Grateful for Angel Blessings

All family members are keeping our granddaughter Shannon and seven-year-old Ryland in our thoughts and prayers following the injuries they received at Stewart Falls in Utah on May 25th.  Updates have been eagerly watched for on our "Ireland Family" site as well as from phone calls, and we appreciate the inspirational updates from Ryland's mother. 

Shannon was released yesterday evening (May 28) from the hospital and is staying with us in our downstairs along with her parents and Jenna.  Scott has been doing his work online and by phone, but he will fly back to Denver Sunday evening and come back here the following Friday.  

 Shannon in the hospital,

May 26, 2020. 

Here is a copy from what Scott shared on our Ireland Family site regarding Shannon's fall:

"Shannon’s hip is fractured in 4 places, she has a broken arm, elbow, and rib, and the orbital bone around her eye is fractured. Her hip injury will make her pretty immobile for the next 6 weeks, and then she will have about 6 weeks of therapy ahead of her after that. She is expected, however, to make a full recovery; and hopefully by the time that fall semester starts back up, she'll be pretty much back to normal.
 

"The news articles on the web all imply that there were 3 separate accidents that day at Stewart Falls, with Shannon and a small boy (Ryland) both separately falling from 40 feet above the falls down the shear cliff face to the base of the falls. As Shannon was unconscious and Jenna didn't see the accident, we assumed that the published reports were correct. However, late last night we learned the real truth. Only Shannon tripped and fell 40 ft. Ryland was down below and was badly injured when Shannon landed on him. He was the angel that cushioned Shannon's fall and saved her life. We are extremely grateful that Shannon survived this traumatic fall (that has killed others in the past), but feel terrible that it came at such a great cost to Ryland and his family. Ryland had emergency brain surgery yesterday and is in critical condition. We have been fasting and praying for him all day. Please continue to keep both Ryland and Shannon in your prayers."

Kristine posted a link to Ryland's Gofundme page for those interested in helping that way; and she also shared the option to contribue toward Ryland's family's expenses through Venmo, so the funds go directly to them.  

 

Ryland with his family

and standing in front of his mother,

who has shared daily inspirational updates.

In addition to Shannon surviving the fall,
there were other miracles that happened at Steward Falls.

About 30 minutes before Shannon fell,

another female hiker had broken her ankle;

so paramedics were already there at the spot and at the time 
of Shannon's fall onto Ryland

and were quickly able to attend to him.  
Because of the nature of his injury, the paramedics realized 
the need to intubate Ryland with a breathing tube.

Just at this critical moment, another hiker

who was a pediatric anesthesiologist showed up and could help
precisely when this was needed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

In 2014, Sam and I hiked to Stewart Falls with Ethan and Scott and Shannon.  
We did not go up above the falls and had a safe time, 
although it was very hot and standing by the falls felt good.  
Shannon and Ethan opted to get wet going behind the falls.  
Here are photos from that day:

Ethan, Gramma Narene, Shannon, and Grampa Sam

at Stewart Falls in Utah, 2014.

If you look closely, you can see at least two hikers above the lower falls.

Shannon's fall was from about 40 feet down to the bottom

where we are standing in the preceding photo.

We are extremely grateful Shannon is here and can be in our home

healing and getting better each day. 

We appreciate the fasting and prayers for Shannon and for Ryland

and grateful for the miracles that accompanied this accident.

Paying Tribute to My Ancestors

My paternal Utah ancestors are Nelsons and Thompsons, originally from Richmond and Lewiston.  My maternal ancestors are Petersons and Merrills mainly from Smithfield in Cache County, Utah.

I was born 12 years after my brother, K. LeRoi Nelson, and 8 years after my sister, Louise Nelson Hyer.  They were both born in Utah, but I was born in South Dakota.  

For my sister's 75th birthday, she flew to Utah from her home in Shafter, California; and I flew from South Dakota to join her and my brother to celebrate her birthday.  The birthday dinner was held at the Bluebird Cafe in Logan, Utah, which had been a favorite restaurant of Louise's when she attended Utah State University in Logan.  I was sure Louise would like my birthday present, a Black Hills Gold necklace.

 Narene, K. LeRoi, and Louise

May 2005 - Utah

A special activity during our time together was on Memorial Day when we filled the cars with potted chrysanthemums and traveled together to several cemeteries in Cache County to decorate the graves of our parents and other family ancestors.  K. had brought supplies to clean the gravestones and then we placed the colorful potted chrysanthemums at each of the graves as we thought about these family ancestors.  We visited graves in Richmond, Smithfield, Lewiston, and Logan.

