|
a.
|
Note: Jennie went to Central in Willard until the eighth grade and then to the
LDS Seminary and Box Elder High School in Brigham City, where she
graduated in the spring of l934. She joined her husband actively in their
support of the Boy Scouts of America program. She was a Den Mother and
Den Leader Coach. She was also a Stake Cubing Director and a Den Mother
Instructor. She also received the Commissioners Arrowhead Award, Scouters
Key, Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award. She also received the Den
Mothers and the Den Leader Coaches Award. Jennie had been a Primary
Teacher for 20 years, served on the Primary Stake Board for nine years,
was a Jr. Sunday School Teacher, Camp Director, Secretary of the Sunday
School, Mutual Teacher, Secretary of the YWMIA and a Visiting Teacher for
over 30 years. She and her husband did a lot of Temple work, both sealings
and endowments in the Ogden Temple, and did work in all six temples in
Utah, Idaho Falls and Canada. They also visited temples in California and
Arizona.
Jennie Lena Perry It was a hot day the 30 August 1915, when all nine and a half pound so me
first made my appearance into this big wide world, to Irven Leonard Perry and
Clara Barker Perry, at Willard, Utah...in a red brick house located just four
blocks form town. On 7 November 1915, I was named Jennie Lena Perry after my
Grandmother Perry, by E.P. Cardon in the Willard Ward Chapel. When I became
eight years old, I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day
Saints on 1 October 1923 by Prior Facer and confirmed 2 October 1923 by
Patriarch E.P. Cardon. I was baptized in the front of the Willard Church
House.
I was the second child in the family, having an older sister, Beatrice...born
1 January 1914. Just three years after I was born, a younger sister, Zula,
was born 1 October 1918. I had twin sisters, born 11 April 1921....they were
named Doris & Floris. It wasn't until after I was married that my youngest
sister, Juanita, was born 19 April 1936.
I started school at Willard Central at the age of six and enjoyed school very
much. I always made friends easily with boys and girls....and got along very
well with all my teachers. I took part in most all the school operettas and
school plays, that my classes put on. In the eighth grade, I was chosen
Captain of the girl's softball team. We played may other teams and took the
Region Championship. I also took part in the girl's races at track meets at
Brigham and Garland...and would always take first or second in the Regional
Play Off's.
Willard City always celebrated the fourth of July with a parade, program, and
races for the children. I always came in first in my age group, so would
enter with the older girls too and would usually come in first place...people
would tell me I could run like the wind.
I had a lot of practice though. I would walk to school and back every day,
besides I would always go home for lunch, so I would run home and back so I
would have plenty of time to eat...and some time to play at school before the
bell rang.
I remember when I was small...father had a bob sleigh and we would heat
bricks to keep our feet warm, and bundle up good and all pile into the sleigh
and go to grandfather & grandmother Barker's in Pleasant View for Thanksgiving
Dinner and many other special occasions in the Winter time. I remember on one
occasion we got a January thaw and had a hard time getting back home with the
bob sleigh, but we had a lot of fun times together as a family. Father also
had a white top buggy we would take to get our groceries, and go shopping in
Brigham. He also had a big wagon he would fill with sacks of wheat and take
it up to the Big J Flour Mill in Brigham and have it ground into flour.
Mother always made all her bread, cakes, cookies, and pies....so it would take
a lot of flour. When I got old enough....mother made sure I learned to bake
and cook and I got a lot of experience before I got married.
Mother did a lot of beautiful sewing and crocheting...she made all her own
quilts, rugs, and most of our school clothes when we small. She had a lovely
voice and would sing in Church, and many, many social functions. Mother, Bea
& I all sang in the Ward Choir at the same time.
When I was eight years old...August 13, 1923, there was a terrible flood in
Willard. I can remember as though it was yesterday...and I shall never forget
it...as the lightning would flash...it looked like a ocean of water coming
down the mountain side...bringing everything that was in it's path. It was
about nine o'clock at night. It had been so terribly hot all day and the
clouds were the darkest I had ever seen. I can remember my parents taking us
over across the street to my Grandfather Perry's and we all knelt down and
prayed that our lives would all be spared....and our homes also. When it
finally quit....we went back over home and the flood had came right to the
side of the house and stopped....it didn't touch the house but had washed away
all the cows, horses, chickens, all the animals, fruit trees, berries, barns,
corrals....and everything that Dad and Mother had worked so hard for. Many
people were left homeless and several lives were taken so we were indeed
blessed.
