Genealogy - Shelley Beatty

C.I.A., Secret Missions, U.S. Foreign Service, Marines….

October 12, 2017 by shelley

C.I.A., Secret missions, U.S. Foreign Service, Marines….

It was always kind of hush, hush and a very secretive scenario when we tried to get any information about my Uncle Karl, my dad’s brother. But no matter what time of year it was, whenever he came home for a visit we would stop whatever was going on in our lives and make the trip to my grandparent’s house to see my Uncle Karl. He would never be home for very long. We would make the two hour drive up the narrow, windy two lane Price Canyon road, cross Soldier Summit, make our way down Spanish Fork Canyon into Springville, Utah where relatives were gathered. As children, we riddled our parents with questions; “What’s Karl’s job?” “It’s a secret.”; “Where does he do it?” “Overseas, in a far away country.”; “What does he do?” “Not sure exactly.”; “Is he still a marine?” “Not exactly.”

The lack of any information did not really bother us because we knew it would be a fun day with cousins, aunts and uncles. (I think this picture was taken summer 1960.)

Smith Family gathering to visit when Karl Smith came home from U.S. Foreign Service

Left to right: Beatrice Smith, Arva Smith holding Miriam Smith, Mary Ann Smith reaching toward baby with her mother Lucille Taylor Smith behind her and Shelley Smith in front with pink shorts, Craig Smith is turned with back toward viewer, far back is Bernell Jensen and Terry Jensen with Karl Smith standing in front of them with back toward viewer, Michael Smith, John Smith, Albert Smith, Boyd Smith and Will Rodeback.

Karl Smith, his mother Beatrice Smith and father Albert Smith

Left to right: Karl Smith, Beatrice Smith and Albert Smith about 1960 (summer).

We would later learn more about what he was doing during his long absences:

Karl Smith receives special Honor Award for work in U.S. Foreign Service

The letter is from the American Ambassador Winthrop G. Brown stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos. It is dated March 2, 1961 and reads:

Dear Mr. Smith

I have already expressed to you orally the appreciation which I and the Department feel for your behavior during the battle of Vientiane. I am writing to you today, so that it may be a matter of record.

This was not an easy time for anyone here. For three days, the Embassy was under actual siege conditions. The office and your home were under artillery or small arms fire. You were frequently in personal danger.

“Throughout this difficult period, you attended devotedly to your duty, carrying extra heavy loads where required and enduring dangerous conditions with calmness, cheerfulness and courage. Although not a thoroughly trained cryptographic clerk, you worked as such for a period of over 48 hours with practically no sleep. When it came time to destroy classified equipment, you calmly completed the task, kneeling on the floor of the classified file room, while bullets and shrapnel were flying in the windows over your head.

“You have been a credit to yourself, the Service and to your country. I and the Department take great satisfaction in your performance and I have recommended you to the Department for an honor award.”

From the American Embassy in Vientiane, Laos.

John W. Smith, Lola Jenson, Will Smith, Karl Smith, Albert Smith, Beatrice Smith and Hasting Smith

My Grandparent’s House

September 23, 2017 by shelley

My Grandparent’s House

I visited the house where my grandparent’s lived until they died (early 1970’s) in Springville, Utah

(136 East 200 North Springville, Utah)

Grandma’s house in Springville, Utah

It brought back so many fond memories…throwing pillows over the bannister from the second floor down to the entry-way in a pillow fight with my cousins…Thanksgiving dinners in the parlor and the beautiful iris garden that filled the entire side yard….

My grandmother always had a bag of salt water taffy in the drawer of the sideboard in the parlor, African violet plants in their little pots blooming everywhere and crocheted doilies on the back and arm of every chair and couch…

The old horse chestnut tree still stands out front. My siblings and I used to throw those spiky green things at each other….and there used to be no sidewalk and gutter in front and when it rained there would be a gigantic puddle that filled the entire area in front of where the fence is now.

Horse Chestnut tree in front of my grandparent’s house in Springville, Ut

My grandparents: Beatrice Rodeback Smith (1892-1972) and Albert Harry Smith (1888-1971).

Funeral Dave Monson

September 17, 2017 by shelley

Funeral Dave Monson

I made a quick trip home for the funeral of my uncle Dave Monson. He died on July 31, 2017 just shy of his 90th birthday.

