Photos from Siovhan of Grandpa Pitts' Funeral

I'm sorry, I thought I had sent these a long time ago. But i guess I hadn't. Grandpa Howard Pitts' Funeral.

 

Love,

Siovhan

Newsletter for Kirsten

Mom, 

Will you change our heading from the Late Waites to 'Rocky Mountain "Hi!"?'  Here's the rest:

   We made it!  We're alive and well in Colorado after our multiple trips from and to Utah this past month and a half.  Thanks for all of your prayers; I'm sure that is why we made it home "safe and sane."  I didn't even have to threaten to pull the car over; I thought that was pretty amazing in and of itself. 

   Despite the circumstances, it was wonderful to be reunited with all the siblings and most of your families (we missed Howard and kids, of course); you know, that's a once in every three year occurrence.  That means, Siovhan, you're not allowed to get married for three more years, at least (I know, such a hard deal), and no one else is allowed to "go to the other side."  Mark your calendars.

   After being home for so long, it has taken some minor adjustments to come back to our Waite family home and settle back in to life and routines. 

    We do love being in Colorado!  As you can tell from the pictures, we're already enjoying our first snowfall.  It should all be melted within the next 24 hours (another benefit of Colorado: we get to see and enjoy the wonderful snow and just as it starts to look ugly and get in the way, it melts and we're left anticipating the next storm.)  Jared has learned not to appreciate snow days as much as he did while in school; it seems no one wants to brave the weather to see the dentist, though they do take advantage of the time for great shopping.  Oh well. 

    We have started the official process of looking for a house (the race is on, Ams -- just kidding).  We are a little frustrated; it is a very strong seller's market in The Springs right now.  We're trying to stay in an area that will have a strong resale in five years, but then so is everyone else looking for homes right now.  I am amazed at how much lumber, a little carpet, drywall, cement and what have you can differentiate in price across the country.  I never did like economics and the whole "supply and demand" thing.  I always seem to be on the wrong of the equation whether buying or selling.

    Emma is now in a playgroup with four girls in nursery.  She loves having her friends come over and going to school.  We, as moms, rotate the group at our different houses.  I love it!  It actually has brought back many memories of mom doing the same thing (though, I'm sure some of you remember it even better than I).  I've tried to copy some of the same structure: snack, activity, play time, learning activity, lunch (really, it's like being a nursery leader for an extended time period).  I enjoy even more the times I get to drop off.  Whitney is at school the same time Emma is at playgroup, so I get a couple hours to myself.  So far that has been used to run errands, etc.  But I hope to fill that time with some hobbies (reading, anything else besides cleaning, etc.).

    Whitney is in full swing at preschool!  She loves it and loves having some of her new friends come over to play.  She loves her teacher, Miss Deb (who also doubles as one of our realtors -- she's leaving the preschool world after 20+ years to selling real estate full time after the end of this school year) and loves feeling so grown up.  I'm constantly told what a good example she is and how well behaved she is (most of the time).  It makes me wonder, why are our own kids always better for other people?!  She is starting to become a great helper at home.  She loves to "clean" her bathroom (thank heavens for Clorox wipes and Windex wipes), and even helps with dishes (clearing them, that is) and wiping the table.  There are days, but we all have those don't we?  She's still determined to save up for a Barbie car (one of those kinds kids can ride in, not Barbies).  She is becoming very much like Alyssa (a good thing) and not spending her money on anything she doesn't deem more worthwhile than her final goal (in this case, the car).  I guess she is very determined (one of those positive traits you use as your "negative" traits in a job interview).

   Jared is glad to have us back for good.  Life is still the same for him: get up and run on the treadmill, go to work, come home from work, eat, get kids ready for bed, fall dead asleep and start again the next day.  We feel sorry for him, but are grateful he has such a wonderful job he enjoys (most of the time).  Work is going well.  He still loves the practice, the patients, his fellow workers and the dentist who owns the practice.  His most exciting news is that he recently became the proud owner of a Copper Mountain Four Pass, which means he has four, all-day passes to Copper Mountain which he can use throughout the season.  And, as you all know Jared, it was purchased at a very extremely "sweet" deal.  He's happy and his brother is happy, because he, too, bought one.  I think it will be a great thing.  He didn't get to go at all last year and that was one of the reasons we moved back to the west (besides being closer to family, of course).

