Happy Valentine's Day - Love Is In The Air~

Can you feel it? Can you breath it in?
Yes, love is in the air today.

 I can feel it. I can breath it in.

Love comes in many shades of color. Love can be white; in it's purity. Love can be red, in it's passion. Love can be yellow; cheerful and fun.

Love can be warm as the sun. Love can be bright as the moon. Love can twinkle like a stars. Yes, love is all around us; can you feel it?

I love my husband with a profound tender and passionate affection.

I know he loves me. He is my Eternal Love~

I love my children and  grandchildren and great grandchildren

with the kind of love that only a parent and grandparent can feel~

Wishing my sweet husband and my family a very Happy Valentine's Day~

Happy Valentines to All of you that I love. I treasure our friendships that have been made through the years and those awesome Blogging and Facebook friends too. 

Sending love and hugs your way!

OUR HONEYMOON - CHAPTER SIX

Our Honeymoon consisted of ten glorious days of traveling and sightseeing from rainy Utah to dry hot Nevada, to Sunny California. We spent out first night in a small motel in Grantsville, Utah. It was a rainy night so anything looked good to us; even this old fashioned place. Next we traveled to Reno, Nevada, Sacramento, Chico, Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco, California. We also visited many other places throughout Northern California.
Roger was able to show me many of the areas he served in. We stopped and visit some of his converts and friends. We stayed one night with Jean Freeman and her children in Saratoga, California. She was one of Roger's favorite people. He didn't teach her but became friends with her and her children. Her husband would not let her be baptized for a very long time. Finally she was given permission. Roger did participate in the baptisms of her children. Jean and I had written letters back and forth while Roger was on his mission. We became very dear friends and still are. She helped me a lot in the difficulty of waiting for a missionary. We also visited with Mom mom Engle. She and her children were converts of Roger's. Mom mom was a nickname and she became such a wonderful Mom mom to us through the years. We treasured our friendship.We also visited some converts that were in the John Birch Society which was an organization fighting for the constitution of the United States. One memorable visit was to a black Sister that Roger taught and baptized. She had asked to be taught the gospel. She lived in San Francisco and in that era the missionaries were not able to teach black people unless they asked for it. Roger was able to teach and baptize her. She had us for dinner in her small apartment. She was an older sister in her 70's. She fixed us a steak and salad and then she would not sit down with us to eat. She said that black people were not suppose to eat with white people. We insisted that we didn't make that rule and we wanted her to sit down with us. She finally did. It is so sad what they had to go through over the many years of slavery and etc. She was an awesome black convert; that we were privileged to have been her friend.
One of the most favorite places we stayed in was Carmel by the sea. It was so beautiful there. The ocean was so beautiful and the beaches were awesome.I remember most going out to dinner. We both dressed up in Sunday best. I had a yellow dress that I wore a paisley green jacket with. It would have been very much in style both in color and design. I felt so great in this dress. We had dinner and were placed close to a fireplace. It was so romantic. I myself had never been in a restaurant this nice before. It was such a treat.
We have some really sweet memories of these 10 days together. Our honeymoon was truly beautiful and we didn't want to come home and face the reality of school and jobs.
Apparently, we didn't take many pictures while we were on this wonderful adventure.

OUR WEDDING DAY - JUNE 13, 1967

Our Wedding Day was the beginning of our home. We have loved being together for 42 wonderful and fulfilling years and anticipate eternity together. We love all of our children and grandchildren, who have given us so much joy through the years. We love each and everyone of you and desire that we be an eternal family with No Empty Chairs. We are grateful to our Heavenly Father and Savior for all the blessings of this life. We love serving in the temples and feel so close to the spirit and receive peace every time we walk within the wall of those sacred buildings
We have a strong and true testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

