Friday, December 26, 2014

New YW Presidency Sustained


A new Young Women’s presidency was sustained on Sunday, December 14, 2015 continuing in the work of their predecessors for helping each young woman be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple.  

Jill Fraser is the newly sustained Young Women’s President, supported in her calling by 1st Counselor Lori Bair and 2nd Counselor Vanda Lawson.  Nancy Anderson will continue as YW Secretary, with Debb Johnson as Laurel Advisor; Trudy Oviatt as MiaMaid Advisor and Joy Alldredge as Beehive Advisor, all called to assist parents and priesthood leaders in guiding B7 Ward’s young women on the path to the temple.  Former YW President Cheryl Kanenwisher has been called to serve as Girls Camp Director with Lisa Carson serving as Assistant Camp Director. These leaders will continue with the mission of the YW program of the Church by “preparing  young women in the B7 Ward and all over the world, to see the vision of who they are, where they are going and what they are to achieve in this life.”

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Primary Says Merry Christmas


It truly is a Christmas miracle when nearly 30 fidgety, noisy, busy, active, distracted little ones come together to sing like angels.  Such was the case this week, when the children of the B7 Ward Primary, under the direction of Rebecca Larson, shared a little of the spirit of the holiday with the Relief Society and the High Priests group.  Thanks to teachers and parents who helped prepare the children and an appreciative audience who smiled throughout – even applauded – their performance.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Christmas Around the Ward


B7 Ward members traveled from house-to-house on Sunday, December 14 enjoying homes decorated for Christmas, refreshments and the opportunity to socialize with ward members – new to the area and those who are well established in Bloomington.  Thanks to the five families who opened their homes and spent days in the kitchen:  Dick and Ruth Graf, Ed and Linda Sappington, Raymond and Linda Lowe, Paul and Lynda Hallman and Bishop Mike and Lori Bair.  This tradition has been enjoyed by ward members and neighbors for five years and hopefully will continue as a way to get to know - or get better acquainted with - our friends and neighbors.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Aspen Receives YW Recognition Award

Aspen Erskine has faithfully completed all the requirements necessary to receive the Young Womanhood Award and was recognized for her accomplishment, by Bishop Mike Bair, during a recent Sacrament meeting. 

The Young Womanhood Award recognizes young women in the Bloomington 7thWard and throughout the church for worthiness and for completing Personal Progress requirements. As a recipient of the award, Aspen has shown she honors her commitment to live the commandments and the standards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in an established pattern of progress in her life and as stated in For the Strength of Youth. Through her Personal Progress, the daughter of Jerry and Lorraine Erskine, has committed herself to keeping her baptismal covenants as she prepares to make sacred temple covenants, serve those in need by sharing her gifts and talents, and striving to strengthen her home and family.

Former YW President Cheryl Kanenwisher states, “Aspen has worked hard to complete her YW's recognition during her senior year in high school, demonstrating her great faith and integrity.  She may be quiet but Aspen has a strong testimony and love for her Savior, Jesus Christ.  She knows and understands she is a daughter of God.  Aspen is a great strength in the B7 YW's program and her tender heart softens us all.  I'm so grateful I was able to serve with this beautiful YW because she is a great example to me and I love her very much."

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Relief Society Celebrates Christmas


On Thursday, December 11, the women of the B7 Ward Relief Society learned through music and the spoken word about the joy of the "Women of the First Christmas," a program adapted from “The Women of Jesus” written by Judith Hoopes Hamilton.  This incredibly beautiful program gave voice to Elizabeth, the Mother of John the Baptist (Pat Callister), the Mother of Joseph the Carpenter (Lynda Hallman), the Mother of the Virgin Mary (Jayne Creed), a shepherd's wife (Jill Fraser), the innkeeper's wife (Annie Green) and Mary, the mother of the Christ Child (Lorraine Erskine).  Mikalene Ipson shared her musical talents as the piano soloist and guest vocalist.  Thanks to those who provided table decorations and china including Nikki Nelson, Jill Jones, Lauretta Swansborough, Vanda Lawson, Sophia Ford, Joy Alldredge, Ilaina Carter and Wendy Johnston.  Thanks, also, to the food committee including Rachel Gray, Julare Morris, Wendy Johnston, and Kam Capik.  And special thanks to Emma Schaub who designed the beautiful printed programs, to Suzie Long who created the breathtakingly beautiful decorations for the room, photographer Nikki Nelson and to Jill Jones, who chaired this exceptional and spiritually uplifting evening.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Farewell, Sister Clea Putnam

Long time B7 Ward member Clea Rose Walker Putnam passed away of natural causes at the age of 76 on November 25, 2014.  The once beautiful and talented dancer and self-taught musician grew up in Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and California.  After graduation from Pasadena High School, Clea attended college briefly where she studied music. 

