike a new set of pajamas and a toy rifle for his Birthday. We had planned on taking all the family to Ledgen City for his Birthday Party but with Sandy and Shellie being sick we stayed home and had a Birthday Party.
Saturday, April 29, 1972
I worked 9 ½ hours at Willies today. When I got home I took all my family out to Ledgen City. It was a lot of fun but we needed more time. We got home about 9PM. Richard and RaNae Barney had arrived about 8PM. We got the children down for bed and then Richard, RaNae, Mae and I stayed up until after mid-night visiting.
Sunday, April 30, 1972
I attended a meeting this morning at 6:30AM as normal on Sunday mornings. After Sunday school, Mae had a very nice dinner ready. After dinner we had Sandy tend the children while Richard, RaNae, Mae and I went for a ride to show Richard and RaNae the area. After Sacrament meeting all of us went up for Ice Cream.
Note of addition:
One thing that I have left out of this Diary, is very much detail of my everyday work. I am making this insertion here as I cannot remember or find the exact date of an important occurrence while working at Hughes Air West.
I had indicated that shortly after coming to work for Hughes Air West that I had been assigned to be the programmer responsible for the Air Freight Cargo system. I soon found that it was a very poorly written system and was a great challenge to keep it running and in balance. Also, I found out that the three previous programmers, that had that responsibility, had been terminated because of the system. When I first found that out I went to my supervisor, Scott Fry, and said to him, “I thought you liked me but it looks like I am an escape goat if the system fails.” I told Scott that getting this assignment was like being handed a rope with thirteen loops in the knot. The systems main runs were on the 15th or mid-monthly and the month-end run, at the end of the month. Our computer had the ability to operate two systems simultaneously, one program in foreground and the other in background. When the Freight Cargo system started to run, it held up the simultaneous operation and took up the complete computer time. The mid-monthly run would take approximately 8 hours to run and the month-end-run would take 16 to 24 hours to run. 90% of the time the runs would be out of balance, in which case the programmer, in charge of the system, had to find the error or errors, restore the files to the original information and then start the system running over. Probably the greatest concern, caused by this run, is that when it ran it took up 100% of the computers time, and all other systems were on standby until it was finished. That meant that all flight records and especially the flight maintenance reports were unavailable. This was a great concern as every plane in the fleet had exact schedules to be met and scheduled. In other words, the entire airline could be shut down or at least fined for not meeting the required maintenance. Therefore, 8 to 24 hours is critical but to have to rerun it again is unforgivable.
During the next few months I continued to work with the system and often had to spend many extra hours. I also got an assignment to develop a tape library system that would keep track of the data tapes that are kept with various data files on every system controlled by the computer.
As I worked with the Freight Cargo system my lead programmer and I looked at what it would take to get the system to work. We finally concluded that it would be easier to completely write a new system rather than try to correct this one. We went to Ron with our proposal but he turned us down. He said that he could never get it approval to rewrite a working program, no matter how bad the system is, when he had so many other systems yet to be written. That ended the conversation and I just had to continue to baby sit the Freight Cargo system
Then somewhere around the first of April, I got a call from Ron asking me to come to his office. I went down and when I walked into the office, there were several men sitting around Ron’s office. I recognized one of them as being the head of Air Line Planning. The others I don’t think I had ever seen. As I entered, Ron just handed me an envelope. I looked inside of the envelope wondering if there was a pink slip in there. It wasn’t pink so I removed the letter and read it. It was a letter from the Federal Department of Airlines, if I remember right. The letter required every Airline in the United States to supply the total Freight Cargo Air Mileage to that Department by a given date. They also asked that each airline send a representative from each Airline to a meeting in Washing DC on May 21st, 1972. After reading the letter, I folded the letter back up and handed it back to Ron. He said, well? I said well, what? Ron then asked if we had a system that could provide the information that was being requested. I told him, no, we didn’t. Ron then asked, “Do we have a system that could be modified that would provide the information?” To this I said, no, we don’t. You are referring to the Freight Cargo system, but it will hardly operate now, not alone asking for additional information from it. I then added, that if we rewrote the system we could get the information that was wanted. The Freight Cargo System is where the information should be retrieved from. Ron then said that he would give permission to do the rewrite. He then asked how much help I needed. I told him that for now I only needed Jerry Hanselman, I would let him know when I needed more help. Ron then said, “You are it!” I asked him what he meant. He said that the letter requested a representative from each airline and said “You are that person.”
Monday, May 1, 1972
I flew to San Francisco on business this morning getting there at 12:30PM. I first met with the Supervisor and her assistant as to some changes that we will have to implement in the input to the Freight Cargo System. After that meeting I met with Mario Geiantery (I didn’t record what position Mario held) and Jay Krammer, Vice President over accounting. We discussed the accounting procedures and needs of the Freight Cargo system. Our meeting lasted for three hours. I made reservations with American Airlines and flew home this evening.
Tuesday, May 2, 1972
This evening I stayed home from Bishopric meeting to visit with Richard and RaNae Barney. We charcoal grilled hamburgers and ate outside. It was a very nice evening.
Wednesday, May 3, 1972
I woke up early and figured our bills. When I finished I was able to pay all the outstanding bills and had some money left in our Banking account. I believe that this is the first time I have been able to do that since I left employment with Commercial Security Bank, 4 ½ years ago. Work went well today. Mae and RaNae went to M.I.A. this evening. Richard and I stayed home and tended all the children. I was able to work on the car and repair the back window so that it now works properly.
