A Dream Without Works is Dead

   My father and I had just returned home from watching Merrill, my older brother by 18 months, play a junior varsity basketball game at Granger High School in the fall of 1964. At the time, I was a ninth-grader at a beautiful new junior high school named Westlake, which is located in Granger, which is now incorporated as West Valley City.

Westlake Jr. High in 2015, the year of its 50th anniversary. I
was among the first graduating class from the new school.

   My ninth-grade school year was a pretty heady time for me. I was a member of the Westlake Junior High School basketball team. I had “fought my way” onto the team after many years of imaginary basketball games alone, one-on-one with Merrill, and with neighborhood friends and others who might venture by our “basketball emporium” in the driveway of our home in Granger.
   Dad had put up a basketball hoop with a wood backboard on the front of the garage. Almost year-round the neighbors and Mom knew where we were because of the thud, thud, thud of a bouncing basketball on the concrete, the clang of the ball hitting the metal hoop or someone’s body slamming up against the garage door. To this day I can’t understand how that garage door withstood all the punishment and still opened and closed just fine. But more often we’d open the garage door and move the car out so we could make layups and then in one motion duck into the garage so we wouldn’t hit our heads on the wall above the opened garage door.
   Dribbling the ball on the uneven, cracked and crumbling driveway was actually part of our “skills training” – if we could dribble on that mess without looking down at the ball, we could easily dribble the ball on the fine wood gym floors at school or at church. In fact, because Merrill and I had memorized every crack and every crumbling spot on the drive-way, we took advantage of the visiting players, who had to keep a close eye on the ball for fear of losing their dribble. But when they were looking at the ball, we were making a quick move at a steal. 
   If I wasn’t doing chores like taking out the garbage, washing the dishes, cleaning the house, weeding Mom’s roses in the front yard, weeding the garden out behind the garage and “bomb shelter,” or working at the old apartments just off the railroad tracks at 600 West and 600 North in Salt Lake, then I would be out on the drive-way practicing. Hour after hour and day after day I would practice layups and jump shots – finding the perfect spots that would reward me most often with a swish of the basketball going through the hoop.
   Those years of practice were interrupted by two shoulder surgeries because I had bad shoulders. It didn’t take much for them to dislocate. Just before entering seventh grade, doctors operated on my right shoulder – taking a piece of my right upper hip and pinning the piece into my shoulder socket to help complete the socket. During the recovering, I learned how to dribble with my left hand. I also learned to make layups and shoot with my left arm.

Last days of the Valley Vu Drive-In in Granger,
Utah. Credit: Chris Greenwell

   The following summer, after the my right arm had recovered from surgery, Mom and Dad went to the Valley Vu Drive-In about a mile away from home while several of our friends came over to watch “Nightmare Theater.” It was a perfect evening! I had just dined on my favorite food at the time – stuffing down two hotdogs with mustard and a bunch of chips – while watching TV. Gene Openshaw came back from the kitchen with a second plate of food and went to sit down next to me on the couch. I put my hand out to reserve the spot (I probably was just teasing because I did that a lot), but he sat down anyway – right on my arm. My shoulder popped out of place – but this time it stayed out. That was very unusual. In fact, the doctors had always wanted to get a picture of the shoulder when it was out and even had tried once to slip it out themselves – to no avail. But this time it was out and was staying out. I was screaming bloody murder! Merrill quickly got on the phone and called the drive-in. Fortunately, that was back before movie theaters got recorded messages, so he was able to get through to someone live. They located Dad and Mom, and they rushed home. Dad carefully got me out to the car and took me to Granger Medical Center about 10 minutes away. All the while I was crying in agony – every slight bump or jar would send shockwaves of pain through my body. When we finally arrived at

Dad said I was always like a geyser when throwing up!

Granger Medical, I was given a pain shot. When the doctor arrived, he was “excited” to get some X-rays while the shoulder was still dislocated. I was wheeled into X-ray room and put on the X-ray table, which was a “ton of fun.” But by then I was getting really sick to my stomach. I told Dad I was going to throw up. He warned the doctor, so the doctor got a little throw-up bowl and put it up to the side of my mouth. Dad warned him that it wasn’t going to be big enough – but it was too late! Like a volcano, all those pieces of hotdogs, mustard and chips came roaring out of my mouth and plastered my doctor, who tried to jump back and avoid the eruption. Too late, his suit was soiled from his tie down to his pants with all the remnants of my late dinner! Dad was having a hard time not laughing, the doctor was standing there in shock – he had never seen such a yellow geyser! But I was feeling a lot better!
   They took the X-rays, and then my doctor had to put the arm back in place. That really felt weird – not to mention painful! He had to literally pull on my arm and push his knee up against my side and slowly twist it back into place! When it popped back into place, I thought I was going to die! I was off the basketball court for a few weeks.
      A few weeks later I was scheduled to go to Scout camp, but I was very nervous because my left shoulder wasn’t completely healed from the “geyser episode.” But I wanted the canoeing merit badge. The problem was, though, I had to pass my swimming badge requirements in the cold mountain lake with a bum left shoulder – and I hadn’t been able to pass the swimming requirements in previous attempts in a warm swimming pool out in Magna where our Scout troop went once a month.

Merrill about the time of our Scout camp
in 1965, pictured in his Sunday attire
when he was a priest.

