Life Story of Ruth Elizabeth Proctor-Part nine

Written by

Ruth Elizabeth Proctor Cook

Frank and Ruth

I remember once that we went to Yellowstone Park with my sister Ethel Formo, her husband Walt and their daughter Leeann.  We were by Lower Falls and had told the kids not to get to close or climb on the rocks.  Joyce thought she couldn't see good enough so up on one of the rocks she climbed.  A wind came up and she was swaying there when Walt happened to see her.  We couldn't get to her.  He made a flying grab and got her off the rock.  I know within my heart she would have fallen if he hadn't grabbed her.  She was frightened because it happened so fast and the adults were almost sick.  Cleo and I were grateful that he could move so fast and grab her off that rock.  We went down to where we had camped.  We had a tent and so did Walt and Ethel.  Cleo and Walt decided to go fishing in Yellowstone Lake.  They took Joyce, Theron, Franklin, and LeeAnne.  Franklin got tired of fishing and came back to camp.  When Cleo and Walt returned, we ask them where the rest of the kids were.  They said the kids had come back to camp.  We started hunting for them.  We got the rangers out.  We left Franklin to watch Lois and be there if they should happen to wander back there.  It was getting dark and I was getting very frightened as was Ethel.  Finally Cleo and Walt came back, but they didn't have the kids.  So we knelt down and had prayer.  We asked our Heavenly Father to please watch over them so no harm came to them and that if it be so that we all could be together again.  One of the rangers came to our camp ground and asked if we would come over to the Inn.  We were at Fishing Bridge Camp grounds.  So Walt, Ethel, Cleo and I followed the ranger.  He seemed quite jolly.  As we walked in setting there at the counter were Theron, Joyce, and LeeAnne.  Some tourist had found them coming out of the forest on to the highway, so they brought them into the inn.  The ranger knew it was the lost three kids.  They were eating ice cream and doing a wee bit of sobbing in between bites.  I was so glad to see them I didn't know whether to give them a love or a beating.  We thanked the people who brought them in.  I don't even remember their names, but I surely knew our prayers had been answered.  When we got back to our camp, everyone stopped by and said they were happy they had been found and so were we.  Then they begin to tell us what had happened to them.  Theron said they were laughing and playing and not watching were they should have gone back to camp.  So they walked along the shore for a ways, then thought it was time to go into to the forest.  He said they saw a bear and they were frightened as was the bear.  It went one way and they went another.  Theron told LeeAnne they should say a prayer so Heavenly Father could help them find their Mom and Dad’s campground.  LeAnne told Theron he would have to pray because she didn't know how or what to say.  Theron said they took a hold of hands and he asked his Heavenly Father to please show them the way to the highway so they could find their way back to where his folks and LeAnne's folks were.   Theron told us that when he said amen they started to go that direction and that was where they came out on the highway.  He said it was very dark in the forest and it was quite dark when they got on the highway.  Then they had just started walking when this car stopped and told them to get in and they would take them to the Inn at Fishing Bridge.  I know that our Heavenly Father was watching over and heard our prayers and also Theron's.  We spent the rest of the time in the park enjoying ourselves, though I didn't let them go down to the lake unless they stayed with who they went with and came back with them.  The kids never got very far from our sight after this experience.

I am going to tell you about the sisters who I have gone visiting teaching with.  My first one was Lena Cook (my mother-in-law).  She was so special.  We had to walk to all the ladies we visited.  She taught me so much.  She was also the work director in our ward in Roberts.  I went teaching with Lena Beyeler, grandma Beyeler to me and lots of other people.  She was a special lady also.  She was like a mother to me and I could tell her things and go to her for advice.  She was special.  We were together for five years.  Then there was Elinor Rhodehouse, Martha Knuz, Leah Wilson, Karen Morris, Irene Berrett Carter, and now I am going with my daughter, Lois Berrett.  What a choice experience I am having with her and all the other sisters. 

I went through the Logan Temple 14 September 1959 with my son Vergil Franklin Cook.  He took out his endowments as he was going on a mission to West Germany for 2 1/2 years.  In their meeting there, Franklin was called on to speak.  He did just a wonderful job.  I was so proud of him and so relaxed, then lo and behold they called me to come up and speak.  I was so frightened I don't even remember what I said.  Grandpa Cook was with us and he said I did fine. 

Frank

Our son, Theron Earl Cook, went through the Idaho Falls Temple 9 November 1961.  He took out his endowments as he was called to the Great Lakes Mission for two years.  Each of the boys wrote to us, and we got to share their missions with them.  They also sent pictures home to us and asked us to fast for some of their families that they were working with to join the church.  

Theron

I have been through the Temples with our kids when they have been married for time and all eternity:  Franklin and Ilene Richards-19 September 1963.

Ilene and Frank

 Theron and Cynthia Viera, they were married first in Chula Vista California 28 May 1966 and then they were sealed to one another 31 May 1966.

Theron and Cindy

Max L. Wilson and Joyce, 21 October 1966 in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Ruth, Joyce and Cleo
Kay, Lois, Theron, Frank and Darrell

Myrna Olaveson Ball, Janae Cook, Cindy Viera Cook, Lois Cook Berrett
Joyce and Max, Leah Wilson, Cleo and Ruth Cook

Ruth, Joyce and Max, Cleo holding Craig
Kay, Theron and Cindy, Mark and Lois, Frank and Ilene, Darrell

 Franklin Mark Berrett and Lois, 4 June 1965 in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Mark and Lois 

Lois and Mark

 George Kay and Carla Jean Holyoak, 25 August 1972 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Carla, Kay, Cleo and Ruth

 Darrell James and Becky Sue Walker, married first in the Rigby Stake Center 14 June 1974 and then in the Idaho Falls Temple 14 June 1975.

Darrell, Ruth and Becky

Theron, Kay, Darrell, Ruth, Joyce and Lois

I have taught in the nursery in the Jr. Sunday School in 1969.  Cleo set me apart for the calling.  I enjoyed watching those young children grow in the gospel.  They seemed so close to our Heavenly Father.  Maude Wilson was secretary of the Senior Sunday School.  She became ill and I was asked if I could do both callings.  I did.  Then she was called to her Heavenly Home and I was called to be the secretary of the Senior Sunday School.  I held these jobs from August 1970 until December 1970.  Alvin Poole was Sunday School Superintendent and Cleo and Joe Jensen were his counselors.  Alvin Poole was released and Joe Jensen became the Superintendent.  Cleo asked to be released as he started shift work at the Idaho Fresh Pak.  Joe and Phyliss Jensen moved to Driggs and Charles Miller took his place.  Then Charles moved to Menan Second Ward and Wayne Keppner took his place.  His counselors were Sam Turman and Deloy Hammon.  When Wayne was released, Bill Mercer took his calling and his counselors were Mark Berrett and Ernest Barnes.  All the brethren I worked under were very special men in their callings.  I gained a lot of knowledge from them.  I was released as secretary in 1975 and Pauline Helm took that calling until she passed away from a hit and run accident in Idaho Falls.