Mother's Letter from Mar Dean Nielsen

Steve and Mar Dean Nielsen.  Steve was the branch president of the Carbondale Branch when we lived in Illinois.  They left the area about the same time we did, moving to Las Vegas, while we moved back to Hyrum.  However the friendship continued.  We stave with the Nielsens many years later when  we traveled to Las Vegas for a funeral.
Mar Dean wrote my mother a care when mom broke her neck in a fall.
Dear Ileen,
We were so sorry to her of your accident.  You must of fallen hard to have done so much damage.
I am going through our cards again before I throw them away, when i came upon yours.  I thought I must write to her.
We had some good times in  Carbondale, didn't we.  I remember the show we went to and walked out because the language was so bad.  It would probably be "G" rated now.  The Thanksgiving that we spent at the church.  The dinner that our husbands us with at the church.  Great times!!
Take care of yourself and know that we love you.

Pioneer Day Children's Parades

Every year as a youth, the Pioneer Day Children's Parade was something to look forward to.  This was usually celebrated on Primary Day close to the 24th of July.  Back then you had primary one day a week outside of Sunday meetings.  During the summer this meeting was held during the day, and when school was in session was held after school.  There was always an organized parade for the fourth.  Children would decorate their bikes or wagons up in pioneer style, or just in streamers.  Our usual get-up was a loin cloth.  My mother had sewed a loin cloth to shorts so they were modest, and then we would paint our faces with crayon.  That was how we participated in the Primary parade for many years.  We often had really short hair for the summer, so our entire costume was never very authentic.  I know Weldon escaped this costume by decorating his bike one year, but usually there was no escape.  My mom liked things organized, and Indian loin clothes were organized.
In Hyrum we would take the parade around a block.  Around the block in Hyrum is a half mile.  I also participated twice in Carbondale (Illinois).  Here there was a busy street in front of the church, so our parade was around the parking lot a couple of times.  Of course the Carbondale Branch had a smaller showing, but some years in Hyrum the parade would extend for half a block, although the roads were wide and the Primary organizers usually had us three or four across.  I don't remember singing any songs, but I am sure there was an opening while we waiting for more children to gather who might be running late.

Carbondale, Ill Branch Relief Society and Outing.

We lived in Carbondale for my 5th and 6th grades, or 1966 to 1968.  We were members of the Carbondale Branch of the Carbondale District.  The President of the district lived in our ward.  Our branch president was Steve Nielsen.  My father served as scout master.  My mother was in the primary, and then was called as the relief society president.
I remember one week in church she was assigned to not buy anything as a family, and to just eat from our food storage.  We had a very small apartment at the time, and not much space for food storage.  We made it until we had the missionaries over for dinner.  My mom bought ice cream to serve them.
On of the high lights of her service as the president was putting on a Hawaiian luau party for the sisters.

Party

Inside the foyer, mom 2nd from left, Mardean Nielsen right

branch picnic (mom and Mardean)

relief society (mom 4th from left)