   Surgery on my left shoulder was already scheduled to take place right after the Scout camp. I decided I would try and gut it out in southern Idaho. I have no idea where it was because I was in the back of a pickup in the dark. Mr. Kershaw (the father of Merrill’s girlfriend and future wife) drove us up and back to camp. Merrill and Gene Openshaw or Bruce Sharp (I’m not sure which of the two), sat in front seat of the pickup with Mr. Kershaw and the rest of us were in the open back of the pickup with a camper shell cover over the back.   Swimming was really hard on my shoulders. But if I was to do any canoeing and get a canoeing merit badge, I had to get the swimming badge first. I remember praying to my Father in Heaven to help me make the long swim and not let me drown. I remember that I took a lot longer than normal to make the swim because I did the backstroke most of the way and took my time. But I passed the requirement – actually I really shocked myself – and got to do all the canoeing I wanted, earned a canoeing merit badge and had a fun camp.
   On our way home, we stopped just out of camp at a nature lake. I think Mr. Kershaw wanted to fish or check out the lake. I was doing a little exploring myself. That’s when I picked up, with my left hand, some type of bug or worm or whatever, and it bit me – or stung me or something – and I threw my arm up to get rid of it as fast as I could. That’s when I heard my left shoulder crack like it was a hard pretzel – more than just one crack. I thought I had dislocated my shoulder again – which happened way too often. It hurt like crazy – but then I was always hurting my shoulders. Merrill’s reaction was – here we go again! He was sorry – but …
   I rode the rest of the way home in the back of the pickup, bouncing around and clutching my arm – trying to keep it in one place so it wouldn’t hurt more than it did.
When we got home, Dad took me to the doctors, and they X-rayed the shoulder. I had broken the shoulder socket in half and the socket had broken away from the shoulder. They were going to operate on it anyway – so they moved up the surgery right there.
They used staples to connect the socket together and connect the socket to the shoulder and then tightened up the shoulder ligaments so the shoulder didn’t have as much range but didn’t so easily come out of socket.

Lee in front of the juniper tree at our home in
Granger in 1965.

   A few months later I was back on the basketball court. My dream was to first make the junior high basketball team and then the high school team – like Merrill. I tried to pattern my play after Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers and Oscar Robertson. They were incredible dribblers, shooters and team players.
   I could have given up I don’t know how many times. But I loved being able to make a shot, to dribble without anyone being able to get the ball away from me, and to make the pass that won the game.
   Dad had taught us from a young age how to work – and Merrill and I used that in sports. Merrill was great at all sports, but I was too frail for football, didn’t have the arm to throw a baseball very far or to bat well. In fact, when I did hit the ball, I wondered why it hurt my shoulders so much. It didn’t seem to hurt anyone else like that. But basketball was a different story. It didn’t hurt my shoulders to dribble the ball and it didn’t hurt my shoulders to shoot – unless someone blocked the shot – which I diligently tried to avoid. I felt I was a very good basketball player – especially for such a little guy.
   Between the seventh and ninth grades, I grew about six inches. Finally, I was tall – I thought. In fact, I was five-feet, four and ½ inches tall.
   During ninth grade, I couldn’t be in the school’s mixed chorus because it was held during the same period as a geometry class that Mom and Dad wanted me to take. I had shown an aptitude for math back in fourth grade and had progressed so that I was about a year advanced in math – and they wanted me to keep going in that area.
So, because I wasn’t in choir, I think I put my focus on making the junior high school basketball team. Plus I was in a new school, and everyone was new to the school. The drawback for me in our neighborhood was that I had attended Monroe Elementary my first six grades, then Kearns Junior High for seventh, Brockbank Junior High for eighth, and now Westlake for ninth grade – and all while living in the same house in Granger.

Photo was posted on the bulletin board
in the gymnasium after being named
by Coach Newton' as the most
physically fit among his gym classes
at Westlake Jr. High in fall of 1964.

So I didn’t have very many friends outside of our neighborhood.
   My gym coach at Westlake was Coach Newton, who was scheduled to be the head coach of the school basketball team. I thought that because he had seen me play a lot of basketball in class I probably had a good chance of making the team. I even received an “award” from Coach Newton for being the most physically fit student in all of his gym classes (he taught more than half of the gym classes). I could do more pushups, sit-ups and jumping jacks combined than any of the other guys in Coach Newton’s classes. It got to the point where I could run home from school – which was over a mile – without stopping. That was a long way for me.
   When tryouts came for basketball, I made all the cuts – except for the last one.
   When I didn’t officially make the team – I decided not to give up but to talk to Coach Newton. I told him I felt I was as good as several on the team and really would do anything to be on the team. Besides, I was willing to be the last or the second to last guy on the team. He finally relented. I had worked hard, I was determined, and I was gutty enough to talk the coach into letting me be on the team.
   Dad called me a “Banny rooster.”
   I played a total of 1½ minutes in regulation play – but I loved the excitement of the games and even just doing the warm-ups in uniform before the games. It was a chance for me to show off my dribbling skills – dribbling behind my back and doing a layout all in one motion. It actually was a real confidence booster for me in life – but still humbling because I didn’t get to play much at all.

Playing catch with Merrill in Liberty
Park in Salt Lake City in the spring of
1965, after I had had a "growth spurt."