View PhotatoBug Slideshow

OUR WEDDING DAY - JUNE 13, 1967 - CHAPTER FIVE

After 42 years of marriage; I will try to capture our wedding preparations and our wedding day.
Of course, I had a wedding shower given me by my close friends. Most of these friends were from the I'll Be True Club and from nursing school. I remember how I had such a good time at my shower. We laughed and cried; it was a great evening. One of shower activities in those days was to make a wedding dress out of tissue paper. The dress was made on me. my friends had a great time doing that. The dress was very creative to say the least. Roger, the groom showed up later to see what I had been given for gifts and to say good bye to my friends.
It was also popular in those days to have various items for your trousseau. I had bought some china and also had pillow cases and dish towels that were embroidered with various scenes. 
 One of the highlights of preparation was when 4 of my great aunts came and quilted two quilts for me. One of the quilts was made out of extra dress material from the many dresses my mother had made for me. The other quilt was a beautiful pink quilt with a star made up of other pastel colors; it is still a treasure to me. The silk quilt I have never used. Of course, my father charmed my great aunts by dancing with them. All of these events were captured by photos. My precious mother made my wedding dress and veil. At that time I probably didn't appreciate all the love and work that went into making my dress. We had several fittings of course and took pictures of those moments too.
The day before our wedding day was filled with so much to do that by the early evening both Roger and I were exhausted; so we parted early in the evening to see if we could get some sleep. As I recall it was hard to fall asleep thinking about that tomorrow we would be married for time and all eternity.
Roger came to pick me up around 8 am to go to the temple. My sweet mother had also made me a white lace dress to wear to the temple and after the wedding. My mother of course took a picture of us before we left for the temple. Roger had a new suit; it was a light olive pin strip suit and he looked so handsome.
We were both really nervous about getting married; but also very excited. We arrived at the temple and were taken into the office to fill out the needed paper work. My Mother and Dad were suppose to be at the temple by around 8:30 am and they were late. I was so nervous because she had my wedding dress and of course we couldn't get married without them. They soon arrived and we both were taken to the areas to get ready to get married. When we were ready they took us up to the sealing room in the Salt Lake Temple where we ended up waiting for about an hour for Elder Ezra Taft Benson to come to marry us. We were suppose to have been married at 9:30 am; but we finally were married at around 10 am. While we were waiting for him to come I remember just sitting in that room with our families and feeling so grateful for them all. I was so much in love with the awesome man I was about to marry. I guess you could say I was marrying the love of my life and my best friend for time and all eternity. I knew beyond a doubt he felt the same way about me. As we knelt across the alter and looked at each other; how we loved each other so much and we could finally be together. I couldn't even begin to tell you what Elder Benson said as he sealed our marriage; but I did feel the spirit and love that was present in the room that day.
Elder Benson asked us to come to his office in a year and visit with him again. We were so blessed to have him be able to seal us. Roger's father was well acquainted with him so he was happy to do that for us. It was unusual in that day to have one of the 12 do a wedding sealing for anyone except family. We didn't get back in a year to see him; but we did go back in 2 years and had a wonderful discussion with him in his office. Later of course he became the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.
After the wedding we changed our clothes and dressed in the outfits we had come to the temple in. It was raining that day as we left and we were lucky we had an umbrella. As we went out on the street a woman came up to us and said; I hope you are as happy in 50 years as you are today. We have so much more love in our hearts for one another now than on that day. We have had such a good life thus far together and our love has grown and expanded until there is no way to really express it.
Roger's parents had a wedding breakfast at the Lamplighter Restaurant for us and all our families were there; except for my brother Mac.
The rest of the day was filled with various errands and activities. I went and had my hair and nails done and Roger ran other errands.
In the evening we had a reception at a reception center. It was well attended and we had a really good time. My wedding cake was beautiful. My colors for my wedding line were pink and my Maid of honor was Marilyn Brady, Roger's sister; my bridesmaids were Annette Longman, Danelle Jensen and Diana Dial. The first two were from our missionary club and Diana was a friend from nursing school. Roger's best man was his brother Bruce and the rest of his line were my brother John and his younger brothers. Our flower girl was our niece Kelly Jayne.
Roger's sister Gloria sat by our wedding book. Roger's father took all of the wedding pictures. I was rather upset later on because he took only black and white photo's because he said colored ones would fade in time; which some of them did. One of the best wedding photo's cut part of Roger's head off and a few years back I was able to get it fixed by a professional photographer who used new technology to fix it.
The only stressful moment of the evening was when we changed our clothes and prepared to leave for our Honeymoon. My brother and some of Roger's brothers took our Volkswagen and put it up on cinder blocks. I didn't think it was funny at all. After getting a little upset they finally took it down.
Roger and I had went out to Grantsville, Utah about a week before and made reservations for a motel room for our first night. As we left late for Grantsville it was raining really hard. One of the windshield wipers wouldn't work so Roger could hardly see while driving. We had to go very slow. When we finally arrived in Grantsville we went to the motel and the lights were out and we couldn't get anyone to help us. We realized that they had probably given our room a way. We drove around for a few moments and finally found a motel that had their lights on. It was not really a welcoming type of motel; but we were tired and grateful to have a room.One of the negative moments was when I was getting ready for bed there was a cockroach in the bathroom sink that really freaked me out.
The next day we left on our honeymoon to Northern California. We had 7 days; but we stretched it out to 10 days and toured much of Roger's mission area and met with some of his converts. We loved the ocean and the various areas we visited. It was a great honeymoon and that will be Chapter Six.
Just a side note; we have been married for 42 years and have had many life experiences together; some hard but mostly good moments. We have been so blessed to have the children, and grandchildren that we have. We love and treasure each one of them so much. We both have deep and abiding testimonies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We love our Heavenly Father and our Savior more than mere words can express. We love the temple and feel so blessed to be able to work there. We have been deeply blessed in so many ways. We are so grateful to have been married in the temple for time and all eternity. Our love for each other is priceless. We love our posterity and out greatest desire is that we can all be in the Celestial Kingdom together; we want no empty chairs. Our family brings us our greatest joys.

