HISTORY OF VIOLET TERRY BUNKER
I caught my first glimpse of mortal life December 7, 1919 in the town of Enterprise, Utah. I, as Nephi of old, was certainly born of goodly parents, who taught me by word, love, and example. My father, Frank Dermot Terry, and my mother, Rhoda Elizabeth Hunt Terry, were choice special parents. I don’t know what I did in heaven to deserve them, but I’m thankful I did it. I was the youngest of 12 children, 5 boys and 7 girls. We didn’t have an abundance of material wealth, but we were greatly blessed with the essentials of a good home including: love, patience, understanding, consideration, security, and, yes, firmness when it was needed. The gospel of Jesus Christ was of great importance in our home. We always had family prayers and were taken to all our church meetings. Our parents went with us - what great examples. We knew right from wrong and can’t blame them for any of our faults.
Being the youngest in my family, I don’t remember living with some of my older brothers and sisters. My parents lost three children; two at birth and one at nine months old, Orvil, Blanche, and Ervin, I know this was a hard, sad time for my parents. They always expressed their thankfulness for the gospel, and it was their desire to live worthy to be with them again.
As I write this history my parents have both passed away and I feel sure they are with their children who died as babies and five who have died since- Franklin, Iola, Alberta, Grace, and Orvin.
I love my brothers and sisters and they have influenced my life; so I want to write a few memories that I have of them. Both Franklin and Ellen and Iola and Ernest had children older than I, and I spent many enjoyable hours in their homes. Arvetta, Leila, Kleda, and Florence were more like sisters than nieces. We played, ate, and slept together. Ellen would sing as she worked, especially when she sewed and at a very young age I was impressed. Franklin also could sing. Franklin and Ellen worked hard to take care of their family. Franklin always remembered his parents and visited them often.
Iola and Ernest lived in the upper part of Enterprise across the old canal and I can certainly remember running up there to play. She always had cake, pie, candy, popcorn balls or pine nuts etc. to eat and a few things she told us not to eat. She had a patch of gooseberries that we were told not to get into. Kleda, Florence, and I one afternoon went out in the patch, filled our pockets with gooseberries, went down into a cellar where they kept their year’s supply of food, and proceeded to get sugar for our berries. We were having such a good time when suddenly the cellar Trap door was closed; not by accident either. We found ourselves in plenty of darkness and scared to death. We screamed and cried, but she kept us there just long enough to teach us a good lesson. We didn’t try that again. I can remember Alberta living at home a little bit. I remember a Christmas Eve when I was very young. A loud knock and a jingle of bells at our door and in jumped Santa Claus. I was so frightened and Alberta picked me up and took me to Santa saying, “He won’t hurt you.” Santa gave me a red clear candy rooster. You can bet I didn’t forget Santa again. He has been a special guy through the years.
Victor and Alberta have always been good to me. I enjoyed staying with them and having my first experience tending babies. This was special since I was the youngest in my family. Terry and Dee Charles, their sons, were fun to tend. I remember hiding them one morning so they wouldn’t get spanked. I’m sure their parents appreciated that.
We lived in Panaca, Nevada during the winter months so my sisters could go to high school. They didn’t have one in Enterprise at that time. I can remember Grace and how happy she was when Cliff would come see her. I remember when Cliff received a mission call to the North Western States Mission. This was a sad and happy time for them. Grace waited for Cliff and when he returned he told us so many things about Spokane, Seattle and his mission. I just knew it must be the most beautifulplace in the world. He brought me a green fountain pen. How I loved that! Grace lived next to us in Enterprise and sewed dresses for me. How pretty my blue net formal for the Junior Prom was. She would also help Mamma cook dinner parties for my friends. Now for Cliff, I don’t know how my nose ever grew straight; he was forever pushing it flat with his hand and messing up my hair. What a tease!
My mother’s sons-in-law took delight in teasing her also, but she loved them and they loved her. Gilva was away from home quite a bit. Both she and Alberta worked in Caliente, Nevada. I was always happy to have her come home. One summer at the Terry ranch, where we lived for three months out of the year (much to my unhappiness) she and one of her boy friends came and gave me a dollar for dancing the Charleston. Well, I can tell you I was excited. That was my first dollar. I really felt I had earned it. I practiced hard to learn how to Charleston. I remember very well when she married Heber Myers and how happy she was. Through the years both Heber and Gilva have been so good to me. For one year they let me live with them at Milford, Utah where I worked for the hospital for three months and as teachers aid in the elementary school system for nine months. They tried hard to take care of me. I’ll never forget one night when my date came after me. He honked his horn and Heber went to the door and said, “We don’t have any dogs here.” That was special because I certainly wasn’t in the practice of answering to car horns and the boy friend never tried that again. That was quite an interesting year in my life. Now for Verona. I remember living with her at home very well. She is eight years older than I and so she didn’t play the same games I did, especially paper dolls, but she tried hard to teach me to work. What a gal she is! So fussy about keeping house and I’m afraid some of it rubbed off on me and today as I find myself doing some of these neat little jobs and my husband thinks they are foolish, I just say, “Blame Verona.”