    Some time during that basketball season, Dad and I sat in the old Buick in the driveway after one of Merrill’s games. I don’t remember how we got into the discussion or why we were sitting there in the car, but Dad asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up.
   My dream from the time I first watched my uncles Vivian, David and Clifford play for Bingham High School was to play basketball. So I told Dad I wanted to play professional basketball. I don’t remember if he laughed or what – but he pointed out that the chances of me making a living at playing basketball weren’t too promising. He wasn’t discouraging me from going after that dream but he suggested I think about an alternative course – or dream.
   He asked me what I would do if I didn’t make it as a professional basketball player. I thought about that for a minute and then said what I thought was a very practical alternative – “I’ll be a professional singer like Mario Lanzo.”
   Dad said, “Yes, you’re a really good singer, but what are the chances of you making a living as a professional singer?” I thought the chances were actually pretty good – since singing came so naturally to me.
  Dad then asked me what I would do if that dream didn’t work out. I thought about that for a while and realized I really didn’t have another alternative. Maybe I could become a scientist or engineer like Vivian, David and Clifford were doing in California.

I had a lead part in my drama class production of "Drop Dead"
at Westlake Jr. High during the spring of 1965.

   Dad then asked me what I would need to do to accomplish that. I answered that I would need to do really good in school and then graduate from college.
   He said that would be a very good alternative dream if the other two don’t work out. He pointed out that I would need to work very hard in school and earn money for college because the family didn’t have any funds to send us kids to college. He said that if I would hold on to those dreams and work at them, something would work out – and that I would find a career I would enjoy.
   Funny how that short talk in an old Buick with Dad that night was so right on: I didn’t make the high school basketball team – though I still think I would have been a starter at a small school like Richfield High School. The top basketball honor I received was being named to the Church Stake All-Stars team and playing in the All-star game. I remember I had a lot of fun practicing for that game and playing in the game.
   I did have a lot of success singing and even made Madrigals my senior year, but my singing career ended pretty much in college.

There's Lee on the right end of the second row up during
a performance of the Granger High Madigrals in 1967-68.

   However, Merrill’s involvement in high school athletics helped me get on as a manager on the high school football team, which led to being manager of the basketball team for all three years of high school. That and a suggestion and encouragement from an English teacher named Miss Plant led to my writing for the school paper as sports editor. And my involvement in singing and athletics and writing on the school paper I think helped me get elected as president of the Associated Lancer Men my senior year. And all of that combined reaped an academic scholarship to BYU and a scholarship to be a football manager at BYU, which led to my mission, where I served half my mission as the public relations director in the mission home.

After completing my degree at BYU at the end
of 1973, I started as the obit writer at the
Deseret News, soon moving on to the copy
desk. I hung up my tools there after 33 years.

   When I returned home, minus a leg, I still had a dream and a plausible career – which led to a thirty-three year career as a copy editor and copy chief of the church’s newspaper, the Deseret News. Life has been a whirlwind – really! I suppose that’s why I remember so many things from when I was young – it seems like just yesterday! 
   My life moved so slowly when I was young. I wanted to grow up and get on with life. Then all of a sudden I look back and wish I hadn’t been in such a hurry and had enjoyed my younger years – and especially my family years. I think I was always looking past the mark. Now I look back and wish I had not been in such a hurry to get somewhere that I left behind so many precious times with my children – especially my boys. I fret that I didn’t teach them the principles they need to succeed in life, how to work – and enjoy the pleasure of a job well done. I worry that I set a mixed example for them. They saw the older Dad who had worked so hard for so long that he neglected the more important things in life like, for example, temple attendance.
   The lessons I see from “A Dream Without Works is Dead” is that dreams are essential in our lives – even

multiple dreams. But dreaming is just the blueprint, if you will, of getting something done. We have to go out and do the work – make it happen and work toward those dreams. Work as hard as possible to make them come true and then things will work out – but maybe not exactly how we thought they would.
   But we can’t just dream and think it will just happen. We reap what we sow.
   If we have the faith to make it happen, then work to make it happen, good things will happen – but not necessarily exactly what we might have expected. And this is in conjunction with our spiritual side – because “all things are spiritual” to our Father in Heaven.

Recovered Wedding Memories

I was going through a box in my storage closet for missionary pictures and find these pictures from our wedding, April 9, 1976! The originals weren't very good but, now with new technology, I was able to improve them a little.
See if you recognize anyone! Here are some hints:
Chris Smith, Anne Isabel, Don Roundy, Orin Bawden, Merrill Hunt, Stacy Hunt, Rhonda Hunt, Lorraine Hunt, Rhea Westwood, Bruce Westwood, JoAnn Westwood, Jim Westwood, Rendall Hunt, Jay Westwood, Trena Hunt (Trena didn't even realize it was her after picking out a bunch of the other people), Kathy Westwood and Phil Sarborough. Troyleen was pregant at the time and was seated at the host desk, greeting everyone.
Of course, the biggest disappointment is we don't have any pictures of my dad there, which created a lot of regret and conflict!!!



Pretty Bride!
Yes, that's me without a beard and balancing
on that

I'm wondering what she's telling me?
Maybe it's about her missing gravy bowl!

Wedding reception held at the Granger 4th Wardhouse
in West Valley, Utah.

Cutting the cake! Look at them cooperate!

Mothers Rhea and Lorraine.

What a good-looking group of guys!
Left to right, startint in back: Rendall Hunt, Jay Westwood,
Bruce Westwood, Phil Scarbrough, Merrill Hunt, Lee,
Jim Westwood, Orin Bawden, and Don Roundy.

Fun picture of family members and family members to be!
Left to right, starting in back, Jim, JoAnn, Nancy,
Lee, Merrill, Lorraine, Rhea, Bruce, Trena Hunt, Kathy
Westwood (Jim and Kathy got married just months before
us), Stacy and Rhonda Hunt, Anne Isabel (who married
Chris Smith's brother, and Chris, of course, married Bruce. 

