Mom Share Your Life with Me - January 31

Question:  What did you use to go sledding down a hill in the snow?

Answer:  Inner tube or a sled.

Life Story of Ruth Elizabeth Proctor-Part Fourteen

Written by

Ruth Elizabeth Proctor Cook

Mom and Dad (Ruth and Cleo

When Theron was set apart in the Bishopric in the 7th College Ward in Rexburg, Idaho, in 1986, Charles Hinds was the Bishop, Kay and Carla and family came from Utah, Max and Joy and family were there, Lois and Mark, Jim and Shannon and myself were all there when they sustained Theron.  President Grant set Theron apart and gave him a beautiful blessing.  Afterward he told me that it was the Lord who told him what to say.  Then he told me that the in the eyes of the Lord I was a very special lady.  I had tears in my eyes.

Mom and Theron at Theron's graduation for his Master's 1988

My sons and sons-in-law have all had special callings in the church, from being bishops to bishop's counselors, stake missionaries, stake mission presidents, to scout masters.  My daughters and daughters-in-law have held special callings in both ward and stake in the Primary, Sunday School, Relief Society, and Young Women.  I am so proud of all of them.

Shellie, Mother, Theron and Cindy

I spent many a summer traveling with Opal and Atha Staker and George and Annie Jaynes.  They were my sisters and their husbands.  Stakers had a motor home.  It was called the Golden Falcon.  It was surely nice.  What fun trips we had.  We went to many states.  We went clear across the United States and Canada.  We also went to the Grand Canyon, Zions National Park, Glacier and Yellowstone Park, Mexico and New Mexico.  They surely helped during the summer and fall part of the year.  I spent a lot of time staying with Atha and Annie.  

Atha, Mother and Annie Carol

Also visiting Kay and Carla's home.  While staying at Kay's home, one night we went to see "The Sting". After the show, we went out to get in Rob and Pam's car.  I had one foot in and Rob started his car.  Then I thought I had better get my other foot out for I was afraid the door would knock me down.  Then I be darned if he didn't run over the foot I had on the ground.  I called to Kay that Rob had just run over my foot.  He stopped the car and I passed out.  They carried me into the theater again and laid me down on a couch they had in the lobby.  They put my foot on a pillow and then took me to the Cotton Wood Hospital, where they x-rayed my foot and put it in a cast and sent me back to Kay's to sleep.  They gave me some strong pain pills and I sure did sleep.  I asked the doctor if my foot would be better so when I came back to Menan I would be able to go see my grandsons play football in the fall of the year.  He said it would if I would do all he told me to do.  Kay's little son, James, would get a newspaper or fly swatter and run it underneath my toes as they were sticking out.  I couldn't get up to chase him and he thought that was good sport.  They had my leg propped up on a little bench.  Kay told him to do not that anymore, so he quit.  Kay, Carla and family were very good to me and helped me out a lot.  They took me to the doctor when I had to go back for a checkup.  Boy how that foot aches now when it is stormy weather.

Mother and Jared Cook

I have been blessed in so many ways.  I have 38 grandchildren that is counting the young men and young women my grandchildren have married.  I count all of them grandchildren because they are so very special to me.  I actually have 29 blood grandchildren.  I have seven great grandsons: Dustin Cook, Brayden Cook,(Frank and Ilene); Garen and Britton Youngstrom, and Jayse Mark Berrett (Lois and Mark's); Jake Angel, and Braxton Eliason (Theron and Cindy's).  There are three great granddaughters:  Ciara and Kira Youngstrom and Ryanne Berrett (Mark and Lois') I will be blessed with two more this fall and winter (1994) as Matt and Nancy and Diana and George are expecting.  I think that is just super.  I love them all dearly.

Mother and first great grandchild, Ciara Youngstrom

Mother with great grandson Braxton Eliason

Mother and great grandson Jake Angell

Mother and great grandson Britton Youngstrom

Mother and great granddaughter Jaimee Hancock

Mother and great grandson Garrett Cook

Mother with great grandson Brigham Youngstrom

Mother with great grandson Tucker Hancock

Mother with great grandchildren, Jaimee and Tucker Hancock and Sam Wilson

My grandsons have served missions and they have shared their missions with me through letters.  Those going on missions were:  Brian Berrett, Ryan Wilson, David Cook, Greg Wilson, Mike Wilson, Justin Cook, Christopher Cook, Jayson Cook and Jeremy Cook.  My granddaughters whose husbands have served missions are: Jim Youngstrom, Ron Eliason, Matt Hancock, and George Wilson.