 K. getting help from Lon and Lori's boys

cleaning the headstones and area.

The grave of our parents, LeRoi and Margaret Nelson

in the Logan cemetery.

(Louise, K. LeRoi, and Narene) 

 The grave of our ancestor, Ira Merrill,
in the Smithfield cemetery.
He was killed by Indians 
and was the first one to be buried in the cemetery.

This is the farm in Richmond where my father grew up.
At the time of this photo, my Uncle Owen's son, 
Ted and Sharon Nelson were living there.
The house is hidden behind the trees at the right in the photo.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

As part of our Ireland Family Reunion in 2007 in Idaho,
one day was spent in northern Utah in Cache County
remembering my ancestors.
We visited cemeteries and places of interest.

I was very pleased to find the grave of Hannah Daniels
in Mink Creek, Idaho, near Preston.
She is my maternal great-great grandmother (1812-1892) whose
first husband and my ancestor was Thomas Job Davies.
Because of the stories my mother has shared,

Hannah has been an ancestor of special interest for me.

The former home of my maternal grandparents
in Smithfield, Utah, where my mother was raised.
I remember the nice fruit orchard in their backyard, 
but the garage addition at the right has been added since.

Photos taken by my parent's grave in Logan, Utah.
(Sarah, Haley, Maggie, Maren, and Trevor Smith) 

Brent, Jeff, Marla, Beth, Scott and Kristine,
and Austin and Jamon

 Visiting graves of Peterson relatives in the
cemetery in Smithfield, Utah.

I took this picture following a very special time remembering ancestors
while being in the Logan temple.
(Grampa Sam, Trevor, Brent, Beth, Curtis, Sarah,
Maggie, Marla, Doug, Jeff, Seth, and Brady)


 The following are ancestral photos:
 

 Headstone at the grave of my paternal grandfather,
Parley Nels Nelson (1874 - 1922),
who died suddenly from serious complications
following an operation for stomach ulcers.

My paternal grandparents,
Parley Nels Nelson and Mary Florence (Thompson) Nelson

 My dad with his siblings.
(back row) Irene Stoddard, LeRoi (my father), Adaline, Phyllis Oliverson;
(front row) Lathan, Owen, Vella Eliason, and Raymond.
Adaline and Lathan died before I was born.

 My maternal grandparents,
Mary Etna (Merrill) Peterson and John H. Peterson
with my mother's brother, Alton, the artist. 

My maternal Grandpa John Henry Peterson
January 4, 1875 - January 30, 1950

This is how I remember my Grandpa Peterson.

My mother is the little girl in this four-generation photo
with Metta Marie (Neti) Hansen or *Olsen (my maternal great-grandmother 
and wife of John August Peterson), 
John Henry Peterson (my grandfather),
Marie Hansen Nielsen (Metta's mother), Margaret Peterson, Ole Hansen (Metta's father).
*Note:  In Denmark the mother and children were all recorded on
Danish records according to patronymics; they all used their father's
surname here in the United States.

Freeborn Shepherd Merrill and Mary Esther (Davis Job) Merrill

with children:

Freeborn Austin Merrill, Mary Etna Merrill (my grandmother),

and Frank Ledyard Merrill (the baby).
Not yet born at the time of this photo was their youngest:
Laura Cordelia Merrill, whom I remember as "Aunt Dee"
and who died in 1976.

My Grandmother went by her middle name of "Etna."
As she died in 1940, I don't remember her.
Mary Etna Merrill's mother is the daughter of
Hannah Daniels (my great-grandmother)
(and who is the mother in the "Frozen Linsey-Woolsey dress" story).

 My Grandfather John H. Peterson as a child
with two of his brothers, Parley and Joseph.

 John (Johan) August Peterson,
my maternal great-grandfather,
husband of Metta Maria (Neti) Hansen. 


 * * * * * * * * * * * *

 
 Such good memories from my visit for Louise's 75th birthday in 2005.
(Narene and Louise)
Louise left this life December 25, 2011,
having been diagnosed two weeks earlier with pancreatic cancer.
I am grateful for the good visit we had together
in her home in Shafter the prior week before she died.


 

Louise, K. LeRoi, and Narene

with our Mother and Dad.
Now only my brother and I are left.

 * * * * * * * * * * * *

I am also grateful for my Ireland family
and for the over 35 years Sam and I lived
in South Dakota at the farm and attended Ireland family reunions.
 

(Sam, Rachel, and Weston)
 They have all grown up now, 
and Weston graduated from high school this year.