Thursday, May 4, 1972
This morning I needed to go to San Francisco on business. When I fly on Air West Airlines, it takes me most of the day, because of flight connections, to get there. I then have to stay overnight to finish my work. Last week I checked with other Airline’s and found that for $16.00 (Air Line Employee cost), TWA has a nonstop flight that leaves Phoenix about 7AM. That would put me in our San Francisco office with plenty of time to get my work done and instead of having to stay overnight in a hotel; I could catch an afternoon flight on Air West and be home for the evening. I had presented the idea to Ron a few days ago and he approved it. I, therefore, had the secretary make those reservations for me. Having flown quite a few times since being with Air West, I have become familiar with the flight patterns. However, this morning, after takeoff and the plane had reached the first climb level and the stewards had started serving breakfast, I noticed that the stewards started picking up any empty cups and wrappers and seemed to be encouraging everyone to finish eating. Also the plane leveled off to a no climb position. Then the captain came over the speakers and asked all passengers to please help the stewards to finish up with breakfast as quickly as possible. This was very unusual. Within just a few more minutes the captain again came over the speaker and said, “I would like to inform you that shortly after we left the Phoenix airport. A male person called the TWA office and said, “you had better get the TWA Airliner that just left the Phoenix airport back on the ground, as there is a bomb on that plane.” The caption then continued to explain that there was a problem as the person did not say which plane and there were three planes that took off within five minutes of each other. Therefore all three planes were to land at the closest airport that could be available. Our destination would be the LA Airport. That announcement caused some tension on the plane with the passengers. One lady that was sitting near to me exclaimed, “Oh no, this is the third time I have done this since getting on my flight with TWA in London.” Anyway the plane remained at the low altitude but moved up to normal traveling speed. As we came closer to LA the plane did not go into the standard flight pattern, nor did it decrease in speed until just as the plane wheels touched the runway, then all breaking systems were applied and as soon as the plane slowed enough to turn, the pilot pulled the plane off the runway, completely away from any buildings or other planes. As the plane completely stopped a truck with stairs pulled up to the plane. However the stairs were pulled to the galley door and had to be backed up and brought around to the opposite side to the front passenger side. We were instructed not to take anything, including personal items off the plane but were instructed, starting with the front passengers, to move off the plane as quickly as possible. We were then lead to a terminal that was completely off by itself. I noticed that as we proceeded to the terminal that plain clothed F.B.I. persons moved into the line as though they were regular passengers. As we entered the terminal they were making notes, of anyone that used a telephone or who was visiting with someone else. I also noticed an older coupler that had become quite excited from the first announcement of the bomb scare. A shuttle car came within a few minutes and picked that couple up and took them away. I later found out that this couple was flying to San Francisco because they had a grandson in a San Francisco hospital that was dying and they were trying to get there before he passed away. We were at that terminal for quite a while. Finally, person by person was called up. We went out and identified any carry on item that belonged to us and then we were taken to where the entire checked luggage was stacked. We picked up out luggage and took it to a table some distance from anything else except an armed guard. He then instructed us to place one piece of luggage at a time, put it on a table and open it up. We were then to remove all contents, one item at a time and let the guard examine the item. After all items had been removed from the luggage, the guard then searched completely through the piece of luggage. We then put all items back into that piece of luggage, moved the luggage to the side and then proceed to our next piece until all our luggage had been cleared. We then had to wait for everyone else to be cleared before they put us on another airplane and flew us to San Francisco. All in all it was 4PM before I made it to the office and so I had to spend the night in a hotel.
Friday, May 5, 1072
I completed my work in San Francisco and flew back to Phoenix, getting there at 4:30PM. Mae and I went to the Temple this evening. After the session we just walked around the Temple and through the Visitors Center. We met a Brother Murdock, a night watchman, and after visiting for a few minutes he sang some hymns for us. He has a beautiful tenor voice and sings very well.
Saturday, May 6, 1972
I went to work at Willis’s this morning. Mae needed the car so she took me to work. Mae came up at 6:30PM to get me from work. We stopped at Larry’s and they invited us to stay and eat dinner with them. Mae drove home and got me a change of clothes and the children. We enjoyed the evening and didn’t leave for home until about 10PM.
Sunday, May 7, 1972
Today was a very busy day at the Bishop’s office for me. I did get a lot accomplished. Larry and Tammy came over this evening. We visited and played a game of Rook.
Monday, May 8, 1972
I worked at Willie’s this morning, starting work at 5am. I worked for 2 hours and then went home. I showered and cleaned up before going to work at Air West. When I got home this evening we ate dinner and then weld Family Home Evening. That went fairly well but I think we need to do more planning and preparation for our Family Home Evening’s. Much of that should be my responsibility.
Tuesday, May 9, 1972
This morning I worked at Willie’s from 5AM to 7:30AM. I then hurried to go into work at Hugh Air West. I had Bishopric meeting to attend this evening. I got home about 11PM. I sure have a wonderful wife that supports and encourages me in my responsibilities.
Wednesday, May 10, 1972
I went to work at Willie’s at 5AM for a couple of hours, before going into work at Air West. At 2PM Ron Shumway and I flew to San Francisco. When we got there I was able to do some work. This evening Ron took me sightseeing. Ron took me to a street in which I think is the center to Hell. It was one bar after another, all advertising nude dancers, and prostitutes everywhere. Ron parked the car and we got out and walked down the street. I noticed a couple walking with arms around each other in front of us. The woman was dressed in a bright, tight fitting, red dress. When they stopped at a street corner waiting for the light to change, we caught up to them. The gal had a very deep male base voice. My mouth dropped. I felt very uncomfortable in that area and was glad when we left. From there Ron had me drive the car with him giving directions. We went up a very steep hill that dead ended. I had to back around and that was very scary as it felt that the car would roll over as it turned sideways. We then went out to eat at a restraint on the Warf. That was good but all in all I was glad to get back to our hotel.
Thursday, May 11, 1972
I flew out of San Francisco at 8AM on Air West, getting to Phoenix at 10:30AM. Mae met me at the Phoenix Airport. After getting home I went to a Doctor’s office where I cut two doors of so they cleared the carpeting that had installed. I charged him $19.00 for the few minutes it took me. When I got back home I took the children shopping to buy gifts for Mother’s Day. Mae and I then went shopping and out to dinner. This evening we went to a school meeting for parents.
Friday, May 12, 1972
I left work at noon, so Mike and I could go camping with Larry Braithwaite and his son Lonie and Ron Shumway and his son Tod. We left Larry’s about 2:30PM getting to Big Lake in the White Mountains of east Arizona. We got there about 7PM and set up our camp sight. We slept out under the stars, a first for Mike. It was on the cold side but all in all we slept well.
Saturday, May 13, 1972
We got up about 5AM, prepared and ate breakfast and then went fishing on the lake. We fished there until 9:30AM and then came back to camp. We cleaned up our camp sight and then left for home. We stopped and fished several creeks on the way but didn’t catch any more fish. It was about 6:30PM when we got home. We were tired but it was a good trip.
Sunday, May 14, 1972
I went to meetings this morning and then came home and got my family for Sunday school. They had a good Mothers Day program for Sunday school. When we came back home, Sandy and I prepared dinner. After dinner we also cleaned up and did the dishes. Sandy sang in the Sunday school program. She also had a part in the Sacrament meeting program. Mae and I attended a Indian meeting this evening.