Father had to buy more land north of our house....but across the street and
start all over again planting new fruit trees, berries, vegetables....and had
to build new barns, granary, chicken coops and corrals. It took years hauling
away the big rocks and boulders form the flood. But we were so grateful all
our lives had been spared. Father was always a hard worker and would make
every bit of his land produce. Many people said he raised the biggest and
best fruit around. Mother's hobby was raising beautiful flowers and people
would come from miles around to buy her flowers to decorate the graves.
My folks owned their own home and a nice fruit farm and it was there that I
spent most of my childhood days...picking fruit, riding horses, and selling in
the fruit stand. They raised every kind of fruit and
vegetables....watermelons and cantaloupe and tomatoes. We had horses, cows,
chickens, and pigs. We sold the milk and cream to the dairy.
I never had a brother, so I was my dad's boy. I would ride the horse for him
to cultivate the garden....tromp the hay....hoe the garden....and help feed
the animals. My older sister, Bea, would get hay fever whenever she got out
around hay so she stayed in and helped mother. I always enjoyed working out
of doors and got to know my dad and grandpa Perry better. They were both
wonderful men and hard workers. I remember my father as being the kindest man
I ever knew...not only to people but to animals, too. Always so kind and
gentle.
Father helped Mr. Boss, a carpenter from Willard....build one of the biggest
and best fruit stands in the area....and had a big sign "Perry Daughter's
Fruit Stand" put on it. It was the means of selling fruit and vegetables that
the farmers grew....there are still many in the area. All his daughters had
their turn and I really enjoyed it a lot. I like to meet people. During
their summer vacations....people would come from all over the United States
and would stop and buy fresh cherries, peaches, apricots, watermelons and
cantaloupes. Others from closer around would buy in bulk so they could can
their fruit and vegetables. I received cards and letters from fellows in
Iowa, California, Nebraska, and Idaho. I had chances to go out with a lot of
different fellows, but my parents wouldn't let me unless they were local boys.
I used to think my parents were too strict, but now I'm thankful they were.
The money I would earn, I would buy my school clothes....I always had plenty
of clothes and sometimes was envied by some of my friends who wouldn't work so
they could have more. I loved to dance and the Willard Ward would have a
dance every week during the Winter months. I would never miss a dance and the
fellows would take turns asking us girls to the dances...so I had a chance to
go with all the boys my age and older at one time or another. That's what's
so nice in living in a smaller town where everyone knows each other. I was
always treated so nice by everyone.
Father was in the Bishopric of the Willard Ward for fifteen years and
everyone loved and respected him....perhaps that is why I was always treated
so well. My parents always saw to it that I always attended my church
activities....for which I am surely thankful. Father was also on the City
Council, and on the Water Board. Mother was a Primary Teacher, taught
Religion Class, and was in the Relief Society, and the Daughters of the Utah
Pioneers.
I loved all my sisters and we all had many wonderful times
together....singing, dancing, and playing games. My older sister, Bea, and I
would dance and sing together as the Sunshine girls. Zula was just three
years younger than I....so we were close too...and we had some wonderful times
together, also. Doris died from an operation at a very young age of twelve.
We all loved and missed her so very much. Her twin sister, Floris, was quite
sickly...so she had to have extra care...but she too was loved so very
much...she always had such a sweet disposition.
My baby sister, Juanita, wasn't born until after I was married...but, she
spent a lot of time with me after father passed away on 24 December 1947...at
the young age of fifty-five. It was such a terrible shock for all of us....he
had never been sick in his life, but he had a heart attack the morning of
Christmas Eve. The calves got out and he over did it...trying to get them
back in the barn....and I never could enjoy Christmas as much....after that.
After I graduated from the Eighth grade in Willard....I attended the Box
Elder High School in Brigham. We would ride a school bus, it being quite
different after walking to school and back twice a day for eight years. But I
had a lot of fun times on the bus. While in High School...I had many
wonderful times and experiences. I met and made a lot of new friends. I
liked all my teachers and in several classes....was called the "Teacher's Pet".
One of my teachers was Bishop A.M. Hansen, who at times would have to leave
school to take care of funerals....so he would always have me teach the class.
He always gave me straight A's. Another teacher....L.D. Wilde, Stake Sunday
School Superintendent had me give a talk at Stake Conference. After....David
O. McKay came and shook hands with me and told me how well I did my part. He later became the President of the Church. I've always felt honored for that
privilege.