I wonder if Nancy's again asking about her gravy bowl!

OK, all eyes on the photographer!

Rendall Albert Hunt: My Little Brother

My little brother, Rendall, is 12 years younger than me -- he just celebrated his 50th birthday.
Karen, his wife, asked me to get some pictures of him when he was young. These are the ones that I've found in my scrapebook. All of these were taken while the family was living in Pennsylvania during the summer of 1966. Rendall was 4 years old and Trena was 8 years old. Merrill had just graduated from Granger High School. I had just completed 10th grade.

Rendall Albert Hunt outside the trailer that the family lived in for the first few weeks. Merrill and I arrived a few weeks after the rest of the family because Merrill stayed for his graduation. Grandma
Butt and Merrill drove us all the way back to Pennsylvania. After staying witht he family
for a couple of days, Grandma drove home by herself.

 Almost every Friday and Saturday, the family would head out on another sightseeing trip. This is Rendall posed in front of the Washington Monument in D.C.

This is Troyleen, back, Rendall and Trena next to the Sasquehanaa River, across from the LDS Ward Meetinghouse in Harrisburg, PA., during that summer in 1966.

Rendall, wearing a Union Civil War hat, finds the perfect spot atop a Civil War monument.

What a happy-looking little boy: Rendall in the green wilderness of Pennsylvania.

Truth and Faith in Cancer Ordeal

This paper was an assignment for Professor Bradford's Sociology class, which was much like a religion class with a sociology basis.

Sociology Class Assignment, 1970

   On Sept. 1, 1970, I was laying in a hospital bed in Salt Lake City and thinking about life and the many things I had learned and experienced in my 20 years on Earth. On the next day, I was to go through an experience that would change my life in every way.

   As the staff wheeled me back into my room after a very  serious operation,  I  realized  that  if I could  see below my waist, I would find only one leg where there had been two only hours earlier.

What does a person think about when he knows he has cancer, when he knows he must lose one of his legs, when he knows there is a possibility that he will die?

   Only a week earlier, I was a patient in a different hospital in the little country of Costa Rica when the doctor and my mission president, Milton E. Smith, explained, through the sad silence, that I would be going home the next morning by  jet airline so the doctors back state-side could work on me.

   At that time, neither really explained the seriousness of the situation. But after I had arrived in Utah and the doctor who had been retained by the church had examined the X-ray, my knee and some tissue samples, he said – quite frankly – "You know we'll have to amputate your leg.” He also said that if the operation was success­ful, it would stop any cancer from spreading to other parts of my body by eliminating the part of the body in which it was growing.

   Three days elapsed before the operation while I, mentally and spiritually, sought the strength I would need.

   In prayer that first night, I called on God to please give me strength and understanding – and to help me through this challenging situation. To give me the faith I needed. This strength and help did come, while all those around me were happily surprised by my attitude and happy spirit.

   Following the operation, I realized that without the help of God, without the realization that God lives,   without the assurance that I will resurrect in a more perfect state, I think I would have cursed, life and   damned the Heavens, while sinking into a bottomless despair.

   This is the most important goal in our mortal life: "To know God and his Son Jesus Christ. I know that they live and that they love us and will help us if we will have faith in them. What a glorious thing it is to know that life does not end here on earth and that at the time of resurrection, I will once again be able to run and jump on two firm legs.

   During this trial, when the thoughts of a future death did come into my mind, I  felt that, though I had lived only 20 years, I had accomplished things  and  done things that made me feel as though 1 had had a complete life. (I was probably very wrong, but that is how I felt.)

   Don't think I felt I had conquered all evil, because I hadn't nor have I yet. But I did feel calm. The one thing I knew I lacked was to be married in the Temple of the Lord.

   I also felt happy that I didn’t wait until I was older to become active in everything but that I had been   constantly active in doing things, what I felt were worthwhile.

   Also, I had been on a mission and had felt that joy that comes to a person when he sees one, to whom he has brought the message of the restored gospel, excel in his life.

   If I were to name the most important values in life, I would point to God and to a Christ-like life to be the goal in one’s life while always doing those things that are good and helping others try to reach that same goal.

Muzings about Helping Others

At what point, when someone needs our help, can we say we've done enough -- take care of yourself and your own problems.

I'm not even talking about forgiving the recipient of our help. That's really a whole different matter.
I'm talking about ourselves and our relationship with our Eternal Father.
Isn't there something in that Big Black Book that says "70 times 7."
Sure, we all have problems and ...we need to take care of ourselves the best we can.
But some people require more help than others. Sometimes I think they're here to see if we're willing to reach out and help. That's the test of a real Christian.
I've been the recipient of many helping hands throughout my life. My older brother was always helping me. But I know also that there is nothing worse than requiring others to help you because you can't carry that box or pick up a dropped item or whatever.
So when someone needs help because they really aren't up to doing it all by themselves, can we say: "I've done all I can do -- I've done enough, let them take care of themselves or find someone else who'll do it!
But when family members gang up together and say "we've done all we're going to do for you -- you don't deserve anymore help -- you don't deserve us in your life," then I'm more worried about them than the one who needs help!
Don't call your approach "tough love!" That only applies when the recipient really can do it for themselves.

Three Kings Grandpa: Albert Edward Rufus Butt

Albert Edward Rufus Butt,
before meeting Leona Cooley.

(The next several blogs will include pictures I found in a box I inherited from my mother, Beatrice Lorraine Butt Hunt Magee.)