Monday, May 15, 1972
I went to work at Willis’s for two hours before going in to work at Air West. Work went well today. I was relisted from the responsibility of the Honeywell system today. That has really been a bad system. Ron has been working with Honeywell and had convinced then that the technical problems we are having with that system, was a mechanical problem. In reality we are quite sure that it is a programming but Ron figured that if he convinced them that it was mechanical, that they would have to show us that it was a program problem. Well he just got them convinced and as they started working on the computer, the original programmer that had been responsible for the system saw them. He asked the technicians what they were doing and when they told him, he said, “Oh no! He know that it was a programming error.” Well! They immediately picked up and left. I have never seen Ron so mad at anyone before. I don’t know who or how the problems will get solved, but at least I don’t have to worry about it anymore. Tonight for Family Home Evening the entire family camped out in the back yard. We sure had fun.
Tuesday, May 16, 1972
I didn’t feel well when I got home from work this afternoon. I was very tired so I went to bed at 8PM.
Wednesday, May 17, 1972
All of our children have came down with what someone, I don’t remember who it was, told us that it was “Infantigo” and the cure for it was to put Calamine lotion on each spot. The spots looked like a small boil that breaks and runs. We were told to bathe each child, then apply the lotion to each and every spot, night and morning.
Thursday, May 18, 1972
Mae took the children into the Doctor this morning. After examining the children he said that the spots looked like an insect bite. She told him that we had slept outside Monday evening as a family, but that neither she nor I had any bites. The only explanation was that the children slept on the ground in a blanket bed and Mae and I had slept on our mattress. But he was sure that the spots would clear up in a couple of days. This evening Sandy had a music concert at school. I stayed home with Shellie, Mike and David while Mae went with Sandy.
Friday, May 19, 1972
This evening Mae and I went to the Temple. We enjoyed a very nice session and after we left the Temple, we took Brother and Sister Rowley with us to get ice cream cones. Mae and I were up quite late just talking. Mae is a very special wife and sweetheart.
Saturday, May 20, 1972
I worked at Willie’s today, putting in 10 ½ hours. When I got home, I took all my family to a Drive-in movie. It was a fair show and we all enjoyed it.
Sunday, May 21, 1972
This morning I attended Priesthood meeting but then I got such a bad headache that I went home and went to sleep. We attended Sacrament meeting as a family and then I stayed for a Ward Finance meeting. Our Ward is behind in bills some 8 to 9 thousand dollars. When I got home I helped Mae pack for a trip to Washing DC. I have a business meeting to attend there Tuesday morning as a reprehensive for Hugh Air West Airline. I had made arrangement through Ron Shumway to take Mae with me. We had to pay her Airline ticket, but as an Airline employee, that was only $16.00; and Mae’s meals. The rest of the trip was on my expenses account.
Monday, May 22, 1972
Mae had made arrangements with Marilyn Allen to tend our children. We took them to her home at 7:30 AM. We then left for the Airport. We parked the car at my office and took a shuttle to the terminal. I had a little trouble getting tickets for Mae as the secretary at the office had misunderstood that I was taking my wife with me. We had a wonderful flight to Washing DC. It was such an enjoyable trip to have Mae with me. Before I had left the office Friday, Ron had told me that I needed to be very careful while in Washington. He said that during the day time we would be ok to use the public transportation but during the evening hours until mid-night that if we needed to go somewhere we were to take a taxi. He told me that after midnight we were to remain in our hotel room. I thought he was getting a little eccentric about it and didn’t really worry about it. Anyway, we arrived at DC at 5:30PM. We took a taxi from the Airport to the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Washington DC. We enjoyed walking around the Hotel. The interior design and architectural indicated that it was a very old building. While we were downstairs looking at the building I decided to find out where the address was that I need to go for the meeting tomorrow. I asked the lady at the registry desk and she said, “You are not going to leave the hotel tonight”. I told her that I wasn’t but just needed to know where the address was. She again said, “You are not going to leave the hotel tonight”. Again I assured her that I wasn’t going out tonight but that I needed to be at that address tomorrow at 9AM. With that assurance and a promise that I would not leave the Hotel until morning, she told me what bus I could get on, just out front of the hotel and it would take me 5 or 6 blocks to that address. I began to think more seriously about Ron’s advice. Anyway, we had a wonderful evening. It is great being with Mae.
Tuesday, May 23, 1972
We had breakfast in the hotel dining room and then I caught the city bus out front of the hotel. It let me off just across the street from the building that the meeting was to be held. When I got there several other people were starting to gather. At first we were just gathering in a lobby but finally they took us into a large conference room. There was quite a few as every Air Line in the U.S. was to have a representative at the meeting. By the time we got settled and the ones from the US Aviation Commission got there it was 9AM so they had us take a coffee break. They supplied coffee or orange juice and sweet rolls for everyone. Well it was almost 9:30AM before the meeting got started. Those in charge were vague as to what was to be reported. They seemed unorganized as to who was to give us direction and after stumbling around they finally opened it up to questions. Again they really didn’t have any concrete answers to the questions that were presented until everyone quit asking questions. One of the men finally asked if anyone else had a question for them. No one raised a hand so I finally raised my hand. When I was recognized I bluntly said, you haven’t been able to answer anyone’s questions yet so why should we ask any more? They admitted that they weren’t very well prepared for the meeting. They assured us that if we would all give them an address and a phone number where we could be contacted, they would get more information to us shortly. The meeting was then dismissed.
I was back to the hotel before noon. I found Mae in the back garden reading and preparing for her talk for Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. We got a quick lunch and then went down town Washington D.C. sightseeing. We had picked up a tourist guide pamphlet at the hotel. We took the bus to the White House, which wasn’t open to tourist. We walked the outside of the fence and then down the block. We continued down the street where we saw a art museum that was open. We went inside and looked around at various arts on display. The main thing I remembered about the museum was a large room that was empty except one large picture that took most of a wall. The picture was framed, all white background with one red spot, about the size of a baseball in the center of the picture. There was nothing else on the painting or in the room. From there we walked to the Lincoln Memorial, which we found very impressive and spent some time there. To stand at the entrance of the Memorial and look east, you see the Capital Building at the far end. About half way between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capital Building stands the Washington Monument. The landscape in that area is mainly beautiful well kept lawn with gardens and water ponds. The Washington Monument was constructed in 1848 to commerate the first American President, General George Washington. It is 555 ft tall. There is an elevator that will take you to the top on the monument where you can look out to see over the city. At that time they would let you ether ride the elevator back down or you could walk down the stairs. I convinced Mae that we should walk down the stairs, just to be able to say that we did. After all it was all down so that would be simple. Well I don’t know how many stairs there are but by the time we got to the bottom, we were tired. From there we walked south east to the Smithsonian Institute. By the time we got there it was 4:45PM. We just got inside the front door when they announced that closing time was 5PM so please exit the building. We then walked to the Capital Building but it too was now all locked up. After walking around the building we went to a bus stop on the north side. There we waited for quite a while for a bus. I finally decided to see if we could find a pay phone. Just then we saw a bus approaching and we were happy as it was getting late. When we got on and found that this bus would take us to our hotel, we set behind the driver. The bus stopped at several more stops where people got on the bus with none getting off. After a while, as the bus was about filled, Mae whispered to me, do you realize that besides the driver, you and I are the only white people on this bus. I told her that I had noticed that. When we finally got to our stop for our hotel, we were across the street from the hotel. Also, there were many people standing in groups around barrels with fires in them to give off warmth. When the bus stopped I took Mae by the hand and we ran across the street and into the hotel. It was a relief to feel safe. We sure enjoyed the experiences of the day.