While living in the Willard Ward...I was president of the Gleaner Girls,
secretary of the Ward Sunday School for 2� years, teacher of the Beehive girls
in Mutual. I was baptized 16 times, for the dead, in the Logan Temple. I
took leading parts in Ward and Mutual plays and was in the Road Shows.
It was in the Fall....14 November 1935, that I was married to Isaac Leon
Jensen in the Salt Lake Temple by George F. Richards. What a thrill it was to
know he would be mine for �Life and all Eternity.' We had met in the Spring
of 1933 and had gone together off and on for two and a half years. I went
with a lot of different boys....but, I knew he was the right one for me.
We spent our first four months of married life on my grandfather Barker's
farm in Pleasant View, Utah, where Leon milked 13 head of cows. They gave us
a room for ourselves and had access to their front room where we could
entertain our friends and family. While there...I got better acquainted with
my grandparents and learned to love them very much. My folks visited often
and also they visited the grandparents. Our friends....Jack & Merle Elison,
Lin and Marie Moyes, and Luke and Ruth Victor would take turns coming down and
take us to a show either in Salt Lake or Ogden. We would always have
something to eat at our home...either before or after the show....sometimes
they would come and spend the evening....visiting and eating.
While living in Pleasant View....I was put in as a teacher in Primary and
Leon played basketball in the M-Men in Mutual. My Aunt Mary and Aunt Violet
and Uncle Joe lived in Pleasant View also....so we were able to visit them
quite often. I enjoyed my stay there.
In the Spring...Leon was able to get a job on the high line canal that was
being built form Pineview to Brigham City. We found a house in Brigham City
at 74 North and 3rd East, just three blocks from town....at Emma Cragheads.
It was small and fixed so cute, I called it our doll house. We were able to
live there rent free by keeping up the lawns and the yard.
In the Fall of 1935, we moved to Tingey's at 495 South 2nd East, so we could
have room for our new addition. On December 17, 1936....a fine young son was
born who was named Larry Leon Jensen. He was first grandchild on the Jensen
side of the family and the second grandchild on the Perry side...so everyone
was thrilled. About two years later....7 September 1938....our darling baby
daughter was born...who we named Lois. She was the first granddaughter on
both sides of the family and the first great granddaughter on the Barker and
Perry side of the family so she too was quite important.
November 29, 1938, Leon got a job running a store and service station in
Thistle, Utah....so we took our two children and moved in a house right in
back of the Service Station...so we could be close to his work. Leon had to
work long hours, but we did get to see a lot of new country such as Price,
Helper, and the Manti Temple. We went on fishing trips at Strawberry
Reservoir, Utah Lake, Diamond Fork Canyon, and Nebo Creek. We did most of our
shopping at Provo, Springville, and Spanish Fork.
While in Thistle, we made many wonderful friends...Dean and Jennie Loose, Guy
and Virginia Wilson, Glenn and Ethel Green. They all treated me just
wonderful and made my stay in Thistle more enjoyable. We lived in Thistle for
two years.
December 1940, we moved to Roy, Utah, next to our friends Ray and Agnes
Hamblin. Leon went to work for McRobison Garage. In the Spring of 1941, we
moved back to Brigham at 47 North 1st East....right across the street from the
Cooley Hospital. Leon drove a big transport gas truck for Allen Oil Co. into
Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado, and was seldom home. While living in the Fourth
Ward in Brigham...I was a Primary teacher, and a visiting teacher in the
Relief Society.
November 24, 1941, Leon got a Civil Service job at the Ogden Supply Depot. I
was very thrilled and happy because this meant he could be home with me every
night and on weekends.
July 6, 1941, we took our two children and went to Yellowstone Park with
Leon's folks, Deon & Anna, LaVar & Eleanor, for five days. I even caught a
lot of nice fish and we all had a nice trip. 28 September 1944, Leon and I
had a two week Honeymoon in the tops of the Rockies at Pando, Colorado...he
had been sent up there on an assignment and when they extended his stay for
another two weeks, after being there three weeks, he called and had me catch
the train in Ogden...and I went up. I left Larry and Lois with their
grandparents. It was the first time we had been able to be by ourselves in
the nine years we had been married. I enjoyed every minute of it. We had a
wonderful time just the two of us together.
