Heading to Colorado

Apr 30, 2009, at 9:42 PM, L H TRAUNTVEIN wrote:

We will be leaving for the great state of Colorado on Saturday. Poor Julie still has more painting to do but they are going to Idaho on Friday. They are getting stone for their fireplaces from the same place that Jim's dad got his.

I guess you can call me at Kirsten's.

Love, M

Kirsten: NO! Absolutely not! No one may call her here, EVER!!!!! Nor email her at our email address either! No one is to know that she and dad are secretly hiding out, pretending to watch our kids just so she can get out of doing the Mona city council meetings... I mean, really. Mom, you just about blew your cover. What were you thinking?!

Just kidding. Jared and I leave on Thursday, May 7 and are back on Tuesday morning, May 19. So, if you get a panicked call from Mom it's because she is watching two precocious boys under the age of three who have a knack for getting into things and (while she has done this many times before) she doesn't quite know how to handle them along with the big sisters telling her what to do every minute of the day ("That's NOT how my mom does it...), then please answer the phone and lend her much-needed moral support. I won't be answering mine (phone that is). *wink* And I don't want to hear about how anyone of my kiddos was shut up in a box by an older kiddo while we, the parents, were away touring the country...

Seriously, THANK You, Mom and Dad for taking time away from your real lives to come and save mine and play with my kids. Ryan keeps praying that you will be safe (notice, he doesn't pray for his own mom and dad, just grandma and grandpa), and the girls have a count down for your arrival! We love you and hope the roads are smooth and dry for your drive here.

love, Kirsten
Todd:In that case, will you tell Whit NOT to do any of the things I told her I used to do. I mean, we all turned out fine, so I thought "no harm, no foul, let her play the game to."
I am jealous. I would like to go to Hawaii again. Gotta take care of Alaska first. Last state left in the 50/50 quest.

Ryan Bender Will Be Buried in Nephi

Myrna wrote: Ryan Bender will be buried in Nephi. His viewing will be Sunday evening at Anderson's Funeral Home and his funeral will be at our church at noon.


Ann Olsen wrote: Thank you.  I'm so glad he is back home in Nephi with his family around him.  One is never prepared for the death of a loved one but the Holy Ghost is the great Comforter and brings peace and strength to endure.  

Love,
Ann 
Myrna wrote: I am thankful, as well, that they have the strength of the plan of happiness  to comfort them.

I didn't write this but it touches my heart.

"To my little children"

*Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
*Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

*Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.
*Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.
*Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.
*Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.
*Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald's and buy us all a Happy Meal.
*Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.
*Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.
*Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.
*Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.
*Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that GOD has given me the greatest gift ever given.
*I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.
*And when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank GOD for you, and ask Him for nothing, except one more day.

Call me at Kirsten's

Myrna wrote: We will be leaving for the great state of Colorado on Saturday. Poor Julie still has more painting to do but they are going to Idaho on Friday. They are getting stone for their fireplaces from the same place that Jim's dad got his.

 I guess you can call me at Kirsten's.

Love, M


NO! Absolutely not! No one may call her here, EVER!!!!! Nor email her at our email address either! No one is to know that she and dad are secretly hiding out, pretending to watch our kids just so she can get out of doing the Mona city council meetings... I mean, really. Mom, you just about blew your cover. What were you thinking?!

Just kidding. Jared and I leave on Thursday, May 7 and are back on Tuesday morning, May 19. So, if you get a panicked call from Mom it's because she is watching two precocious boys under the age of three who have a knack for getting into things and (while she has done this many times before) she doesn't quite know how to handle them along with the big sisters telling her what to do every minute of the day ("That's NOT how my mom does it...), then please answer the phone and lend her much-needed moral support. I won't be answering mine (phone that is). *wink* And I don't want to hear about how anyone of my kiddos was shut up in a box by an older kiddo while we, the parents, were away touring the country...

Seriously, THANK You, Mom and Dad for taking time away from your real lives to come and save mine and play with my kids. Ryan keeps praying that you will be safe (notice, he doesn't pray for his own mom and dad, just grandma and grandpa), and the girls have a count down for your arrival! We love you and hope the roads are smooth and dry for your drive here.

love, Kirsten


Todd wrote: In that case, will you tell Whit NOT to do any of the things I told her I used to do. I mean, we all turned out fine, so I thought "no harm, no foul, let her play the game to."

I am jealous. I would like to go to Hawaii again. Gotta take care of Alaska first. Last state left in the 50/50 quest.