   As for me, I'm in the heat of preparing for Young Women in Excellence and enjoying life.  I'm a little behind on our assignment from President Hinckley and I have set the goal to catch up and finish reading the Book of Mormon with the rest of you by the end of the year.  It's amazing how a simple book can be so profound and so amazingly influential in our lives.   I have loved reading the stories over again (though I'm still stuck in the Isaiah chapters).  I love how every time I read it, I learn something new or a different verse strikes me and causes me to reflect and change.  It has helped me calm down quite a bit lately and really focus on being a better mom and spouse and having the strength to overcome some not-so-good habits.  No other book has that power!  I'm so grateful for the miracle of the Book of Mormon, for parents who know of its power and truth and who taught all of us to walk in the light.  All we have to do is read it.  It's worth the little effort it takes on my part.  I know it's true.

   Thanks for being my family!  I love you all and am so grateful we get to be together forever!  I pray for each of you and hope all finds you well.

Love,

The Waite Family 

O! Hi! O!

How the time has passed.  We enjoyed seeing everyone, even though it was for the funeral.  We made one mistake while there; we should have had a family photo with Mom, Dad and all the siblings.  It has been a long time since we were all together like that.

We only have a few weeks left until the baby is here.  By the time you read this, there will be about 6 weeks left (December 8^th).  I don’t know what all to tell you in this newsletter, because we have only been back here in Ohio for about 1.5 weeks.  So, not much has changed since then. 

We did come home to find all seven kittens still alive (dang it).  Both of the other cats were here as well.  However, I decided I do like cats.  With the right seasoning, they taste like chicken!

I sent a whole bunch of photos.  If you see them, then that means that Mom was able to successfully download the mega-email I sent. 

Thank you to all for your help with Tyler’s baptism and thank you for making it a special day for him.  I am glad we got to move it earlier, so we had some time to talk and to play.  I am happy I decided not to go the BYU game, because it was a good day for us and I would have hated to ruin it.  J

Well, we love you all.  The kids are doing great.  We are going to take them to a Johnstown-Johnnie football game tomorrow night (10/14).  Tyler’s 2^nd grade teacher is the head coach for the team and we have failed to get him to one yet.  I’ll have to let you know how it all turns out.  They have a 6-1 record and this year’s senior class has about 120 students, so it makes me feel a little like home.

Written by LHT

Dear Else, Erling and Family.

It is Sunday afternoon and one week since general conference. As usual, it was one of the best conferences. We have some amazing general authorities. President Hinckley is truly a man of God. I can see how the Lord has molded him from birth to do the work that he is doing. Did you get to see all the conference?

I always remember President David O. McKay. He was the president of the church most of my growing-up years. My mission call came from him. I had the good fortune to go to the English Temple Dedication and be in the same room that he was in, on one of the dedicatory sessions. 

We have had a busy summer. In April, I had some surgery done on my right foot. They did a bone graft, or fused two bones together. Myrna said I acted like a wimp. I had to keep my leg elevated for two weeks and I about went bananas. Then when I could get up and use the crutches, I could not put any pressure on that foot. I was that way for about another month. I had to miss going to the temple for about three months. It is doing pretty good now.

Three weeks ago today, Myrna’s dad passed away in his living room. When they checked on him, he had sat down in his chair and just died there. So, for about two weeks we spent a lot of time over in Price. Two weeks ago, on Thursday he was buried. Then on Saturday, I baptized my grandson Tyler Trauntvein. He is my son Todd’s boy. They live in Ohio and flew out here for the baptism and the confirmation and then they got to attend a funeral On Sunday, we blessed our newest granddaughter. She is AnnMarie’s daughter, we had a full week. That gives us twenty five grandchildren. We knew that Todd’s wife was expecting the first part of December and then, last Sunday, we found out from Julie and Jim that she will be having another baby in May. We will have twenty-seven grandchildren. W-O-O-O-W!

Kirsten and her two daughters where here from Colorado for about three weeks helping Myrna and AnnMarie when the baby was born. Then she and the kids drove back for the funeral, baptism and blessing. Melanie flew in from Boston to be here. So! All in all we have had a busy summer.

Enough about us. How are you doing. How is your newest grandchild? How is the family doing. Is your son still living with you? Does Jana like living where she is now compared to Aarhus? How are her children doing? Do you hear from the Odense Knudsens or Sister Jensen? What project has Erling got going now. How are you doing on your sewing projects and genealogy? How is your work going? I guess those are enough questions for now.

