Leah A, Holmstead (1924-2011) Talk at Funeral by JR Bylund

Leah A. Holmstead

Talk given by JR Bylund, a Son-in-law

Funeral

October 28, 2011

Five Lessons From the Life of Leah

If Leah were standing beside me right now and giving me advice, I think she would say three things.  First, she would be glad I am not singing.  Second, she would say, "don't be a big boob." and third, she would counsel me to say what I feel.  I will try to do just that.

As I reflect upon and celebrate the life of Leah Holmstead, I realize just how significantly she impacted the lives of people.  She was truly a unique individual.  I learned some very important life lessons from Leah that have made me a better person.   As her family has gotten together over the course of the last week, a lot of Leah Wisdom has been remembered.

While there are many things that could be learned from Leah, I would like to take a few moments and reflect on five of the lessons the family has learned from the life of Leah.

1 - Love Everyone

One of the many remarkable things about Leah Holmstead that I will always remember is her ability to love everyone.  Like many people, I  was comfortable with Leah from the first time I met her.  After I had the opportunity to be around her for a while, I came to understand the reason I was comfortable with Leah is that she genuinely loved me for me.  She asked about what I was doing.  She offered ideas and suggestions about things I might find interesting.  She did things for me that showed she cared.

Leah came to one of my swimming meets.  When she saw me in a Speedo, she immediately made one of those old fashioned swim suits with arms and legs.

When we moved to Indiana for school, Hap and Leah helped us move. 

She made curtains for our student housing apartment and put pennies in the bottoms to hold them down.  She told us the pennies would double as an emergency fund.

Now, I am not unique in these experiences.  Far from it.  Leah loved everyone.

She would take dinner to a widower...every night for 4 - 5 years.

She wrote to her missionaries and other family members who needed it... every week.

Leah comforted the sick. 

Leah mourned with those who mourn, and gave comfort to those in need of comfort.

Leah recognized the worth of the individual and she reached out to them.  "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Leah left a legacy for each of us to follow that says, "Love the Lord they god with all thy heart, might, mind and strength.  And love thy neighbor as thyself."

2 - Keep your sense of humor

Leah's sense of humor was a genuine pleasure.  The glass has always been half full in Leah's eyes, and a spoonful of sugar helped the medicine go down. 

One need only sit down and fish or watch a Jazz game with Grandma to learn what kind of person she was.

While fishing with her, you'd find out that she was a chemist, a fisheries biologist, and an entrepreneur: “Now the secret is that you have to spit on the Powerbait so the fish'll know it's not a trick. They should pay me for this stuff.”

While watching Jazz games, you'd discover that:

She was a feminist: “I don't know what they were thinking when they put women officials in charge. Talk about dumb.”

She was a capitalist: “If I could buy Kobe Bryant for what he's really worth and sell him for what he thinks he's worth, I'd be a rich woman.”

She was a comrade: “They must have been doing something right over in Russia to produce Andrei Kirelenko.”

She was not a comrade: “Boy they sure missed the boat on that Andrei Kirelenko, he couldn't throw it into the ocean.”

She was an orthopedist: “Mark Jackson has one arm that's longer than the other because he's always patting himself on the back.”

She was a mentalist...or at least she was in charge of one: “Hap, put a hex on this guy so that he'll miss his foul pitches.”

She was a psychologist: “Boy that Karl Malone sure likes to beller.”

 

3 - Keep your Priorities straight

There are a lot of distractions in the world that can lead to misaligned priorities.  Leah didn't seem to be susceptible to these distractions.  Leah had one overarching priority which was her family.

Leah's definition of family goes something like this.  Hap and her kids, the Johnsons and their kids, the in-laws, the grandkids, her friends and all friends of any of the above.  Her definition of family is reminiscent of the parable of the good Samaritan when the Lord asks who is thy neighbor.  I could well hear the question to be who is thy family?  Leah's definition responds to the spirit of that question.

Grandma's marriage to Grandpa was a testament of longevity, fidelity, and love. Over the years, when both held various responsibilities at the local and state level, they found a way to be together, never apart for very long. He was the harmony to her melody, never a discordant note, and when he passed away that melody was oftentimes a lonesome one. They spent summers fishing together and winters watching the Jazz in a harmonious blend of Grandma talking and Grandpa commenting only when she got too far off the beaten path. She was generous of her time and resources, and as her grandchildren went on missions, she never missed a week writing to them.  Sometimes hers was the only letter in the mailbox and it always helped you to get through.

Leah prioritized people. She was generous with time, praise, food, attention, money, thank-yous, advice, and expertise.  She wasn't afraid to give cooking advice to a chef, medical advice to a doctor, money advice to a banker, child psychology advice to a teacher, coaching strategy advice to anyone who would listen, and gospel advice to a general authority (Paul). 