Lois, Joyce, Jeremy, Mother, Theron and Kay

Theron and Mother

These grandsons of mine are Eagle Scouts: Brian and Trevor Berrett; Craig, David, and Steven Cook; and Jayson, Justin, and Jeremy Cook.  Ron Eliason and Matt Hancock are also Eagles.  I am so proud of all these kids and they are all very good to help me any time.

Alan and Jean Holyoak, Christopher Cook and Mother

In November 1992, Bishop Lynn Taylor called me on the phone and asked if he could come over and see him.  I told him he could come but the answer would be no.  Soon my door bell rang.  I opened the door and in came the Bishop.  We talked for awhile and then he asked if I would accept a calling as secretary of the Relief Society.  I was so surprised for I thought he was going to ask me to work in the nursery and I knew I couldn't do that for I couldn't hold the little one's on my lap for very long, nor could I pick them up if they would happen to fall.  I asked the Bishop if he had fallen out of his bed on his head that morning.  He looked at me and laughed and said no, that he and his counselors had fasted and prayed when my name was given to them by the President Blanch Christensen. Blanch, the president and her counselors, who were Dorothy Wilson and Betty Raymond, thought I would be a good secretary.  I looked at my bishop and said, "Bishop, I feel honored to be called to such a calling.  I will do it to the best I can.  But I asked if there weren't other sisters who could do a better job in that calling.  He told me no; that this is what the Lords wanted.  I learned to love those very special sisters.  They were so good to come and take me to our presidency meetings and to the stake meetings at the stake center.  I had been with them one year when they were released and Kay Boyle was asked to be president.  Her counselors are Renee Willits, and Diana Clark.  These sisters are special also.  They come and take me to our presidency and stake meetings.  I asked the bishop why I wasn't released and he said the new president and her counselors asked that I stay in as the secretary.  Bishop said I was older and had more experience in life than those other three sisters.  I said to him older yes but I'm not sure on the other thing.  I have enjoyed working with them and I have a good stake leader who is Nelda Drollinger.

Mother with her good friend, Deloris Wertz

I wanted to put this in and don't think I mentioned it before.  When Lois went to Ricks College and down to ISU, she left Trevor to stay with me.  We had such good time.  I would set in my rocker and read him stories.  When he decided to take a nap he would lie down in front of the furnace where the warm air blows out.  But he would never let me cover him up while he was awake.  After he would go to sleep, I would put a blanket on him and he would snuggle down underneath it.  When he would wake up and find a blanket on him he would say, "Did you do cover me up when I said I didn't want you to?"  I told him his fairy god mother covered him up and he would say ok.  Once when we were over to the Grant Cemetery putting flowers on Vergil and Cleo's graves Trevor sat down and run his fingers over the mountain, pine tree and stream that is on Cleo's headstone.  He was told that was where his Grandpa Cook was buried.  He said that he knew him and that he had taken him fishing on a stream like this one.  Trevor was about three at the time.  He repeated what he had said when questioned about it.  Cleo loved to fish and it made us wonder if Trevor hadn't known and fished with his grandfather before he came to this earth.

Mother and grandon, Trevor Berrett

When Trevor stayed with me while he was going to kindergarten, he came home one day and I was laying down.  When I went to get up to fix his lunch I got quite dizzy, so I lay down again.  When I did get up I told him I about lost all my bearings.  As I was in the kitchen I turned and looked and there was Trevor lying on his tummy by my couch.  He was reaching under it as far as his little hands would go.  I came into the front room and asked him just what in the world he was doing.  He looked up at me and said he was looking for my bearings.  I picked him up and loved him and told him he wouldn't find any under there that it was just a saying.

Mother and granddaughter, Lynette Wilson

Alta Qualman and I have become very good friends.  She takes me to the Falls, Rexburg, and Rigby when I need to go.  She has taken me to church when the Berretts haven't been around.  Ruth Downey is another friend who has taken me places.  Joy Covington and Pat Raymond are other people who have been very good to me because I can't drive any more.  Max and Joy Covington and I have started playing pinochle in the fall and winter evenings.  It has surely helped me pass away some of my evenings.  They came to my place, then Max would come and get me and take me to their home.  They took Alta Qualman and me around to see the people's home who had them all decorated up during the Christmas holidays, then they took us to Sizzlers to eat.  We had a fun evening.