I’ll never forget the events of an early morning episode. Mom did very well in teaching her daughters and giving them responsibility. Verona felt responsible for doing the family wash. In those days washing wasn’t so easy. We had to heat the water outside in a big tub and carry the water to the washer. Verona had fixed the kindling under the tub, filled the tub with water, so all she would need to do, very early in the morning so she wouldn’t have to wash all day, is strike a match to the wood. We had decided to sleep outside in the lilac bushes where Mamma always kept a bed during the summer months. Well, listen to this; about 3:30 A.M. she woke me up and said, “You get up and light the fire so the water will get hot.” I tried desperately to make her understand it was too early, but she wouldn’t relent so I got up, took a blanket, and slept in the car the rest of the night. As morning approached Verona started the fire and was washing when Mamma wanted to know where I was. Verona didn’t know. About then I came in. I think they were so relieved that I didn’t get scolded; Verona couldn’t remember anything that had happened - just talking in her sleep.
She married Roland Bowler at the age of 18. I’ll never forget how shy he was when he first came to our home to see her. It was sad for me when Verona left home, I was 12 years old and I missed her. I really felt the responsibility of keeping our home clean. I didn’t do much cooking but really cleaned house. Mamma was older and I felt scrubbing was too hard for her. You see, I started to grow up and my mother and I grew very close.
Verona and Roland enjoyed the youth and opened their little home to them. We had many fun parties there. Roland hooked a bobsled on the back of his pick up and took a group of us sleigh riding. What a ride He turned the corner and the sleigh swang to the side and tipped over, spilling all of us. Ho one got hurt but that took care of us for that day. I had my future husband with me. What an initiation to Enterprise and snow!
Our family was all married now except Athna and Orvin. What a challenge for me - two boys! Athna was six years older than I so I was really just his little sister. He had about as much love for the Terry ranch as I did, and I remember as school closed, we were preparing to move to the ranch for the summer, I had started to take piano lessons and was so excited about it. I started to cry because I didn’t want to go Athna said, “Don’t cry; I’ll lie down on the floor and you can pretend I’m a piano. You play on me and I’ll sing.” That wasn’t much of a challenge for him. He could sing very well. I have always “been so proud of him as he sang for many special occasions. He has a beautiful talent.
When any of us got sick with colds or sore throats one of Mamma’s favorite remedies was castor oil. What terrible medicine! One night Athna was sick and sure enough, here came the castor oil. Well, it took Mamma and Gilva both to hold him down. I don’t know how much he got, but he gave them a hustle, I couldn’t blame him much.
He married Vada Evans and we really shivareed them. We had fun, but don’t think they appreciated it too much, I was happy to have Vada join our family. She has been both a siter-in-law and a friend to me. For many years she would both set and comb out my hair and I always felt it looked pretty, I appreciate that,Orvin and I had many good times together. He was a twin. His twin, Ervin, died at nine months old, Orvin was four years older than I, We played together and I often wonder how I escaped being a tom boy, I climbed trees, rode stick horses, played boney horses, and helped him make harnesses for the cats so they would pull boxes filled with sand, etc* As we grew older we would ride horses. He had a horse called “Bill” and he was quite a fancy one. We also had, a horse we called “Browny” who wasn’t so great. Of course I always got to ride Browny. He was safe. One afternoon we were up by Uncle Tommy’s ranch which was one mile from ours. 1 got Orvin to let me ride Bill. He didn’t have a saddle or bridle on him, just a halter. We started to race and let me tell you I had the fastest ride I ever had or hope to have on a horse, I couldn’t stop him without a bridle, so I hung onto his mane for dear life! Orvin couldn’t catch me on his old slow poke. He kept yelling, “Hang on!” Well I did until he reached the corral gate at home. Bill stopped short on all fours and I flew over his head right into the corral, Orvin thought it was a little funny, but he was frightened too. Anyway, he didn’t let me ride his horse again, I really didn’t want to.
As we reached our teen age years he was considerate and kind. We had a movie once a week and if we didn’t have dates he would take me, pay my way and buy a bag of nuts for us to eat. They were really good.
I have never forgotten another frightening experience we had. In Enterprise we had to make our own fun and good times. One afternoon four couples decided we would go for a hay rack ride up to Ox Valley, which is up in the mountains on an old one lane gravel road, for a weenie and marshmallow roast, Orin and Alma Holt drove the horses hitched to a four wheeled rubber tired trailer. We got to Ox Valley and had such fun times eating and singing around the bon fire. We were having such a good time that we didn’t think about the dark night. As we started home the coyotes were howling and we couldn’t see the road. The horses became frightened and started to run. Orvin and Alma tried hard, but the horses broke away from the trailer. It continued to roll down the hill. I tried several times to jump out, but every time someone would pull me back down. One of the guys did jump out and he was the only one hurt. The next day we went back up where the trailer stopped and we could see where the trailer tongue had been going down the road in the direction of a deep gully and just before the trailer would have turned over the tongue turned and straightened out. I was so frightened when I saw that, and so thankful to my Father in Heaven for sparing our lives. We were truly blessed and three fellows and one of the girls from that group went on a mission for the church. The Lord knew they were special. One of these fellows was Orvin.
