When I first felt my world shift

This is a picture of my mother's brother's family.  When my grandfather, their father, passed away from a heart attack the day after Christmas in 1959 my uncle took over the family ranch and farmlands.  This land is on the west side of the Tetons and is the most beautiful farmland I have ever seen.  It consists of rolling hills interspersed with clumps of trees which are mostly aspens.  This picture shows Keith's family standing at the end of the lane leading to their home.

I loved going to visit them at the ranch.  Raiija was from Finland and a wonderful hostess.  I loved the food, the hospitality, and the beauty of the setting.  On snowy days like the one pictured, there was a special kind of serenity.  Sometimes in winter there was so much snow we would drive the two lane highway leading east through snow tunnels created by snow plows with each side higher than our vehicle.

One of our visits forever changed me and my perspective of my world.  We were having such a good time that we ignored the snow beginning to fall outside the windows on each side of the fireplace.  It was near dark before we finally packed up and headed back home to Sugar City.  When driving in off the main highway there is a very steep long descent leading to Conant Creek and the house overlooking it.  To go home we had to climb up that hill.  It was slippery and we were stuck, not moving forward.  We were in my father's red pickup truck so there was fishtailing.  My mother exited the truck to help push it forward and provide traction.  In the process, she fell and injured her mouth.

I was so puzzled.  Why was my mother on the outside pushing the truck instead of my father?  Who was the real strong one in my family?  It was then I realized that my mother was indeed the physically stronger of my parents.  I knew that my father had medical issues, but now I realized that those issues compromised his ability to be the father I imagined him to be.  It lessened my feelings of security and heightened my already prone to be worrier personality.

Indeed, by the time we moved to Arizona in 1964, just a few of years later, my father was unable to hold a job, drive a car, or provide for his family.  That was when I truly recognized all the strengths of my mother and knew how fortunate we all were to have her.

Idaho, Days 7 & 8, Ashton and the Ranch

Tuesday morning, sister Lynette and I left for our own side trip to Idaho. We stopped at West Jordan, Salt Lake Valley, to pick up Lynette's friend from college days, Annette, as well. She grew up in Rexburg and wanted to visit with family and interview our Uncle Keith who had served with her father when there was a LTM at Ricks College. She is writing a history of those days. She is also a quilter, so our ride north became a "quilt shop hop" as she shared some of her favorites with us. And yes, I purchased a bit of fabric at each stop!

Our first adventure Wednesday morning was a trip to Ashton, place of my birth, and the ranch. As you can see by all the new silos, Ashton is still the railroad hub of southeast Idaho. There were very green wheat fields as far as the eye could see interspersed with potato fields.

Our first stop was the Frostop. I took this picture for Logan of his mother in front of one of his favorite places.

I also took a picture of the mural in the bathroom. Believe it or not, Lynette didn't even notice it when it was her turn! There were lots of tourists stopping for refreshment on their way to Yellowstone Park.

Soon we were headed east to "the Ranch" located about 15 miles east of Ashton near Drummond. Although it has been sold, it still feels like our "homeplace." My grandparents Andrew Percy and Rhoda Nyborg began farming this land in the 1920's and my Uncle Keith continued to work the land when his father passed away in 1959. He finally sold it just a few years ago. This is a picture of Keith and Raija's home from down the hill. Unfortunately, the new owner has not maintained it in the same manner as did Keith and Raija.

Conant Creek was a rushing torrent. Idaho also had a very wet winter. There would have been no wading by the little ones if we were reuniting in the creek bottom this year. See the little island in the upper part of the picture. That was the site of many a bonfire and fireworks display at our family reunions.

And here is the creek from the opposite side of the bridge facing west.

The sauna, a location for many "bathing" memories. Uncle Keith told us at Annette's interview, that the missionaries at the LTM used to try to break the record of the most runs from the sauna to the swimming hole on a visit. One fool did it 17 times.

The birch trees on the south side of the creek and east of the road were lovely as always.

Of course the gates were up, so we could only get this close to the old outbuildings. The grassy patch to the right in the picture is where my grandparents home once stood.

Looking southwest towards Keith and Raija's house.

The cattle pens are still there and I understand that Keith and Gerald still manage to find some fence to mend in the spring.

I'm now looking south to the creek bed from the hill where my mother was born.

Her parents home at that time stood near this old barn. It seemed appropriate that we were here the day before her birthday.

It's also nice to have the barn as a marker for her birth location.

It's also a bit of a landmark as it stands on quite a hill which is not readily shown in these picture.

We next traveled on north and west to the old Squirrel Dance Hall where my grandparents danced as they courted. They had met in Idaho the summer Rhoda came from Orderville, Utah to cook for her brothers.

As you can see, it was established in 1916, so they danced in a brand new building. They met before Andrew Percy served in France during WWI. Upon his mending from a bullet wound and return home, he decided to take the train to southern Utah to see what his chances were with Rhoda Ann. I guess they were pretty good because they were married in Kanab a short time later on January 7, 1920 and she returned to the ranch with him. Their first baby was a stillborn, then Elden was born, and then my mother in 1924, followed by Lowell. These first three children all served during WWII. They went on to have five more children, Keith, Gerald, Elna, Milton, and Nola.

