****Walt & Eileen Petersen**: Traces of Time . . . July 8-14, 2024

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Traces of Time . . . July 8-14, 2024

TRACES OF TIME . . . {Last week: Scroll to end and click "Older Posts" at bottom right.} "Time moves slowly, but passes quickly. The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, 1982

"The magical, supernatural force
that is with us every second is time.
We can't even comprehend it.
It's such an illusion,
it's such a strange thing."
— Anthony Hopkins
Note from Eileen: You will notice I call my blog: "Traces of Time..."
On this blog I share with family and friends my daily thoughts, doings, what interests me, and--at times--tributes to my eternal sweetheart, Walt, who graduated to heaven on 8-21-2020.

Dedicated to our seven children--Janie, Gary, Steve, David, Julie, Brian, Jen, their spouses, our 39 grandchildren, 10 spouses of g-c, 7 great-grandchildren {one due in December}, for a posterity of 70.
THIS WEEK
JULY 8-14, 2024
MONDAY, JULY 8, 2024
Family is Everything...
Sunrise: 6:05 a.m. Sunset: 8:59 p.m.
Monday...
Last week to compare...
from -- SATURDAY,  JULY 6, 2024
Family is Everything...
Janice called me with
the sad news that our
Aunt Eleanor Huffaker Harmon
passed away early this morning.
The funeral will be
Saturday, July 13.
Our cousin, Barbara, will send
the time and other details
as they are finalized.
Gary said he would drive
Janice and me to Boise
for her funeral.

Here's a Huffaker family
gathering in May 1973 at
Grampa & Grama Huffaker's
home in Wendell, Idaho
for their 60th Wedding Anniversary

Back to the 1930's...
Grampa & Grama Huffaker in 1935
at age 44.

July 1938 - McBurney farm was sagebrush land when Dave could
finally afford to buy his own farm.
Dave and Ella each age 47.
Don, age 9, Eleanor age 8.
About 1944 - on McBurney Country farm

Dave & Ella on farm with
their kids at the end of
World War II - Sept 1945
Lucy by GG's farm home--
winter 1948-49
Lucy and Eileen by our home on hill,
1/2 mile from GG Huffaker--
Winter 1948-49
Lucy left us way too young at
the age of 36 after a
short bout of cancer.
GG built home in town about 1955...
In the 1950s
Family gathers May 1963 for
50th Wedding Anniversary
{Walt and I were in St. Louis, he graduated
June 10 from medical school. Our first baby
was born June 24. So we couldn't be in Idaho
for the milestone Dave & Ella family celebration.}

*****

Here is Eleanor's Obituary...

Eleanor Harmon

https://zeyerfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/eleanor-harmon

Eleanor Louise Huffaker Harmon passed from this life into her heavenly home on Saturday, July 6, 2024, after living with Alzheimer's for several years.

Eleanor was born on March 30, 1930, in Wendell, Idaho to David and Ella Huffaker, the sixth child and baby of the family. She was born during the first year of The Great Depression which defined her family life for her first 9 years. Her father owned a farm outside of Wendell which ensured their family never went hungry.

She lived through WWII, which affected their family personally with two of her three brothers serving in the Pacific theatre. She was part of the greatest generation.

In 1949 Eleanor met Earl Harmon, who was working at a soda fountain in Glenn’s Ferry, ID. They fell in love and were married on November 25, 1949. They moved to Hammett, ID and began working with Earl’s parents, Parley and Eva Harmon, who owned a motel, café, grocery store and gas station.

The following year on New Year’s Eve they welcomed their first child, Barbara who was followed in the next nine years by Marjorie, Bonnie, Maxine, Dave, Bob and Connie. At the time of her passing the family had been blessed with twenty-two grandchildren, sixty-one great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

In 1956 Eleanor was operating the grocery store while Earl was running the service station. The station was also the Greyhound bus stop in town. One day a Greyhound worker suggested they start taking groups of people on bus tours. As they sat at the kitchen table in Hammett they envisioned the potential of travel. She and dad decided to take on the challenge and Harmon Travel Service was established.   They moved their family to Boise in 1962 and operated Harmon Travel out of their home for several years.

She was a woman ahead of her time. Eleanor served for many years on the Idaho Travel Council and was an advocate for many national travel organizations. She traveled extensively for over 55 years and visited all seven continents and cruised in every corner of the world.

As a grandmother, she wanted to pass on her love of travel to her grandchildren. This led to the tradition of the “Grandma Trip” which was that every grandchild was invited on a trip to Europe with her when they graduated from high school. It took five Grandma Trips to get everyone there.