In the Spring of 1945....May....Mother's Day, we moved into our own home in
the Fifth Ward in Brigham City at 551 South 5th West. It had six nice rooms,
a basement, and a half acre of fruit trees and a garden spot. It was just
three blocks form church and seven blocks form Central School, where the kids
went to school. While living in the Fifth Ward....I was put in as a Primary
teacher, secretary of the teenage committee, visiting teacher in Relief
Society, camp director for two years at the Girl's Home for the Box Elder
Stake. Leon was scoutmaster and had the privilege of pinning an Eagle Scout
Badge on his eldest son, Larry.
April 22, 1946, a beautiful baby daughter was born to us, she was named Joyce.
This thrilled us very much because our other two children were in school and
we longed for a baby. She was just 3� months old....we took her and our other
two children and went to Wyoming to the Graze's River and camped out for two
days and nights....and visited in Star Valley with relatives. We took father
and mother Jensen with us. We had a nice trip.
November 1950, Leon quit the Ogden Supply Depot and went to work for Tri-
State Lumber Co. as assistant manager. It was so nice having him work so
close to home....so he could come home for lunch every day. He worked there
two and a half years and got tired of being inside all the time....so he quit
and went to work for LeRoy Leatham, driving a big semi-truck for Smith Trading.
...mostly hauling frozen and canned fruit and vegetables to most of the
western states.
I was able to make a trip with him to Grand Junction, Colorado and to Lavina,
Montana and whenever possible, would go on the short runs into Nissa, Oregon,
Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and Boise, Idaho. I really enjoyed these trips and
got to see a lot of new country.
April 3, 1952, our second son was born....Dennis Ray and he was surely a
darling baby. This evened our family with two boys and two girls....we were
very happy.
June 1, 1955, Leon had a chance to buy a milk route in Ontario,
Oregon....which meant he could be home every afternoon and evening with his
family. Larry went out and ran it that summer for us, but before we were able
to sell our home and move up....they closed down the dairy....so we sold back
the milk route. We made several trips to Oregon that summer. Our home was
finally sold....so we moved to 437 East 1st North in Brigham....just one block
from the Box Elder High School and Jr. High where Lois and later Joyce went to
school. It was a nice brick home with a nice orchard of peaches, plums, and
cherries.....and a nice garden spot. It was in the Fourth Ward and just 2�
blocks form the new church and 2� blocks from the new Bunderson School where
Joyce and Dennis Ray attended school.
In August, 1955, Leon got a job at Fife's Construction in Brigham, driving
their big semi-trucks hauling sand and gravel....and their big equipment. It
was nice because he could be home every night and the pay was good.
March 22, 1957, our son Jay Glenn was born....this surely thrilled us and
also surprised us as we were going to become grandparents in just three months.
...but never the less, he was very welcomed and we were very happy for him.
He, as well as the other children, surely brought a lot of happiness and
enjoyment into our lives.
While Leon was working for Fife's....he was chosen to take a sample of rocks
and gravel to Sausilito, California and I was able to go with him. So on
September 3, 1958, we went to California....all our expenses were paid...we
had nice motels and good eats. :While there we went to Ken's at Walnut Creek
and he and Elaine took us to San Francisco....Knob Hill and to the Fisherman's
Warf, sight seeing. We surely had a wonderful trip and I enjoyed every minute
of it.
October 19, 1958, Leon got a call to go to work at Hill Air Force Base in
Clearfield, Utah. The trucks were giving his back a lot of trouble, so he
decided to go work at the Base. In the Fall (September) 1961, we found us a
nice home in Layton, Utah to buy....so we sold our home in Brigham and moved
to Layton. We were in the Layton Fifth Ward and just three blocks from our
new stake house, where we held our Church and two and a half blocks form the
Whitesides School....where the boys would go to school. Joyce went to David
High.
On June 9, 1962, we took our three children....Joyce, Dennis, and Glenn and
went to Bryce and Zion National Parks....and the next day we went to Las Vegas
and on to Joe and Verretta's in San Gabrial, California where we stayed all
night....the next day, we spend the day at Disneyland...and stayed again all
night at the Toland's. The next day, we visited Marineland, and Los Angeles,
California and then we started back home and drove through Pasadena and saw
where they hold the Parade of Roses. We all had a wonderful trip and enjoyed
every minute of it. Leon did all the driving.
October 26, 1961....Leon and I went to Jewell's in Washington, up at Royal
City, where Mother Jensen had become very ill while visiting with Jewell. We
stayed several days before she was well enough for us to return home. We
visited Moses Lake while there. It was a fast trip....so it was quite tiring.
While our boys were in Scouting...we made several trips to Camp Bartlett and
Camp Loll....we would haul the boys camping gear up and back so we would visit
the camp fires and award nights. We really enjoyed it. I am very proud that
all three of our sons received the Eagle Scout Badge and their Duty to God
Awards.
