Easter Spring Train

Yesterday, we went on the Heber Creeper with the Easter Bunny.  Grandma Debby planned this fun activity.  Before the ride, we had a baby animal petting zoo that the kids really liked.  Then walked around the grounds at the station.  It was a nice 45 minute ride to Solider Hollow and back.  The Easter bunny made an appearance twice, once she came to dance with the kids.  They did the Bunny Hop and the Hokie Pokie.  Audra Lynn danced her heart out on the train, she just had the best time.  Coli did dance to the Bunny Hop, but did not participate in the Hokie Pokie.  After the dancing the bunny left, and then later came back to give each person a plastic egg with a treat inside.  The treat this year was a Laffy Taffy. It was a beautiful day and a great day to get out on the train.  Thanks Grandma Debby for the fun on the Easter Spring Train!!

Some Treasures

Over the past couple of days, as we have been getting ready for my grandfather's funeral we have come up with some treasures of pictures.  I loved them so much I thought I would post some of them to the blog, so they will one day go into a book for my kids. 

Estella DeLone Williams Kienke Adamson

Name: Estella DeLone Williams Kienke Adamson

DOB: May 25, 1929

Death Date: N/A

Parents: George Lee Williams and Estella Reese Williams

Siblings: Lee Reese Williams and Lynnette Williams

Married: Donald Kienke, July 29, 1947

Married: Kenneth Paul Adamson September 14, 1974

Children: Alan Randy, Karen, Larry Kim

Step children: Cheryl, Jan Lori, Jill Elaine, Jeffrey Paul, Elizabeth Ann

This beautiful woman here is my grandmother on my mom's side. Grandma DeLone, as she goes by DeLone and not Estella, is one of the classiest ladies I know. She always is "done up" and looks like a million bucks. Even if it is for a backyard BBQ. I have been trying so hard to sum up this amazing woman for my blog, but I just don't even know if that is possible, I hope that this gives you a small glimpse of who she is.

This woman is a social butterfly, she has the busiest calendar of any person I know. She plays bridge, hosts at Pioneer Theatre, and always has something going on. I can't remember how many season tickets she held, while I was growing up, but there was at least 2 or 3. She and Papa Ken would travel sometimes with the family, sometimes with friends and other times just the 2 of them. She also was a host down at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building one day a week.

I am so grateful that my grandma is still around and that we can see her often. She lives just down the street from us and so we get over to see her on a regular basis.

Grandma DeLone married Grandpa Don when she was just 18. Soon after, they started their family. After living in Utah for some time, they moved to California. Grandma DeLone has done a lot in her life, at one point she was a model. She modeled hair wigs for a magazine company, back in the 60's and 70's. When she and Grandpa Don divorced, she started dating she dated doctors, actors, even some one who worked for the President of the US. She has so many stories, it is fun to hear her talk about them. Then she met Grandpa Ken. Grandpa Ken was a dentist, so she did married a doctor, she said that she would marry a doctor the second time around.

Grandma DeLone, when we were growing up so the best shopping companion. She would come and get us for the day and take us out shopping for special events, such as birthdays, back to school, Christmas. She would pick us up in the morning and we would be gone all day long. We would have lunch and a while after lunch our feet would be tired and achy from going all day and Grandma was still going. She made sure we had the popular clothes and toys.

Something worth noting. As you can see by the little facts at the top, she has 3 children from her first marriage and 5 more were added with her second. Grandpa Ken's first wife died in a car accident. So, when the two married she became the mother to 5 more kiddos, Cheryl was already married and out of the house, Jan and Jill were a little older. Jeff and Liz however, were still very young, so those 2 call her mom. Grandma DeLone and Papa Ken were amazing, they blended the families so well. I really don't know life any other way, I have a huge family on that side and I love it. In fact, at Papa Ken's funeral, someone commented on how well the family was blended and how impressed they were by this. Grandma DeLone is such a family person, putting family first. I remember she would cancel plans to make it to school performances, dance recitals, etc. She would have sleep overs with all the cousins so we could have time to just play and be kids. Her house was always open to anyone. In fact, there was a time she was helping out some people who really needed it. She would take people off the street, she bought clothes and paid for a haircut for a young lady that needed some guidance. She is an amazing example for me and what a person should be like.

Grandma was also known for that she was ALWAYS running late, you could count on her being at least 15 minutes if not 30 minutes late to an event. In fact, when she was on time once, she said mark this day on the calendar.

