Golden teacher award

My two older kids have had the chance to have the same sixth grade teacher and I am oh so very grateful.  She has been warm, supportive and has inspired them both to be a little better.  I have appreciated all that she has done and I wanted to let her know.  I made a cake for her birthday, which is on St. Patrick's day, so we put this cute little pot together for her.

Myrtle Boylan

 Myrtle Boylan Wasden

• born 10June 1875 in Fort Dodge, Iowa
• died 13 May 1957 in Rexburg, Idaho
• grew up as a Methodist, joined the church when she was 30 years old in 1906
• served as the 7th Relief Society of the Salem ward
• was very cultured and educated

The obituary of Myrtle Boylan Wasden

Given by Barry Wasden and compiles by his Mother, Mrs. Leonard Wasden

Myrtle Boylan Wasden was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, June 10, 1876, a daughter of Mary Strong and Henry Bryant Boylan.  Her parents were humble but genteel and feared  no effort in providing every advantage for their family.  Two younger brothers completed the family circle and when they were old enough for school the family moved to Palmeroy Iowa, and then to Cedar Rapids, Nebraska where she graduated from high school in 1894, an accomplishment very rare at that time.  When she was 18 years of age the family moved to Pason, Utah and her mother re-established her millinery and dress making shop, a business in which she was well established and very talented. 

At Pason Myrtle attended a Methodist school and also willingly assisted in the shop and in the home.  This was her first contact with the Latter-day Saints and they soon began to investigate their religion and to attend their meetings.  About this time the family moved to Gunnison, Utah, where she met the Mormon boy who later became her husband.  She was married to Willard Washington Wasden on May 5, 1898, in Gunnison, Utah, by Bishop C.A. Madson.  At this time to this union two sons were born, Harold A. and Fay E.

In the spring of 1900 they moved to Soda Springs, Idaho, traveling the entire distance from Gunnison in a wagon.  During the next few years she courageously established homes in St. Anthony and Ashton while Willard operated a sawmill at Cuinnard creek.  In 1903 they moved to Salem, Idaho where they engaged successfully in farming and stock raising figuring prominently in the pioneering of the Upper Snake River Valley.

Myrtle had been raised in culture and refinement and if she found the strenuous exacting sacrifices of the pioneering and farm life to demanding no one was aware of it.  She performed miracles in her gracious way, and no task however menial was a burden.  She arose magnificently to the challenging tasks of soap making, butter and cheese making and carding and weaving wool for quilts and quilting.

Two more sons, Leonard O. and Virgil E. were welcomed, but Virgil only lived five days.  Her grief and loneliness at his loss was somewhat a swayed when in the fall of that same year 1906 she was baptized into the Latter-day Saint church by Bishop B.R. Harris of the Salem ward.  She took an active part in community affairs and after her baptism became a very faithful and energetic worker in the church.  She had an undeniable testimony of the gospel and her fail was absolute.  All her life she displayed an utter trust and dependence in the power of the priesthood.  During the next happy eventful years two more sons, W. Lowell and John J. and two daughters May and Olive, blessed their home.  Myrtles faith and devotion and loving courage never failed.

She was a wonderful mother to her children.  Always indulgent and forever interested in everything they did.  Their joys and happiness were hers also and she was also their friend.  She made no compromise with evil and held a firm hand on her family forever exhorting them to do right and counseling them against anything wrong.  Her mother’s love reached out to include any and all who need her.  For many years she was a mother and friend of Willard’s baby brother and sister who had the privilege of her warm hospitality while attending school at Ricks Academy.  Years later she cared lovingly for two granddaughters for several years while their father was establishing a new home.

Her energy and strength was endless and she would walk miles and never tire.  It was a common sight to see her walking the one and one half miles to church pushing a baby in the buggy and leading another by the hand in order to fulfill her assignment in the Primary or Relief Society.  She served in the Primary, the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association, the Relief Society and the Genealogical Society,  she would rise from a sick bed to serve someone or keep an appointment often she visited the home where death had entered, comforted those in need and assisted in laying out the dead ad dressing them for burial.