Wednesday, May 24, 1972
We had to get up early this morning and get checked out. We took a taxi to the Airport where our flight left at 7:45AM. We arrived at Phoenix Arizona at 10:30AM. We took the shuttle over to the office. Mae took the car home where she spent the rest of the day preparing for a Laurel Bride Night to be held this evening. Ron gave me a ride home after work. I stayed home this evening with the children. Mae was at the activity until quite late. She told me that the evening went very well.
Thursday, May 25, 1972
After getting home from work, Mae had dinner ready. She then had a meeting to attend at the Ward Library. I took the children with me to Checker Auto Parts where I bought some oil and grease for the car. We then stopped for everyone to have some ice cream. When Mae got home, she and I went for a walk.
Friday, May 26, 1972
After work we took our family to the park where Tammy had invited other friends and their families for a Birthday party for Larry. We had a good time. This evening Mae went to a M.I.A. Young Wemon’s slumber party. I took care of our family.
Saturday, May 27, 1972
I worked at Willis’s 7 ½ hours today. I came home and ate dinner and then showered and changed clothes and went to a Stake Conference Leadership meeting.
Sunday, May 28, 1972
We attended a very enjoyable Stake Conference this morning. Elder Joseph Anderson, an assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was our visiting authority. Mae sang in the Stake Choir. Mike had an ear ache this afternoon so Sandi stayed home and tended him while the rest of us attended Sacrament meeting this evening.
Monday, May 29, 1972
I worked at Wilis’s for a while and then came home and changed the oil and greased our car. At 5:30PM we went over to Larry and Tammy’s. We ate dinner, visited and played Rook. Our children all seem to enjoy playing to gather. We got home about 11PM.
Tuesday, May 30, 1972
It was a busy day at work today. I had to get ready to go to San Francisco in the morning. I came home from work and ate dinner. I then went Home Teaching before going to Bishopric meeting. It was mid-night before I got back home.
Wednesday, May 31, 1972
We went into the Phoenix Airport to meet the flight from Salt Lake this morning. Mom Porter arrived on the 5AM flight. She came because Tommy Bushnell, the son of Van and Allison Bushnell died Monday morning after a long fight with Leukemia. I also flew to San Francisco this morning to have meetings about the Freight Cargo System. I believe the meetings were very beneficial. I didn’t get home until 7PM. Mae had M.I.A. to attend this evening. Mom Porter went with Uncle Van and Aunt Allison to Jeff Bushnell’s High School Graduation.
Thursday, June 1, 1972
The school year ended today for Sandy. She was able to tend our children for us as Mae and I attended the Viewing and Funeral Services for Tommy Bushnell. The services were well attended with many members of the ward, friends and family of Uncle Van and Aunt Allison. The services were also very appropriate for such a brave little boy. Mae and I attended classes of the Church Education Week, this afternoon and evening. We really enjoyed the classes we attended.
Friday, June 2, 1972
First thing this morning I went thru all the water taps in the house and ether replaced washers or replaced the complete water tap. This water here has so much mineral and chemicals in it that it is very hard on plumbing. Mae and I then attended Education Week classes the rest of the day. The classes were so excellent and educational. We were very impressed with all we learned. The only problem I had was the realization of my human weaknesses. I guess that is why we were sent here to this earth, that we might learn and develop Faith in Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Saturday, June 3, 1972
I feel that I have had some success with my Goals for today, but still have plenty of room for improvement. I built some shelves in the boy’s bedroom closet, before Mae and I left to attend more Education Week classes. Again the classes were very enjoyable and gave me many more good ideas. The cost and the time were sure well worth it, for all we have been taught.
Sunday, June 4, 1972
I tried making a written plan of my day, when I got up this morning. We were taught this in the classes that we took in Education Week. I felt like it really did help. Rhis evening Deloy and Lois Porer came over to visit and play some games.
Monday, June 5, 1972
I got up early this morning and went to work for Ken Groscost, he had talked with me a few days ago about helping him on the house is going to build. I told him that I would be glad to help him at home for no charge, but if I went on to the job sight I felt that I would have to charge him $10.00 per hour. He said that he had another person that said that he would only charge him $5.00 per hour. I told him that it was fine with me if the other person helped him, but to take the time away from my family, I just felt that my time should be worth the $10.00 per hour. I spent two hours this morning with my Transit, helping him lay out the corners where the footings were to be dug. I explained that he could now run a string from stake to stake and then he should drive a stake about every 8 to 10 feet along the string for the backhoe driver to follow. I gave him the corner elevations and told him that by using a straight 2 X 4 with a level on it he could drive each stake along the string level. He was concerned at the amount of time I was spending there this morning at $10.00 per hour. He felt that he could follow my instructions for there, so I left. I went home to change and then into work. When I got home Mae had a very nice dinner ready for us. We then held Family Home Evening and Mae had the lesson prepared. I was quite tired so went to bed early.
Tuesday, June 6, 1972
I flew to San Francisco this morning on business and didn’t get home until 7:30PM. I stopped at home just long enough to say Hi to my family and then went right up to the Bishops office, not getting home until 11PM. David didn’t sleep very well last night. We are not sure why but Mae and I were up several times during the night.
Wednesday, June 7, 1972
I got my Home Teaching report turned in this morning before I went to work. Mae had M.I.A. this evening so I stayed home with the children. I read a Bible story to the children and then put the little ones to bed. Sandy and I played a game of Jacks before she went to bed. I then read until Mae came home.
Thursday, June 8, 1972
After getting home from work and eating dinner Mae and I went grocery shopping. I then attended a special meeting at which all Priesthood holders were invited to attend. The meeting was called to discuss our Ward’s finance situation, which isn’t very good. The Bishopric recommended that we hold a special Dinner for all the adults in the Ward to attend and suggested that a donation of $100.00 per plate be given. All in attendance supported the Bishopric recommendation.