Mother and granddaughter, Jill Cook

Mother and granddaughter, Brandi Cook

I have kept journals of the different things I have done thought out my life.  I think here I have hit some of the highlights of the things I have written in them.  I sure hope that you all enjoy reading this and will still love me, for I surely love all of you.  I want you all to know that I do have a testimony.  I know that we belong to the true church, that Joseph Smith was a prophet and all that has been called are called by our Heavenly Father.  In my time so far I have listened to the following prophets speak at conference times; President Heber J. Grant.  I got to shake his hand when Mr. Bently my Seminary teacher took us to conference in Salt Lake when we were seniors in high school and would be graduating from seminary that year.  What a thrill that was.  The next President was George Albert Smith, President David O. McKay (he always reminded me of my father in looks and actions.)  President Joseph Fielding Smith; President Harold B. Lee; President Spencer W. Kimball; President Ezra Taft Benson and President Howard W. Hunter.  I know all of these men have been called by our Lord.  I also know our Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers for he has many of mine.  I want each one of you to know that I love you all very dearly and I want you to know I am so grateful for all you have done for me.  How you are all there when I need you at any time.  I have been so blessed to have such a wonderful family and I thank my Heavenly Father for each one of you day and night.  I ask my Heavenly Father to watch over you and help you all to make the right choice.  I hope we can all be one united family at all times.  May the Good Lord bless each of you with his choicest blessings, and again I thank you all for all the joy and happiness you have each brought into my life so far.  May we have many more years of love and joy in our families.  My kids have brought me joy in the companions they have chosen to be sealed to for time and all eternity.  Now my grandkids are doing the same thing.  Now I am enjoying my great grandchildren.  I have surely been blessed.  As I have said early this is a hit and miss of me.  Hope you all enjoy it.  "LOVE TO ALL AT THIS TIME AND FOREVER"

Mother with Joyce's family at Greg and Pam's wedding

Joyce, Mother and Lynette at Greg and Pam's wedding

This is what Mother wrote.  I thought I would add a few more pictures and details of her life.  In 1995 we had a surprise birthday party for her at our daughter, Shannon's home.  She really was surprised and we had a wonderful time.

Here we are bringing her in Shannon's home.
Lois, Mother, Shannon and Mark

Siblings and spouses
Max and Joyce, Mother, Frank and Ilene,
Cindy, Lois and Mark, Kay and Carla

Mother with Frank and his family

Mother with Joyce and her family

Mother with Lois and her family

Mother with some of her children
Kay, Joyce, Lois, Mother, and Frank

Next week I will finish Mother's story for her and add several more pictures.

Mom Share Your Life with Me - January 30

Question:  Tell about the worst winter storm that you can remember as a child.

Answer:  We lived in Conrad, Montana, and it snowed and blowed.  We were snowed in and the temperature dropped to a minus 40 below zero and we didn't have to go to school.

Mom Share Your Life with Me - January 29

Question:  What was the dumbest stunt ever pulled by you and a brother or sister?

Answer:  My sister, Atha Staker, trying to roller skate on the ice with one pair of skates on the Roberts slough.

Mom Share Your Life with Me - January 28

Question:  What did you and your brothers or sisters fight about the most?

Answer:  My sister, Inez and I over whose turn it was to wash the dishes and clear up the table.

Mom Share Your Life with Me - January 27

Question:  Did you ever have an imaginary friend?

Answer:  No

Mom Share Your Life with Me - January 26

Question:  Did you ever see a President or Vice-President in person?

Answer:
President Jimmy Carter in Yellowstone Park near the Old Faithful Geyser when I was up there with Theron and Cindy and Grandpa Viera.  Cindy's dad was visiting at their home in Menan, Idaho.

      

Mom Share Your Life with Me - January 25

Question:  At what age did you first vote and for whom did you cast your first Presidential vote?

Answer:  When I was 18 years old.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
1933-1945

Mom Share Your Life with Me - January 24

Qustion:
Who was President when you were born?