I found it interesting that the only priority money had to Leah was in the context of giving it to someone who she viewed needed it more than she did.  And if she decided a grandchild or anybody else needed a little gas money, food storage money, a missionary assist or some help with some other need, she would do what she could to help them out. I didn't hear much about this type of investing in business school, but in the final analysis, I have learned a lot from Leah's investment strategy.

President Monson is fond of this poem that reflects well Leah's bias for prioritizing people.

I have wept in the night

for the shortness of sight

That to somebody's need made me blind

But I never have yet

felt a tinge of regret

For being a little too kind.

4 - Do What's Right

One of the things I most admire about Leah is her undeviating commitment to do what's right.  Leah recognized the covenants she had made and met her commitments with exactness.  She did not struggle with issues at the margin, simply because Leah chose to spend no time at the margin.  Leah had no need to venture into the rough.

Leah did what was right, not because it was a commandment, but because it was right.  It permeated her life and was reflected in her actions.

It was right to support missionaries and other folks by sending them packages.  Leah made the strongest shipping boxes ever delivered by the USPS with nothing more than standard cardboard and packing tape.  Lots of tape.

She could make a bandage or sling out of a sock or dish rag faster than you could say I am hurt. 

She included people in the group.

She served in the church where called.

She sang in the choir.

She did her genealogy with unflagging zeal.

She loved her husband with unceasing devotion.

It was right to sort the puzzle pieces by color and put them on cookie sheets and to have a clean house and even cleaner laundry.

It was right to turn down the sound on the television while watching the Jazz and listen to Hot Rod Hundley on the radio because the TV announcers liked the other team.

She was seemingly untempted by the things of the world, and fully enthusiastic about her family and their well being.

5 - Believe

Leah believed.  She had faith.  She knew things would work out, and they did.  She believed the best in people and expected that out of them.

She believed the Jazz would win.

She believed genealogy needed to be done.

She believed homemade bread was good for the heart and soul.

She believed strawberry rummy would keep your mind sharp.

She believed missionaries needed letters and packages.

She believed you could go on a trip in a camper and still sleep in a hotel room.

She believed powerbait was better if you spit on it just a little bit and worms needed to be kept warm.

She believed the fish were biting.

She believed in the next cast.

She believed vegetables were over-rated and bananas needed a little black on the peel.

She believed that if you asked for your filet-o-fish without cheese, you would get a fresh sandwich because they would have to make it from scratch.

I think all of us probably stand a little bit straighter as the winds of adversity blow because we know that Leah believed in us.  And her faith in God has made our faith in God a bit stronger, because we believed in Leah.

In Timothy Chapter 4:7 it says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

Leah kept the faith and finished her course.

Leah Amacher Holmstead (1924-2011) (Talk given at funeral by Teresa Holmstead Weidman at her funeral)

  

Leah Amacher Holmstead

Niece to Emma Hollenweger Haltiner

Daughter to Amelie (Molly) Hollenweger Amacher

Talk given by Teresa (Terri) Holmstead Weidman at her funeral, Oct. 28, 2011

Leah Amacher Holmstead was born October 29th, 1924 in Logan, UT to Swiss immigrant parents, Adolph and Amalia Amacher.  She was the youngest child of four.  Her oldest brother, Enoch , died at the age of 7 from leukemia.  Leah had a happy childhood and although her family was poor, she didn't remember many hardships.  She told often told us of walking to school and town because her family never had a car.  She was surrounded with love and learned early about service from the example of her parents.  Mom's dad, Adolph passed away when she was 18 years old. None of her children were able to know him personally, but what we did hear was of his love of music and genealogy.  He brought  books with historical records back from Switzerland with names of ancestors and did a great deal of temple work for them.  Mom started helping with this early in life.  starting at age 12 she would go with him to be baptized  for family members in the temple sometimes doing 70 or 80 names at a time.  Mom inherited his passion for genealogy and until her death, pursued new names and family lines.  One year she extracted 500 names to do temple work for and kept us all busy, at many temples completing them.

Leah had many talents and abilities.  She was the "queen of the May" at age 12.  She played the flute and performed in school orchestras, bands and chorales. She had perfect pitch and played the piano by ear.  many times when we were young, she would play rousing marches and have the kids marching around the front room. She won many awards and often performed at funerals and events with her beloved sister, Winnie. 

Mom attended Utah State Agricultural College at the start of World War II.  She regaled us with stories of the boys she sent "off to war" with the promise she would be waiting.  She said she didn't want to make them feel bad.  During her first year of college she met Earl "Hap" Holmstead  and fell in love for real.  They married  in the Logan Temple on March 31, 1944,  raised nine children, 7 girls and 2 boys, and spent 67 happy years together. 