HOMECOMING & ENGAGEMENT- CHAPTER FOUR

Roger returned home from his mission from Northern California on Wednesday, March 22, 1967. I will of course never forget that day. We had communicated per letter that it might be best if I didn't come out to the airport to meet him. His parents were pretty strict and would not want him to give me a hug or kiss until he had been released from his mission. I received a post card from Roger on the day before he returned and he decided that maybe I should come out to the airport. I felt confused over this and finally felt it would be better if I didn't go out to the airport; this was a hard decision for me. His sister Gloria had also decided when her future husband John came home from his mission that she wouldn't go out. However, the two of us went out and hid and watched John being welcomed home. This was a big temptation for me to do the same.
On the day Roger came home; I went to my nursing classes that day; and I had a big knot in my stomach for the whole day. I was so nervous about seeing him again. I had prayed so hard that he would not have changed his feelings. Two years was a very long time and I had missed him so much that it hurt. I came home around 2 pm. As I entered the house a big plane flew over and I knew it was his plane. I went in and of course got ready to see him. I dressed up in a nice dress and made sure I was all put together. I wore a suit that had dark maroon back ground with flowers. It was an in style suit for that era.
I then began to wait. I was very stressed. My parents came home around 5:30 pm and Roger and not come yet. As the time went on I became worried that he wasn't going to come over at all.
Finally, around 7 pm I was sure he probably wouldn't come; so I changed my clothes and went for a walk. I walked for quite a while and I had memorized my favorite scripture in Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thy heart; lean not on thine own understanding. In all thy ways remember him and he will direct thy path". I think I said that scripture about a hundred times. I finally came home and changed into a house coat; which really ages me because no one wears those in today's world. My parents had bought a home while Roger was gone and one of the bedrooms had become a TV room. I went into that room and tried to watch TV. I was really having a hard time not crying. I felt for sure that he wasn't going to come. At around 8 pm; the door bell rang and it was him. Dad and Mom answered the door first and I could hear them welcoming him home. They really loved him a lot and I know they were nervous for me. I took a deep breath and walked out in the hallway; and there he was standing there and all the feelings of my love for him came out. I went to him and he took me into his arms and gave me a kiss. It was like heaven for sure. Dad and Mom quickly exited and went for a drive leaving us alone. We sat on the couch and recapped the days events. He had went home and got an appointment with the Stake President so he could be released from his mission before he came over. It was so good because then he would feel free to hold my hand, hug and kiss me. I knew that we both had the same emotions. He was finally home! We talked for quite a while and then he had borrowed his Brother's car; so we had to go downtown and pick him up.When he took me back home; I was so incredibly happy. He was Home!
Roger found a job with the church cleaning floors at the Bee Hive Bank building and I continued to go to school and work as a student nurse at LDS Hospital. We were with each other every second we could be.
One of my very dear friends from High School, Betty Gurciao was getting married in the temple and had a reception on Saturday, April 1st. Roger and I planned to attend. The night before Roger had told me he was going to visit some of his siblings to see how they felt about us. A few days after he came home; his mother had even suggested he date some other girls before we made a commitment. At the time I was very upset that she would suggest this; I had spent a lot of time with them during his mission. When he told me this I told him that if he dated I would date too. With these two incidents; I of course became very emotional and cried most of the night. My parents didn't know how to comfort me. As I looked back later on this; I did the typical woman thing of reading into his thoughts more than was there. At the time he had no idea I was upset.