As you can see, I have had many special experiences with my brothers and sisters. They have been such a strength and influence in my life. Being the youngest in the family has been great and I love them.
The Lord has blessed and guided my life and I’m so thankful for that. I am thankful for the talents He has given me; I did learn how to play the piano and organ and have been able to give many years in service both in church, school and community. As a young girl I earned money by playing piano in a dance band. It was a big help for me during depression time every penny helped.
When I was about 16 years old I had my patriarchal blessing. What a guide that was for me. It told me that when the time came for me to marry that I would need to pray about it and that I would be tempted and tried but if I married in the temple I would be happy. This certainly has been true. On June 16, 1942 I married Ferren Bunker in the St. George temple. I can never thank my Father in Heaven enough for this great blessing. We have been married for 58 years this June 1980. Every year has been filled with joy and happiness. We have had five children. Janet Bunker Williams, Dianne Bunker Fisher, Norma Bunker Haines, Terry Bunker and Brent Bunker. They have all married well and we have, 13 grand¬children and one more on its way this September 1980. They have all married in the temple and have a strong testimony of the gospel. They are fulfilling callings in the church and teaching their children to serve their Father in heaven.
We spent our honeymoon in Utah’s scenic canyons, Cedar Breaks, Zion, Bryce, and Yellowstone. We decided to take a shortcut back to Enterprise, so we would have plenty of time to get ready for our wedding reception. However, it really was a slower longer road and we were late getting back. My dear mother and father went right along with the reception, making the best of it as usual.
Our first home was in Lovelock, Nevada. Being June and hot we decided to travel to Lovelock during the night. Ferren, well me too, got sleepy and ran off the road just missing a deep culvert. That really woke me up and I haven’t been able to have a good sleep riding in a car since. Since that time Ferren tells me I’m a constant nag when he drives at night - probably he’s right!
Our next exciting experience and initiation to Lovelock was being greeted by Ferren’s friends (he had been teaching school for one year in Lovelock), who insisted on putting me in a wheel-barrow and having Ferren push me down the main street. What a sight! I think the worst part for me was ruining my best slack outfit. The wheel-barrow was greasy. Dummies.
During the four years we lived in Lovelock we had many choice memories. Our little home was modest and humble but truly home for us. We had to clean and redecorate it but it was fun. Ferren was teaching vocational agriculture and a few other subjects in the high school. He was also the Branch President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I shall never forget my first Sunday there. There were only seven people there including Ferren and I. Having come from a ward I said to Ferren, “I guess you won’t hold Sunday School this morning.” He said, “Yes, we will. These people are as much entitled to the spirit of the Lord”as a whole house full.” I came to appreciate that statement and saw our Branch grow to a membership of 60. They have a ward there now and a beautiful chapel. We held our meetings in a building they called Campfire Hut. We would make a fire in the big old stove, pick up beer cans and cigarette butts, and sweep the floors before we could hold church meetings. There was a special spirit in that small Branch, We were like one large family.
Ferren and I had our first two children in Lovelock - Janet and Dianne. I had some physical problems before Janet was born, and appreciate Father Bunker’s help. He came to visit us during the summer before Janet was born and had a special dream about me. When he woke up he told us that we should go to another doctor who would need to be a specialist. The doctor I had been going to was out of town, so we went to Reno to a specialist and sure enough, I never got back home. Dr. Lombardi, a baby specialist, put me in the hospital and told me I had Toxemia. He tried for one week to help by giving me medication, without avail, and so Janet was born by Caesarean Section. He said he didn’t know which one of us he could save, Ferren and my brother-in-law, Vaughn Abbott, administered to me and both of us came through fine. Janet was born November 11, 1943, weighed 5 lbs. 4 oz. and looked like a little doll, but she grew fast.
The years we spent in Lovelock were during World War II and we had to buy food with food stamps issued by the government such as meat, sugar, flour and fruit. We were really fortunate because Ferren grew a big garden in our back yard and raised rabbits and chickens. That really helped.
We had our share of sickness and operations during those four years. We had only been married for three weeks when Ferren became very ill with Tuleremia. We had spent the 4th of July at Lake Tahoe where he was bitten by an infected mosquito. I was really worried because he was so sick with chills and fever, Dr. Presti came to our home and diagnosed that he had pneumonia. They hadn’t developed the antibiotic drugs at that time. The doctor gave him Sulpha tablets to take and told me to make and put mustard plasters on his chest. I had never had experience with mustard plasters and Ferren was, and knew he was, a ginny pig. I think one was enough, I really reddened up his chest - just added misery to misery. The sulpha pills and blessings he received helped very much. However, the abscess didn’t heal and he broke out with dark bumps on his legs. Dr. Presti was on vacation so Ferren went to Dr. Menke. He said, “You never had pneumonia, but Tuleremia.” He took a blood test and sure enough he was right. He started to treat him for Tuleremia. It took all summer. I knew when you got married you took them for better or worse, but I didn’t think it was going to be so soon.