Hap and Leah moved to Lehi shortly after their marriage where dad coached and taught at Lehi High School for five years.  This move put them in close proximity to Dad's family and mom developed close and lasting relationships with dad's parents and his 5 sisters and their families.

Some of Mom's most enjoyable memories involved camping in Yellowstone, hiking, hunting and fishing with the Holmstead clan.  They moved to Logan in 1951 where Dad taught at Logan High.

Leah was an excellent wife and mother.  She was a great homemaker and could seemingly  "do anything"  She sewed dresses, costumes, baby blankets, sleepers, and countless doll clothes.  She baked and cooked excellent meals.  She started "scrap booking" before it was popular cutting out cute embellishments from cards and wrapping paper.

 She attended recitals, musicals, ball games and school assemblies.  She was our biggest fan and supporter.  She worked with the State and Local PTA from 1955-1972.  When Evan, her youngest child graduated from Adams Elementary school, she took a cake to the Principal, Alma Watterson, because she had a child in that elementary school for 25 straight years.

Mom and her sister, Winnie, lived across the road from each other and were the best of friends.  Winnie also had a large family, 6 boys and 2 girls and the families were raised together and celebrated holidays, birthdays and daily events as one.  Mom loved her neighbors and had many life-long friends that were treated as family.  My younger siblings didn't know that Dawn and Bud were not really "blood relations."

Leah held many callings in the church.  She was a natural Leader and teacher.  She was in the primary president, stake primary president, stake and ward young women's president and ward and Stake Relief Society president.  It is here that maybe her star shined the brightest.  The motto "Charity Never Faileth" was true about mom.  One of her nieces wrote " Her acts of goodness are monumental.  She lived a shining life of Charity.  She calmed storms, fed multitudes, watched over the sick, cheered the weary, showered love on us all and taught us how to live."

When my younger sister got married, mom bought her a beautiful quilt top and hand quilted it for her.  Mom liked it so well that she decided to quilt one for her own bed.  The hand quilting took months.  When it was finally finished we were excited to be able to see it on her bed. As we walked into mom's bedroom, we were surprised to see the bed covered with her old quilt. we quickly went and asked mom where the new quilt was.  Mom replied "you know I finished it and gave it to an elderly friend.  She has had a hard life and has never had a new quilt and I thought she deserved one."  This kind of action was common.

  Mom never waited for someone to "tell her what they needed" She acted. I recall when a large family in the neighborhood had a child who died.  Mom immediately set to work making dresses for the girls and mom, then she bought new shirts and ties for the sons and the father so that they would look nice at the funeral.

If someone in the ward needed church shoes for their son, she immediately and without asking gave them some money.  She fed many, visited many sick, took care of elderly widows and widowers and sent countless notes and flowers.   One year she decided to make a lap sized quilt a week for the homeless.  Another year when asked what she wanted for Christmas she said "money to buy a headstone for an ancestor that did not have one"  She was a champion of the underdog.  and was never idle.

  For 16 years mom and dad served in the hospital branch.  They held church services on Sunday, visited patients on Wednesdays and made sure that names were put on temple roles, and the sacrament was taken to those unable to leave their rooms.  They continued in this calling until last year.

  In the 25th chapter of Matthew we read "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.  then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."  Mom truly embodied the essence of this scripture.  Her example in living these principals has had an impact on all of us.

Mom had a great sense of humor and loved laughing and a good joke.  She could laugh at herself and find humor in most situations.  One thing mom would never do was fly in an airplane.  She had gone with a cousin in small plane once in her teens and it had made her sick and scared her to death.  We could never get her to fly after that.

 Several members of our family  had gone to Switzerland and visited the house where her father had grown up.  Because of her interest in genealogy, they would all bring her a photo of the house and try and persuade her to go and visit.  Mom would be known to say things like "if God wanted me in Switzerland, I would have been born in Switzerland. " and " Everyone brings me a picture of that house. It looks the same as it did when my dad lived there." and" when I die I will fly over the house and see it for myself."

  A few years ago, after several more "house" pictures had been given to her, we decided to throw her a surprise birthday party.  The gifts were all centered on the picture of the house.  She got calendars, pot holders, cookbooks, mugs, aprons, clocks and bumper-stickers.  Many of the kids and grand kids showed up in T-shirts with the house on them.  Even the cake had a picture of the house on it.  Mom laughed and laughed at the gifts.  Everyone there laughed.  We still laugh about it.  It was a great party.

 I remember that she always encouraged us to gain new experiences.  She signed us up for skiing lessons every Saturday at Beaver mountain, let us swim and skate on the canal and try other activities that we thought we wanted to do.