In the morning I went to work as a student nurse and took a change of clothes and items needed to get ready for the reception. The hospital had a locker room where we could shower and change. I had a knot in my stomach and felt very confused, frustrated and maybe even a little anger through the day. In the late afternoon I changed and went outside of the hospital to wait for him to pick me up. His brother Michael came in a truck to pick me up to take me to their home where we could leave from there. I let this incident upset me even more. When we finally arrived and Roger and I got ready to leave for the reception I didn't sit by him. In those days the cars had straight seats without a console between seats. I sat next to the door.Roger told me that he had spoken with a couple of his siblings; I think it was a couple of his older siblings. He seemed happy and said that they were favorable towards our relationship. He finally convinced me to slide over by him and I warmed up.
We enjoyed the wedding reception. They had a dance and we always enjoyed dancing together. However, Roger had to leave to go to work at the Bee Hive Bank Building. He asked if I would come with him and wait in a waiting room while he did his work. Of course, I said yes. When we arrived at the building he went to work. When he finished he asked me if I knew any place we could go that would be private and nice to talk for a while. I really didn't have any place in mind and about that time it was around midnight. We got in our faithful 52 Chevy and headed up one of the canyons. As we drove, Roger spotted a little area in the middle of a field that had a bridge. We drove near to the bridge and got out and walked over on the bridge. It actually was a very romantic spot. The night was clear; and the sky full of stars and a bright moon was shinning. After a few minutes of looking out on this very serene landscape. Roger said, " If you could have anything that you want in this world what would it be?" I replied, and said, "You!" He brought out the small velvet box and opened it and said; " will this do?" It was a yes. With all my heart, yes!. The ring was so beautiful and I have loved it for years and will for eternity. He told me that he got the ring just a few days after he came home. It was around 2 am on April 1st, when we arrived at my home. We went in and I woke my parents up and showed them the ring. Knowing my dear parents they were greatly relieved; because they loved Roger so much and wanted us to get married. We didn't tell his parents for a few more days. I think he was a little nervous about it. However, I will always remember when we walked into his house his father was ironing a pair of pants. I went over and showed him my ring and he said, " Well, it's about time" and then gave me a big hug. His Mother was sweet about it too. I know that many of you know about Grandpa and Grandma's quick engagement and marriage. As I look back on it I can maybe see why she wanted Roger to date more. Funny thing is that we had dated 5 years, including his mission; that should be enough time to get to know someone.
Within the next few days we worked on when to get married. We decided we had waited long enough to be with each other; so we chose to get married on June 13, 1967. We tried to get a different date; but it was in the middle of the Viet Nam war, so many couples were getting married so there were not that many dates available at the Salt Lake Temple. Too me, the number 13 is one of the best numbers ever. We were so excited and began our plans. At that time, I think Roger's parents thought we should have a longer engagement; that would not have been wise.
On Sunday, April 2nd we attended the last session of April conference and sat up in the Balcony. Later, Jean Freeman a friend from Roger's mission field told us she saw us on TV in the balcony and knew we had gotten engaged because we looked so happy.
Just a side note to our engagement. A few years after we had been married; we drove up the canyon one night to see if our engagement spot was still there. It was at night and we found it and drove in our little VW down close by it. We got out and walked on the bridge. Meanwhile, our little VW decided to join us and came down and got stuck between the sides of the bridge. We were disturbed about this; but at the same time we laughed a lot about it.
Roger and I were so much in love and looked forward to the date of June 13th to come quickly so that we might be married and sealed forever in the Salt Lake Temple. Our love then is so much more and richer now.