Her legacy continues today with her son and grandson carrying on the business.

Eleanor was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many callings throughout her life, her favorite being a chorister. It was remarkable how she was able to juggle family, work, and church responsibilities. Eleanor had a great love for music and taught her children the songs of her youth. She loved to dance and did so into her 80’s.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Earl [2005], daughter, Bonnie Knapp, son-in-law, George Knapp, great-granddaughter, Emmeli Harmon, her parents and parents-in-law and four siblings: Morris, Verna, David and Lorraine.

She is survived by her brother Don (Marcele) Huffaker and her children: Barbara (Frank) Youngstrom, Marjorie (Joe) Litster, Maxine (Dallan) Clarke, Dave (Karen) Harmon, Bob (Barbara) Harmon and Connie (Jeff) Dalling.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. with a viewing from 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 11918 W. Ustick Rd. Boise, Idaho.

The family would like to thank the wonderful and loving caregivers at Bluebird Hospice and Ashley Manor for their dedication to service to our mother. Funeral arrangement by Zeyer Funeral Chapel in Nampa.

  https://zeyerfuneralchapel.com
The services can be viewed on zoom if you are not able to attend. Link attached.

* * * * * * *

Eileen’s comments in Eleanor’s Memory Section:

Condolences and love to Eleanor's family. I love my Aunt Eleanor. Her obituary is so well-written and very interesting to see all that she accomplished. I remember her coming to family gatherings in Wendell with her four darling daughters in matching dresses that she had sewn--sometimes staying up all night to get them done. I think she may have also made shirts for her two sons. She was (still is in heaven) a remarkable woman! Love from a Huffaker cousin, Eileen Albertson Petersen --daughter of Eleanor’s sister, Verna.

* * * * * * *
Monday...
Appointment at Costco to
have my hearing checked
for new hearing aids.
My other ones have stopped
working after 5 years--
this will be my third set
since 2011...
* * *

* * *
TUESDAY, JULY 9, 2024

Family is Everything...

Today I worked on

Huffaker genealogy.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2024**

Family is Everything...
Lunch Bunch was at Chubby's

9 could come - Clockwise:
Faye, Kathie, Carol, Sharon,
Linda H, Jennie, Tammy, Kaye, Eileen.

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024

Family is Everything...
    First I looked up DEI
that was in the news...
diversity, equity and inclusion
DEI (or DE&I) stands for diversity, equity and inclusion. As a discipline, DEI is any policy or practice designed to make people of various backgrounds feel welcome and ensure they have support to perform to the fullest of their abilities in the workplace.

FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2024
  Family is Everything...
                         On our way to Boise
for Aunt Eleanor's funeral. Gary is
driving my sister, Janice, and me.
It's 373 miles from
Saratoga Springs.
Gary came at 10:45 and we
pulled out at 11:00.
(I wasn't quite ready--he had to put
my knee-high compression sox on.
I can't do it anymore.)

We rented a 2024 Hyundai SUV.
It was very smooth riding...
except Janice said she felt
some bumps in the back seat...
especially when Gary had to
swerve suddenly when part of a huge
blown-out truck tire was in the road
in front of us.
We drove to Midvale
(which is between Sandy and Murray)
to get my sister, Janice,
and we were headed to
Idaho before noon..

Jeff and Janice were having sod
put in where they had a huge tree
taken out of the front yard.

Our first stop of two was
Snowville, Utah--140 miles.
The Flying J there has the best mac 'n cheese!
Gary likes their breakfast pizza...
I usually get a chocolate milk.
Flying J -- Snowville is 140 miles from Saratoga Springs, Utah

90 S Stone Rd, Snowville, UT84336

(435) 872-8181

pilotflyingj.com·more info

Our next stop was Wendell--   127 miles from Snowville--at the new Maverick just off the freeway...

We had a serendipity to talk to
our great niece--Rebecca Vipperman,
her husband Justin, who has recently
been appointed by the Governor to
the State Historical Board. He is a
Professor of History at CSI.
Rebecca is the Mayor of Wendell.
Their cute daughter, Judy, was with them.
I didn't think to ask where
Audrey and David were.

We had 105 miles on to Boise where
we arrived at 5:30, checked into our Springhill Marriott Hotel, then headed over to the family gathering for a supper in the backyard of Eleanor's grandson, Eric Dalling\ and his wife Christi.
It was only a ten-minute drive from the hotel.
Carol Huffaker, Uncle David & Aunt Enid's daughter came from Ammon (which is just east of Idaho Falls)--a 5-hour drive. Her brother David came from Montana. I don't know how far he is from Boise. I wish we would have had him come and sit at our table.
I hardly got to talk with him except for a hello hug.
Uncle Morris & Aunt Hazel's granddaughter --Lucy's daughter, Connie, and her husband Josh Wheatly, came from Richland, Washington--a 4 1/2 hour drive.