Kirsten wrote: HAHAHAHA!!! "Fine" is questionable... I still have a fear of bathrooms, locked doors, drawers being pushed in with knives....

:)

I'm up for Alaska.. How about next year?!

Kirsten


Todd wrote: Yeah. How you all did all that stuff without me knowing? I thought I used
to pay attention. <grin>

Alaska next year is part of my plan. 20th anniversary. Then there is still the question of the Jamboree.

Shawn's Letter to the Bender Family

Thanks Mom. I did send them an email which I will share with you, just being what little I can remember upon short reflection.

Dear Bender Family,

It was with a heavy heart that I received the news yesterday of Ryan’s passing. I had just been to the funeral of a great uncle the day before, who had lived a long life, but had died suddenly and quite unexpectedly. We do not know if our pilgrimage here on the earth is short or long, but I do trust in our loving Heavenly Father, and in the atonement and resurrection wrought by his Only Begotten.

I do hope that in these hectic and sad days ahead, that you will be able to find time to sit with family members and relate and record some of the good memories you have from his life. That is so important, to have those become part of the family histories of the parents and of each of the siblings. I trust that he has quickly made himself busy in the work of the Lord on the other side, so it is up to us to keep our hearts turned to a memory of those who have passed on, and to the legacy they leave for us.

I do not have much to contribute to a history, since he was older than me, but I did want to say what I remember about him. I do remember that I simply always saw him as being wise. Looking back on what I remember of him from my youth, I remember him as someone who liked to put in an extra effort in his school work and extra-curricular activities. I guess I could surmise by saying that I remember him as someone who was sober in his youth (even as Moroni). I also remember him being a good moderator/mediator when it seemed youthful neighborhood tensions ran high, when we would have little spats during games or what-not, which indicates that he was a caring person. That is how I remember him. I of course, can no longer remember what any of those spats were about, probably some interpretation of game rules or something that no longer matters, but I do recall him as being a well reasoned and caring person.

Sincerely,

Shawn Trauntvein

From Myrna:

Dad would like you to send your e-mail that you wrote to Benders to all the family. Actually, he wanted me to do it but, after the messages I received from the family about honoring privacy, I would rather you would do it than have me do it.

Anyway, we were both highly impressed and touched by what you wrote. I wish I had your gift for writing. This is beautiful. Love, M

Shawn wrote:

Oh, but Mom, you do. I only try to follow in your footsteps, and even though you are shorter than I am, I still have to lengthen my stride to do so.

From Myrna:

OK, you pushed my tear button for today. I LOVE YOU! 

Ryan Bender Died

Myrna wrote:

How many of you, friends of the Russell and Colleen Bender family, know that their son, Ryan, died yesterday? He was living in Germany, working for the government and had been at an Elder's Quorum party where they played "extreme frisbee." Colleen said that he had just left the party with some of his friends and went to see the new medical lab his one friend, a doctor, had set up. When he got inside, he sat down immediately. His friends asked him if something was wrong and he said, "Yes." He then collapsed. They tried saving him and called the ambulance. He could not be saved. He was dead. They think it was either a heart attack or a stroke. He was 51. He had never married. His funeral is pending. It will depend on when the military completes all the paperwork and can ship him home.

Russ and Colleen's e-mail address is: rcben32@sisna.com


Shawn wrote: Thanks Mom. I did send them an email which I will share with you, just being what little I can remember upon short reflection.

Dear Bender Family,

It was with a heavy heart that I received the news yesterday of Ryan’s passing. I had just been to the funeral of a great uncle the day before, who had lived a long life, but had died suddenly and quite unexpectedly. We do not know if our pilgrimage here on the earth is short or long, but I do trust in our loving Heavenly Father, and in the atonement and resurrection wrought by his Only Begotten.

 I do hope that in these hectic and sad days ahead, that you will be able to find time to sit with family members and relate and record some of the good memories you have from his life. That is so important, to have those become part of the family histories of the parents and of each of the siblings. I trust that he has quickly made himself busy in the work of the Lord on the other side, so it is up to us to keep our hearts turned to a memory of those who have passed on, and to the legacy they leave for us.

I do not have much to contribute to a history, since he was older than me, but I did want to say what I remember about him. I do remember that I simply always saw him as being wise. Looking back on what I remember of him from my youth, I remember him as someone who liked to put in an extra effort in his school work and extra-curricular activities. I guess I could surmise by saying that I remember him as someone who was sober in his youth (even as Moroni). I also remember him being a good moderator/mediator when it seemed youthful neighborhood tensions ran high, when we would have little spats during games or what-not, which indicates that he was a caring person. That is how I remember him. I of course, can no longer remember what any of those spats were about, probably some interpretation of game rules or something that no longer matters, but I do recall him as being a well reasoned and caring person.

