In 1974 Richard's mother had a peaceful death. It was like she knew her work was over with the Miriam Hardy family as Miriam was to marry Don Nelson. For years Vida had helped with the cleaning, helped the boys on the paper routes, had had them all take turns staying with her at her home.
She had done so much for Miriam and the children after Scott passed away. They would miss her presence very much. Her Memorial Services were Saturday, June 29, 1974 in Las Vegas and she had died on the 26th. She was born February 6, 1895. I remember having a conversation with Kathy, another daughter-in-law, and we talked about some of the things she had taught us that we put into our life, things that at the time we thought were odd and yet we came to appreciate them after we had been married with children for awhile.
She was 79 years old and had been a widow for 32 years. Vida was a remarkable woman, her life was not easy. She had been a nurse before marriage and served others all her life. She was a tremendous influence on Richard and his choices in life and he loved her dearly and treated her with great respect and love.
Miriam had been a widow for 12 years, had finished college and was teaching home making in a high school. The weekend Miriam was due to get married, Vida passed away while sitting in her chair. Her grandson Alan was with her. Beautiful services were held for Vida with her many siblings, family members and children all in attendance. The following week Miriam had her wedding at her own home and it was a lovely affair.
In a letter that I had written to Vida in the April before her death I had told her about reading the book about Dudley Leavitt called "On the Ragged Edge". Dudley Leavitt is Richard's Great Grandfather on his father's side. Richard's cousin Vaughn, who was working with Richard, had lent us the book.
I wrote:
"I certainly enjoyed it and have told the children some of the stories in it. John enjoyed looking at all the pictures of the relatives in it. I had a hard time understanding how these people were blessed in any way at all--it seems their life was so hard and full of toil.
However, yesterday as I prepared to help in a lesson in Relief Society that was about the evils of today facing our children--it suddenly came to me. These pioneer people were very blessed in that they could raise their families as they chose, teach them the truth, and not have them confronted with outside evils at all. It was from these families raised away from the world that the strength of the leadership in the church has come. It is good for the children to know about their heritage."
I also wrote Vida that we had four new puppies from Cooky the mother and we would soon need to find homes for them! I also told her we had enjoyed a dinner out with Vaughn, Lois and their niece and nephew. I commented on their lovely condo in Del Mar. Years later when we would sell our La Jolla home, we would look first in that area to see if we wanted to live there, but it was too expensive we decided.
Richard added a note expressing a wish that she would come and visit us, as had I. I also told her we were waiting to hear when Miriam was getting married so we could plan a trip to see her, too. Unfortunately we did not get to see her again until her funeral.
As we gathered at her home to decide what to do with all her furniture and possessions I made sure all her many family history books, records, and pictures were stored in a huge trunk which we took to our home. Years later her granddaughter Lory Wollenzien would use that material to put together a beautiful book about hers and Merlin's life. I am so glad we have that record of her life.
As we gathered at her home to decide what to do with all her furniture and possessions I made sure all her many family history books, records, and pictures were stored in a huge trunk which we took to our home. Years later her granddaughter Lory Wollenzien would use that material to put together a beautiful book about hers and Merlin's life. I am so glad we have that record of her life.