WORK , COLLEGE & MISSION - CHAPTER THREE

Summertime after graduation was so much fun. We did have to work however, which crunched our play time.We enjoyed going to movies with friends, out to great Salt Lake swimming. We went fishing with my Dad and Mom either to Strawberry Reservoir, Malad, Idaho or Fish Lake. Mother was famous for catching the most fish. We laughed so much over fun stories that they would tell us. Both Dad and Mom loved Roger and He loved them. Roger went hunting with my Dad and brothers in the fall of that year. I know my brothers would tease him a lot; but he took it well and enjoyed the hunting. I loved it when he got back from the hunt safely. I loved him in his cowboy hat and boots. He was very handsome. Roger was always a very nice dresser and always looked totally perfect. Even today he is still that way. He likes his white shirts pressed to perfection; so it's a good thing that I let him iron them. I also have him press creases in my pants; because he makes the crease so perfect. Roger continued to work at the Book Bindery and I worked for my favorite boss, Malcome C. Petrie. We were saving money for tuition to go to University of Utah. We took the college entrance exams and of course Roger passed with flying colors. I on the other hand didn't do well on the Math portion; so when we signed up for classes I had to registrar for a dumb bell math class; which was irritating to me. Our classes were the the required courses. I especially enjoyed a pre nursing class, biology and history. Roger enjoyed English and Chemistry. We both took a swimming class at a different time. The classes were in the same building but the swimming pools were separated; I later learned why. I was so shocked when he told me that the men did not have swimming suits; that was really weird. We went to school together in our 1952 Chevy and usually had lunch together. We enjoyed all of the sports and went to all of the Basketball and Football games that we could. Roger only went for the first two quarters. I completed the full year. After Roger's second quarter; he worked full time to save money for his mission. At this point he wasn't sure what he wanted to go into for a career. His father really wanted him to be a physician. I always wanted to be a nurse. I can't remember a time I didn't want to be a nurse. I heard so many stories from my grandmother about her nursing experiences and that was what I wanted too.
One really funny thing happened that year. He got tickets for us to go out to Lagoon to see Roger Williams the Pianist. When he gave them his name to hold the tickets; they kind of laughed. When we got out there he didn't have any tickets because they thought it was someone who was playing a joke. Through the years when he would introduce his self; he has often been teased about being the piano player or the great religious reformer.