I was there on the momentous moment when she and Aunt Winnie went out to try out Dad's skating rink in the backyard.  They were laughing so hard and hanging on to each other.  Mom's ankles went out and Aunt Winnie's went in, but they were having a ball out there.  We wish someone would have taken a picture of them.

I remember when I was at Holy Cross School of Nursing that I was invited to go to San Francisco on the train with the nun.  We were going to a convention of nurses.  I asked Mom and she said who are you going with, I said the nuns.  "Well go then, you will be safe and in good company."

As the kids grew up and Dad retired, He and mom took up fishing.  Together they fished most of the lakes and streams in northern Utah and parts of Idaho and Wyoming.  They also taught many of their grand kids how to fish.  It was fun to go with grandma.  She would spend most of the time trying to let them catch something.  She would tie and retie different flies, use power-bait, worms, salmon eggs,  and anything else she thought would get a fish.  She brought snacks and pop and told funny stories.  She made memories and let each grandchild feel loved and important.

I picked up a few of the notes to Grandma Leah that were on her table.

"Dear Grandma Leah, thanks for the cute card and 5 dollars:)  Hope we see you at Christmas :)  I miss you!)  Love you too :0 Love Brenna   PS have a stupendous day!!

Grandma was always happy to see me--and anyone I dragged in with me. She was always very welcoming to anyone. My friend Amy said she felt like grandma treated her like one of her own grand kids. Amy wants grandma to know that she is thinking of her and loves her.

 She let me and Jill come every summer and stay with her. She took us camping and to stay at Bear Lake. She played volleyball on the beach with us and made us call her Leah - cuz when we yelled "get it grandma" she was afraid people would come over and gawk at an old lady playing volleyball.

She always thought of others- always. You should never call her during a Jazz game  , One of the best things ever was her surprise party theme of the house in Wilderswil. I've never laughed so hard!!

She made me take her fishing once. She had trimming shears and saws in the back of the car. Also some rope. Turns out I was there to cut branches back or to throw a rope over an overhanging limb and tie it back so she could properly cast her fishing line.  There is so much she taught me by the way she lived.  love you Grandma!  Jodi

Grandma Leah, I thank you for funding me and my friends trip to Lava.  I would also like to let you know we had a safe and enjoyable trip down the river.  Thank you for being the best Grandma there ever was,  Tyson

i love you, Grandma! Thank you for being so amazing.  I love you!  Love Adrie Lia

To Grandma Leah,  I love you.  I know that you are sad that Grandpa died. I'm too. Thanks for being a great Grandma.  from Emilie

I love you grandma oh yes I do, I don't love anyone as much as you, When your not around me I'm blue, oh grandma I love U, love Lauren Guthrie

Dear grandma Leah,

I have so enjoyed having you in my life.  you always have the funniest stories and the cleanest house :)  For your information your shoes are in style and I have 4 pairs, we're twinzies!  Haha I also want you to know I keep you in my prayer and in my heart  I hope to grow up to be like you,  much love  Isabelle Guthrie

Dear Grandma, I hope you feel better, i want to grow up just like you.  I love you.  you are so awesome,xoxoxoxoxoxoxox  from Annika  you are a star.

Grandma ~ There are so man FABULOUS memories I have of you and coming to your house ever since I was little.  Whenever I think of Christmas, your house is first to come to mind.  it was filled with love, people, food, bread, and FUN!!  Everyone felt loved by you and Grandpa!

I loved being at Utah State because I knew you were close and a little bit of "HOME" helped me.  I loved hearing the stories you told me of coming and taking care of me when I was a little baby and my mom was in the hospital.  I will always think of you when I see 'BLUEBERRY BUCKLE'.

You are such a service oriented person and I never saw you not helping someone in need.  I admire you and hope to be as good of a mother, grandma, mother-in-law, aunt, sister, and etc. as you have been!  I love you!   Jana

I wish I could read all the rest of the things that were written about Mom and to Mom and Dad.

Mom lived life fully to the end.  She was always busy, had a list of things to do and birthday and well wishes to send.  She wrote to all of her missionary grandchildren once a week.  She crocheted around the edges of baby blankets for all her grand kids, great-grandkids, nieces, nephews and their children.  She was  still working on them last week.  Her table held 10 or 15 thank yous that she had recently received.  When we heard she was ill, her hospital room and home were filled with worried family and friends. 

 One of her grandsons wrote "Grandma's life was like a very good book. The many chapters left you at times both speechless and humbled, fulfilled and thoughtful. As the pages turned, you'd find yourself wanting for more and at the same time, hoping it would never end. As we turned the final pages, we learned so much about her love and sacrifice as she sat by her husband through his final trials, making him comfortable and bringing him home again. It is a book that we'll return to often, searching for favored quotes and stories, looking for guidance and solace. It's well-thumbed pages will never be re-written, and no sequel would ever do it justice. It is a classic; within its tomes a heartwarming tale of a life well-lived, a love story, and a touching memoir. We'll miss her dearly, and as the years pass and the pages unfold, we'll gain a greater understanding of the lives she not only touched, but changed in immeasurable ways."