Albert with Idella on knee
Sylvan (David West)
between his legs in 1927.

Around Thanksgiving of 2009, I wrote a letter to my family titled: "True Meaning of a Hunt Thanksgiving." In that letter, I mentioned several things for which I was grateful to my Grandfather Butt. I quote: "I’m thankful for my Grandfather Butt. He was so humble and loving – though he was quiet in showing it. He showed it by the time he gave me. He worked hard as a train conductor at Kennecott but got home by about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. So when I was there, especially on Saturdays, he would entertain me. Grandma just wanted me to entertain myself. I did that a lot with building blocks that Grandpa made. They were about three inches long and ¾ inch square. I could build incredible castles and towers. I built the tower of Babel many times. When I was a little older, I would take one of their tennis balls and bounce it off the seven stairs in front of their porch and try to catch it. If it hit an edge, it would take a crazy bounce. I envisioned myself as a pitcher and tried to hit the third stair right in the middle. I got pretty good. I also would bounce it off the garage in back. I played a lot of basketball back there, too. That’s where Clifford, Vivian and David got their start in basketball – the hoop on the double garage.

  Leona Cooley Butt and Albert at summer
cabin in 1945.

Grandpa Butt loved playing cards and played a lot of solitaire. He taught me how to play – his way. He also taught me how to play canasta. We had to have four play that – I think it was Merrill, me, Grandpa and Grandma. I think Clifford played some times, too. Grandma liked playing canasta, too.Grandpa did something special for me – that I will always be grateful for. He worked with me many times on my math. He taught me tricks
 in addition that I still use. It’s because of what he taught me that I ended up winning the prize for being the best in math in my class in fourth grade at Monroe

Leona Cooley Butt and Albert at summercabin in 1945.

Elementary. The girl that I was battling during the last month of school was Lena Newbold. We had to do all the sets at the back of the book without any errors. I was the first to do it. And it was because of what Grandpa Butt taught me – addition, subtraction, division, multiplication. Unfortunately, no one in the family was much good at spelling."

Bert (Albert) in front of
Hotel Bingham in late '20s.

I found a letter that Troyleen, my sister had written to Grandpa Butt, asking him to tell us about himself.I quote: "Dear Grandfather,
I love you a great deal, and I am concerned for you. I would like to keep a record of my grandparents especially yours.
This all my idea, I would like it for my book of Remembrance.
Please tell me about your life even from the first day you were born.
I want you to get well and get out of the hospital, I'll be glad to have you stay with us here.
I do love you, grandfather.
Love, your grandaughter,
Troyleen Hunt (July 6th)

Albert Edward Rufus Butt in the woods outside his mountain cabin in 1945.

Mark replied to my blog and I quote:

"I don't remember seeing any pictures of Grandpa when he was a younger man.

It is great to see them. I see many of Grandpa's features in my son Ryan.
I remember Grandpa teaching my Sister's the Alphabit backwords. I never cared to learn them backwards, because I didn't see any benefit from it.
My sisters loved it. I also remember the blocks. My sisters and I would play with them while Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa would play cards. I think he also liked to play cribbage.
I remember getting to go with him to the Copperton Cafe. I don't remember the name of it. But he liked to go there to eat lunch and chat with his friends. I also remember he would save his coins (change) and give them to us when we came to visit from California. That was a big deal to us kids. I loved spending time with him. He would also come to our home in Taylorsville on a weekly basis to check on us when Dad was gone. Dad had gone to California to work."
Mark McGovern
As I was reading Mark's comments, I then recalled going to Grandpa a couple of times to the store/cafe and also the coins he gave to us kids, too. Thanks, Mark!

 

Albert E.R. Butt, left, in new pair of overalls and

holding a white vadora hat with two or more of his

children on the side of the road.

If you would like to help me, I have some questions to help you just to get the idea of what I would like."

Bert (Albert) and Leona at their cabin
in 1945.

Folded with this letter to Grandpa, was a response written, I think, by him. I quote:
"My Father named me after the kings of England: King Albert, Edward and Rufus.
I came to America in August 1913 with my mother, two brothers, sister and half-brother Jack Smale, who was two (2) years older than I.
We came over on the Steam Ship Laurantic of White Starline. My Father had preceded us over to Upper Galena, a small mining town about 5 miles west of Bingham Canyon, Utah, in May of 1913.

Bert (Albert) and Leona on a trip
with Lorraine & Warren Hunt in 1949.

Went to work as a miner for the U.S. Mining Co. He moved up to a shift forman in 1916 and applied for and recieved (sic) natural ization papers for all the family. He worked for this one company only and retired at age 66.King George the 5th and Queen Mary were the Rulers of England when we came to America.

Leona, Lorraine and Bert at a cabin on trip.

We came by way of Canada. We left the ship at Montreal, took train to Chicago. I can't remember the different cities on route to Bingham Canyon on train called "Bingham Bill." We took horses and buggy up to Galena. Parts of my life as I member (sic) in England. We started to school at the age of 4 years. I was an above average student. I still have awards for good attendance which you may have. I also had a Goldedge Bible as award from the Methodist Sunday School for good Bible student. Church in England was compulsary the same as grade school.

Albert Butt and Lorraine Hunt
at Copperton home.