ROGER AND LEANN

MARCH 1965

For me that year went way too fast which meant his mission time was coming.We had talked about getting married; but I really felt strongly that he should go on a mission. I knew he wanted to go too. We will forever be grateful that he made that decision. He had a dream in high school about me and he felt that I held his future in my hands. I just knew deep in my heart that a mission would be one of the greatest blessings of our lives. It was a risk in not knowing whether the time a way would change our feelings for each other; but if anything it strengthened those feelings. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my entire life. I loved him deeply and two years was a very very long time. We were faithful in writing one another and as I look back on those two years I will always be grateful for every letter received because not only could I feel his growing testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; but it strengthened mine more than words can express. Roger was called to the Northern California Mission. I will never forget going with his family to take him to the Mission Home. The Mission Home was a large older home up near the Salt Lake Temple. He was to be there for 2 weeks. When I went in with him; I met the Mission Home President and his wife. Their names were Pres. and Sister Brown. She took me aside and talked with me for a while about waiting for a missionary and the importance of not being a distraction to his missionary work. She said it in such a kind and loving way that I felt good that she would talk with me. It was so hard to say good by; but I was able to go to the Missionary testimony meeting held in the Assembly Hall at the end of the two weeks. It was a wonderful meeting. The day that Roger left for his mission; I went with his parents to take him to the train station. We were both nervous and we held hands on the way to the train station. My parents came to the train station to say good-by along with Roger's siblings. As he boarded the train; his sister Gloria pushed me up the train steps to have a few moments alone to say good by. He did give me a kiss and asked me to wait for him; but he actually told me to date if I wanted too. We both cried; it was so hard. I immediately ran down the steps of the train and then just started to run away from the train. I cried so hard and for a really long time. It was just so very hard; because I loved him so much and I did know and feel that he loved me too. At first our letters were often filled with homesickness for one another. Finally, Roger had to tell me to not write emotional thoughts because he couldn't do what he had to do on his mission. He also had been calling me. There weren't as many rules about writing and calling as there are now. I can see now why there are more rules. It is hard to keep your focus if you are writing love letters. He did however call me on Holidays and my Birthday. We were such good friends that we shared so many thoughts about what we were both doing during those two years. Roger fulfilled a productive and wonderful mission and had a great impact on many lives. He taught and baptized many investigators. He served in some great areas of the mission. At one time he was in Ely, Nevada for a short while; which was not that far from Salt Lake. I thought for a moment or two how wonderful it would have been to drive there and see if I could see him tracking; rather unrealistic I know and wishful thinking on my part. He had leadership responsibilities as a District and Zone Leader. At the closing interview President Peterson his mission president told him that at one point he was going to make him an assistant to the President. However, one of the Elder's said there would be problems if he chose someone from Salt Lake to serve. As usual there were some politics. I know that Roger didn't care either way; he just enjoyed working hard. He had some awesome companion's and a few that he struggled with. The first year around Christmas he had a companion that didn't like for him to be writing to me; so he made it difficult for Roger. I didn't get a letter for a couple of weeks; and it was really hard. He finally sent me something and called me on Christmas; just hearing his voice and I knew all was well. He also, had me type his missionary journal; which gave me a chance to really share with him his experiences. Sometimes, his journal entries would be my letter for the week; but it always gave me strength to go on when I would read of his experiences and feel of his testimony. He served in San Francisco for three months. At that time there were some riots going on. His apartment was just a few blocks from the Haight Ashbury district which was know for the Hippies and drug culture. Often times he and his companion could hear gun fire. I was pretty nervous for him while he was there because it was more dangerous than some of the other areas he served in. In later years he shared a big obstacle in his life that I was unaware of. He had a fear of giving talks. He had prepared a talk for Primary and when he got up to give it he froze and was speechless. After that experience he never gave another talk until a brief farewell talk for his mission. He learned to overcome this while serving on his mission. Since his mission he has become a very dynamic speaker. He says that he still feels nervousness when he speaks or has to conduct meetings. However, you would never know that because he seems so confident.

