Eighteen Wheel Memorial Day Philosophy

Memorial Day Memories...of the people that played an important part in my life from ages 5 to 19.

By Mel Hansen

As I drove through my hometown early yesterday morning it pained me to see so many things that have changed in what once was a truly beautiful place. For me...it’s lost 90% of its beauty! Personally...starting today until Labor Day...Bear Lake is the last place I want to be.

So many of the homes that I thought would stand the test of time are now gone. The many, down to very few, lush meadows of hay...gone. The once large family gardens...gone. The once productive dry farms ...overcome with weeds or dotted with houses. Fields that once held various livestock....now hold very few or empty! Remembering how things used to be...well!...leaves me feeling...empty...as well!

But I realize that recreational growth is now the surviving staple in Garden City...and it is up to me whether or not to stay and watch the Valley truly become what people professed/profess they came/come here to escape from...A City...or leave and find another small quite ranching/farming community.

I was blessed to have been born and raised in what once was primarily two very beautiful small ranching/farming towns...my hometown of Pickelville...and a mile to the north...Garden City. Two towns where everyone knew..cared for/about...and helped each other when needed or asked. Two towns where you addressed your elders as either Aunt/Uncle (even if they actually weren’t) Mr. or Mrs. or Brother or Sister. If I ever wanted to incur the wrath!!.. and a stern talking to from my parents or Grandmother Hansen...I did so by calling/referring to my elders by their first name! To this day I still cannot bring myself to talk about them in society calling them by their first name...for fear my Angle Mum and Grandma will reach down from Heaven above and cuff me upside my head!...due to my lack of...respect!

I grew to know everyone in town by having the opportunity...no!..a Blessing!..to get on my bike and peddle from the south end of Pickelville to the north end of Garden City once every month gathering..Fast Offerings..for the church. At first, I really didn’t like doing this...ok!, I hated it! But after a while it became...bearable!...and then it turned out to become a...blessing! I became personally aquatinted with...and fell in love with the people of my little town! I liked seeing/visiting with them... and I think that most of them liked seeing and visiting with me too?

I learned something new...ate great homemade cookies/cake etc...every time I peddled my 5-speed bike to their homes!
So today...being Memorial Day...and since what once was...home...is now more or less a place where I..live...and is all but dead as to what I experienced growing up here...but at the same time having a new birth, for a new mindset, to begin making memories for this new way of thinking and planning for now/future families here in Garden City....maybe that’s a good thing??...and I truly hope their memories will be as meaningful to them in later years...as mine are to me of just a few short years ago.

The people who’ve moved into the community and are trying to gut it out here year round and still make a living...are great people! I sincerely wish they succeed in their endeavors. I’ve become friends with many...they’re great and fun assets to our community. Babies are being born...which life is all about! Occasionally I even come across a person or two who’s been living here for awhile that will ask me...” Haven’t seen or met you before...are you new in town?”...I grin to myself and say...”No..I was born and raised here and with the exception of 10-12 yrs have lived here my whole life.” After telling them my name...it’s been the same ol thing since I was born...with one exception now...they no longer ask or say...”You must be John and Noreen’s boy!”...but they ask...”Are you related to Randall and Ken Hansen?”...these two ol boys are still somewhat known in town. I just tell them...”They won’t claim that I am...but they’re my older brothers!” 

I’ve been to the cemetery this morning...I’m amazed at the number of head stones with names that I personally remember. Quite a few have brought tears to my eyes in remembering them. So I’d like to remember those who have past away...but there’s a tiny few still here...that helped mold...influenced me..in so many ways...by naming those that I personally went to every month...starting at age 14 - 16.
I kinda hate to do this in fear I might miss someone and hurt feelings...that’s the furthest thing from my mind...so if I’ve missed someone during those years...forgive me and add your/their name to the list. And because my memory isn’t the greatest these days at recalling everyone’s name I called my two brothers, Ken and Glen (4 and 2 yrs older than I) for help in remembering. (Randall’s too damn old to remember his own name these days!..so I didn’t want to confuse him any worse than what he is!😉)
Please forgive me if I misspell names also.

Starting as I did every month...south end of Pickelville.

Bart/Elva Satterthwaite
Theora Hodges
Bishop Dale/Pam Weston
Ben/Marie Weston (Aunt Marie is still very much with us...in her late 90’s!)
Paul/Delila Hodges
Clint/Theora Tremelling
Allan(Coach)/Gaylene Wamsley
Heber/Gladys Kimball
Russ/Althea Satterthwaite
Ross/Millie Hansen
LaVere/Ruth Hansen
Jay/Margaret Hodges
Delbert/Dolly Hansen
Tom/Rula Hansen
Vern/Pat Everette
Russ/Lila Hansen
John/Noreen Hansen (Dad’s still with us...coming 95!)
Beatrice Hansen..my Grandma
Dave/Vonda Malcolm
DK/Genie Malcolm
Earl/Dorothy Stringham (Sister Stringham is still very much with us...in her mid 90’s)
Dave/Julie Stringham (Julie is on a mission)

Those above were in my hometown of Pickelville at the time.

Scott/Toni Pugmire
Clyde/Ilene Kennedy
Edna Wamsley
Doug/Sally Potts
Bob/Maxine Calder
Arvel/Maxine Dustin (my Aunt and Uncle)
Merril/Merle Sprouse
Mack/Lyle Thornburg
Otto/Sue Mattson
Ross/Mae Hodges
Irene Calder
Don/Bess Huefner
Ross/Claudia Pope
Milford/Leone Loveland
Reed Wamsley
Afton Spence
Doug/Merle Spence (Doug’s still with us...late 80’s??)
Mayon/Maureen Pully
Lowell/Merlinda Gibbons
Stan/Ann Hansen (my Uncle and Aunt)
Bill/Vergie Negus
Barry/Elaine Negus
Lena Hilt-Charlene Lutz
Bud/Mary Rich
Harry/Barbara Bennion
Bishop Mitch/Alvera Sims
LaVoy/Jennie Hilt
Ivan/Phyllis Hilt
Bishop Arlo/Mattie Price
Harold/Sue Negus
Dorothy Whicker
Bishop Kae/Bee Cook
Joe Cook
Glenn/Oral Lutz
Ray/Sue Lutz
Walt/Rose Nelson
Frank/Maureen Jensen
John/Nancy Murphy
Sherm/Cora Lutz
The Finnly Family
DeVerl/Virginia Whittington
Fatt Whittington
Jennie Lutz
Stella Benson
Nina Sorenson
Drew/Viola Cook
Vern/JoAnn Anderson
Terry/Carla Allan
Russ/Ramona Harris
Mack/Lee Madsen
Bishop Brian/Darlene Booth

I never went to their homes to gather Fast Offerings because others took over that responsibility...but I visited often the homes of Bill/Pauline Bailey and my great friend , Jeff Hilsman’s family.
And even though my best friend, Kris Price, lived in Round Valley...I spent a lot of time in his home...Gary/Mary Price.

I can still see in my mind's eye every one of these people! They were a constant/comfort to me. If I were ever to try to write a book about anything... it would be about my growing up years in my hometown...what it’s residents taught and meant/mean to me. 

I cherish the memories of these people! I often smile and chuckle to myself when thinking of them.
I can only hope...that when I depart this earthly existence...that I’ll be blessed to be greeted/welcomed (maybe even Aunt Dolly Hansen will wrap her arms around me and say to me..”It’s about time you showed up!...Ya damn little devil!!” ...then give me a hot slice of homemade bread smothered with butter)...once again....in those two same beautiful little ranching/farming towns by the lake..in Heavenly Paradise...by these great people and catch up on what’s new.