The following year I had a thyroid operation and the next year Ferren had a hernia operation. For sure we were more than bankrupt but struggled through continuing to pay our tithing and the Lord blessed us with added jobs and we were out of debt surprisingly fast.
Dianne was born June 4, 1946. She weighed 6 lbs. What another great blessing. I learned something about having babies from her. I gained 40 lbs. and she only weighed 6 of them I had to work hard to lose that weight, Ferren changed jobs September 1946 and we bought a mobile home and he worked as a salesman. When you are young it is easier to speculate* Fortunately this was a good move for us. He was successful as a salesman. He made much more than teaching school and was given a contract for more. We decided to go to southern Nevada so we could be closer to our families. While we were in Lincoln County Eerren was asked to be an agricultural extension agent and work for the University of Nevada. He accepted this job and thoroughly enjoyed it. I never remember hearing him complain about his work and the people he worked with loved and respected him.
We were in Lincoln County for 12 years. One year in Pioche and 11 years in Caliente. During those years we had three more children. Norma was born November 9, 1947. Yes, another girl, but we really loved her. We thought for sure she would be a boy and didn’t have a girl’s name chosen. Her father always liked the name of Norma so he chose her name. Had she been a boy she would have been named Leslie which at that time was a boy’s name. We should have named her Leslie anyway because we know she would have like it because she named her little girl Lesley.
Terry Ferren was born March 18, 1953. Finally we had a baby boy. He had three older sisters and a mother and father to love and care for him. The girls were really excited about him. His father was out milking the cow during his birth. I have kidded him through the years about caring more about the cows than he did me. The doctor had assured him that he would have plenty of time, but Terry and I fooled him, Terry was named after me and his father.
Brent Dee Bunker was born October 31, 1956 - another boy. How lucky and blessed we were. He chose Halloween for his birthday and has really celebrated it ever since. He really gave his sisters and their boy¬friends a good time while he was growing up, Norma boy friend came to see her and Brent looked at him and said, “You would make a good-brother-in-law,” Norma wasn’t prepared for that but she got used to it. When one of Dianne’s boy friends came for the first time, he said, “Which one are you, Bob or Chick?” He said, “My name is Bill.” The girls said, “Mother, do we have to have him around when our friends come?” In spite of their frustrations he made their lives interesting. The girls really loved their two brothers and tried hard to mother and boss them around. However, in spite of it all, the boys grew up and I shall never forget when Terry picked up his sister and put her on the bed and said, “Now, you stay there.” I think she decided he could take care of himself.
Our three girls started elementary school in Caliente, Nevada and enjoyed many good experiences, Janet was a very active girl and was involved in many activities. She enjoyed being a cheerleader, playing saxophone in the band, and being successful in 4-H. She won a trip back to Chicago to the National 4-H Congress. This really pleased her parents. She enjoyed boy friends and perhaps she was a little too young for that, She finished her high school in Las Vegas, Nevada, Janet became accomplished on the piano and has given of her talent to many. She continued her education by going to college for one year in Cedar City, Utah, where she met David Williams, It didn’t take her too long to decide he was the one for her. They married and now have four lovely children - Paul, Janalee, Charles, and Mariann,
We moved to Las Vegas December 15, 1958. This was a new and a bit frightening for our children since they had moved from a small rural school into a large urban school. We were pleased and proud of them because they accepted this challenge and made the adjustment very well. Dianne was just beginning junior high. She soon found a good friend in Claudia Clements and they remained friends throughout their school years, Dianne was a very conscientious girl. She received a certificate for not being late or absent from school for two years. She was more domestic and enjoyed home ec. and interior decorating classes, and did well in them. From childhood she had a special talent of being friendly and considerate of others, giving of herself. She went to Salt Lake City, Utah where she graduated from cosmetology college. We were proud of her when she took her state board test and scored second from the top in the state of Nevada and 6th from the top in Utah, She was happy and successful in this profession. During the years she worked she increased her -education with travel to Hawaii, Europe, and Mexico. While working in Provo, Utah she met and married Ken Fisher. At this time they have three lovely daughters - Julie, Janelle, and Jennette.
Norma was a 5th grader when we moved from Caliente where she had taken dancing and acrobat lessons. We were proud of her as she performed. She met Linda Depu, a girl her age who lived across the street from us in Las Vegas. This helped Norma, She was able to start in a new school with a friend, Norma took an active part in her school events and had many friends. She especially enjoyed playing the piano and being a member of the glee club. The Lord has blessed Norma with a beautiful singing voice. She took a few vocal lessons from Maxine Rovere. She has used her talent to gladden the hearts of many, especially her parents, I hope she will continue to develop and use this talent. Norma met Albert Haines on a “blind date. This was a special date for Norma because she found in All her heart’s desire. She attended Utah State College at Logan for a half year. Al gave Norma an engagement ring at Christmas and Norma decided she would stay home and go to cosmetology school where she could complete a vocation. She married Albert Haines and they now have three lovely children: Bradley, Christine, and Lesley.
