LIFE OF WILFORD EVERETT THATCHER

By Estella Trone Thatcher
Written March 1958

On a cloudy rainy day, about six miles out of Soda Springs, toward what was then known as Meadowville, Wilford Everett Thatcher first made his appearance into mortality, on 25 August 1920.

 

Everett was the second child of Wilford Ernest Thatcher, born 7 February 1888, and Mary Rose Tomlinson, born 14 May 1895.   His brothers and sisters are: Mary Lucille, born 26 June 1919; Leolia Pearl, born 23 November 1921, George Alma, born May 1925, John LaMar born 27 December 1929, and Don Marlene, born 25 April 1936.

Everett was Blessed on the 7 November 1920 by his father.  The clothes that Everett wore to be Blessed in was a white crocheted popcorn stitch cap with flaps, a lovely white dress with tatting, that his mother’s sister Alice made.  The dress had insertion around the bottom, with medallions across the bodice.  A beautiful white shawl made by Grandma Tomlinson.  The Baptism took place on 25 August 1928 by William G. Skinner.

When Everett was between three and four years old, a horse got too close to the door, Lucille went to drive it way off, Everett got near, and the horse kicked him, possibly thinking he was a dog, but it struck him in the stomach, and his bowels were paralyzed three days.  The Doctor thought he would have to operate, but in the night he changed.

In Meadowville, the snow got so deep that it was easy to hollow out tunnels, and Everett loved to do so and played in them.  During his childhood, the following diseases were contracted: Chicken-pox, measles, and scarlet fever.

His schooling began in Meadowville, Idaho, and went as far as the fifth grade.  Then the children went to Soda Springs, Idaho, as far as 7^th.  Due to bad weather one year and depression another, the family took what possessions they had in three wagons and moved to Roosevelt, Utah. 

Wheat had been selling for thirty cents a bushel. 

At night, all the family would huddle in one camp wagon to eat and sleep.  It was cold May weather, snowing and very miserable.  One horse was sick and the other horse on the team had to pull all the load.  Having been in Salt Lake City, Utah previously and found out about some farms the State had repossessed in Rossevelt, they rented one and shared crops. 

Schooling continued in Utah and Everett graduated from Alterra High School in Roosevelt 21 May 1937.  Since then his schooling included attendance at the Utah State Agriculture College, parts of three years in engineering, and a Correspondence Course in Book-keeping.  He won a Seminary Declamatioin Contest on 12 May 1937.

While he was scouting, he was chosen to go to the first Scout Jamboree that was to be held.  Then the first Polio Epidemic came and Pres. Roosevelt cancelled the Jamboree.

While at the U.S.A.C. in Logan, Utah, he met Marion Estella Trone.  They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 10 May 1940, by Nicholas G. Smith.  To this union were added seven children: Lester Don, 3 March 1941; Carol, 28 August 1942, Leo Everett, 28 Jan 1945; Robert Ernest, 15 February 1948; Ann, 12 October 1954; Joy, 24 March 1956; and David Alan, 18 September 1957.

Everett began a business career for himself in the summer of 1941 as a contractor, and has been at that occupation ever since.  Learning by the school of hard knocks and that of experience.  Uncle Sam gave him greetings 22 August 1944, and his career was interrupted while he served in the United States Army, in the infantry until 11 October 1945.  While serving, he saw the Eastern Coast of the United States, and traveled in England, Belgium, France, and Holland.  He entered the Army at Ft. Douglas, Salt Lake City, Utah; trained in Camp Roberts, California and discharged at Camp Carson, Colorado.

While he was working in Washington and Oregon, the family sold their home at 906 River Drive in Ogden, Utah and moved to Grants Pass, Oregon, where he was remodeling the David Rapids Dam on the Rogue River.  Than a year later the family moved to Portland, Oregon and bought a lovely five room brick home with two baths, a full basement, complete with recreation room, bath and bedroom, wash room and storage space at 701 NE 108.

Priesthood Offices and Ordinations are:  Ballard Ward, Roosevelt Stake-Deacon, 12 November 1933 by Russell Todd; Teacher – 1 September  by Elmer Manwaring; Priest, 2 January 1938 by Ludene Cox, Clawson Ward, Emery Stake;  Elder, 16 March 1940 by Frank Killian, Castle Dale Ward, Emery Stake; Seventy, 29 May 1955 by Adam S. Bennion; Columbia River Stake:  High Priest, 2 July 1956 by LeRoy K. Webster.  He received his Patriarchal Blessing 17 January 1954.