Sincerely,

Shawn Trauntvein


Ann Olsen wrote: Thank you for letting me know about Ryan Bender and I appreciate getting Colleen & Russ's e-mail address so I can contact them.   My heart goes out to their family.

Love,
Ann

Myrna wrote: Dearest Shawn, I wish I had your gift for writing. This is beautiful. Love, M



Shawn wrote: Oh, but Mom, you do. I only try to follow in your footsteps, and even though you are shorter than I am, I still have to lengthen my stride to do so.

For Merle

This earth lost a beautiful person when my dear Uncle Charles died. Of course, I know the spirits on the other side were happy to welcome him. Uncle Charles was the uncle of my father, Howard Pitts, and the brother of my grandmother, Ruth Edwards Pitts. He gave a wonderful talk at my father's funeral. I so appreciated that, as did the rest of the family. He was a great man and was so kind and giving. He and Aunt Merle always attended the great events in my life. Beyond that, when my children went on missions, they were there; when they were married, they were there. My husband, Leonard, also loved Uncle Charles and shed tears when he read me the obituary this morning. He has been calling our children to let them know of his passing. He so enjoyed the part of the obituary so obviously written by Uncle Charles. In all aspects, he was my "great" uncle and I love him and will miss him. Leonard and I want to let you, Aunt Merle, and the family know that you are loved and that you have our sympathy. Aunt Merle, we also think that you are a great woman and pray that our Heavenly Father will comfort you at this time.
~ 
Myrna Trauntvein,
Nephi, Utah

Memorial for Uncle Charles

April 23, 2009

This earth lost a beautiful person when my dear Uncle Charles died. Of course, I know the spirits on the other side were happy to welcome him. Uncle Charles was the uncle of my father, Howard Pitts, and the brother of my grandmother, Ruth Edwards Pitts. He gave a wonderful talk at my father's funeral. I so appreciated that, as did the rest of the family. He was a great man and was so kind and giving. He and Aunt Merle always attended the great events in my life. Beyond that, when my children went on missions, they were there; when they were married, they were there. My husband, Leonard, also loved Uncle Charles and shed tears when he read me the obituary this morning. He has been calling our children to let them know of his passing. He so enjoyed the part of the obituary so obviously written by Uncle Charles. In all aspects, he was my "great" uncle and I love him and will miss him. Leonard and I want to let you, Aunt Merle, and the family know that you are loved and that you have our sympathy. Aunt Merle, we also think that you are a great woman and pray that our Heavenly Father will comfort you at this time.

~ 

Myrna Trauntvein,

Nephi, Utah

Melanie wrote: I know that some of us left memorials at the russonmortuary.com website. I didn't know if you knew that there were two guest books that were being signed. 

Mel

Uncle Charles' Funeral Program

They ran out of funeral programs for Great-Uncle Charles Edwards this morning. Shawn gave me his and found one for Uncle Bob. Meanwhile, Bob's daughter, Kim Pitts, had asked another lady for one and had received it, although the lady was not too happy to give it up, Kim said.

At any rate, I thought you all might be interested in seeing it or in printing one for yourselves. So, here it is.

As you can gather, his death, like Grandpa Pitts' came as a surprise. However, according to his bishop, he seemed to have had a premonition that his time was short. He wrote his own obituary a week ago. He was not sick, however. He just had a sudden heart attack and that was it.

It is hard for Aunt Merle, as you can well imagine. He had been exercising, went in to take a shower and died.

Love, M

Advancement for Kyle and for Benjamin

Myrna wrote: Kyle is being advanced to the office of Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood this Sunday (tomorrow) at 3 p.m. in his ward.

Todd wrote: Congratulations to Kyle.  I hope all are well and it is a beautiful day.  We have nice weather here today (85).

Kirsten wrote: Does Ben get advanced to "Priest" this Sunday, too?  The great thing about having the same birthday, two years apart! :)  

Melanie wrote: (Written on Sunday) Ben was advanced to the office of Priest today at 1:10 pm. I have two Priests for about one more month. Braden will be made an Elder on June 4th, in the evening. I was actually looking forward to having two sons in the same office for a little while, but alas, it isn't meant to be a very long while. 

Congratulations Kyle!

Melanie