Friday, June 9, 1972
I didn’t feel that I had accomplished very many of my goals today. This evening Mae and I went over to Larry and Tammy’s just to visit.
Saturday, June 10, 1972
After breakfast I installed a new muffler and tail pipe on our car. I had just finished when I got a phone call from our Ward Elder’s Quorum President asking me if I could drive a pickup car to Anaheim California, to pickup several Brothers in our Ward that are driving Rental car to California for Avis Car Rental. The Elder’s are doing this as a fund raiser for the Quorum. I told him that I would have to quickly clean up and then I could leave. He told me that the others had already left in the rental cars and he also told me where to go to pick up a station wagon from Avis. When I got to Avis Car Rental, they had a new 1972 Plymouth Station Wagon all ready to go. I was told that some of the drivers had left as early as 12:15 PM. I figured that the others had at least an hour head start on me so I hurried. That car could go. In as much as I have never been to California I just followed the directions that Avis had given me. I am not sure where or when I passed the other drivers but when I got to Anaheim I passed the address and had to go around the block. Two cars pulled into the lot just ahead of me and the rest soon arrived. After checking the cars in at the Avis dealer, all the drivers got into the car with me. We left Anaheim in the late evening. I drove while the rest went to sleep.
Sunday, June 11, 1972
I didn’t drive quite so fast on the return trip home. We got to the Mesa Avis Rental at 4AM. I started with Bishopric meeting at 7:30 AM. The Stake Presidency called for a special meeting at 730 PM at which time the Lehi 1st Ward and the Lehi 2nd Ward were divided making a Lehi 3rd Ward. Carl Ries was called as Bishop of the 3rd Ward with Delbert Opie as 1st Counselor, Brother Tryon as 2nd Counselor, Brother Shield was called as the Ward Clerk and I was called as Executive Secretary.
I did not record the night that I was interviewed by the Stake President so I will add the event here. We were told last Sunday that there were plans to divide our Ward. I was asked to meet with the Stake President; I believe it was last Tuesday evening. When I was invited into the Stake Presidents office, not only was the Stake President there but Carl Ries was also there. Carl has been our 70’s Quorum President in the Lehi 2nd Ward. After being invited to set down, the Stake President informed me that on Sunday a new Ward would be formed. He said that Carl Ries has been called to serve as Bishop of the new Ward. He then asked me if I could sustain Carl in that calling. I told him that I could. He then said that Bishop Ries had requested that I serve as his Executive Secretary and asked if I could except that calling. I told him that I would. He then turned to Carl Ries and asked him if he had any requests of his new Executive Secretary, to which Bishop Ries said: “I want you to keep that note book”.
When I had been called to serve as Executive Secretary in the Lehi 2nd Ward, I soon found out that I really didn’t have anything to do, unless the Bishop gave me an assignment. We would hold our leadership meetings each Sunday. After a few minutes of comments and assignments by the Bishop, the time would be turned over to one of the organizational leader for their input. Each organization would take their turn for any comments. That process would continue around the room until it would reach me. Usually the Bishop would fall asleep within the first couple of reports and the First Counselor would finish the meeting. Some assignments might be given but most of the time there was never any follow up reported. When it got to be my turn, I had not been given an assignment, therefore, I had nothing to report. Prayer would be given and the meeting adjourned for that week. After the third such meeting I decided that I should be doing something, so for the next meeting I carried a note book with me. I would enter the name of the meeting and the date. I would then make an entry for each assignment that was made. The next week when it came my turn I read the assignment, the date made, and to whom the assignment was given. The first time I did this, I read that last week the High Priests were assigned to visit a certain family and then asked if that assignment had been completed. The High Priest Group leader reported that he had forgotten and didn’t make the visit. I then read that the Elders Quorum president had been assigned to visit a new Family that had moved into our Ward. He reported that he had gone by but did not make contact as the family was away. I said that was all I had to report and the meeting was closed and we adjourned. The next week when it was my turn I again brought up the assignments from the two previous weeks. When I asked the High Group Leader about the assignment he had been given two weeks ago and hadn’t completed last week, he turned to the Elders Quorum President and asked if he had a pencil and paper so he could make a note, as that guy really expects us to do those assignments. That type of report continued until the assignment had been completed or the Bishopric canceled the assignment. We had one assignment that was given to the Relief Society President that remained on the book for over a year. It was not necessarily her fault but never-the-less it had not been completed, so it remained in the book and was asked for a report each week. It got so that prior to the start of the meeting, the Relief Society President would speak to me privately and report that it had not been completed, so please don’t read it in the meeting today. When it finally did get completed she was so happy to report that the assignment had been completed. It was surprising what that type of reporting did for our Ward.
Monday, June 12, 1972
This evening we held Family Home Evening. After getting the children down for the night, Mae packed clothes for her and the children to go to Utah tomorrow. I got a call from work and had to go in to solve a problem. By the time I got back home, it was almost mid-night before we got to bed.
Tuesday, June 13, 1972
I took Mae and the children into the Phoenix Airport so they could catch the 7AM flight to Salt Lake. I went from there to the office. Work got hectic today and as the day went on things got worse. I felt that Satan was right with me. This evening I attended the Mesa Temple that I might rid myself of the feelings that I have felt today.
Wednesday, June 14, 1972
After work I went to a Mrs. Bell and gave her a bid on some work she would like me to do for her this Saturday. I then went up to the church house and worked on membership records and other supplies. I didn’t get home until mid-night.
Thursday, June 15, 1972
Ron Shumway and I did some work for Larry this morning from 5AM until 9AM. We then went to work at Hugh’s Air West. After getting home this afternoon I laid down for a nap and slept until 8:45PM. I went up to the church and worked on records until 11:30PM. I really don’t like being home alone.
Friday, June 16, 1972
Before going to work this morning I gave Mae a call to see how they are doing and too let her know how much I missed her and the children. I had some problems at work today and didn’t get off work until after 5:30PM. I was still able to get to the Temple. Our Ward attended as a Temple Day. Following the Temple attendance several of our ward went to the Brother and Sister Opie’s for dinner. I attended and enjoyed it but missed not having Mae with me.
Saturday, June 17, 1972
I was able to get the job done for Mrs. Bell this morning. I made $49.00 after expenses so that will help. I then went home and cleaned up the house before flying up to Utah. Mae, Bob, Carroll, Irven and Sandy met me at the Salt Lake Airport. We then went out to a Chinese Restraint for dinner and a good visit. It was almost 1:30AM before we got back to Mom and Dad Porters and got to bed.