I had a spiritual experience with Terry early in his life. When he was about one year old he tried to swallow a penny which lodged in his bronchial tubes. I rushed him to the hospital. Dr. Stewart tried very hard to dislodge the penny but was unable to do so. He put Terry under the Floriscope and we could see its location. The doctor said, “There is no one this side of Salt Lake City that can remove the penny.” Caliente was a distance of 400 miles from Salt Lake. A distance we would have to drive by car. Ferren was in Eagle Valley and Dr. Stewart was trying to locate him by phone. Terry was gasping for breath and I knew he couldn’t make the trip that far. Again I bowed my head and earnestly prayed to ray Father in Heaven for help. As I opened my eyes “Terry gave a hard cough and threw the penny across the room. Dr. Stewart said, “You have just witnessed a miracle,” and I knew I had. The Lord truly answered by prayer.
Terry enjoyed his schooling, especially excelling in sports. He enjoyed Junior League baseball and playing on basketball teams, coaching little leagues and church basketball. The boys on his teams thought he was the greatest. I still wonder how he got them all into the little Volkswagen. Terry never had a problem making friends. Our home was often filled with his friends. He enjoyed Boy Scouts and was one of three selected to go to Camp Philmont. This was his first experience away from hom. He was gone for three weeks and we missed him. We were pleased that Terry wanted to and fulfilled an honorable mission for the church in the Minnesota Manitoba Mission, where he was both District and Zone leader. He had the privilege of teaching and baptizing Sandi Dresen, who later became his wife while they were attending B.Y.U. They are now living in Tallahassee, Florida where Terry is working on his master’s degree in Family Relationships. They have two lovely children, Tommy and Diana, and are anticipating the birth of another child in September.
Brent was two years old when we moved to Las Vegas. He missed his home in Caliente. When we went back after two weeks he was really excited. Brent enjoyed many hobbies. He started out collecting monster models. How horrible they looked! We were realty pleased when he became interested in model airplanes. He has never lost his love for planes and has learned to fly a glider. He even tried hang gliding. He also collected coins and stamps. He enjoys playing the banjo and guitar. In fact he has a lot of musical talent and I wish he would do more with it. Brent enjoyed track in elementary school ad he ran the fastest of any of the children in Redrock School. In junior nigh he won first place in the 75 yd. dash in the Clark County track meet. He worked hard in his scouting and became an Eagle Scout. Brent was recognized for his leadership in scouting and was chief of the Boulder Dam area in the Order of the Arrow. Both he and Terry earned the Duty to God award for faithful activity in the church. I felt so proud to have them pin a special pin on me in honor of this award. Brent filled a mission for the church in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission. What a surprise for him because he was called to the same mission area as his brother Terry.
He had a special girl friend when he went on his mission, Debbi Leu, so it was a little difficult for him to go. She waited for him and they were married soon after he returned. Brent has been very interested in becoming a doctor and spent many hours giving service in a Junior Pre-Med program at Sunrise Hospital. At this time he is continuing his education at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. They have a one year old son, Jared.
Ferren and I have been truly blessed. Our children have grown up to love the Lord. They have strong testimonies of the Gospel and have accepted responsibilities in their homes and in the church. This is most important to me, I’m proud of our children and grandchildren. We love our daughters and sons-in-law as our own children. They are special. Our desire is for the welfare and happiness of all the special spirits who make up our family.
I have not mentioned very much about my callings in the church, but it has been important for me to serve the Lord as I have been called. I started at the age of 11 to play the piano for Primary, then Sunday School, M.I.A., Ward organist and Relief Society. I shall never forget ray first experience as or Sunday School organist. As I saw all the people in the congregation I became frightened and began to shake. My feet were making more noise than ray hands. I knew I was going to die before the meeting was over but I survived. I decided I couldn’t go through that again so I planned to be late the next Sunday so they would find someone else. I didn’t tell my parents and left for Sunday/School before they did. I took plenty of time walking and when I thought Sunday School had started I went toward the chapel. Much to my surprise I saw the chorister, Roy Staheli, out looking for me. He said, “Hurry, we are waiting for you.” Well, you can imaging my embarrasement as I had to walk the full length of the chapel to play the piano late. I learned a great lesson that day. My mother didn’t scold me but expressed her disappointment. She said, “You have disappointed both the Lord and Bishop today. They called you for this position and you accepted. Always remember when you say you will do something that you do it. You must be dependable.” I have never forgotten that advise and yes, you can bet have always been on time. I have also served as a teacher in Sunday School, Mutual and Relief Society. I served on Relief Society and Mutual Stake boards as organist. I was a counselor in the ward Relief Society, for one year and president for five years. What a choice experience. My greatest challenge was to be called to serve a full time mission. On May 13, 1978 Ferren and I were called as proselyting missionaries in the California Arcadia mission. It was hard for me to leave my home, family, and friends and go teach the Gospel. I can testify today that the Lord blessed me and with His help I was able to fulfill this mission and feel very good about it. Ferren was such a good, strong companion. I love him for his kindness and help. With the Lord’s help we saw many people change their ways, accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, be beptized, and are very happy people today.