I remember my first day. We were all taught to thread a needle with colored silk thread then we were given cards with letters and numbers which we were to trace with needle and thread I completed. I progressed well in all my schooling in England also grade school in Copperfield High School at Bingham Canyon. Did not complete Uniior Year.I was only an average boy. I had my ups and downs, good lickings at school and at home for missbehavour (sic) and sluffing.
Miss Annie Simmons was wonderfull (sic) 3rd and 4th grade teacher. Mrs. Sherman 7th and 8th stern and dominant. She pounded the subject into your head made me tops in spelling, aritmetic (sic), reading.
(Next part is written by someone else in long hand.)
Writing or penmanship and English. Best Teachers. My Best school chum 

was a boy named Byson Thomas, We went all the way from the 3rd grade to the 3rd year high school. We always done our home work together. We also went to all the school programs and dances together. He was killed in the Lark Mine fire. He was one of the boys that came to see us when we arrived at our first home in America. In the early days there were no cars. We used to make our own wagons also skis and bobsleds. We built a cabin high in the mountains. We used to go up and camp during the summer holidays. We got odd jobs at about 12 years old. I had a job milking cows for $2.00 a week. 5 cows morning and night.

At 14 years I was driving a delivery wagon for a store at $90.00 a month and at 16 I went to work for Utah Copper Co. as a track man."

Grandpa Butt with Warren
Lee Hunt at his home
in Copperton in 1954.

Albert Edward Rufus Butt, born Feb. 12, 1904,
died May 25, 1973, at the age of 69.  

Camping Out is a Family Tradition

Clifford, Warren (holding Troyleen), Doris, Lee (at far right) and Grandpa
Albert Edward Rufus Butt playing cards. Note the white Army-style tent
in the background under a cluster of pine and aspen.

(The next several blogs will include pictures I found in a box I inherited from my mother, Beatrice Lorraine Butt Hunt Magee.)

As a child, I remember that every summer was time for camping out up in the mountains. I don't remember ever going on any vacations like Nancy and I did after we were married, but we did a lot of camping either up in Big Cottonwood Canyon or Little Cottonwood Canyon or up at Bear Lake or Sevier Lake for reunions. Our favorite spot up in the local canyons was just above Alta Ski Resort. We camped at the same site (roughing it) over and over.

Even though Vivian and Doris are newlyweds, their neice
and nephews won't leave them alone: Lee, Troyleen and Merrill.

When I was in my teen years, Alta expanded their chairlift runs and put a chairlift tower right in the middle of our camp site! We never camped there again, obviously. 
I remember several great experiences there, besides Merrill and his Superman flight down to the stream, Dad catching his arm on fire lighting the campfire with gasoline and Merrill and I tormenting a porcupine. Probably the best memories include climbing all over the granite boulders, hiking to the snow plains that back then seemed to last all summer and having a testimony meeting with just the family up in a perfect spot in the pines on granite boulders when I had just turned 12. Merrill blessed the Sacrament, I passed the Sacrament and Dad presided. It wasn't too long after that that church leaders said though the outdoors are a great place to commune with our Father in Heaven, we needed to be in the right place at the right time -- in church in Sunday.

Looks like a cold night in the mountains! Mom, Lorraine, holds
Lee (I'm probably about 17 months old; that would have been in
1952). Merrill is next to me in front. The other three are friends of
mom and dad. Note the milk bottle in the foreground at left.

Some of our best reunions with the Hunt side of the family were at Bear Lake and Sevier Lake.
One of the best campouts was with Grandma & Grandpa Butt, Clifford, David, Vivian and his new bride, Doris. I remember everyone playing a lot of card games, including conasta, which Grandma and Grandpa taught me how to play. Also, some played softball out in the meadow. I believe several other members of the family came up for awhile one or two of the days we were up there.
What a great time we had. Merrill, I and Troyleen enjoying the company of Grandpa, Grandma, all the uncles and cute Doris.

Picture was taken from the mountain hillside. Note the Army-style
tent, the 1940s car and the rough campsite. I'm not sure who the people are.

A Glimpse into Lee's LDS Mission

Throughout this post and other posts on this blog, the words and names that are highlighted and underlined are links to other Website posts, including LDS sites, to gleen more details and background information. It's a lot of fun to find so much through Google to add background and details to these pictures. Have fun!

Look at this "Greenie" grinning! Here we come!
Mom Lorraine Hunt poses with Warren Lee Hunt at the Salt Lake International Airport after my two months at the LTM (Language Training Mission) at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. This would have been end of April or first part of May of 1969.
Look at those stylish eyeglasses and Mom's hairstyle! Nice suit and tie, though!

Family photo as I get ready to board a jetliner in Salt Lake City, Utah, for my trip to Central America via Los Angeles and Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Left top: Warren Merrill Hunt, Troyleen, Warren Lee Hunt, Beatrice Lorraine Hunt (Magee), Vicki (Kershaw) Hunt, Merrill Ray Hunt.
Front: Rendall Albert Hunt and Trena Leona Hunt.

W. Lee Hunt with his two sisters: Troyleen and Trena at my departure in 1969. 

Lee and my parents Lorraine and Warren Hunt at the airport as I get ready to board the plane for Central America.
Obviously not paying attentiion to the camera!
Dad looks pretty dapper in his white sports coat.

The men in the Hunt clan: Warren Merrill Hunt, Warren Lee Hunt, Merrill Ray Hunt and Rendall Albert Hunt as I head off on an LDS Mission in spring of 1969.

A good missionary friend: Sister Broadhead.

The famous singing group in the Central America Mission, 1970 -- well, before the real one. (Pictures below)
Elder Hunt, Sister Pulsipher, Sister Holly Gudmundson, Elder Reuel Smith (I don't remember the name of the other tenor).
We're performing at a Costa Rica conference session in the dual branch chapel in Costa Rica. Central America Mission President Milton E. Smith is at left with his arms folded. 