On April 5, 1922, a cherished dream came true when she journeyed to Salt Lake City with Willard and family and there had the privilege of having their marriage solemnized in the temple and their children sealed to them.  In 1930 they moved to Rexburg where she has since resided and for nineteen years she has been active as a visiting teacher in the relief society.

On Jan. 9, 1950 Willard died and her love and devotion was manifested when during this last illness she refused to leave his bedside, but served him night and day with tenderness and patience.

Myrtle passed away at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 13, 1957, after a lingering illness just a few weeks before her 81^st birthday.  She has been guiding light to us these many years and now she has gone on and as our time will come to go into the next phase of life we feel with great confidence that she will be there to take us by the hand and to help us, and to once again be with her loved ones who are dead.  This I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

This picture lists Myrtle and Lillian

Photo of Myrtle as a young girl going to a  costume party.  It amazes me as I look at this picture how I can see so many Wasden relatives to resemble her.

Stand in Holy Places

Sara had her New Beginings meeting last night.  The theme was "Stand in Holy Places".  They asked me if I could do a temple for the center piece.  So this would be my version.  Who knew that cereal, marshmallows and chocolate could turn into this.  The girls put together a video of them "walking" to the temple.  It was filled with giggles, funny moments, more giggles and was adorable.  The end of the video shows them arriving at the temple and it amazed me that even when I wasn't there in person you could feel the change when they arrived on temple grounds.  I am so grateful to be a mom to a young woman who is as beautiful inside as she is outside.  She is so full of potential and goodness, I hope always that she will catch a glimpse of who she is becoming.  I love her, and loved being with her last night.

Harriett Smith

Harriet Smith

• born 1835 in Louisville, Kentucky
• died 18 November 1917 at St. Anthony, Idaho
• Married Harvey Burk(Berk) Strong, 22 February 1853
• mother of 12 children

This picture was in every book of remembrance in my home as I grew up.  The picture was printed on smooth paper and it just seemed important.  In fact I remember thinking there was no way I could be related to her because the paper seemed to official.  There is not a great deal of additional information on Harriet.  I have a list of places that she lived and a little information about her daughter Mary.  We know she lived in Nebraska, and Kansas, Utah and St. Anthony.  Her son and daughter were Methodist so we can safely assume that she too was a part of this faith.  Her daughter was educated and that leads me to believe that she valued education and learning.  There are so many holes in the stories of those that have gone before me.  I can only be grateful for the information I do have and be grateful for where I am because of their choices.

Mary Strong

Mary Strong

• born 23 December 1856 in Savannah, Carroll, Illinois
• died 25 September 1925 in Virginia City, Storey, Nevada
• was very well known for her ability to make hats and dresses and owned a couple of shops
• valued education and did all that she could to pass that on to her children

Mary Strong was born 23 December 1854 in Savannah Carroll, Illinois.  She was the second child and first daughter born to Harvey Burk (Berk) Strong and Harriet Smith Strong.  Her father worked as a Sawyer in 1860.  A sawyer was an individual who worked in the saw mill cutting lumber.  He was also a carpenter by trade.  By the age of 16 her family had moved to Lansing, Allamakee, Iowa.  Her nickname was Metta or Mettie.  She married Henry Bryant Boylan around 1875 or 1876.  They lived in Fort Dodge, Iowa where her first daughter Myrtle was born.  She and her husband were described as humble but genteel people who feared no effort in providing every advantage for their family.  When her children were old enough the family moved to Palmeroy, Iowa and then to Cedar Rapids Nebraska so her children could attend school.  In 1880 they lived in Saint Olaf, Ottertail, Minnesota where her husband worked as a laborer.  They added two more children to the family Earl Chauncey, and George.  She raised her children with culture and refinement.   They moved to Payson, Utah, where she reestablished her millinery and dressmaking shop, a business in which she was well established and very talented.   Before 1900 they moved to Gunnison Utah. By 1910 they had moved to Upland, Fremont Idaho.  In 1920 they settled in Ashton Idaho.  There her husband passed away in 1921.  Sometime after his death she married William R. Grove and moved to Los Angeles, California.  She passed away 25 September 1825 in Virginia City Storey Nevada.  She was buried in Ashton, Idaho.