I love you Mom

Other things to add if I have the time.

I was always so excited to go to Grandma's house.  Sneaking creamies from the freezer, frozen burritos, homemade bread.  i remember getting out the coloring books in the drawer by the phone, playing Strawberry rummy, making "potions" in the bathroom with various toiletries.  I remember a Christmas when she made me a sleeping bag with my name on it.  i remember when Nikki and I were sitting on a hammock  and she called us "2-ton hee-vies"  On a recent visit with her, I learned that you don't always have to give the sister you visit teach a gift of some sort. They'll probably just throw it away anyway.   In her words "What am I going to do with this junk??" I've also learned the importance of remembering the little things like a birthday.  I can't tell you how excited my kids get when they get a letter in the mail from Grandma Leah.  If anything, the thing I'll maybe remember most is that she loved her family...those who are dead and alive...but she sure did spend a lot of time getting to know the dead ones!  I know there's always more work to be done but Grandma made just doing simple family history impossible for me!   I love you Grandma!! 

 Jamie

Hi Grandma Leah, This is from Justin. Thanks for being such a great grandma. You have always been such a great example to me. The love that you give to all your family is great. I always have felt the love you have had for me and each time I have visited you I have felt welcome and cared about. I loved that there was always fat boys or creamies in the freezer and bread and treats in the cupboards. We were always well fed and cared for in your home.  I was also always glad to receive your letters on my mission as they helped me to keep on going knowing I had the faith of family supporting me. I still have a tie that you sent me on my mission and I always think of you when I wear it. I never heard you speak ill of anyone (well at least anyone not on the Jazz). We wish we could be there to see you. The little girls remember you in their prayers and Heidi was so excited yesterday to use the birthday money you sent her to buy a book at the book fair at school. They have fond memories of you and Grandpa Hap. 

 One time I was up there with one of my friends and she said "I'm glad at least some of my grand kids wear matching socks, those Thomas' kids wear mismatched socks, they say it's their trademark. I say it's their nerd mark." I always laugh when I think of that. 

Thanks for everything you have done for me and my family. We miss you and love you!

Justin 

Terri,

I am sorry to hear that Grandma is not getting better, but I do know that she is a feisty woman so she may have some fighting left in her. I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with her, but my first impression of her was that she was an amazing grandma and great-grandma (and mom of course raising all of you kids), because she had lots of good food and treats, toys and games, hugs and kisses, smiles and advice, everything grandparents should have! She even greeted me with a hug and I didn't even know her. I am glad that she taught me how to play strawberry rummy and although frustrating, it was really fun, because I always played cards with my grandparents, so I felt right at home. Going on hospice is not usually the best of signs, but if anyone can recover from this it would be Lea.

My parents also continue to pray for her and the family and even they spoke great things of her the one time that they got to meet her. We all thought she was entertaining, energetic and talkative, but all in a very good way.

I am glad you made it safely home and are able to be with her.

Love, Cassandra

If you get a chance, and maybe you have talked to Jason lately, but try to get him to write something or talk to someone about what he remembers of Grandma Lea would be good for him, after all she did write to him very often, which was another thing that really impressed me about her.

I like how Grandma is the same to every grand kid or anybody else that comes to the house.  She does not judge them on anything going on in their life but just loves them for who they are.  If anybody ever needs a confidence or morale booster all they have to do is talk to Leah.  And I like how she is the only one that can affect dad by talking trash to him in any competitive thing Jason

Here are a few memories that we wanted to share.

Emilie's memories of grandma are that she is really nice and fun to be with.  She liked going to her house.  She always had toys to play with or things to do.  She remembers making a dolphin with her colored beads.  She sure loves her Grandma

I looked forward to visiting Grandma when we came up to Utah for Christmas.  I always felt very comfortable at her house and enjoyed being with her.  There was always Swiss Bread in the cupboard Fat Boys in the freezer.   We were welcome to it all.  She would say "if you go hungry it is your own fault."  She always sent birthday cards and thoughtful Christmas presents every year.  I know she cared about each one of her grandchildren. 

Love you,
Janette

Thoughts about Grandma:

-She was always glad to see us when we came to visit

-Always remembers birthdays

-Wonderful homemade bread

-Gives good advice

-Tells good stories

-Is interested about how are doing in life, jobs, family etc...

 Jeff

 Hope everyone is holding up--

Here's our family memories of Leah

 Chelsea--Christmas time at Grandma Leah's..making snowmen and eating homemade bread. Never got mad.