Answer:
Woodrow Wilson
1913-1921

Life Story of Ruth Elizabeth Proctor-Part Thirteen

Written by

Ruth Elizabeth Proctor Cook

Frank, Joyce, Lois, Kay, Theron
Seated Mother (Ruth)

I could see the temple from my hospital bed on the fifth floor and it brought back many beautiful memories of the temple for me.  Before I turned eighteen, I was asked who I wanted to be sealed to my own father and mother or the father and mother who raised me.  That was quite a thing for me to decide.  On the morning 26 October 1936, I went to Salt Lake City with the father and mother who raised me.  There we were met by my Daddy Frank.  Atha and Opal were there also as was Annie.  Annie wasn't going to be sealed at this time as she was too old to do so and she wasn't going to take out her endowments until she was married in the temple.  Mom Proctor was going to stand in proxy for my real mother as she and my real father were going to be sealed.  While I was waiting in a room all dressed in white, I just didn't know what to do, for the ones who had raised me I loved dearly.  They had been so special to me, letting me be their own daughter.  In that room it was so peaceful and quite.  I said a silent prayer asking my Heavenly Father to help me make the right choice.  When I opened my eyes and look up, there stood the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.  She was standing by the door smiling at me.  I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was my mother even though I couldn't remember her as I was a small baby when she passed away.  It seemed I had the most peaceful feeling come over me and I knew what my choice would be.  She was still standing there smiling at me when one of the matrons of the temple came to get me and take me to the sealing room.  The matron looked at me and said that it looked like I had seen someone very special to me.  If she only knew.

Kay, Theron, Cindy, Mark, Lois, Frank, Ilene, Darrell
Seated Mother (Ruth) Joyce, Max, Dad (Cleo) holding Craig

When I got to the sealing room, it was so beautiful and the spirit was surely there.  You could just feel it.  The mom that raised me was knelling across the altar from my Daddy Frank.  They asked me who I wanted to be sealed to.  I told them I wanted to be sealed to my own parents.  Mom Proctor started to cry.  After the sealing I put my arms around her and we both cried.  Them I told them about seeing this beautiful lady in the door way after I had said a prater and asked my Heavenly Father to help me make the right choice for he knew I loved the mom and dad who had raised me dearly.  I looked at my Daddy Frank and he was crying and he told me that was my mother.  I told the mom that had raised me that I would always be their daughter if they wanted me to be.  She told me that I would always be one of their daughters and they would always love me with all their hearts.  I promised her if they ever needed me, I would be there for them, and that I would always honor them both.  They gave me council when I needed it which I am sure was quite often.  Their counseling was very good.  I also told them I helped that I could live worthy enough to be with them when we all meet in heaven.  When we got outside of the temple, my sister Annie was waiting.  She asked who I was sealed to and Mom told her to my own Father and Mother.  Annie was very happy. 

Mother (Ruth) holding Shellie Marie Cook

My mom and I became much closer after this experience.  I started getting up early in the mornings especially in the summer time and would go out and help her weed her garden.  We had such beautiful talks and she made it fun for me to be there with her. 

Lois, Joyce, Jeremy, Mother (Ruth) Theron and Kay

After I got married and lived in Idaho, Cleo would put me on the bus that left Rigby to go to Salt Lake on Friday nights or any time I felt like I needed to go to Tooele.  My brother Max would come to Salt Lake and pick me up and take me to Tooele.  Then when it was time for me to catch the bus back to Idaho, he would take me to Salt Lake.  Sometimes I would take Joyce and Lois with me and sometimes Cleo, Franklin and Theron would watch them if it was on a Friday night.  Mom would always ask her daughter Ethel if this was the day that Ruth was coming to Tooele.  She lived with Ethel and Walt Formo after Rozella, their daughter and Dad were called to their Heavenly home.  She would be asleep when I got to Ethel's.  I would go into her bedroom and kiss her on her soft cheek.  She would open her eyes and say, "I knew you would come.  I love you, Ruth."  And I surely loved that Mom.  What special people they were and how blessed I was that I was able to be part of their family.  They all treated me like I was part of it and their sons and daughters treated me as a sister.  It is still that way.

Jayson, Jeremy, Mother (Ruth) and Justin

Here is another wonderful thing that happened to me in the temple after Cleo passed away.  Darrell made me a promise that he would always be near to help me if I ever needed it.  Then he was called to his Heavenly Home in February 1979.  Before this happened he would stop in and check on me when he got off work to see if anything needed done.  Before he left he would always tell me that he loved me.  I would tell him that I loved him too and thank him for checking on me and being here for me.  One day I was in the Provo Temple with my two sisters, Annie and Atha.  I have always been afraid to ride an escalator since I had back surgery, but the blessed elevator wasn't working that day so we had to use the other thing.  They both said for me to come on that they would help me.  Annie said she would take my arm and that Atha would be a step behind me.  All of a sudden I heard Darrell's voice telling me, "Come on, Mom you can do it.  Step now."  We did.  I even go off ok.  I turned to thank Atha for her help for I was sure I could fell her arm around me by my back.  She look kind of funny and said that she didn't have her arm on my back.  She said when she reached up to do so it seemed like something was there so she just came up behind me.  Then we all knew that it was Darrell there for he knew that I was frightened and needed help.  We all three had tears in our eyes.