Most of my time in Costa Rica (1970) was spent working in the mission office as the public affairs officer. I wrote articles for local newspapers and coordinated church movies for television stations and audio tapes for radio stations throughout the mission. Episodes of "The Spoken Word with The Tabernacle Choir" were the most popular. I also wrote some articles for The Church News. A couple of them were published.

 Central America Mission President Milton E. Smith at a Costa Rica conference session in the dual branch chapel in Costa Rica, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1970.
Sister Holly Gudmundson is at right and I think it's Brother Topia at left in back.

The chapel and cultural hall are filled for the Costa Rica conference session in the dual branch chapel in Costa Rica, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1970. This picture I believe ran in the local newspaper La Nacion after the conference with a caption only about the session.

This is an invitation to an "Exposition" and a special video presentation of "Man's search for Happiness" at the branch chapel in Managua, Nicaragua, July 26, 1969.
It starts with:
"Where did we come from? Why are we here? and Where do we go after this life?"
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
We put up a bunch of posters in the cultural hall about the church and had quite a good turn out of members and the curious.

Sister Holly Gudmundson performs a solo at a San Jose, Costa Rica, LDS District Conference session in the dual branch chapel in San Jose, Costa Rica in 1970.
I'm hiding behind the flowers at left and Sister Pulsipher is at my right.

This is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints branch chapel in San Jose, Costa Rica, in 1970.
I have many fond memories of the work here.

I received a birthday card and this note inside from President Milton E. Smith and his wife on my birthday while serving in the mission office in San Jose, Costa Rica, Feb. 27, 1970.

Two members of the branch in San Jose, Costa Rica, perform in "Todo A Favor" ("All in Favor") in 1970. I was asked to direct the LDS musical comedy partly because I had been in the show just over a year before back home in Granger, Utah.
I can't remember either of their names: Is his Victor Vida? Can anyone help me with the names?
I never got to finish the job or see the performance because of the problems I was having with my leg.

Two members of the branch in San Jose, Costa Rica, perform in "Todo A Favor" ("All in Favor") in 1970. I was asked to direct the LDS musical comedy partly because I had been in the show just over a year before back home in Granger, Utah.
I can't remember either of their names: Is his Victor Vida? Can anyone help me with the names?
I never got to finish the job or see the performance because of the problems I was having with my leg.

Two members of the branch in San Jose, Costa Rica, perform in "Todo A Favor" ("All in Favor") in 1970. I was asked to direct the LDS musical comedy partly because I had been in the show just over a year before back home in Granger, Utah.
I can't remember either of their names. Can anyone help me with the names?
I never got to finish the job or see the performance because of the problems I was having with my leg.

A member of the branch in San Jose, Costa Rica, perform in "Todo A Favor" ("All in Favor") in 1970. I was asked to direct the LDS musical comedy partly because I had been in the show just over a year before back home in Granger, Utah.
I think his name is Brother Topia Can anyone help me with the name?
I never got to finish the job or see the performance because of the problems I was having with my leg.

I was asked to direct the LDS musical comedy in San Jose, Costa Rica, of "Todo A Favor" ("All in Favor") in 1970 partly because I had been in the show just over a year before back home in Granger, Utah.
Elder Hunt and Sister Holly Gudmundson at a rehearsal.
I never got to finish the job or see the performance because of the problems I was having with my leg. Sister Holly Gudmundson carried it the rest of the way -- as I recall.

This is the famous singing group in the Central America Mission, 1970.
Elder Ralph Dewsnup, left, Sister Elona Knighten (Shelly), Elder Callahan andSister Holly Gudmundson, front.
(President Smith sent an email update: "In regard to the singing group the one name you were missing is Elona Knighten (Shelly). She lives in Orem, has a nice family, and her husband works for BYU. Elona has kept very busy with organizing mission reunions along with Andy Valdivieso. When we meet in Salt Lake, Elona gives me a ride. My wife is not doing too great in her health and has not attended for the past two years. We generally meet in October. Back to the singing group: Holly Gudmundson has had some health problems which have caused her many challenges. Mike Callahan passed away a couple of years ago. Ralph Dewsnup returned a year or so ago after serving as a mission president in Puerto Rico. He is an Attorney."    

This is the famous singing group in the Central America Mission, 1970.
The group did quite a bit of traveling for missionary promotional performances, including some television and radio gigs.
Elder Ralph Dewsnup, left, Sister Elona Knighten (Shelly), Elder Callahan and Sister Holly Gudmundson, front.
(President Smith sent an email update: "In regard to the singing group the one name you were missing is Elona Knighten (Shelly). She lives in Orem, has a nice family, and her husband works for BYU. Elona has kept very busy with organizing mission reunions along with Andy Valdivieso. When we meet in Salt Lake, Elona gives me a ride. My wife is not doing too great in her health and has not attended for the past two years. We generally meet in October. Back to the singing group: Holly Gudmundson has had some health problems which have caused her many challenges. Mike Callahan passed away a couple of years ago. Ralph Dewsnup returned a year or so ago after serving as a mission president in Puerto Rico. He is an Attorney."