Zach--playing with toys, snowball fights, Leah always let us do what we wanted

Logan--root beer and bead making..climbing the tree was fun

Austin--the beads and toys

Jill--Grandma Leah--excepted everyone and always could find the good in people. Eating homemade bread, Leah singing, matching nightgowns, watching basketball on her bed, Christmas quilts, and washing the dishes are memories from the Holmstead house. Leah is a great example of service. She always put others before herself.  Jill

Reed E. Petersen (1942-2011) Life Sketch

Reed is a Grandson of Ernest Haltiner and Emma Hollenweger

 Read at Reed's Funeral

 

Reed Petersen was born on January 24, 1942 in Logan, Utah and welcomed into the loving arms of his parents, Margaret and Olean Petersen.  He was the second child to join their family was followed by two more brothers and two sisters.  Reed had dark hair and olive colored skin and stood out in a family of fair haired and fair skinned brothers and sisters.  Actually, Reed always had the ability to stand out with his outgoing personality.

He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend who passed away peacefully August 21, 2011 at the age of 69, after a long illness. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.  His father had a lifetime influence on him, by passing on his love of the great outdoors and his chosen vocation of carpentry.

His passions included, boating and fishing with his wife, family and friends, elk and deer hunting, and many trips to Alaska, to hunt moose.  While deer hunting one year with family, he shot a deer a 1000 years away while his sister, Peggy, stood by his side experiencing her first deer hunt.  They had to hike back to camp and drive around a large basin to locate the deer.

Reed loved getting together for our annual Petersen Christmas Party where we made Swiss Cookies we dubbed “flitters”.  We always knew when Reed arrived because his laugh would shortly follow.  This was also a time for Reed’s show and tell.

Here he would come dressed for winter and in his pocket, a slight sign of a bulge; for safely tucked away were some pictures.  He would wait for the right moment to spring them on anyone who wanted a look, but we all wanted a look. Reed’s eyes and voice came alive when he started telling us of his latest hunting adventure of how he traveled to Alaska, hung out with friends and slept with a gun under his pillow-it was bear country you know-or who could get the bragging rights on who shot the biggest buck with the biggest horns.  All this, while flipping through the pictures.

He also liked to share his culinary expertise by making English Toffee and bringing it to the Christmas Party, which everyone devoured, oblivious of how much butter they consumed.  However, the moose liver pate he brought one year grossed out some of his nieces.

While growing up in Salt Lake, Reed attended Granit High School where he met his first love, Bonnie Ross.  They were married September 19, 1959 at the home of Reed’s parents.  His only daughter, Cindy, was born to this union but within a few short months after Cindy’s birth Bonnie became ill and died suddenly, leaving Reed a widower at a young age.  This proved to be a very difficult time for Reed and he greatly mourned the loss of his wife and friend. Nine years after the death of Bonnie, On July 11, 1969 he married his beloved “Red,” Shirley Sutton.  Their personalities complemented each other and their loving romance lasted 42 years until his passing.  Reed was her devoted caregiver for the last several years and she is now in the care of family and friends.

Above all, he loved being a grandfather and his daughter Cindy, once told him, “It was a good thing he had grandsons so he could pass on his traditions.”

Reed was a member of the Carpenters Union and enjoyed teaching the trade throughout various points in his life which included working at Job Corp and Salt Lake Community College.  He was a long time member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles and the Magna Gun Club where he was an avid trap shooter and earned his way onto the 2007 Senior State team, and accomplishment he was very proud of.

Reed was the first sibling to pass from this mortal existence and was joyfully greeted by his parents, relatives and all those who were an important part of his life. He was best known for his joyful, contagious laugh which set him apart from all others and will never be forgotten.  Reed, you were the life of the party and we are thankful that we were a part of your life and look forward to the time when we shall meet again. Until then, may the Lord bless you and keep you.

Leah Amacher Holmstead (1924-2011) Obituary

Leah Amacher Holmstead is the daughter of Adolph Amacher and Amalia Hollenweger and the niece of Emma Hollenweger.
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Leah Amacher Holmstead passed away peacefully at home Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, surrounded by family, due to complications from a stroke.  Leah was born Oct. 29, 1924, Logan, Utah to Swiss immigrates, Adolph Amacher and Amalia Hollenweger Amacher.  She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and faithfully lived true to its teachings her whole life.

Leah was a graduate of Logan High School and LDS Seminary where she participated in band, student government and many extra curricular activities.  She was an accomplished musician and won awards for performing on the flute and in vocal chorales.  She also loved to dance and attended weekly dances.  She attended Utah State University where she met her husband, Earl "Hap" Holmstead.  They were married March 31, 1944, in the Logan LDS Temple.  They enjoyed 67 happy years together until his death May 9, 2011.