Venligest Hilsens Fra De

Trauntveins

To Garth

To: garth@e.emery.k12.ut.us

You called and left a message. I planned to call you back immediately but I didn't get it done. I will still call. I assume evening is best. 

I planned to call on Sunday but it ended up being crazy around here. Charlotte had called Laurel, who then called me, and protested my being included in taking any of Dad's things. I have just taken sentimental items, like an old sailor hat, and some of his caps for my kids. But Charlotte didn't like that because I had never lived in Dad's house. She seemed alright when I was saying that I wanted those things. But then, I guess when she got back to Idaho she reconsidered. Of course, Dad's trust said that we are to divide things four ways. At the heart of it all was a jewelry case that Dad had given me many years ago. He had bought it for Edna and it was the only thing of hers (Rightly so, I shouldn't have had much or even that, for that matter.) that he gave me. The girls took her other belongings, as they should have. She was their mother. Charlotte wanted it and didn't think I should have had it. Anyway, then Laurel called Charlotte back and discovered that she was drunk so, when she sobered up, she didn't remember being cross with me. It is all very interesting. Laurel then was sorry she got involved and called again to apologize. She said she had not taken communion at the Greek Church because of it all. I took President Hinckley's conference talk to heart about being forgiving. It was one of the few talks I actually heard because of all of this. I intend to not take much and to stay in the background as much as possible. 

We are supposed to take back the things we have given Dad over the years. That is also a sad business. I have mostly taken just a few of the books we gave him and a few of the photos that were of our family and him together.

At any rate, I am glad I grew up where I did and with the people who understood me and loved me anyway. Even when I was a brat, you all put up with me. That is really something. 

I appreciate you and Alyce. It was wonderful having you there at the funeral. I was most grateful. Thank you.

I miss your mom! I miss grandma! I miss Richard. I miss your dad and mine. I wonder, could you and I just twinkle and avoid all of this stuff?

Love, Myrna

Twinkle

Saturday and Sunday ended up being crazy around here. Charlotte had called Laurel, who then called me (Saturday), and protested my being included in taking any of Dad's things. I have just taken sentimental items, like an old sailor hat, old sweater, some old photos, a plate and some of his caps. But Charlotte didn't like that because I had never lived in Dad's house. She seemed alright when I was saying that I wanted those things. But then, I guess when she got back to Idaho she reconsidered. Of course, Dad's trust said that we are to divide things four ways. At the heart of it all was the jewelry case that Dad had given me many years ago. He had bought it for Edna and it was the only nice thing of hers (Rightly so, I shouldn't have had much or even that, for that matter.) that he gave me. The girls took her rings and other belongings, as they should have. She was their mother. Charlotte wanted it (the case) and didn't think I should have had it. Anyway, then Laurel called Charlotte back and discovered that she was drunk so, when she sobered up, she didn't remember being cross with me. It is all very interesting. Laurel then was sorry she got involved and called again (Sunday) to apologize. She said she had not taken communion at the Greek Church because of it all. I took President Hinckley's conference talk to heart about being forgiving. It was one of the few talks I actually heard because of all of this. I intend to not take much in the future and to stay in the background as much as possible.  

We are supposed to take back the things we have given Dad over the years. That is also a sad business. I have mostly taken just a few of the books we gave him and a few of the photos that were of our family and him together. 

At any rate, I am glad I grew up where I did and with the people who understood me and loved me anyway. Even when I was a brat, they all put up with me. That is really something.  

I wonder, could we just twinkle and avoid all of this stuff?

Love, M

Here is the link

Myrna: The truth is that, somewhere, there is a birth certificate that you already

had when you went on your mission. Otherwise, we wouldn't have all those

photocopies. Love, Mom

Todd: Yeah. I don't know where it is though.

Myrna: Here is the link‏:

Your birth certificate copy is attached. I thought it might save you time.

Love, M

The link: health.utah.gov/vitalrecords/silver

Click on birth certificates.

Todd: Thank you. I just requested it. Cost $15 for the first one and $8 for copies.

WWII checks

"We could voluntarily remit part of our pay to our dependents. I volunteered to have $25 a month deducted from my pay check to go to my daughter every month. The Federal Government matched that with another $25 so that she got $50 a month from me.