My uncles arranged for us to meet in this building at our family reunion in 1993.

Here is our family group that year. We had lunch inside, Gerald's slide show of the family in the 50's and 60's, and a talent show. Fun times! Notice the Tetons in the distance.


My pictures make the land seem flat, but it is anything but flat. It is a series of beautiful rolling hills, thus just the view of roof tops in the distance.

This is the old general store, now a private home, located across the street from the dance hall.

We came upon these red poppies as we drove back to the bridge at Fall River.

Everything was so pretty and green.

We saw so many wildflowers, including daisies at the ranch, of course. But not red poppies. It made me wonder who might have once lived here who loved red poppies.

It felt good to be home!

April Madness

We didn't really experience March Madness, but the first five days of April have been a bit on the busy, mad side. All of my siblings were in town for a Nyborg/Foote Reunion sponsored by Velva's family. Janis was in charge of this one and she planned a full agenda of four days of fun which included General Conference viewing, Easter Pageant attendance, outdoor and Easter activities, and great meals at four different homes. Aunts, uncles, and cousins came from far away to experience our beautiful weather and sunshine. They were so smart to have spent Easter in the sunshine because if they had remained home it would have been Easter in the snow.


Late Sunday afternoon as extended family members began their travels home, Grandpa Glen sponsored his annual Easter egg hunt in his beautiful garden for his grandchildren.

Miss Julianna went straight for the dark chocolate. I am even now trying to get the stains out of her new dress! For a first time hunter, she had impressive skills.


TJ was hoping to find some cash in those eggs. I was so busy putting the final touches on our Easter dinner, I forgot to ask if he had success.

Heather had some great "girl" time with her cousins this weekend. Heather loves girl time!


Toby also found success. He has been having some grandpa/grandma time the last two days. Today makes a week since his mom, Susan, had the radioactive iodine treatment for her thyroid cancer. She was asked not to be around her children for 7 days. Luckily, the children had many other activities to distract them. She is slowly feeling better but missing her little ones.


Ruby is a master hunter. She even gave out good hints to the other hunters.

Sadie, that is a very full basket! Did your daddy help you just a little?


My little sweethearts! Julianna couldn't sit still long enough for this photo!

Special thanks to these egg fillers and hiders. Nichelle and Nate did a great job making it fun for their nieces and nephews. Next year they will have a little boy joining in on all the fun!

For more pictures of the reunion and Easter activities go HERE, HERE and HERE.

Raija's Obituary

Here is a link to Aunt Raija's obituary which was published on Feb. 13, 2010. Janis reports that it was a beautiful service with just family in attendance. This is how I remember her from my teenage years when we would visit, use the sauna, eat amazing Finnish food, and bask in the beauty of the ranch which Keith and Raija named Finlandia.

Remembering Raija

My beautiful Finnish aunt, Raija, passed away on Tuesday. Her childhood was one of war and hardship but she also found the LDS church. She married my mother's brother, Keith. Uncle Keith had served as a missionary in Finland including Raija's home town. He also translated during the 1952 Olympics. He and Raija were married in the Idaho Falls Temple May 29, 1953 after Keith invited her to come to the United States some months later. (I have a copy of their love story as written by Raija if you would like to read it some time.)

During the Ronald Reagan Administration, Keith was appointed ambassador to Finland and he and Raija returned to live in the Embassy. The Finns loved them, these two who spoke their language and exuded dignity, grace, and love. They had a special gift for entertaining and making everyone feel welcome. Raija introduced them to Valentine's Day as celebrated in the United States. Guests who were served steak and Idaho baked potatoes at the embassy considered themselves lucky. Read more about them here.

Raija enjoying her "name day" on Febuary 9, 2004. In Finland, "name day" is celebrated much like a birthday and you celebrate with others who have your same name. Raija passed away on her "name day" this year which seems so appropriate as she loved to celebrate special days.

Aunt Raija introduced me to the presentation of food. She was not only a magnificent cook, but everything she prepared looked so beautiful. She would tell me, "We also taste with our eyes." Her artistic eye in cooking as well as decorating her home were an inspiration in my life.

She loved her native land of Finland and shortly after moving from Idaho to Tempe, Arizona my sixth grade teacher assigned world country reports and presentations. I quickly chose Finland and them wrote my Aunt Raija a letter. By return post, I not only received information but a cardboard box full of things from Finland. I was overwhelmed with her generosity and help. My teacher was also pretty impressed.

She has been ill for years with lupus and its side effects. She still continued to live with beauty and great grace as well as faith and hope. She was too ill to go with Keith when he was invited by President Hinckley to the dedication of the temple in Finland, but she was with him in spirit. She will always be an example to me of a beautiful person who lived a lovely life which she filled with beauty because she chose to and she also chose to share it with others. Well done lovely Raija!