Eleanor's family rented a big
waterslide to keep the kids entertained...
...and they had a lot of fun going down the double slides.
Eric & Christy Dalling, Connie & Jeff's son and his wife, had the gathering in their back yard.

It was good to be together.

SATURDAY,  JULY 13, 2024
Family is Everything...
We happened to go to breakfast the same time as Connie & Josh.

Janice and I figured out that this was our first long road trip together since Aug 1964 when we drove from Talihina, Oklahoma to San Francisco, California when Walt flew from there to Hawaii to begin his stint on the Coast Guard Cutter Chatauqua. Then from there, she and I and baby Mary Jane drove to Gooding, Idaho, where I stayed with Dad & Mom till Walt returned 3 months later at the end of November.

Funeral for my Aunt
Eleanor Huffaker Harmon
Her memory tables were beautifully
arranged by her g-daughter Katie Booth, Bonnie Jean's daughter.
Bonnie passed away on March , 2024, after a 7-year battle with cancer.

So many wonderful things
from Eleanor's life...
Thank you, Gary, for taking these photos...
...since I'm not steady enough on my feet to take photos well any more...
and
and
and
and
and
and
Grampa & Grama Huffaker's farm
in the McBurney District of Wendell --
5 miles west and about a mile or two north of town...
My Mom had her friend in Gooding paint this from an areial view. Barbara Durfee got many blue ribbons for her paintings in the Gooding County Fair and at the Filer Fair.

Entrance table to sign the book...
Here is the second table on the other entrance to the Chapel...
Eleanor had framed this photo of my Mom & Dad taken at the Jerome County Fair in September 1937 days before they eloped on September 29, 1937.
My Mom, Verna Huffaker was 10 years older than Eleanor. She became Mrs. Arnold Albertson. She died July 26, 2013, at age 93. She had been a widow 31 years.
Arnold had died Feb 6, 1982, a age 69 of colon cancer.

This side had a lot of family photographs...

This shows Aunt Lorraine & Uncle Ray Christensen. Lorraine was 5 years older than Eleanor. Lorraine died in February 2013 at the age of 87.
Uncle Don & Aunt Marcele Huffaker. Don is just 18 months older than Eleanor. Don lives in SugarHouse, Utah, and is 95 years old--will be 96 on October 1.
I thought the Bishop was so kind and patient in inviting any family members to come and take a photo by the casket before it was closed...
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
Jeff Dalling, Eleanor's son-in-law, gave the family prayer -- Connie's husband.
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
One last photo with Eleanor...
My very big regret is that when Sandi told us when she had to leave right after the viewing to be at the Meridian Temple for her grandson's wedding, that I didn't think fast enough to have all the Huffaker cousins go stand by the casket.
I was concerned about the time to have the family prayer and start the funeral.
I also thought that we would take a Huffaker cousin photo at the luncheon, but that didn't happen.

Eleanor's casket was taken into the Chapel pretty much at the starting time of 10:30...

Eleanor's family shared many precious memories and remembrances of their mother, mother-in-law and grandmother.

A musical presentation medley of
"The Little Brown Church in the Vale" .
"I Am A Child of God" . "O My Father"
arranged by Amy, Marge & Joe's daughter
was sung by the sons, daughters,
grandchildren, and spouses.
It was exceptionally well done.

Don's health--although quite good at age 95, almost 96--was not conducive for him to make the 350-mile, 5 1/2 hour drive from Sugarhouse, Utah. He has been blind for a few years from MD. He sent a letter about tender memories of his little sister.
His last paragraph said:
"Eleanor was a good and gracious lady, kind, thoughtful, and generous to her parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, all her extended family and friends, and in everything she did.   I believe that Eleanor is here today, and I want her to know: I love you and I’ll see you soon!"

It was read by g-son Sean Harmon.
{Eileen's note: I have been taught that our spirit will stay with our body to see where it is safely buried."}
Bishop Greg Dunkley gave fitting concluding remarks.
Dedication of Eleanor's grave site at
Dry Creek Cemetery was given by her
son-in-law, Joe Litster, Marge's husband.
Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...
Because of some technicalities, the burial will take place on Monday, July 15.
Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...
Dry Creek Cemetery
9600 West Hill Road - Boise

Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...
Maxine taking photos...

Dedication of Eleanor's grave site..
Maxine in black dress.

Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...

Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...
Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...

Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...

Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...

Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...

Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...
Barbara taking photos...