"We could decide to buy life insurance up to $10,000 face value.

"The monthly premium for the life insurance was $6.40 a month which was automatically deducted from your salary if you elected to buy the insurance."

From: "A Soldier's Diary"

My Dad was in World War II. I knew that he had some of his check sent to me. I never did know how much. Somehow that question was never answered. I just wanted to know. I knew that some of the money from that withholding was used to buy me a piano and some was saved and used when I went to college. It was a curiosity on my part. I asked sundry realtives who were old enough to remember and none of them knew. Now I have a good idea.

Hello to the Trauntveins:
In answer to your question about what a dependent was paid by the federal government during World War II, we suppose it was about $100.00, but are not certain about that. Were there any records kept by Myrna's sweet grand-mother? She should have received money for your care while your Dad was in service. 

We bought a new computer, so are trying to learn how to use it. We think it will be great. Love to you both. Charles & Merle

Dear Uncle Charles,
Thanks for your help. I am going through some of the recepits that my grandmother had. It may be that I will find it there. There are a whole lot that I have just put in a couple portable file boxes. I have just kept them but have never really gone through them. Some people go through and shred all of that but I just kept them.

Thanks for considering my question. If I find out what it was I will let you know.

Have fun with the new computer. What kind did you get? It is sort of like getting a new baby--a lot of adjustment.

Love, Myrna

Myrna Keeps on Learning

Well, guess what? Laurel called today and apologized. She said Tom and she did not argue and he did not yell at her, ever. However, he did tell her yesterday that she was clearly in the wrong. He said I had as much right to be in Dad's house as she did. He told her she needed to repent and go to confession. He also scolded her for listening to Charlotte and for getting sucked into the stuff she was saying. He told her that she had been doing a good job as trustee but that she had just blown it and he was upset with her. Today, Sunday, she did not take communion because she had not been to confessional yet. 

She said when she called Charlotte back about the jewelry chest, Charlotte told her that she did not really want the "ugly" thing after all. She just wanted to make a point that I did not have a right to anything. She said Charlotte, by that time, was drunk and, in all likelihood had been drunk all along. She said she just didn't pick up on it.

So I guess, her priest had talked today about being forgiving. You know that President Hinckley did. I told her that it was OK. I did, also, say that I thought it was time to forgive Dad. After all, Edna was the one most injured by his drinking and she forgave him and they had a good marriage after that. If she could forgive him then so should all of us.

Thanks for all of your prayers in my behalf. I love you, Mom

So, I was thinking about the stinker-pot. If she is threatening you with court, just remind her that anything to do with the war is yours to recover in court. And, if they are looking for inheritable items for their children, well... You have eight versus their four. Might I also mention that only one of yours is medicated while all of theirs are.
Todd Trauntvein

Thanks for coming, Al

Alan Pitts

You have no idea how much your extra-effort in attending Dad's funeral meant to me. It was wonderful having loving people around me. Thank you!

Love, Myrna

Al: I am so glad that I attended. It was wonderful to learn so much about my Uncle Howard. Much of his history crossed my path many times without my knowing. Such as the water tanks he built in Price. I watched those tanks being built and had no idea that it was a relative involved. The joy and happiness was so present it was a real pleasant time for me.

I sat next to my cousin Lenna. I always referred to her and June as my Aunts when they were children of Uncle Leonard, who I never knew. Some of what she told me was a great curiosity to me. One thing, I was a favorite of my Grandmother Pitts, my Father’s Mother. I remember that I was terrified of her. I did remember the sourdough sugar cookies that she baked and they were a real treat. Lenna also remembers those cookies. 

It turned out to be a learning experience for me. I watched your husband and children relate to each other and was immediately very envious of that family closeness that was evident. Where I am as distant from my family as could be, always left out just as I was when I lived at home.

Thanks for sharing that experience with me.

Love you

al

Does anybody have a recipe for those cookies? I've tried to make them from other recipes that I have found but they are never the same. 

You were afraid of her? I was afraid of being hugged by her. She hugged hard and she wore a corset with bones that would smash against my ear. I liked her. I sort of remember her funeral. The dinner afterward was more like a party and we even had cookies (I thought they were her cookies so somebody must know how to make them). We were both really young kids back then. How much do you remember?