Hap and Leah were the parents of nine children, and Leah devoted her time to being an exemplary mother.  She raised her children with love, patience, honor and devotion.  A natural leader, she served in many church callings and presidencies including Primary, Stake Primary, Young Women, Relief Society and Stake Relief Society. She loved singing with the ward choir.  Leah also held positions in the state and local PTA from 1955 to 1972.

Leah was always active and busy.  She taught flute lessons and performed locally with her sister.  She was very compassionate and loved to serve others.  She kept her family busy taking in dinners and delivering bread to friends and neighbors.  Her home was always filled with children and grandchildren, and all who came felt her love and left happier than when they entered.

She was an excellent cook and homemaker.  She was a friend to all.  In later years she served with her husband for 16 years in the Logan Hospital Branch.  She also worked diligently on genealogy, a trait passed down from her father.

Her acts of goodness are monumental.  She lived a shining life of charity.  She calmed storms, fed multitudes, watched over the sick, cheered the weary, showered love on us all and taught us truth.  She lived a great life patterned after the Master she loved.

She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, one sister, and two daughters, Janine (Preston) Ward and Jalaine (O'Dell) Speth.  She is survived by her children, Terri (Brent) Weidman, Winnie (Stan) Thomas, Lee (Jeanne) Holmstead, Michele (Jeff) Cundick, Mary (Brad) Vaterlaus, Kellie (J.R.) Bylund and Evan (Geri) Holmstead.  She is also survived by 38 grandchildren and 63 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Oct 28, 2011, at noon in the 19th Ward church house, 1255 N. 600 East. A viewing will be held Thursday, Oct 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Home, 162 E 400 North, Logan, and Friday at the church from 10:30 to 11:30a.m. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be extended to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net.

This obituary appear in The Herald Journal Newspaper, Logan, Utah, on Thursday, October 27, 2011

Rulon J. Gerber (1921-2010)

Son-in-Law to Ernest and Emma

Logan--Rulon J. Gerber, Obituary
     Rulon J. Gerber, 89, passed away at his home Aug. 10, 2010. Rulon was born Jan 11, 1921, to John and Julia Keller Gerber.  He attended Millville Elementary School, transported to and from school each day by a horse-drawn covered wagon from Blacksmith Fork Canyon.  He graduated from South Cache High School in Hyrum in 1939.
     He started the Nibley Grocery in 1940 and operated it until World War II.  In 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps serving until the war ended in 1945. In 1947 they started Gerber's Grocery.  In 1950, they built and operated a new and more modern Gerber's A.G. Market.
     He met and married Betty Lou Haltiner in the Logan LDS Temple in 1946.  They celebrated their 63rd anniversary on Nov. 22.  Their lives blended as one as they worked together in their church callings, their occupation, civic organizations and homes.  He enjoyed fishing, sports events, travel, gardening, his family and his many friends.
     Among his many church callings, he was ordained a high priest by Ezra Taft Benson, served in the 19th Ward bishopric and later served as a stake high councilor in the Logan East Stake.  In 1989, Rulon and Betty served a mission in Nauvoo.  He sang in the Men's Imperial Glee Club for more than 20 years.
     He is survived by his wife, Betty, daughters Nyla Jean (David) Adamson, Salt Lake City; Connie (Todd) Taylor, Logan; sons Gaylan (Debbie) Gerber, Logan Nolan Dee (Beverly) Gerber, Sal Lake City; Troy (Charisse) Gerber, Lehi.  He had 21 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by a son Kevin, his parents, a brother, Amos, and sisters Martha Albrechit and Alberteen Blau
     A viewing will be held Friday, Aug. 13. from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St in Logan.  Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. in the Logan 10th Ward Chapel at 792 N 500 East, with a viewing from 11:30 to12:30 immediately preceding.  Condolences and thoughts may be extended to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net
     The family would like to thank all of the workers at Access Hospice for the care Rulon received, especially Diane Crockett, Kavic Merrill and Dale Butler.

Obituary was published in the Herald Journal, Logan, Utah on Wed, 11 Aug 2010, p8, columns 4 & 5.