While living in the Fifth Ward in Layton....I was a Primary teacher, a
visiting teacher in Relief Society, director of the Children's Friend for two
years, and had a 100% drive both years. I was also a Den Mother.
February 1, 1968....Leon and I flew to Phoenix, Arizona. Larry and Carma had
drove down so they met us and took us sight seeing to the Mesa Temple, and
showed us the town of Scottsdale.....just like an old western city....only
with new beautiful buildings. They took us to Willmington, California where
they lived for two years. We also visited Jo and Verretta and family. We had
a nice trip.
After we lived in the Fifth Ward about five years....they divided it and we
were then in the 16th Ward. I was made a Den Leader coach...Primary teacher...
visiting teacher in Relief Society....cubbing director for Layton East Stake,
and district round table commissioner.
In Cub Scouting I was one of the first women in the Francis Peak District to
receive the Den Mother's Award. The first in the Lake Bonneville Council to
receive the Den Leader Coaches Award....first woman to receive the Lady
Scouter's Award in the Francis Peak District. One of three women in the Lake
Bonneville Council to receive the Silver Beaver....the first year ever given
to Women...the first woman to receive it in the Francis Peak District....and
the only woman to receive it after three years.
One of the first women to receive the Scouter's Award and the Arrow Head
Commissioners Award in our district. I was a Den Mother for five years, Dean
Leader Coach ten years, Stake Cubbing director nine years. I spent fifteen
years in the Cub Scout program. I was also a District Round Table
Commissioner. Primary Teacher for twenty years....Primary Stake Board, nine
years...Stake Camp director of the Girl's Home....two years in the Box Elder
Stake. Junior Sunday School teacher two years, and I've been a visiting
teacher in Relief Society for over thirty years and I'm still serving.
I have a wonderful husband and a wonderful family. All our children but
Glenn are married and have all been married in the Temple. Glenn is on a
Mission in Tennessee and Kentucky...so he has been through the Temple also.
We have twelve beautiful grandchildren and two more on the way. We are so
thankful for each and everyone of them....and are very proud of all their
accomplishment. They all seem to excel in everything they do.
Leon and I have been going to the Temple and this year we have done over two
hundred sealings and sixty five endowments each . This year of 1977. It has
been a very happy year for us.
Leon had retired, so in the Spring 1977, we decided to visit all the Temples
in Utah, Idaho, and Canada....and do some sight seeing on the side. So 11
April 1977, we drove to St. George, Utah and stayed all night and rose early
the next morning and went to two sessions in the St. George Temple. We then
visited Zion's and Bryce Canyons. We really enjoyed it because it had been 16
years since we had seen them. They were both just beautiful. We were going
to stay all night at Bryce's but they wouldn't let anyone camp overnight....so
we drove to Richfield and got a motel and stayed all night. April 13, 1977,
we went through the Manti and the Provo Temples.
May 30, 1977, we drove up to Idaho Falls and stayed over night and went
through two sessions in the Idaho Falls Temple and then we drove up to Teton
and saw where a flood had washed away homes and land when the big dam broke.
People had started to build new homes and had planted a lot of the land.
August 6, 1977, we drove through Northern Montana and spend the night in
Helena, which is the capitol of Montana....a beautiful city. We drove around
the State Capitol and saw all the large, well kept buildings in the older part
of town. I surely enjoyed it. This was early Sunday morning, so there was
hardly any traffic on the roads and everything was so pretty and clean. We
then drove to Carston, Alberta, Canada and stayed all night at the Temple View
Motel....a new one that was just being built. We arose early August 9, 1977,
and went through two sessions in the Carston Temple. Then we drove through
the South Western part of Alberta where we saw beautiful grazing and cattle
country....and into British Columbia with canyons and pines. We stayed all
night at Yauk.
We drove to Bonner's Fairy and crossed the second to the highest bridge in
Idaho and then on up to Spokane, Washington and Royal City, where we spent a
couple days with Ron, Jewell, and family....visiting and sight seeing. On our
way home, we went to Yellowstone Park and spent all day there sight seeing and
visiting all points of interest. We enjoyed seeing it again, when our
children were little, we used to go up every summer....but, it had been about
seventeen years since we were there. We visited Jackson Hole and stayed in
Star Valley one night before returning home. We traveled about three thousand
miles on our trip to Canada and enjoyed every minute of it.
|