As I close this history I want all my children to know I have a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is true; never doubt it. I know Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God, that the Savior’s church has been restored to the earth again through him. I know that Jesus is the Christ and as you keep His commandments you will find much joy and happiness in life. I love my Father in Heaven. He has truly bless me.
October 2001: An update to our Life Histories In my October family letter I ask our family members to bring their autobiographies up to date. Our children, as well as my brothers and sisters, had not written for our books of remembrance, except one update, what has happened which may be of interest to our posterity since May 1977. That is the date of my last writing as part of my autobiography. During the past 24 years I have kept journals which can be read by any of our posterity or others who may be interested in the details of our lives as it pertains to our doings and our interests, concerns and desires, for our family, relatives and friends.
I am now 83 years old and in relatively good health. My dear wife and eternal companion, who will be 82 years old December 7, 2001, has suffered much more during the past five years than I have. She has gone through two back operations to ease the pain caused by pinched sciatic nerves from her back down through her left leg to her foot. Then on February 6, 1999, Violet had a stroke which affected her whole right side. She regained her ability to talk, to eat and drink, and to use her right leg, but not with her original ability. In fact, it appears that for the rest of her life she will not have any use of her right arm and hand, and will need to take most of the liquids and medicines through a feeding tube in her stomach, walk only with the support of a person (usually me) on her right side and a hamie walker on the left, and great effort on her part, and does move about in a wheelchair. We use three wheelchairs: one in each car for use when we go to church, do some shopping, make visits to the doctor’s offices or visit friends and relatives, and one a motorized wheelchair used to get around in the house-what a wonderful blessing to have them. No one can understand how difficult it is to suffer the effects of a major stroke except one experiencing the same, but I have gained some knowledge of it having lived with the one I love who is so afflicted. She has needed me both day and night, but most of all I have needed her. For over 59 years we have been a team working together, and our love for each other has never faded. Our greatest desire is that we shall endure any and all trials without faltering in our love for each other and our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, for we know that He is our Lord and Savior. He opened the way for us to know the joy and happiness that conies from obedience to the laws and ordinances of His gospel. We would have our posterity know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is our Heavenly Father’s plan for happiness while here in mortality and throughout all eternity.
Inasmuch as my sweetheart and wife has been rendered without the ability to write and report what has taken place during these past 24 years, she has said she would like me to add her life history to mine. I may not do her justice, for she truly is a true wife and companion and to me a special daughter of the Lord. I have always tried to make her a companion with equal responsibility and gifts of leadership in our home and family. She has always been a wonderful helpmeet, a resourceful companion and a great counselor and teacher. The years of her life have been lived as a devoted wife, a wonderful mother and grandmother and a chosen servant and vessel of truth and righteousness in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let me take you back to June ! 6, 1976, when I wrote in my journal, ‘This is the moment in time when we celebrated my birth and also the most important event in my life. I was born June 16, 1918, in Bunkerville, Nevada. Then 1 was married June 16, 1942, to Violet Ford Terry in the St. George Utah Temple;” that was the most important event to me. Now let me say that during these past 59 years of our married lives, I have learned some truths that are most important to me. Let me bring to remembrance a few of these truths.
I was bom of wonderful parents, Hector Bunker and Willamina Wittwer, the fifth child in a family of eight children. They were from oldest to youngest: Ardyce, Wanda, Reva, Merrill, Ferren (that is me) Marva, Kent and Owen. Though my mother died many years ago, October 5, 1941, of cancer, she left me with a great heritage and the gifts of life that remains with me. She was quiet and mild in her manner, but a power for good in her service to the Lord and the example she set before me and all who associated with her. Father, too, left me with a great legacy of his love. He died many years later, October 13, 1963, probably of a heart attack. He did what he thought he couldn’t do. He raised and cared for his family after mother’s death in a most admirable way. There seemed to be no one more unselfish. He made us children know that our parents were as one. They set a beautiful example of love and harmony. That is what we wanted for our home,
Violet, too, was bom of goodly parents and was given through them a wonderful heritage in the gospel. They had twelve sons and daughters, and Violet was the twelfth. She is now the only one of her immediate family who remains in mortality, and she often says that she wonders why she needs to remain while she is so severely handicapped. With all of her many gifts and blessings which she added to our marriage she will probably be remembered most for the great contribution she made through her musical ability. She was talented in playing the piano and organ. She started as pianist for Primary when eleven years old, and continued in church service until the time of her stroke. She was ward organist for over 40 years of that time. Her musical ability was used in the school, community, church and home. She taught our children and grandchildren piano lessons, along with many others. During the most recent years she taught Thomas, Jared, Becky and Bethany, all of whom have developed their talent for playing the piano very well. Of our five children, Janet and Norma are gifted in playing the piano and organ, and are in constant demand to use their musical talent. Brent has much inherited musical ability, but has chosen to use it as a hobby by purchasing and playing many of the antique musical string instruments. He is very unselfish in using his talent to entertain and support community and church programs.