A funny story to tell about Grandma. It was the night of her mother's viewing, that night there were 2 viewings being held at the funeral home. Grandma DeLone walked in just in front of us. As, we walked down the hall to the room were Great Grandma was resting, Grandma DeLone came out of the other room just crying. She said to my mom. "It doesn't even look like her." My mom said at that time, "Mom, Grandma is in here," as she pointed to the other room. Grandma then told my mom how she was crying at this other persons casket stating "Mom, it doesn't look like you." She was trying to fix her hair and make this poor person look like her mom. It is a story that the family still loves to tell.

Donald Carlysle Kienke

Name: Donald Carlysle Kienke
Date of Birth: April 9, 1927
Date of Death: November 10, 1993
Parents: Asa S. Kienke and Mary Margret Horne
Siblings: Byron, Lucille, Albert
Married: Estella DeLone Williams July 29, 1947
Married: Sandy Peeples April 26, 1974
Married: Marilyn
Children: Alan Randy, Karen, Larry Kim, Jamie Noel

I have been struggling with this post because Papa Don is probably the grandfather I know the very least. He lived in California for most of my life, making a few visits out to see us. He did spend the last 2 months of his life living with us, which did help make up for some of what we lost. However, he was extremely ill at this point. You see he had melanoma skin cancer that spread through out his body taking him from us at the age of 66.
There are some things I do remember and somethings that I have been told. He and his brother Albert used to build and fly model airplanes, which he was written up in the newspaper about. I know that he was one heck of a business man. He owned a car lot, Don Kienke Used Car Lot, that was successful. He started a car insurance company "The Safe Drivers Club," once in a while you will still see a sticker on an old car from those days. He was the owner of a radio station here in Utah, KWIC. He also owned and started TV preview. He owned Arabian horses in California, I do remember visiting some of the horses as a very little girl, and we feed them carrots. He also worked in the mortgage business, selling mobile homes.
Some of my memories include that things had to be just right. When those things were just right he would say "Perfect" and make a hand gesture with it. In fact, on his head stone it says "Perfect." I remember he was a very healthy eater, and showed us how to mix avocado with salsa. It was so delicious. I remember he showed us how to cut an onion so that you don't cry, however, I don't remember how he did it. His favorite flower was a rose, and when he was living with us, my parents would cut fresh roses out of the garden and place them in his room in a vase so he could enjoy them. I was in 7th grade when he was living with us. After school, I would go in and sit and talk with him for 30-60 minutes, before getting to my homework and dinner. I am so glad that I did.
When he was living with us, the Halloween season was upon us. As a family we used to really go all out and decorate the front yard, that afternoon he watched from the bedroom. My dad came in and stated "Damn Don, we had been working all afternoon and that scarecrow doesn't look anywhere near as bad as you." My grandfather replied "Sign me up for the afternoon shift." He did have a sense of humor. My dad and he would go back and forth all the time during those last 2 months.
Some things about his life worth noting: His father Asa, was a wood worker, that was amazing. In fact, he is mentioned in Gordon B. Hinckley's autobiography. There is no proof at this point, however, the time capsule that is made of wood that the church owns, is thought by my family to have been created by Asa. Asa and Mary Margret had Byron, then lost baby after baby. She would carry them full term and they would die just before birth or just after. Finally, they adopted Lucille. Years later, they had Albert and Papa Don. My mom believes that they were victims of the Rh Factor, however we do not know that for sure. Jamie, is Sandy's daughter, who my grandfather adopted. Sandy later changed her name to Raine.

You can click here http://familyandstamps.blogspot.com/2010/09/where-i-grew-up.html, to read my memories of his passing. I do know that, now that I am older, I wish I had more memories and that I had soaked up the time I had with him. Here's to Don Kienke and the great man that he was.

Lynn Harris Nelson

Name: Lynn Harris Nelson

Date of Birth: February 16, 1923

Death Date: N/A celebrated his 88th birthday today

Parents: Glenn and Milicent Nelson

Siblings: Robert Nelson and Sally Nelson

Married to: Mary Louise Taylor March 1, 19-- (still have to get that date)

Children: Stillborn, Jeffrey, Tammy, and Gregory

This great man is my grandfather on my dad's side. However, he decided that he was too young to be called "grandpa," so instead we called him Papa Lynn. I don't even know how to give you a good glimpse of this man, there are so many things but I will do my very best. Well, one thing is for sure, my sisters and I would not know how to play poker if it wasn't for Lynn Nelson. You see, when we would spend the night/weekend at their home, he would break out the cards and chips, and teach us poker. He ALWAYS fronted us the money to ante up, he would deal and then help us play, no doubt sleepovers were expensive. I remember at the end of the poker matches he would call up to Mama Mary, asking were her purse was so he could pay his "debts." We loved playing poker with Papa Lynn. He was always willing to make a bet, if you wanted to bet on football, horse races or other sporting events you usually could get him to go in on it. He also paid us if he swore, $.25 per swear word. We used to listen so closely to try and catch him in the act. I remember one day at our house, my cousins were down at our house with us and all five grandchildren were helping bring things in from out in the trunk. Papa Lynn bumped his head and swore twice, so it cost him $2.50 that day just from that incident.