Kay at Darrell's viewing

At the cemetery

Mother (Ruth) Mark and Lois at cemetery

Darrell's headstone

When Craig and Debbie Staker Worthington went to the Temple in Provo to be sealed to one another, I had another choice experience.  Darrell and Debbie had always been close to one another.  They had made a pack that when each one of them went to the temple to be sealed to their partners, the other would be there if possible.  One of the brethren in the sealing room said he was sure that there were friends and family who were there from beyond the veil.  He said he could not see them then he looked at me and said, "Sister you can, can't you?"  I nodded my head yes, for over near the door was Vergil, Cleo and Darrell.  Then I started to cry.  Barbara said she saw them also.  I have felt many times that Vergil, Cleo and Darrell have been very close to me.  I only hope and pray that I can live worthy enough to have them all meet me when my Heavenly Father calls me home.  I have got to go to the temple and see my wonderful grandkids be married for time and all eternity too.  Shannon Berrett married James Scott Youngstrom in the Idaho Falls Temple; Brian Mark Berrett married Christine Bell in the Idaho Falls Temple; Nancy Jo Berrett married Matthew Irvin Hancock in the Idaho Falls Temple; Diana Lois Berrett married George Raymond Wilson in the Idaho Falls Temple; Ryan Max Wilson married Nichole Clough in the Idaho Falls Temple; David Vergil Cook married Monica Dilworth in the Idaho Falls Temple; Shellie Marie Cook married Ron Eliason in the Idaho Falls Temple; Cari Cook married Travis Angel in the Idaho Falls Temple and Elizabeth Cook married Grant Schiess in the Salt Lake Temple.  Isn't it neat that all of these young kids and grandkids of mine have chosen the right way to be married.

Mother (Ruth) with Kay and Carla at Liz's reception

Gee it was good to get out of the hospital though I was treated good in many ways.  It was hard on Darrell also as he was going to Ricks College.  He would come in to see me and check on things at our home, though I think he stayed most of the time at Theron and Cindy's or Lois and Mark's.  I loved and appreciated them doing that for him.

Kay, Liz and Mother

 

We spent Christmas at the Berrett's.  Darrell slept in a sleeping bag on the floor by my bed.  I had given Darrell money that year to buy Christmas for all.  I can remember he got a Raggedy Ann doll for Lynette Wilson, which she still has.

Jeremy and Mother

Bob Martin let me bring some parallel bars home with me and I had a wheelchair that Gale Walker, Becky's dad, got for me.  Lois and Mark would put the parallel bars on their kitchen floor.  I stayed there for awhile and so many days a week I would have to go to the Idaho Falls hospital for therapy in the pool.  Bishop Lyle Cottle and his son, Jay, would come and carry me and the wheelchair down the steps and help me into the car.  Then they would help me back into the house when we would get home.  All of the Berretts were so good to me.  Mark and Lois would take me and walk with me across their kitchen.  One time I can remember I told Lois I didn't want to walk that night.  She said, "OK then you can just set in that wheelchair," and she walked out of the kitchen.  I was about ready to cry.  I asked her to come back and that I was sorry.  I did want to learn to walk.  They came back in and I believe I almost walked everyone's legs off that night.  I was so tired when I got into bed.  Then I heard her tell Mark she was sorry she said that to me but she had to make me angry so I would show her that I was going to learn how to walk.  She also said I love my mother very much.  That night I cried myself to sleep for being so thoughtless of their feelings and how thankful I was they let me come there and was helping me in so many ways. 

4 Generations
Shellie, Mother holding Braxton Eliason, and Cindy

From the Berrett's I went to stay with Joyce and her family.  They put a bed in the front room for me.  After everyone had gone to bed I would lay and watch the fire in the fire place.  Max had fixed it for the night and had a screen around it.  While here I also walked the parallel bars for where I went they went.  Joyce now would take me to therapy so many days a week so I could get into the pool.

Mother with her children and their spouses