Soon after my retirement from the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Nevada Reno, Violet and I were called on a mission and served 18 months in the California Arcadia Mission where we were blessed with the privilege of teaching 54 people who entered the waters of baptism. We accounted this as one of the most gratifying periods of our lives. It was gratifying because of people like Brother Werdon, who at 72 years of age joined the church and became an ardent temple goer; Miriam Rosero, who with her baby daughter returned to Bogota, Colombia, in South America and became a great strength in the church as she gave leadership in the auxiliaries of the ward and branch there; the Whites, who gave leadership to missionary work in the Upland 2nd ward in bringing 208 people into the church within a year and only 2 years after we left. Our list could go on, but now you should be able to see why our missionary experience has proven to be so gratifying.
After returning home from our mission, we were called as ordinance workers in the St. George Utah Temple, where we served until the Las Vegas Nevada Temple was completed and dedicated for use At that time we became ordinance workers, and I was also set apart as a sealer in the Las Vegas Nevada Temple. Counting our years of service in St. George and here in Las Vegas, Violet served for ten years and I have served for seventeen years. It was necessary for Violet to discontinue serving as an ordinance worker when her health made it very difficult to do the work. Throughout the twelve years that I have served as a sealer in the temple, it has been my privilege to perform many sealings and marriages of living people. The ones that have been of special joy to me were those of our posterity, which I could do with permission of the First Presidency in any of the temples. This has taken us to the Salt Lake City Utah, Idaho Falls, Houston Texas, and San Diego California Temples in addition to our Las Vegas Nevada Temple. I was ordained a stake patriarch October 25, 1976, by Ezra Taft Benson, who was at that time President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. As the church grew in Las Vegas, my area of service has changed so that I served first in the Las Vegas South Stake, then the Red Rock Stake, then the Sandstone Stake, and now we have as of August 26, 2001, when major changes were made in the boundary lines of six stakes in the West part of the valley and the realignment of wards within the stakes, been placed in the Las Vegas 6th Ward of the Las Vegas Nevada Stake, I have at this time been placed on a temporary inactive status because of there
Being patriarch in the stake: until it is determined that there is a need for my service as a patriarch in the stake. However, I am privileged to give blessings to our posterity. Within the next month, four of them have requested patriarchal blessings. I have enjoyed my calling as a patriarch, and Violet has served in a very helpful way. She is an exceptional hostess, and visits with those who accompany the recipient while spend a few minutes to get acquainted with the person who is to receive the blessing. In this we have worked as a team during the past 31 years. The Lord has been very good to me during these years and I have experienced His help through the medium of the Holy Ghost.
Starting in 1978 we organized the Ferren and Violet Terry Bunker Family, I being president, and each of our children received responsibilities to emphasize and give leadership over parts of our interests to make our family our most important work. Through the many years which followed I was actively engaged in family organization efforts. I was asked to be the president of my Father and Mother’s family organization, and served from 1978 to 1995. I was also asked to be the president of Grandpa Edward bunker’s family in 1980 and served in that capacity through 1997. My major effort was seen in the preparation of enough books of remembrance for each of these three families so that each of their children or representative of that Uncle or Aunt who was dead could have a copy. I not only prepared books of remembrance for these families, but also for the families of my wife’s parents, Frank Durmouth Terry and Rhoda Elisabeth Hunt, and my mother’s parents, Samuel Wittwer and Bertha Tobler. It was a happy day when I had sufficiently completed the five books of remembrance so that each family representative could have one. The books were made in looseleaf form so that additions could be made. Inasmuch as it has been over twenty years since the life histories of the children of each of the families were written, an effort is now being made to update their histories and other pertinent records,
Violet’s part in this was primarily in giving me time and space to do the work. I also was given assistance from cousins Berkeley Bunker and Wayne Bunker through the use of office copying machines and paper. With these books of remembrance and our regular meetings, our families have become our most important work. We are involved in the salvation of both the living and the dead.
The details of Violet’s and my life together can be found in the almost nine journals that I have kept. We have tried to communicate our feelings, our counsel, our joys, our hopes and interests to our family through personal letters to each of our posterity and general letters to all of our family, relatives and friends. In the more recent years, we have written monthly letters to them. It is our hope that these letters will be kept and used as a reminder that we care about and love each member of our family and have hopes that in the time to come when we assemble beyond the grave that we will have no empty chairs in our family circle.