He also would teach us funny little songs such as:

Be kind to your web footed friends,

That poor duck may be some body's mother.

Remember the boys in the swamp, where the weather is so cold and damp,

Now you may think that this is the end. Well it is!

and

There's a place in France,

Where the naked ladies dance,

There's a hole in the wall

Where the men can see it all,

And the men don't care cause they're in their underwear

And the police don't shoot cause they think it's kinda cute

He is so very funny. I remember calling him in the mornings on our way to school. The first thing that he would say to you when you got on "My you look nice today." A sure way to make you smile and even laugh Once in a while, he still pulls that one on me. He said it too my not that long ago and it was the furthest thing from the truth, it really made me laugh so hard, because it had been such a long time since I had heard that and I looked so horrible. He can also tell stories that make you laugh til you cry. I unfortunately, did not inherit this gene, however my dad and his siblings did and so did my sisters. I love when the family is together and they get on a kick, because your sides can just ache from laughing so much.

Some interesting things to know about Papa Lynn. He is an excellent cook. I remember he would be the one in the kitchen, preparing our meals. I don't remember too many meals but I do remember his salads. He could make the best salads and of course serve it with a slice of French bread with butter.

He is also color blind. He was flying planes for the U.S. Air Force during World War II, that was until they found out that he was color blind. During that same war he was held hostage as a prisoner of war. I believe that he was held in China, unfortunately, due to the events of September 11, 2001. He was unable to return to China and see that country from a different aspect.

He also could play the piano, and so beautifully. However, he could not read sheet music, he always played by ear. He felt that this held him back, but he truly was very talented. Unfortunately, he has given up this past time due to his age and lack of memory. I did not get this talent either. I could go on and on about Papa Lynn and the life he has lead. I hope that this helps you understand him and remember a little about him too.

Mary Louise Taylor Nelson

Name: Mary Louise Taylor Nelson

DOB: September 30, 1925

Death Date: October 12, 1997

Parents: Ralph & Ethel Taylor

Siblings: Charles Ralph Taylor

Married to: Lynn Harris Nelson on March 1, 19-- (more to get)

Children in order: Still born, Jeffrey, Tammy, Gregory

This beautiful woman is my grandmother on my dad's side. She passed away when I was 16 years old, we were on vacation in Lake Powell when we got the news. She had been visiting family friends and went out to her car where she was found a little later slumped over, apparently her heart had given up.

She was a wonderful lady. She was a social butterfly and loved talking on the phone or visiting her friends. She had the best laugh, it would bring a smile to your face. She loved to knit and work on other yarn projects. I don't remember a time that she wasn't working on something, dish clothes, hot pads, sunglasses cases, cute little yarn "gingerbread houses" and numerous yarn crafts. I remember at one point she had tired of working with yarn, so she needle-pointed the dinning room chair seats. They were unbelievable.

One thing I KNOW I inherited from Mama Mary (that is what us girls called her) is my love of chocolate. She and I love that addicting brown stuff. The darker the better in our world.

However, she was not much of a cook from what I remember. If Papa Lynn was not around during a meal, she would often feed us canned soup, frozen pizza, or sandwiches. One thing I do remember her making that I have never been able to duplicate is a Peanut Butter and Mayo sandwich. Hers were the best, mine are disgusting. Funny how happy memories make food taste better.

She and Papa Lynn lived in Tremonton Utah, while we grew up. Her brother Charlie lived less than 1 mile away. She would often take us over to his house so we could swim in their pool and play with cousins that we did not see very often.

Something worth mentioning, she said yes to marring my grandfather after 2 dates. The wedding was planned in 6 weeks. They were married for 50 years. She had several nicknames Pelican, Duckie, Mary bear, her children and sweetheart called her these names.

So here is the first of many posts to come through the year of some family history. I hope that I don't bore you all with this info. I just want my kids to know where they come from and discover who they are.