My Grandpa Rod

We have been praying for Grandpa Rod to be released from his Alzheimer's diseased mind and body, but the tears still came when we found out he had passed away.

Grandpa Rod was born July 5, 1923 and died January 12, 2014.  My Grandma Lois died in 1985, and he married Grandma Sharon 4 months later. Rod and Lois had three kids, Janet, Randy & Boyd.

As soon as the news spread through our family, plans were being made on who was going to the funeral. One family Facebook discussion ended with up 312 posts with many conversations going on at the same time.

Snow at the Great Falls airport

I left Cardston in a ground blizzard on ice and snow covered roads and headed to catch an airplane in Great Falls.  I had a great flight sitting next to a very nice man, who I offered a Book of Mormon to, but he said, "no thank you." He had already had two shots of vodka so I thought it couldn't hurt. He told me that Mormons make the best warriors because they are fighting for something higher than themselves. He had served in the Air Force with a few Mormons. I am going to give a talk on that someday.

After a transfer of airplanes in Salt Lake City, I flew to Oakland, California where my parents picked me up. They had driven from Idaho Falls and had arrived in California earlier that day.  We spent the night at Aunt Janet's house. It was fun to visit with them. 

The next morning my parents, Uncle Boyd, and I stopped at the Oakland Temple. We just kept commenting on how great it was to see green grass and flowers in  January.  We went in the Temple Visitor Center where two awesome sister missionaries bore their testimonies as we sat at the feet of the Christus statue. My Mom and Dad were married in the Oakland Temple.

Then we headed to Napa to see Grandma Sharon. We talked about funeral plans and visited about Grandpa Rod.  My sister Sharon and her husband and three kids came from Oregon.  My other 4 sisters and my brother got to California that evening in the mini van of awesomeness.

The funeral was an awesome tribute to a great man. The cousins sang, "I Am a Child of God." All 7 of the kids in my family and 6 kids from Janet's family were able to come for the funeral. My Dad, Janet and Boyd all spoke and gave excellent talks.  Grandpa had really spent time with his grandkids and had done lots of fun things, he was a good teacher, and he had a strong testimony.

After the funeral, we decided we wanted to drive to my grandpa and grandma's old house where our childhood memories were made (West F house). Jeanette and my cousin, Steven, knocked on the door and told the nice man that our grandpa used to live here and that today was his funeral and asked if we could take a few pictures. The nice man grew up in the house next door and knew my grandparents. He said my Grandma Lois took him to the movies when he was little.  It was fun to look at the big walnut trees and the creek in the back of the house.

Don't you get the urge to hug a redwood tree? Especially one in your Grandpa's old yard?

My Dad, Mom and Uncle Boyd took Grandpa Rod on one last road trip.  They drove my Dad's truck with my Grandpa's casket from California back to Utah where he was buried. Definitely a unique experience, my Dad said it was actually a very spiritual journey. We were glad we they made it safely to Utah, especially because the tailgate couldn't be shut.

My cool siblings and I stayed in Napa another night and basked in the sun, said goodbye to Grandma Sharon, went out to dinner and did a quick shopping stop at the outlet malls.

I got to join the mini van of awesomeness on the road trip back to Utah. We were so glad Sharon and her family were able to come to the funeral.  As she headed north, we headed east back to Utah. We talked and laughed all the way back to Utah.  Lola (Jeanette's almost two-year-old daughter) got to join the trip and was really amazing for the long journey, especially when she was naked.  We definitely made memories as we got to spend so many hours in the car just talking and laughing, just me and my brother and sisters.  Doug kept saying that he really loved being able to spend that time with his sisters.

Grandpa Rod was buried next to Grandma Lois in the Providence Cemetery. There were a few more cousins that were able to come, as well as lots of people from Grandpa Rod's and Grandma Lois's families.

Uncle Kent, Mom, Dad, Great Uncle Lloyd (Grandma Lois' brother).

Kaylynn and Karma Albiston

Grandpa Rod's military buddy

We had a luncheon at Stan and Sandy Checkett's house. Janet, Boyd and my Dad all gave mini versions of their talks to honor Grandpa Rod.

Maryann, Grandpa Rod's sister, and Stan Checketts.

Goodbye Grandpa - until we meet again!

Another bonus was getting to see Heather and Hilary for a few minutes and get my feet zoned by Heather.

Another bonus of Facebook is that I found a ride from Utah back to Cardston. I rode with Collette Leavitt, and we had a great time talking all the way home.

My family successfully survived without me for a week. They rock the world!