One of my practices, and to me a most important consideration, is a written message to my darling wife on each birthday, wedding anniversary, mother’s day, Christmas and Valentine’s Day. These she has kept and have been placed in a notebook entitled “Especially for Violet.” It helps me to remember how very important she is to me and try to treat her as my greatest treasure. We have the desire that our relationship will endure as was promised in our marriage covenant, “Throughout all time and eternity.”
It has been my privilege to serve the Lord in four different stake high councils before becoming a stake patriarch, and to serve as the bishop of both the Caliente and Las Vegas 12* Wards. It has also been my privilege to teach the Gospel Doctrine Class in Sunday School from 1979 to 1983 and the Gospel Essentials Class from 1983 to 1997. I enjoyed being a teacher I taught early morning seminary one year.
Most of our traveling has been to see our children and their families. Enroute we would do some sight-seeing. This has taken us to many areas in our great country. Janet, our oldest child, started married life in Milford, Utah, and then made moves that took her with her husband, David Williams, and family to Logan, Utah, Las Vegas, Nevada, and to Moreland, Idaho. It was good to visit them in each of these places. Dianne started her married life in Provo, Utah, where Kenneth Fisher, her husband, was completing his schooling and then they made moves with their family to Bellvue near Seattle, Washington; Thousand Oaks, California; Dartmouth, Massachusetts; Roswell, New Mexico and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Norma married Albert Haines while he was in the armed forces at Fort Hood, Texas. After he left the army, they lived in Wichita Falls, Oklahoma; Las Vegas, Nevada; Orem, Utah; Beaumont, Texas; and Houston, Texas. Terry served in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission where he found his future wife. After their marriage they attended school at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and made moves to Tallahassee, Florida and then to Las Vegas, Nevada. Brent started his marriage with Debbie Leu in Las Vegas. They had three children and divorced, and then he married Pamela Pottoff and they started their marriage in Bridge Port, Connecticut, where he completed his schooling. They made moves to Little Rock, Arkansas; and then to Newport, Oregon. We tried to make annual visits to see each of our children with their families, and in doing so we saw much of the country with its wonders. Our greatest joy about our children is that their marriages have all been in the temple and they continue very faithful in the church; and through them we now have added to our family nine spouses of our children and grandchildren, 24 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, making a total of 57 in our family as of this writing.
FERREN W. & VIOLET T. BUNKER HISTORY UPDATE At this writing violet is 83 and next month will be 84 years old. She continues to be the apple of my eye. Her life has not been easy because of the affects of the stroke and other ailments which are incident to old age. there has been no improvement in the use of her right side since our last writing. If anything she has less strength and energy. She has suffered with a cold and congestion in her lungs and bronchial tube which put her in the hospital for a5 days. We make regular visits to see Dr. Noorda, Internal Medicine, Dr. Lambert, A cardiologist, Dr. Merrell, a kidney specialist, and Dr. Collier, a lung specialist. Some of the health problems she has been dealing with are: blood colts in her legs and lungs. Fur this she spent two different periods in the hospital and many doctors visits to regulate the amount of coumadin being used as a blood thinner; blood pressure and a pacemaker for her heart; sugar diabetes and the problem of neuropathy in her feet and legs; kidney failure which threatens her to be put on dialysis and blood anemia; her G tube through which at first she had to be feed but now is used primaryily through which she takes medicine and liquid which is thin like water. The tube has been replaced twice, and plans are now to have it replaced again because it leaks and is very dark and ugly.
In spite of all that she goes through, she maintains a positive and sweet spirit. She She never misses church when she is physically able to go. She is thought of being the sweetest and best dressed member of our ward. She loves to go shopping with her daughters, Janet, Dianne, and Norma when they come to stay and help us for a period of time. We often are complimented as having a wonderful family because of their coming to be with us and help us.
It has been my great privilege and blessing to be with and help my dear wife through all of her ordeals. It hurts me to see her suffer and unable to do all of the things that were always so much a part of her life. I miss her playing the piano and organ, reading books, and cooking meals and doing the kitchen work, taking our morning walks, going on trips to see our children and their family, cleaning house, doing washing and ironing and every other thing that a husband and wife do together.
It is true that I am now 85 years old and am in genera! good health. I had a tuna procedure done on my prostrate which has helped me very much. I had about one and a half months of pain with a sciatic nerve in my right hip and leg but with therapy I am better. I continue one day per week as a sealer in the temple. Violet and I teach the temple preparation class when there is a nee. This we can do in our home. I plant a garden to help supply us with fruit and vegetables and try to make our yard look as well kept as our home. Many people comment on our yard as they to by. It is getting increasingly more difficult for ;us to give the care and attention to our home needs, but it Is important to us to have it look like Latter day Saints live there. We want our home to be a house of God, beautiful like our chapel and the temple.
Our greatest blessing is to have a good and faithful family. We want to merit their love and confidence. I have during these past two years written a monthly letter to our family and friends. They need to know that we love them.
Ferren & Violet Bunker