I am grateful "Families Can Be Together Forever."

Memorial Day Memories - Ireland Family

Memorial Rememberances - from times past and always appreciated. 

We are grateful for those who have served to protect our freedoms and for ancestors whom we pay homage to and remember with appreciation. We definitely are also thinking about those we love whom we always enjoy being with as new memories are made.

We are standing by the "Ireland Memorial" gate

at the entrance to the Martin cemetery.

Sam's Uncle Wayne Ireland made the gate.

Sam, Karen, Phyllis, and Roy

by the grave of their parents, Harold and Mabel,

in the Martin cemetery.

May 2009

The "Memory Wall" at the Martin cemetery

includes blocks in memory of Sam's two uncles killed in World War II,

Melvin (1920 - 1943) and Oscar (1918 - 1945).

Sam and Roy - 2011


The Memorial Services at the cemetery
we have attended included a reading of "In Flander's Field" by a
BCHS student who had attended Boy's State or Girl's State that year.
I have been trying to remember who in our family did that.
Was it you?

Of course, the program always included the presentation of the American flag
and reciting of the "Pledge of Allegiance."
A patriotic talk was typically given by a member of the American Legion.

Following the program there was a good opportunity to visit
with family and friends attending, some of whom were from out of town.

Remembering Grampa Harold and Gramma Mabel

on Memorial Day, 2012.

(Rachel, Shannon, Scott, Jenna, Brittney, Kristine, and Matt)

The Martin cemetery was patriotically outlined with flags
for the Memorial Day commemoration each year,
and each flag was a memorial to honor
Bennett County veterans no longer living, who had served their country militarily.

Nearby the grave for Grampa Harold and Gramma Mabel
are plots previously purchased for Sam and Narene
and for Roy and Barbie.
Karen and Bill have a plot near graves of Bill's relatives,
including his father, which is nearby and close to the road.
Barbie's parents and other relatives of the Brown family 
are also buried in the Martin cemetery.



Following the service at the cemetery, 
descendants of the Howard and Mary Ireland family
always gathered for a family reunion.
The first ones I remember going to were at Harold and Mabel's
and at Bert and Curly's.
Later they were held at the Masonic Lodge in Martin
where family gathered for a potluck social.
These occasions always provided enjoyable visiting and catching up on family news.
It was a given that the original siblings would have a card game going,
to which others interested could join.

 Descendants of the original Howard and Mary Ireland family
rotated by families to be in charge of these potluck gatherings
after they began being held at the Masonic Lodge.

Due to ongoing concerns about Covid-19, this year the Memorial Day luncheon 
has been postponed to Sunday, July 12th, to keep family members safe and healthy.
 

Shorty, Beanie, Mable, and Curly - Memorial Day, 2009.

Beanie, Shorty, Wilma, Mable, and Curly - Memorial Day, 2010.


Howard and Mary had 14 children, but two died as infants:
(Lester - born and died on 2/19/1913)
and
(Bernetha May, twin to Berniece (1925-1926) 

Of the remaining 12, all of whom I knew, only 
Eulalia "Curly" (1924) and Wilma (1932) are still living and doing well.

The other 10 siblings are:  Myrtle (1909), Harold (1911), 
Bob (1913), Ted "Slim" (1916), Oscar (1918), Melvin (1920),
Mable (1921), Forrest "Shorty" (1923), Berniece "Beanie" (1925),
and Wayne (1928).
   


Sam's maternal grandparents had the two girls, 
his mother Mabel and his Aunt Laura.

Aunt Laura Rossiter Morgan 
at her 100th birthday party in Phillip, SD.


 
 Grampa Harold Ireland (1911 - 2007) and
Gramma Mabel Rossiter Ireland (1909 - 2000) 

* * * * * * * * * * * *


Some years ago, I made a history book including pictures 
about the life of Grampa Harold and
a separate book about the life of Gramma Mabel,
which each of our children have.
I also gave a copy of Gramma's book to her sister, Laura,
for her birthday and remember how pleased she was to have it.

This is the cover I put on Gramma Mabel's book: 

I actually had redone Grampa Harold's book, 
since his was the first one of our parents histories I had done.
With the improvement in printing from the time I had done his first book,
 I redid his story to have an improved version.
 Having never had a computer failure up to that point,
I failed to save this 2nd edition before printing off additional copies;
so the books the family members have are the 1st edition.
There is only the one copy of the revised book,
which we now have after Harold died.

* * * * * * * * * * * *


A look at my Nelson and Peterson relatives will be shared
in the next blog entry.