Lois Sylvia Haltiner Moser (1930-2011)

Daughter to Ernest and Emma

Obituary: Lois Sylvia Haltiner Moser passed away Thursday, Aug 25, 2011, at Logan Rehab from complications related to a broken hip and dementia.  Lois was born Aug. 6 1930 in Salt Lake City and was the youngest of nine children.  The family moved to Logan before she was 6, at which time she lost her mother.
     As a young girl, she and one brother and several of her sisters helped with the chores involved in running the family home as well as the family-owned business, Logan Floral.  In the floral she weeded, made corsages and transplanted bedding plants with her father as her instructor.  She was very creative and talented, a hard worker.
     She married Wilford Ray Moser (Bud) on Aug 6, 1946.  As a young bride, she was taken under her neighbor's wing where she continued to hone her sewing and cooking skills. She later learned to decorate cakes and how to make hand-dipped chocolates, all skills that would take her down the path of opening a catering/reception center.
    In 1960, she and Bud bought the Logan Floral from her father and moved into the family home.  Aspen Grover Reception Center followed in 1981, and Bud and Lois operated both businesses with the help of their children and grandchildren.
     After bud's death in 1986 Lois continued to oversee both Logan Floral and Aspen Grove and thoroughly enjoyed traveling with some of her sisters (always dissecting every new dish she encountered, hoping to recreate it at home and incorporate it into the Aspen Grove menu).
     She was always very friendly, people loved talking to her and she tried to make everyone feel included in whatever was gong on.  There were always cookies, pies, cakes and homemake bread at Lois'--and always a pot of coffee offered to anyone that had time to chat (and chat, and chat).
     She is survived by her four children, Terri Moser (Bill), Reno, Nev., Alan Moser (Susan), Logan, Utah, Colin Moser (Kathleen), Logan, Utah, JoAnnn Nyman (John), North Logan, Utah; nine gradchildren and 14 great grand-children.
     The family would like to thank everyone that has assisted in Lois' care. At  Lois' request, there will not be a funeral service.
     A graveside service will be conducted at the Logan City Cemetery, northwest corner at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug 27, 2011, under the direction of Nelson Funeral Home.  Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.nelsonfuneralhome.com

 Published in the Herald Journal, Sat August 27, 2011, p.A6, column 2 & 3

I spent many hours around the table, years ago when my parents would stop to chat and later as I chatted with Lois.  I will cherish those hours I stopped by for a while to chat.

Emma Hollenweger Haltinner (Haltiner) 1887-1937

Wife to Ernest Haltiner

I recently did an Analysis of the Death Certificate for Emma Hollenweger Haltinner (Haltiner) and these are some of the facts it tells us:

1. Death was at the Cache Valley General Hospital, Logan, Cache, Utah.  She resided at 890 N 6th E.

2. She was married at the time of death.

3. Her mother and father were from Switzerland and it tells us their names.

4. She died at 49 yrs, 5 months, & 8 days.

5.  She had an operation  on 18 Jan 1937 prior to her dying.

6.  Death date was 23 Jan 1937 and she died from Paralytic Ileu with a contributory cause  called chronic hyperplastic endometritis and a secondary contributory called hydrosapinx.

 Of course there is much more information.  The big question in the minds of the immediate family was what did she really die from. I googled all the terms and this is what the certificate is saying.  First she had an intestinal obstruction. Second she had an increase in the number of cells which can result in what we know as a tumor or an enlargement of an organ probably the uterus that was filled with an infection. The third cause of death was a distally blocked fallopian tube filled with serous or clear fluid. In my understanding, the death of Emma was not caused by a problem with the surgery, it was a result of being a mother, having babies and not having the vast knowledge in the medical field that we are blessed with today.

This untimely death took place when the youngest daughter was only 6 1/2 years old.  Emma had nine children and the two older ones had only been married about a year. When I think about this, my heart is full of sorrow.  I had eight children and I remember that time in my life when my older ones started getting married and yet my home was still full of children's laughter.  Although she was very sick and in pain,  I can't help but think the real pain was in her heart when she must of realized that she wouldn't be going home to that laughter.

I was setting around the dining table visiting with family and the story of the gloves came up again.  It seems to surface often when we get together. This story I love the most. It is about an Indian lady who came to Emma's door begging for food each time the members of her tribe came to Logan.  Emma always found a loaf of bread, maybe something from the garden, and she gave her some seeds from her flowers, the holly hocks, that the Indian lady loved.  One day, the Indian lady came to her door with a gift for Emma.  It was a pair of hand made gloves with beads hand stitched on the back of the gloves. By looking at the gift, one would know that it was a prized possession because they had been used a lot. I believe the lady knew how much work it was to garden and this was her way of giving her the most thoughtful gift she had to offer.  What a sacrifice it must have been for her.

We also talked about the lady that lived down the street from Emma who didn't have a stove to heat her home in the winter.  Anyone who has lived in Cache Valley knows that the winters can be very cold. When Emma found out that she didn't have anyway to heat her home, she sent a stove that had been in the basement of her home to the neighbor to keep her warm.  The comment made by the daughter telling the story was that "it was the way things were done.  They looked out for each other in their neighborhood."

I wonder if any gift I have given would even come close to the gifts that Emma gave.  What a gift she has given me.

Hope you enjoyed reading a little about Emma Hollenweger Haltiner.