Dave Monson

Obituary

David Peter Monson

1927 ~ 2017
Loving husband, father, grandfather, David Peter Monson, known by his friends and family as “Dave,” was born 29 August 1927 in Mount Pleasant, Utah to David Leonal Monson and Eloese Catherine Christensen. He passed away in West Bountiful on 31 July, 2017, just shy of 90 years.
Dave was known for his good nature, quick wit, ready laughter; and for his masterful storytelling. His entire life, Dave attempted to make friends out of every stranger he met, and usually succeeded.
He graduated from North Sanpete High School in 1945; he entered the Army 8 March 1946 and served in Japan until 6 April 1948. He received his Associate’s Degree from Snow College and subsequently enrolled in Utah State College. Dave majored in the ROTC until a serious car accident derailed his plans for a military career. Shortly thereafter he married Jedda Mercer in the LDS Manti Temple and settled in her hometown of Lehi to raise a family. They eventually had seven children, four born in Utah and three in California where they moved in 1960. Dave had a career there as a Design Engineer until 1974 when they moved back to Utah, relocating in West Bountiful.
Dave loved carpentry and all manner of handyman skills which served him well in fixing up their old pioneer home. He was often caught climbing onto the roof well into his 80’s to fix this or that. He was an active member of the LDS Church, serving in many callings, including Executive Secretary to two bishops, and as the President of the Stake Seventies. Dave served 3 Stake Missions before he and his wife went on a proselytizing mission to South Carolina, a Humanitarian Mission to Salt Lake Welfare Square, and most recently served as Ordinance Workers in the Bountiful Temple for 9 years. He was also a proud member of the Koosharem Band of the Paiute Tribe and the last of his generation.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jedda Monson; children, David Monson Jr, Kathryn Latour, Jedd Monson, Karla Bickmore, Kelly Wilson, Kristi Crusan; 24 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren. He was so proud of all of their many abilities and accomplishments. Dave is preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters, a brother, and son Stacey Monson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Sat., August 5, at the WB 2nd Ward Church, 840 North 800 West, West Bountiful, Utah. Viewings will be at the same location on Fri., August 4 from 6-8pm and Saturday, August 5 from 9:30-10:30am. Interment at the Bountiful City Cemetery following funeral services

Children of David Peter Monson

Dave Monson family

Children of David Monson Left to Right:

David Monson Jr., Kathryne Monson Latour, Kristi Monson Crusan, Jedd Monson, Karla Monson Bickmore, and Kelly Monson Wilson. My Cousin Stacy Monson died a few years ago.

Funeral Dave Monson

Jedda Mercer Monson

Beverly and Bill Mercer

Diana and Julian Mercer

I was glad I made the trip. It had been years since I had seen my cousins. It was fun remembering the fun times we had together as kids.

Cousins visiting our home in Price Utah 1967

Front row (Left to right): Karla, Kathy, Davey Monson, Mike Smith

Second Row (left to right): Miriam Smith, Stacy Monson, Craig Smith, Jedd Monson

Back row (left to right): Andrea and Arva Smith

Utah Capitol

September 12, 2017 by shelley

Utah Capitol

At the Utah Capitol there is a monument for those that have fallen in the line of duty; policemen, firemen etc. I have and ancestor that was one of the first in the state of Utah. We went to the memorial to try and find this ancestor’s name on the new memorial. His name is Albert Orlando Hastings Bowen born 1826 and died October 19, 1873. Albert O.H. Bowen is my 2nd great grandfather on my father’s side.

Marshal Albert O. H. Bowen

Died on October 16, 1873

Age 44
Provo Police Department
Homicide: Handgun

Marshal Bowen was murdered at a Provo saloon. During the evening of October 13, the 44-year-old victim responded to a report of an intoxicated man waving a gun. When Marshal Bowen attempted to disarm the man, he was shot in the side of the head with a .36-caliber revolver. The marshal lived for three days, dying on the thirteenth birthday of his eldest son. His killer was arrested two months later in Nevada. Convicted of second-degree murder, the man was sent to Utah Territorial Prison where he eventually became a trustee. In 1876, while attempting to prevent the escape of inmates who had previously attacked and mortally wounded Warden Mathew Burgher, he was shot and killed. Marshal Bowen was married and the father of nine children. He is buried in Provo City Cemetery. His bronze name plaque is sponsored by Provo P.D. Local #129/Police Mutual Aid Association.

Fallen Officer Memorial Plaque Utah Capitol

ALSO at the Capitol

The Rotunda Utah Capitol

Veterans Day

December 8, 2016 by shelley

Veterans Day

Thought of my dad this day.

John W. Smith WWll

Henry and Becca had a special program at school honoring Veterans…they displayed a picture of my father, John W. Smith.

Henry and picture of great grandfather John W. Smith

I also received this email from my brother Craig:

Today is Veterans Day. The reason it is on November 11 each year is that is the day that World War I ended in 1918, which is the year that year Grandfather John was born. My Dad, your Grandfather, served for nearly 5 years in World War II. His Springville National Guard Unit was called into active duty for 1 year in October of 1941. After Pearl Harbor, in December of that year, the 1 year became until the war was over. He spent most of the war stateside. After a small town in New Mexico lost a lot of young men who were fighting together in a National Guard Unit in the Philippines, when Japan invaded following Pearl Harbor, National Guard units were broken up for morale purposes. At different times he was a cook and a Drill Sargent training troops who participated in D-Day. (In the early 1990’s he went back to Pennsylvania several times to a reunion of some of those troops who fought in Europe.)

Near the end of the war he was sent to Okinawa. (Courtney will be the first family member to visit Okinawa since then.) He was going to be part of the invasion of Japan. This was expected to be the most difficult and costly

operation of the War, even more so than D-Day, as the Japanese were expected to fight to the death. Not only the soldiers, but everyone. Fortunately, the Atomic Bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Japan Surrendered in August of 1945. Grandpa was discharged in December that year and later used the G.I. Bill to be the first, and only, member of his family to graduate from College.

A few days later a cousin sent this picture to us:

National Guard Unit of my father John W. Smith