Sunday, June 18, 1972
We attended Priesthood meeting and Sunday school with Mom and Dad Porter this morning. Mom Porter had a very nice dinner when we got home from Sunday school. Bryce and Deanna and Jean came out for dinner also. This evening we attended Sacrament meeting at the Clearfield 1st Ward. It was sure good to see so many of those we grow to love while we lived here. This evening Irven, Sandy, Mae and I went over to Bryce and Deanna’s.
Monday, June 19, 1972
Mae and I left for Salt Lake at 7AM. Mom P. agreed to tend our children for us. I had an appointment with Dr. Stutsnigger to have my teeth checked. After that we went to the Salt Lake Temple and attended a session there. We went through the Visitors Center while we were there. We then went out to eat at Harmon’s on North Temple. We have many memories of that restraint when we were dating but it is not as nice as it was then. This afternoon I went over and visited with Bob and Carroll. They are much happier now they have moved back up to Utah. At 9:20PM I with all my family flew back to Phoenix together.
Tuesday, June 20, 1972
After I got home from work, we took all the family swimming. I then went up to the office at the church and worked on supplies. Mae spent the evening getting things ready for Shellie’s Birthday Party tomorrow. We were late getting to bed.
Wednesday, June 21, 1972
Mae had a nice Birthday Party for Shellie today and Shellie seemed to have a very fun day. It rained this evening so we didn’t go swimming as we had planned. Mae received a call to be 2nd counselor in the Ward Primary Presidency this evening. I am not sure why but for some reason I feel just a little funny about that calling.
Thursday, June 22, 1972
The rain continued all night and through the morning. It has caused a lot of flooding in the area. The rain stopped this afternoon and it turned off quite nice. After I got home from work we all went swimming. I went Home Teaching after eating dinner. When I got home Mae and I went for a ride. Mae sure is a wonderful wife and sweetheart.
Friday, June 23, 1972
When I got home from work we took our family swimming again. Larry and Tamy and their family also joined us. Mae had bought a family summer pass to the swimming pool at the Junior High School that is not very far from us. It sure makes it nice to be able to use it whenever we like. Larry and Tammy’s family also joined us at the pool. After swimming we all went to Larry and Tammy’s for dinner. We stayed late mainly just visiting and the children playing.
Saturday, June 24, 1972
I worked at Willis’s today installing cabinets. We attended the Ward Banquet this evening. The dinner raised about $7,500 for the budget and operating fund. After getting the children down we left Sandy to tend them while Mae and I went over to visit the Porters. We are enjoying our relationship with DeLoy and Lois.
Sunday, June 25, 1972
Because we were in Utah last Sunday, this morning is the first time we met as the Lehi 3rd Ward. Meeting went very well and it is sure surprising how many new faces there are out to meetings. One can sure see the need to divide the Wards when they get large. The division gives so many more opportunity’s to participate in the program. We are looking at a small economy car to purchase. This evening we drove it over to visit with Uncle Van and Aunt Allison and their family for a little while.
Monday, June 26, 1972
Work went fairly well today but I was sure tired when I got home. I stopped and looked at a couple of used cars on the way home. Mae sure had a nice dinner prepared when I got home. We enjoyed a nice Family Home Evening after eating and cleaning up the dishes. We spent the rest of the evening just playing with our children.
Tuesday, June 27, 1972
After getting home from work, I took some Shakly vitamins over to Larry. He has been sick for a while and we hope these will help him get to feeling better. I also started taking them myself as I don’t want to catch whatever is going around. This evening I was set apart as Executive Secretary by Bishop by Bishop Ries. I then spent some time at the Bishops helping get things organized.
Wednesday, June 28, 1972
I left work a little early this afternoon so I could stop and pickup some parts for the car. When I got home we all went swimming. We had to come home in time for Mae to attend M.I.A. I worked on the car getting it running pretty well. I mainly changed the plugs and points.
Thursday, June 29, 1972
After work this evening I tended the children as Mae went up to the church to help put make up on the youth for a Road Show. When she finished with that she attended a Primary Leadership meeting. I changed the oil and filter in the car. I also wrote Mom and Dad Jensen a letter.
Friday, June 30, 1972
After I got home from work this evening, Mae and I went to the Temple. When we got home from there, I figured our budget. It really doesn’t look very good but somehow we will get through this.
Saturday, July 1, 1972
This morning the DeLoy Porter family invited us to go with them tubing down the Salt River. This is a great sport with many in this area. We saw several that were diving off high cliffs into the water below. Many groups would tie their tubs together and have a party as they floated. Often there would be coolers tied into the center of the groups filled with everything from pop to beer and liquor. We had a very enjoyable time but we did come home with some Arizona sub burn. After getting home I went back into work for a while.
Sunday, July 2, 1972
I started early with Bishopric meeting and with other meetings and working in the office, I was at the Church all morning. Mae had dinner ready when I got home and after dinner we put the children down for a nap and then Mae and I joined them. This evening Larry and Tammy stopped in for a visit. Before going to sleep this evening Mae and I visited with each other quite late.
Monday, July 3, 1972
After I got home from work and we had dinner, we then enjoyed a nice Family Home evening. Mae and I set up and read for a little while. We then drove over to Kent Marsden’s and paid him $235.00 for a 1965 Ford Taunus. (It is interesting that neither Mae nor I remember this car.) On the way back home we stopped at a post office and bought some stamps and then at a store for milk.
Tuesday, July 4, 1972
We took all our family to the church at 6AM for a Flag Raising ceremony followed by a breakfast. I had some work that I needed to do at my office so after eating I went into work. Sandy wanted to go with me so I took her. I showed her around the computer area and the offices, then we also went into the aircraft maintenance area. This evening when I went to bed I wasn’t feeling the best.
Wednesday, July 5, 1972
I woke at 4AM quite sick. I stayed home and slept most of the day. This evening we did take our family to see the Road Shows, held in the Recreation Hall at our Ward building.
Thursday, July 6, 1972
I worked late today and when I got home Mae and the children had gone up to the church house to watch and enjoy the Road Shows. When she got home and we got the children down to sleep, she and I sat and talked for a while. I then went up to the church office and did some work on Home teaching. It was almost mid-night when I got home. Mae and I again set up and talked for about another hour before we went to bed.
Friday, July 7, 1972
After getting home from work and having dinner, I worked outside and repaired the lawnmower. This evening Mae and I vacuumed and shampooed the carpet.
Saturday, July 8, 1972
I got out and mowed the lawns while Mae prepared breakfast. We then took the children tubbing down the Salt River. After returning home I tended the little children while Mae and Sandy went shopping. This evening Mae and I went out to eat.