Roger While Serving in San Francisco

While he was gone I had several friends that were waiting for missionaries. Roger was one of the last one's to come home and all of us married our missionaries. It was wonderful to have friends to do activities with. We called ourselves the I'll Be True Club; which sounds really cheesy now. I loved those girls and it helped me so much to have them as dear friends. We did so many activities together, we laughed together and just had a lot of fun.
Meanwhile, I transferred from University of Utah to BYU to finish my nursing degree. I attended most of my classes at the BYU center in Salt Lake. I did have a few classes down at BYU. The classes were held in the old Mccune Mansion on Main Street; then later when taking the nursing classes they were held in the old Veteran's Hospital. It was kind of a creepy place; because there were so many empty floors and rooms. We did go down to the morgue and goof around; which was very scary. We played hide and seek sometimes and that was frightening to me.
I enjoyed all of my classes and did really well. I even passed the math portions; which were a challenge. I remember my Biology class well because we worked on a human cadaver; which was really gross. The bodies were donated for research. I can tell you that I was glad when that section of study was over. The only real struggle I had while going to school was I had a tendency to fall a sleep during any film. Luckily, I had good classmates that would give me the information needed to study.
I got in my first car wreak on the way to school. At the time I was driving an old jeep of my Dad's that was painted by Roger and I, red. I was coming down the hill on a very snowy day and plowed right into a park car. I was devastated but my Dad was kind about it. I had one girlfriend from nursing school and we did quite a few things together. We did drag State Street a few times; which was a big thing in those days. We met a few guys; but I was never interested. I did date a couple of times the last six months of Roger's mission; because I wanted to see if I could get a date just in case things didn't turn out well. I also did quite a few things with Roger's sister, Gloria. We became good friends. She was waiting for her missionary, John Yeates whom she married after he came home. We did a lot of fun things together. I was deeply grateful for friends and school which helped me pine a way the time.

I graduated from BYU with a Nursing Degree in May of 1967 and passed my nursing board in July of 1967.

LeAnn Graduation

May of 1967

I wish I could say that the two years passed away quickly; but it didn't. We both missed each other. Keeping busy was the key to less loneliness at least for me. Roger always had a companion which I know helped a lot. However, neither of us would ever regret those two years; we are forever grateful for the growth that came through that era of our lives.