After her marriage to David Aldon Putnam in the Logan LDS Temple in October 1957, she continued to dance while rearing their family of five children.  She especially excelled at ballet, tap, ballroom and acrobatics.  She also sang, played the piano, the ukelele and taught herself to play the guitar.  As her many talents became known, she opened her own dance studio in Afton, WY where she taught many students.  While living in Afton, she became involved for several years in a talent program created by the Afton Lions Club involving many members of the community.  After the Putnam family moved to California, she got involved and wrote the music and scripts for ward roadshows.  She signed the kids up for dance and drama classes and eventually found an agent who helped her find parts for her children and herself in movies and TV commercials.  To their credit were bit parts in “The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming,” “Play It As It Lays” and a Robin Hood TV movie.  The Putnams – mother and children – also helped market in TV commercials such products as Spaghetti-Os, Chef Boyardee, Hunts Ketchup, Geritol and Carnation Tuna.

Always creative, Clea especially loved arts, crafts and sewing.  “She could just look at something … then go home and make it even better than the original,” notes Br. Dave who also credits his wife with “being able to sew just about anything.  She could design and sew a dress for the girls, Barbie clothes for their dolls, Halloween costumes - even upholstered her son's car with zebra print fabric – – all without a pattern.”  A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Clea worked until she mastered it ... no matter what "it" was.  Br. Dave states, his wife also loved games of any kind and was hard to beat because she was so skilled.  He also noted she had a great sense-of-humor, was adventurous and willing to try almost anything.  She frequently joined her husband on duck and deer hunts, fishing trips and loved to hike or camp out when the children were small. 

In the days of her activity in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Putnam was always involved in music, leading the Sacrament meeting songs and the choir.

Clea is survived by David and their children: David Putnam, Jr. of Graham, WA, Cynthia Higbee of Port Angeles, WA; Jennifer Nielson of Chandler, AZ, and Sarah Collier of Issaquah, WA.  She and David also have 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Merl LaMar Walker and Sybil Hartense Lee Walker; and a son, John Putnam.

As a member of the Putnam family said at her funeral, "she left us mentally long before she left us physically," but Clea has left an indelible mark on the lives of those who knew her ... and taught us all invaluable lessons about love, patience and enduring to the end. 

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Til We Meet Again, Br. Bob Simillion

Robert Lincoln Simillion, age 87 and a longtime member of the B7 Ward, was finally relieved of his suffering from a variety of health issues on December 4, 2014 while a patient at Dixie Regional Medical Center.  He and Carol moved to St. George in 1990 following his open heart surgery and a diagnosis of COPD because the lower altitude made it possible for him to lead a normal life for many years.  He was a 20-year survivor of throat and bladder cancer and in September 2013, he suffered a stroke leaving him partially blind with only 30% of his eyesight.  In spite of his many severe health challenges, Bob enjoyed a full and eventful life in St. George.

The second child of seven born to Rocco and Mary Lazar Simillion in Morton, UT, Bob grew up in Colorado on the family’s Four Mile Creek homestead and attended a one-room school until the 4th grade.  Young Bob completed his education in Glenwood Springs.  After graduation from Garfield County High School in 1944, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served in the South Pacific until the end of World War II.  He was always proud of his military service to his country.

Upon his return to civilian life, he began working as a “pearl diver” at his uncle’s restaurant and, over the years, developed a love for cooking and skills as a chef.  Throughout his lifetime, he enjoyed cooking for family and friends.

He and his first wife Patricia Ament were the parents of three children: Paul Alan, Gerri Lea (who lived only 3 days) and Kendra Lynn.  While the children were still very young, their mother developed polio and passed away in 1952 leaving Bob as a single father.  He was then employed as a Colorado State Patrolman in Lafayette so he depended on his mother and sister to care for his children.

He met Danette Arnold and married a second time in 1954.  To this union, another son, Patrick, was born.  Bob was transferred to Steamboat Springs with the patrol but soon after accepted a position with the Yampa Valley Electric Association and because active in his community.  He served as President and Lieutenant Governor of the Kiwanis Club, President of the Steamboat Springs Chamber of Commerce, and directed summer programs for boys 6-12 years of age until the city formed a recreation program.  He was a lobbyist for the Colorado State Legislature, was President and a longtime member of “Club 20," an organization of Colorado’s 20 western counties and big businesses.  He was a member of the Elk Mountain Masonic Lodge and of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He met and married Carol Rawlins following the death of his second wife.  Their love affair lasted more than 30 years. They retired to sunny St. George and while living in Utah’s Dixie, he served as the director of the American Cancer Society, a member of the Bloomington County Club and was an active volunteer for the Huntsman World Senior Games where he organized the first Gold Cup Tournament for Senior Games sponsors.

He is survived by his wife Carol, his and her children, and their many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews … and is missed by his many friends in St. George and in the B7 Ward.  A military graveside service will be held in June 2015 at the Highland Cemetery in Meeker, CO. 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Merry Christmas, B7 Ward

The ward Christmas party on Saturday, December 6 was a "ho-ho-ho" lot of fun with a delicious dinner of lasagna, salad and cake with oodles of frosting.  There was caroling and a chance to socialize in a room crowded with friends and neighbors ... and a visit from the Jolly Old Elf himself anxious to hear the Christmas wishes of the children of the B7 Ward.  Thanks to all who came out and enjoyed the festivities and a special thanks to party planners:  The couples Bertschi, Ford, Capik and Fraser.  And, in the words of Tiny Tim, "A Merry Christmas to us all and God bless us, every one!"