Sunday, July 9, 1972
I spent most of the day at the office at Church. This evening Mae and I went over to the Porter’s where we played Rook with DeLoy and Lois.
Monday, July 10, 1972
When I got home from work this evening Mae had a nice dinner ready. We then took our family and went to the Arizona State University Experimental Farm. It is just south of our place to Baseline Drive and then West into Tempe a couple of blocks to the farm. Uncle Van was the one that told us of the farm. It was a very enjoyable experience for all of us. We stopped on the way home and bought everyone ice cream. After getting home, Ken Groscost called and came over to visit with me. They are going to build themselves a new home east of Mesa. He had some questions and also wanted to know if he needed some help building the home if I would be willing to help. I told him I could help with plans and advice at home almost any time, and I could do some evening and Saturday work. He asked what I would charge for that help. I told him that work at home I would not charge him anything, but I felt that I would need to get paid for time away from my family and for that time I would charge $10 an hour. He hesitated and then said that he had another fellow that would help for $5 an hour. I told him that it was fine to have the other fellow help him but I felt that my time from my family should be worth the $10.
Tuesday, July 11, 1972
I worked 2 hours this morning for Ken before going to work at Air West and then another 2 hours this evening. Using my transit, we got his house laid out on his property. I also told him how to stake the footing lay out for the backhoe operator to dig the footings and then how to set the grade stakes to know the elevation of the concrete when he poured the footings. David has quite a bad cold today and Mae also isn’t feeling very well.
Wednesday, July 12, 1972
Mae had MIA this evening so we had Sandy tend the children and I took Mae to the church. I stayed at the office and took care of some paper work.
Thursday, July 13, 1972
After dinner this evening all our family went over to Jerry Hanselman’s. Jerry had invited us over to watch some of his movies. It was a very enjoyable evening and Jerry is a great host. He had pop corn and ice cream refreshments. The children really enjoyed being with him.
Friday, July 14, 1972
I got some of our camping gear packed in the car this morning before going to work. I caught a ride with Ron Shumway to work. Mae finished packing the car and the children and met me after work. We left from there to go camping at Oak Canyon. Someone at work had suggested that Oak Canyon was a good camping area. It was a lot greater distant to travel than I had thought, plus in the Arizona heat and a station wagon without air-conditioning, along with three tired, hot children it seemed forever. When we got to the canyon we found that everyone else had got there ahead of us. We traveled from the bottom entrance on the South to the upper exit on the North without finding even enough room to pull a car off the road even if it were an emergency and we were in a long line of traffic going both ways that we also looking for some place to stop. It was mid-night by the time we got to the south side of Flagstaff. We turned South on the freeway going back to Phoenix where we found a rest area. Mae and the kids slept in the station wagon and I slept on a sleeping bag beside the car.
Saturday, July 15, 1972
We woke early and to a beautiful morning. We prepared a nice breakfast using the tailgate of the station wagon for a table. After eating we tried to find a stream to go fishing. We ended up back at Oak Canyon but just drove through the canyon and then on home. The canyon was still packed. This evening Mae and I attended a High Priest social.
Sunday, July 16, 1972
I was busy at the Church most of the day. This evening, Mae and I took our children and went up to the park to relax and let the children run and play.
Monday, July 17, 1972
I was called into work early due to some problems with the Freight Cargo system. Later this afternoon more problem arose with the system and I ended up working until 10PM. The Freight Cargo System is a very poorly designed system and I have recommended that it needs to be totally rewritten. Ron just tells me that there are so many systems that are waiting to be written that he cannot allot any time to rewrite a system that is working, no matter how badly it works. Mae and the children had to have Family Home Evening without me.
Tuesday, July 16, 1972
I went to work for Larry right after I finished at Airwest. We worked until after midnight. When I got home I found out that there was some problems at Airwest so I went back in.
Wednesday, July 19, 1972
This evening Mae went to M.I.A. and I went to Bishopric meeting. The M.I.A. had a water fight as a closing social. As a Bishopric we went over to see how the social was going. We ended up getting involved with the social and got wet also.
Thursday, July 20, 1972
I flew to San Francisco this morning for a business meeting. I got back home about 7pm. I felt that I had accomplished quite a bit while at the head quarters today, but was sure tired when I got home.
Friday, July 21, 1972
I slept in and went into work a couple of hours late. When I got home this evening, Mae and I went grocery shopping. Brother and Sister Allen brought their children over this evening. Mae is going to tend their children for a couple of days, while they take a week end trip.
Saturday, July 22, 1972
I went to work for Larry this morning and worked late getting home about 5PM. Mae has had quite a busy day with the addition of the Allen’s children. We watched TV this evening. Althouge Mae was tired she sure is a wonderful wife and sweetheart to me.
Sunday, July 23, 1972
I was up to the Church most of the day but only attended the opening of Priesthood. The rest of the time I was in the office working on records. I came home for dinner and stayed this evening with the children so that Mae and Sandy could attend Sacrament meeting.
Monday, July 24, 1972
Mae went shopping for school clothes today. She also looked for a Colman camp stove. Ron Shumway and I worked for Larry this evening. Mae took Shellie into the Doctor. She may have a bladder infection.
Tuesday, July 25, 1972
I went Home Teaching this evening. I then went up to the Bishops office where I joined the Bishopric in an Oral Evaluation with the Stake President.
Wednesday, July 26, 1972
I took off work at Air West so that I could pick up some materials to build a case that would hold all our camping equipment. This evening I attended Bishopric’s meeting. I worked on the camping case after getting home and worked on it until after mid-night.
Thursday, July 27, 1972
After work Ron and I went out a job for Larry. We worked for 5 hours.
Friday, July 28, 1972
This evening after getting home from work and having dinner, Larry and Tammy invited us to go to a movie with them. We saw the show, “What’s up Doc”. We really enjoyed the show and evening.
Saturday, July 29, 1972
Ron, Larry and I went to work, for Larry, at 5am and worked until 12:30 pm. When I got home, being quite tired, I lay down for a nap for a couple of hours. When I woke up I worked on the camping case until mid-night.
Sunday, July 30, 1972
We weren’t quite so busy at church today. Georgia arrived here at 9:30AM and will stay with us for about 10 days. We are excited to have her come and visit with us. This evening Georgia went to a Young Adult Fireside. We had also invited DeLoy and Lois Porter to come over and play Rook with us.
Monday, July 31, 1972
After getting home for work and having dinner, I went to work for Larry for a couple of hours.
