Schools

I started my schooling in Wellsville, Utah in the fall of 1900. All 8 grades were housed in the old rock school house 2 blocks south of my home. When I was in the 4^th of 5^th grade we were transferred to the Central School which was located in the same place as the new Junior High School that now stands. Here I completed the 9^th grade. I then attended the Wellsville High School which was held in one room of the City Hall. We had one instructor who taught all subjects and the students all took the same course. The first year our instructor was James B. Tucker from Provo, Utah. Then second year our instructor was Ben B. Fowler. I then attend BY (Brigham Young) College in Logan, Utah which was like the last two years of High School now.

Church Positions

The first position I can remember of holding was in my early teens, that of secretary of the Religion Class. While still in my teens I was set apart as a member of the Wellsville Ward Choir. In 1911 I was called as a teacher in the Sunday School to assist Brother Willard H. Parker in the 1^st Intermediate class. Later I was transferred to t he Primary Department of the Wellsville Ward Sunday School. This position I held till I was called, 22 April 1918 to assist in the Primary Department of the Hyrum Stake Sunday School. This position I held until I was married in 1919, and left the ward and stake.

During the winter of 1925-26, I was Gleaner Leader for the Shelley 2^nd Ward. April 1927, I was called to be a Counselor in the Roberts Ward Primary Assoc. A year, later I was set apart as the President of the Roberts Ward Primary Assoc. I acted as Bee Keeper in the Rigby 2^nd ward during the winter of 1929 & 1930. I was also called to be a teacher of the Social Science class in the Rigby 2^nd Ward Relief Society 14 January 1930. I served as Rigby Stake Bee Keeper from 1930 to 1937. The 16 May 1937, I was called to serve on the Rigby Stake Relief Society Board. I was called to serve as Relief Society President of Rigby 4^th Was 28 November 1943. On the 18 Marcy 1945 I was called to be the Stake Relief Society President of the Rigby Stake. I was released from this position 18 Aug 1948. Later in 1948 I was called to serve as Magazine Agent for the 4^th Ward Relief Society. This position I held for several years. During the season of 1951-52, I was instructor for the Senior M-Men and Gleaner Girls in the Rigby 4^th Ward. May 1953 I was called as Relief Society Teacher. This position I still hold.

Homes

I lived in the same home in Wellsville from birth until my marriage, with the exception of a few months when we lived in an old house across the street while we were building a new addition on our home. When I was married I went with my husband to Tamarack, Idaho. There we lived one summer. In October of 1919 we rented a farm in Kuna, Idaho. We lived here until the sprint of 1924, due to my husband’s health we had to leave the farm. We went back to Tamarack and lived there and at McCall, Idaho until about September, we left there and went to Wellsville, Utah. In October or 1924 we moved to Pocatello, Idaho, we resided there until April 1925, and we moved back to Wellsville. The fall of 1925 we moved to Shelley, Idaho, and from there to Roberts, Idaho, where we farmed until 1928. On 3 November 1928, we moved to Rigby, Idaho. We had purchased a farm from Apostle Steven L. Richards. We lived on this farm for 10 years, and then we purchased a home just south of the City of Rigby. In 1946 we sold this home and purchased our home at 151 So. 2^nd West in Rigby.

Memories From Her Daughter

Ann Kerr Walter's daughter, Ida, talked about her mother.

Mother's father, William Leigh Walters, was a very stern Welchman and was 22 years older than her mother. I remember mother telling me that she remembered very little about her father except that she was afraid of him. When she heard him coming with his cane she would run away. Grandma Walters was widowed when she was very young (mother was only 7 years old), and she had a hard time making a living and feeding her family. Mother’s responsibility was to herd the cows so they could feed on the hillsides. Mother told us of the blow-snakes and of the many times she herded with her cousins Zella and Elmer Kerr. She also talked about the many other memorable times she had with these two cousins.

I remember when we were young children on the farm east of Rigby, we made many trips to Wellsville to visit Grandma Walters, Aunt Ida, Aunt Jessie Ivine and Great Grandma Baxter. I was only 4 years old when Grandma Walters died.

Mother held many positions in the Church. The ones I remember most were Ward and Stake Relief Society Presidents. As Stake Relief Society President, she traveled from the Roberts and Terreton Wards (Idaho) on the west to Palisades Ward on the East. She loved the Gospel and was a diligent Church worker. She talked in conferences and in the wards and I was so proud of her. I remember a special lesson on "Eternal Progression" that she was asked to give all over, and I was so proud that she was my mother.

With my mother’s help, dad was able to establish and maintain a successful Automobile Agency for many years. She did all of the book-work and financial work for him. She was a housewife, mother, church workers, bookkeeper, and a friend to many people.

She loved Genealogical work and accomplished much research and with the Lord’s help sent many names to the temple for their work to be done. My husband, Roy, and I had the opportunity of participating with Mother and Dad in doing temple work for our ancestors many times. I cherish these times spent with them.

Mother loved her children and never gave up trying to help them until her death. She so wanted them to realize that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was true and that this time on earth is a time to prepare ourselves to live with our Father in Heaven in His kingdom. She had many trials, heartaches, and challenges (as her daughter she confided so much in me) and she also had many physical hardships in her life. She loved her grandchildren and wanted them in her home often.

She learned early in her life to be thrifty and never waste. She loved to can fruits and vegetables and felt so well satisfied in her labors when her storage shelves were full. Mother and Dad always grew a garden and shared with all of us. She tried to teach all of us to be resourceful.

The last time I saw her alive was when she stopped by on her way to Boise. She was with her daughter Mary and was traveling with her to Boise as Mary had meetings in Boise. She looked to happy and I still picture her there on my front walk in a dark pink slack suit excited about visiting with Dale for a few days. She passed away in a Boise hospital following her second heart attack in one week. She was a good mother. I am so grateful for her for her teachings and sacrifices for me.

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