This is the famous singing group in the Central America Mission, 1970.
The group did quite a bit of traveling for missionary promotional performances, including some television and radio gigs.
Elder Ralph Dewsnup, front, Sister Elona Knighten (Shelly), left, Elder Callahan, back, and Sister Holly Gudmundson, right.
(President Smith sent an email update: "In regard to the singing group the one name you were missing is Elona Knighten (Shelly). She lives in Orem, has a nice family, and her husband works for BYU. Elona has kept very busy with organizing mission reunions along with Andy Valdivieso. When we meet in Salt Lake, Elona gives me a ride. My wife is not doing too great in her health and has not attended for the past two years. We generally meet in October. Back to the singing group: Holly Gudmundson has had some health problems which have caused her many challenges. Mike Callahan passed away a couple of years ago. Ralph Dewsnup returned a year or so ago after serving as a mission president in Puerto Rico. He is an Attorney."

This is the famous singing group in the Central America Mission, 1970.
The group did quite a bit of traveling for missionary promotional performances, including some television and radio gigs.
Elder Ralph Dewsnup, front, Sister Elona Knighten (Shelly), left, Elder Callahan, back, and Sister Holly Gudmundson, right.
(President Smith sent an email update: "In regard to the singing group the one name you were missing is Elona Knighten (Shelly). She lives in Orem, has a nice family, and her husband works for BYU. Elona has kept very busy with organizing mission reunions along with Andy Valdivieso. When we meet in Salt Lake, Elona gives me a ride. My wife is not doing too great in her health and has not attended for the past two years. We generally meet in October. Back to the singing group: Holly Gudmundson has had some health problems which have caused her many challenges. Mike Callahan passed away a couple of years ago. Ralph Dewsnup returned a year or so ago after serving as a mission president in Puerto Rico. He is an Attorney."Elder Dewsnup was my companion for several months, mostly while I was "recovering" from surgery on my left leg.
The doctor and I thought my problem was cartiliage damage in my knee from a tubing accident I had when I was on a Scout winter camp. (That's a different post).
Elder Dewsnup was an athelete as I considered myself, too. He encouraged me to tough it up like the football players I had worked with for so many years and get better so I could do missionary work. He and I didn't realize how serious it really was.
Thanks to Elder Lorin Hansen for emailing back and identifying Elder Callahan.
(Elder Hansen said in his email that he's from Elwood (Tremonton) Utah. He now live in Costa Rica and has been there 7 years. He lives on a farm near Guapiles. He retired 7 years ago, sold everything in the U.S. and moved there with hid wife who is Tica. "We enjoy it here. Church has changed greatly since 1969. I left the mission in march 1970 from Honduras.")

One of the highlights of my mission was the visit from a member of the Quroum of Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Elder Delbert L. Stapley.
In the picture, he's holding a replica of a traditional brightly colored orange Costa Rican cart. The missionaries in Managua, Nicaragua, met with him as part of  zone conferencein 1969. He also met with media representatives.

One of the highlights of my mission was the visit from a member of the Quroum of Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Elder Delbert L. Stapley.
In the picture, he's greeting LDS Scouts.

One of the highlights of my mission was the visit from a member of the Quroum of Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Elder Delbert L. Stapley.
In this picture,Elder Stapley meets with a government official in 1969.

When I first arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica, from Managua, Nicaragua, Elder See was one of the mission office workers. He was a funny, fun guy. Notice the Coke bottle on the shelf behind him.

Elder Ralph Dewsnup, left, and Elder Callahan perform on television program in San Jose, Costa Rica, in 1970
The group did quite a bit of traveling for missionary promotional performances, including some television and radio gigs.

One of the highlights of my mission was the visit from a member of the Quroum of Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- Elder Delbert L. Stapley.
Elder Stapley is holding a press conference. His reflection is in the mirror. Elder Gayton, at his left, is the interpretor. Sister Smith and Mission President Milton E. Smith are at Elder Gayton's left.

Elder Andy Valdivieso on our "diversion day."A great missionary!
I need more details on this, Andy! 

Elder Warren Lee Hunt
Central America Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
1969 and 1970.
For my family, I want to include the email from Pres. Smith:

"Hi Elder Hunt. It looks like I received your email through Andy Valdivieso. It is great to hear from you and get an update on your activities. Your pictures and comments brought back some great memories. The last I knew about you I think you were working for the Deseret News writing headlines. Is my memory correct? We hope things are going well for you. I suppose you have heard from some other missionary friends as I notice you now have the name of Robert Alsop which I did not see at first....

I have thought of you often and wondered how you are doing. I really appreciate the great job you did when you were assigned to the office. Your leg problems saddened us very much but we are grateful you got help before it was too late.    
I retired from BYU about fifteen years ago. My wife and I spent three years in Guatemala where I served as Temple President. I now serve two days a week in the Mount Timpanogos temple. Our children are spread around a little, and they are subject to the normal challenges of life. We have one grandson currently serving a mission in Argentina and another in Colombia. Our oldest daughter, Terri Lyn, is currently serving a mission with her husband in Uganda.

Take care of yourself. May the Lord bless you. Con Amor, Mitt Smith"

Elder David Hacking
Now lives in Brigham City, Utah

I think this is Elder Hill.
Details?

Elder Alsop
Pres. Smith emailed: "Bob Alsop is also an attorney and lives a little north of Salt Lake. He and his wife still have one child at home since they were blessed with a little one several years after the rest of the family.

Elder Wilde was my first companion in San Jose, Costa Rica. We were only together for two or three weeks before I saw him off on a jet plane, bound for his hometown in Utah (I think it was Magna.)
He asked me to sang a special song to his friends who came to see him off at the airport:
"I'm Leaving, on a Jet Plane, Don't Know When I'll Be Back Again!"
Couldn't do it, though. Sorry, Elder Wilde.
Quite the experience!