Dedication of Eleanor's grave site...

Family Luncheon...

Family Luncheon...
Ham, funeral potatoes, salad and cookies...
Family Luncheon...
At our table of 8 were Janice Albertson Robertson, Elaine Christensen Vollmer and her husband (I think Vern)...

By the time of the luncheon some of Lorraine & Ray's children had had to leave--
Sandi-as mentioned, Louise had a family reunion going on at her home, and Rod, Del, and Tony had left.
At the viewing we had 9 of the 10 siblings together.
I know Maxine got a photo of some of us Huffaker cousins, but I don't know if she got photos after the Christensen brothers came.
In addition to the Six living children of Eleanor & Earl there, we also had 1 from Morris; 2 from David; 2 from Verna; 9 from Lorraine; 0 from Don, 6 from Eleanor = 20 of the total 28 grandchildren of Dave & Ella - the Huffaker cousins - 3 of whom have passed away.

More of Lorraine & Ray's children at our table were Lenore and her husband--who have recently moved from Farmington, New Mexico to Logan to be near a daughter. Sandi, and Linda.

I told Barbara and Maxine, as they were recording the names from the beautiful flowers sent, that their Mom--and their Dad---were very proud of them this day. And I felt Eleanor was very happy with her beautiful funeral. This includes the rest of the siblings--Marge, Dave, Bob, and Connie.
I hope to get more photos from Barbara, Maxine, and Connie. Marge can't really take photos since she walks with a cane, but her husband Joe probably got some photos.
We headed home at 3:37...

Got to Maverick in Wendell at 5:45 after stopping at Walt's grave in the Cemetery there...

...and driving through town and around by Grampa & Grama Huffaker's home by our old Church...

then drove through
town to see the charming small
"town square" the Mayor has
had created between the old
Ace Theater and the Fire Station.
It has trees and park benches.
Mayor Vipperman has had
many things done to improve
WENDELL, IDAHO,
our beloved home town.
This photo is from Friday
when we saw Rebecca and Justin and
their youngest daughter, Judy,
at the Wendell Maverick when
we stopped on our way
to Boise.
The Mayor,
Rebecca Bunn Vipperman
is the daughter of
Mitch & Karen A. Bunn,
granddaughter of
Dale & Phyllis Petersen Bunn,
great-granddaughter of
Ray & Jane Prescott Petersen.

Phyllis is Walt's sister, so
the Mayor of Wendell is
Walt's and my great-niece.

The three road warriors...
...bless Gary's heart for doing all that driving!
...yep, we're still in Idaho.

Now back to Utah...

Utah - Live life elevated...

Rattlesnake Pass - what a name!
Tremonton...

by
by
by
by

by
Tremonton...

on to Brigham City...

SUNDAY, JULY 14, 2024
Family is Everything...
      Saratoga Springs 3rd Ward
The Choir sang...

Our stake YM and stake R.S...

...Presidents spoke.
Sara must have given the closing prayer.

Thank you's given...

We have dedicated and spiritual leaders.
* * * * * * *
Our Relief Society President
Joanne Lions...
Lesson taught by Barbara Lindeman...
Her handouts were
"Rise! He Calleth Thee"

I get a photo each Sunday
as I leave...

...so my kids will know
that I have gone to Church.**

Julie is leaving for the semi-annual
Blueberry Gitls' Retreat --
this year to
Juneau, Alaska...
A sunny, summer Sunday...

At the end of this July 14th,

I pray you have had a
restful , peaceful, and spiritual
Sabbath Day...
I share these truths as my testimony to you...

Heavenly Father lives and knows us each by name. He loves us and wants us to return to Him and Heavenly Mother when we leave this mortal existence.
He loves us just
as we are at this very moment.
He knows what our potential is.
* * *
Jesus Christ came to earth as The Only Begotten of the Father and fulfilled the Atonement. He is the Redeemer of all.
* * *
I am thankful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost as the third member of the Godhead.
Walt said to me once: "I look forward to thanking the Holy Ghost in person when I get to Heaven. I don't think we give Him enough credit for all He does."

* * * * *
Joseph Smith was foreordained to be the Prophet of the Restoration. He is the Restorer of all things.
* * *
President Russell M. Nelson is the Living Prophet today for all the world.
* * *
The Bible is "the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly" and is a Testament of the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
* * *
The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is the most correct book of any book on earth.
* * *
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the True Church on the earth today. Because of the restored Temple Ordinances families can be sealed for eternity.

* * *
Of these truths I testify in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Eileen Petersen
July 14, 2024
Next week July 15-21, 2024
* * * * * * ***

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