Tuesday, August 1, 1972
Before going into work this morning I worked 1 ½ hours for Larry. This evening I went up to the church for a while. Mae sure is a wonderful in her support in the things I do. I am concerned that I am not spending enough time with her.
Wednesday, August 2, 1972
I went into work early this morning. After work I went up to Lynn Johnson for a treatment. I don’t remember how Mae became acquainted with Lynn but he reads your eyes and worked on your feet. The one problem I find in him is he starts talking and his hands stop working, but the clock doesn’t stop. (This next entrance I do not understand what I meant when I wrote this next sentence.) Mae hurt her back while tubing on the river today.
Thursday, August 3, 1972
I went into work early this morning. Scott Fry had me come into his office before I left for the day. He gave me a work evaluation and said that they were very pleased with my work and he had been given permission to advance me to a Senior Programmer and of course it also means an increase in salary. I worked for Larry for a while this evening. Mae, Georgia and the children went to “The Big Surf” in Phoenix today and had a good time.
Friday, August 4, 1972
I stayed home this evening and it seems very good. I worked for a while on my camping box. Hal and Mollie Ashcroft stopped by, just to visit. It was good to visit with them again. Mae and I stayed up and just visited for a while after getting everyone else to bed.
Saturday, August 5, 1972
I went into work for a little while this morning, as I wanted to get some computer time for some programming testing. I took Shellie with me, as she wanted to be with her Dad and see where I worked. After returning home, I went to the European Health Spa, where I joined the program. I am getting a little over weight and with my job I get very little work out. I set at a desk most of the time. This evening Mae, Georgia and I went out to eat dinner. After dinner, Bob Burk joined us at a drive in movie. We had been there very long when it started raining hard. We finally gave up on the show and came home where we played Rook.
Sunday, August 6, 1972
It was a long day at church today. I started at 6am and didn’t get home until 6pm. This evening Mae and I went to a neighborhood surprise wedding reception party for Donna and Mike (I didn’t put the sir name in). It was a swimming party at a privet pool. This is the first time I have every gone swimming on Sunday.
Monday, August 7, 1972
After dinner, for Family Home Evening, we took all our family to the movies. It was a double feature, “Bed Knobs and Broom Sticks” and “In Search of the Castaways”. We were late getting home and after min-night getting to bed.
Tuesday, August 8, 1972
I went into work early this morning and so left a little early this afternoon. I went to the Health Spaw and worked out. That sure felt good. Mae and my children went with Tammy and her children to Cannon Lake, swimming today. They all had fun but all of them came home with sun burns.
Wednesday, August 9, 1972
I went into work this morning at 4AM so that I could get some test time on the computer. It was 3:30PM when I returned home. Having a little time I worked on the camping box that I am making. I was able to get it finished. This box is made out of 1/4th inch plywood with compartments just the size to hold each of our major camping items, a Coleman two burner stove, a grill, two camp cots, a gallon coffee pot to heat water in and eating and cooking utensils. Fully packed this box weighs 91lb. As an airline employee, I am able to ship a package air freight that weighs less than 100lb, free to anywhere that Hugh Air West has a terminal.
Thursday, August 10, 1972
I went to work again at 3:30AM but this time I came home at 10:30AM. I stopped at the Hugh Air West ticket office and shipped our camping box to myself at the Idaho Falls ticket office. As an employee of the airline I can ship from one terminal to another terminal a package that weights less than 100 lb., free of charge. The camping equipment box that I built, when completely packed weight 99LB. I slept for a couple of hours and then went into the Health Spa where I worked out for. Mae and I spent the evening packing for our family to go on a vacation. I did take time to visit a couple of my assigned Home Teaching Families.
Friday, August 11, 1972
All of our family, including Georgia, flew to Salt Lake, leaving Phoenix at 7AM. Mom and Dad Porter were at the Salt Lake airport to get Georgia. The rest of us made flight connections to continue to Boise. There we had to wait 5 hours before continuing on the next flight to Idaho Falls. Mom and Dad picked us up at the airport and we also got the camping box that was waiting for us. Roy, Linda and their family were already at Mom and Dad Jensen’s. It was sure a nice evening being with my family.
Saturday, August 12, 1972
This morning we drove to Pocatello where we attended a Charles Browning reunion. It was held at Rich and Lois home. All of Dad Browning’s living children and most of his Grand Children were in attendance. We had a very nice time. Before leaving Pocatello we went up to Uncle Irven and Aunt Bernice’s and visited with them.
Sunday, August 13, 1972
This morning Roy and Linda left to go home to Fresno California. We attended Sunday school with Mom and Dad Jensen. When we returned home Mom made us breakfast of biscuits, gravy and corn on the cob. The corn came from Dad’s garden. I had a very enjoyable time visiting with Irven and Dad Jensen. Irven and Sandy left before Sacrament meeting but the rest of us attended with Mom and Dad. It rained this afternoon so this evening I caught some worms for tomorrow.
 This evening Mom and I went fishing at the falls but we didn’t have any luck. After dark this evening Mom helped me catch worms.
Tuesday, August 15, 1972
After breakfast Mom drove my family to the Teton Valley where we went to the Lone Stare campground. We set up our tent and camp. Mom and I then went out fishing.  Dad Jensen made a big change in her attitude about fishing. When I asked her about it, she said that one day Dad wanted to go fishing so she went with him. While he fished, she set in a lawn chair reading a book. Dad started catching quite a few nice fish, so she walked over and watched him. As he was bringing one fish in, Dad asked her to take the pole and real the fish in? She did and it was quite a thrill. After removing the fish from the hook and re-baiting, he then cast out and caught another and again had mom real it in. Next he showed her how to cast and she caught a fish. He then set her up with her own pole and he baited the hook for her. She again caught a fish and brought it in but Dad removed the fish from the hook and re-baited. After a little while of that, with mom catching all the fish and he removing the hook and putting the bait on, he finally said to her “Hay lady, if you want to fish, go right ahead but I am going over here to fish. You can fish where you want.” She decided that if she was to fish she needed to bait and remove her own hook. While mom and I were fishing, between the two of us we had 19 pan size fish. It was a lot of fun. When we returned to camp Mae had dinner ready. Mae told us that the ranger had came by and told her that there was a sow bear and her three cubs in the area. They had been going through several camps, so we should keep all food items stored in the car. He also said that they had traps out for them and would keep us informed. The problem we had was mom was going back home after dinner and we wouldn’t have a car. I roped a small pine tree and bent it down, then put all our food items in a burlap sack, tied it to the top of the tree and let the tree swing back up. We were a little nerve through the night but weren’t bothered by the bears.
Wednesday, August 16, 1972