OUR HIGH SCHOOL DATING YEARS - CHAPTER TWO

LeAnn and Roger 1963

After Roger and I had our first date; we began dating more and more. He would often walk over to my house which was about a mile and a half. He would even walk over during the snow. You know the story of walking in 3 feet of snow which he did; I loved him for that. One of the things we did that helped us in our relationship was we talked a lot on the phone and when we were together. We truly became best friends.
We did date a couple of times other people; but mainly to keep our parents happy because they didn't want us to go steady.
After our first date in November, Roger was asked to the Christmas Dance by another girl; before I asked him. However, He called her and canceled out and of course went with me. I felt good because she was a cheerleader and I was so grateful he didn't go with her. Roger and I loved going to all of the dances in High School. My Mother always made me a brand new dress for each dance; which is one of my favorite things about my Mom. Roger dressed nice and always looked so handsome. Dad and Mom loved Roger right off and really got to know him well. I liked Roger's parents a lot too. The first time I met Roger's Mom she was recovering from back surgery and was in a body cast. She was so tiny and small and I felt so sad for her. Both his parents were nice and I enjoyed the opportunity to be around them.
The Christmas Dances were always Girls choice and probably the best of the dances that I remember. The gym was always decorated so beautifully for those dances. The music was romantic. The rest of the dances were boy's choice and fun too. In the fall they had a dance called the Western Round-up and we all dressed in cowboy and girl clothes. They had a booth where you were married and received a certificate and the marriage was sealed with a kiss. I wish I could find the picture of that event. Roger was so handsome in his cowboy hat, shirt, Levi's and boots. When we were seniors the Christmas Dance was very memorable. Mother had made me a blue velvet dress and I felt so good in it and of course Roger loved the dress. Later he used some of the material to line a Jewelery Box that he made me for Christmas.Our favorite song began on that night which was Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton.
Roger sister Gloria did my hair a couple of times for dances during our Senior year which was fun. We got to know each other during that time and I always admired Gloria.
Also, we went to the Stake New Year's Dance each year. It was for the youth and adults. Our parents came to the dance and Roger danced with both of our Moms and I danced with both of our Dads. Both Dad's were very good dancers; but I was nervous dancing with his Dad. I wasn't very graceful growing up and I had a hard time following dance partners; until Roger came along. We love to dance together.
Both Roger and I were very active in school. He was in the Key Club organization which was a service organization. He served as Vice President. My Junior year I was in Pep Club. I ran for an office in that but didn't win. Later, I ran for head cheerleader for my Senior year; but chickened out when I had to do the yell in front of the Student Body. I was most concerned about flubbing up with Roger there. I later felt bad I didn't follow through because I was the only one with the grades to run against the other girl.
We both played church sports; such as basketball, volleyball and softball. I of course was kind of a tomboy and had been raised on a baseball field due to my Dad couching teams through the years. I loved all of the sports and both of us were pretty good at the sports we participated in. We went to each others games.
We both received good grades. Roger loved chemistry the most. One day he was making a concoction of something and it exploded and went into the vent system in the school. It smelled like rotten egg gas; so the school was closed for the day. He was pretty embarrassed about it all. I thought it was really funny. Roger also liked English and was very good at writing. He also loved art classes and was good at doing art projects. My favorite classes were History, French and Seminary.
Roger played Football his sophomore year but after that decided to work instead so he could have money to do other things and buy clothes. He worked at a book bindery through High School. I had a job in downtown Salt Lake during my Junior year at a place Called Kress's. I was a waitress and also sometimes the Cashier. I had a best friend named Colleen Carlson and we would ride the bus downtown after school to work there. We had a lot of fun working in the cafe; it was also a store like K-Mart.
Later in my Senior year Roger's sister Gloria helped me get a job with an accountant named Malcome C. Petri. He was the orneriest man alive and I hated working for him. The pay was good and I liked the actual work or I wouldn't have stayed there. This job was in the Boston building downtown and in those days they had elevators that were ran by someone in the elevator. Boy, that ages us.
Roger and I liked to go out to the Great Salt Lake for swimming, parks and canyons for picnic's and movies. We also went fishing with my parents mainly to Malad, Idaho, Strawberry Lake and Fish Lake. Roger also went Deer Hunting with my brothers and Dad. All of them liked him very much.
I got my driver's license after the summer that we took driver's training. My parents were very trusting of me and I got to take the family car a lot. The car was black and orange. Some guys I knew would offer to pay me money if I would let them take the car on Halloween night. I never did take them up on their offer.
Roger didn't get his license until a long time after we started dating; so we mostly double dated. His Dad wouldn't find the time to let him practice on the family car; so I let him drive my Dad and Mom's sometimes. I remember a night that he drove their car to a movie on the East side and he drove through a red light and then turned around and did it again. I was so worried that he would get a ticket; since he didn't have a license. He finally got his license and during our Senior year we bought together a 1952 Chevy. We paid $160.00 of which my brother loaned us $60.00. Anyway, that car helped us a lot. He kept it at his house and then when he left on his mission; I got the car. It lasted quite a while.
Our Senior year was a good year together. We did so many fun things. On our Graduation Night we went to a graduation dance and then out to dinner at the Maxwell Lodge. We stayed out late and then Roger went home to get his suit case and we went to Grass Valley and Fish Lake for a few days with my parents. We always had a good time with them and they were so fun to be with. There was nothing like hearing them sing old songs while driving. I loved hearing my Dad sing the song; "My Wild Irish Rose".

Roger and LeAnn Senior Pictures
June 1964