Some of Jeff's memories of his grandpa

* I don't remember a lot of words. I do remember a lot of work (his primarily- not mine).

* Once my brother (Tiff) and I had been tasked to rake the lawn while grandma and grandpa were visiting. We had almost finished with 1/16th of the front yard when we saw grandpa watching us from the window. He came out to show us how it should be done correctly and soon had the whole lawn raked.

* The blue coveralls. If I recall correctly, when he was originally diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he was given three months or so to live. Four months later we had to shoo him off the roto-tiller when we came to visit and he was in the back yard in those coveralls.

* I remember a time when grandma and grandpa were driving my brothers (Tiff and Steve) and me home from some event in Utah County. We had just passed Point of the Mountain on I-15 and were beginning our descent into the Salt Lake Valley when a car in front of us did something dangerous and caused grandma to put her hand on grandpa's leg and exclaim, "Steve!". I felt that showed an inordinate concern for my youngest brother and was feeling somewhat neglected until I later learned that grandpa's name wasn't "Grandpa Rushforth".

* I remember grandma and grandpa driving us home from visits at their house and grandpa would quiz us with algebra and spelling questions to pass the time. He wasn't much for stories.

* "Simmer down", as I recall, was his most common phrase of correction to us grandchildren.

* I remember that he was always there. He was never missing from any family event.

* I think he had a perfect knowledge of some aspects of the Gospel. On what was probably one of his last trips outside of the house, I got to drive him to Bowmans (the supermarket down in Kaysville). I don't remember what he bought- I do remember what he said. He said that he was ready to die. He said that he had a good family and that he'd lived a good life according to the Gospel and that was what it was all about. His voice didn't waver. There was no appeal to my emotions or sympathies. He told me in pretty much the same manner that he'd used years ago to tell me the correct answers to the algebra questions he'd posed for me. I was strongly impressed that this wasn't just his belief. My grandpa was talking to me. He was a man who was looking death straight in the eye and it had no power or influence over him. It wasn't courage, it wasn't bravado. He knew and he wanted me to know. I don't remember many words from my grandpa, but what I remember is enough.

Tiffer's "memories"

My memories of Grandpa Rushforth are pretty varied. This isn't an actual memory, but I think this is the best way I can sum up my memories of him. We would be in his garage and he would be wearing a blue jump suit and showing me where to get a tool. He had a great work ethic and I remember him working in his yard a lot. I remember he took us to play softball when we were young and I remember that I didn't hit the ball very often. So, I guess he wasn't a very good pitcher.

Steven's Memory

What I remember most about Grandpa was chatting with him during
BYU sporting events. Mostly basketball and football of course. He had
many of the football games recorded on VHS. Just checking up on me and
seeing how things where going. Like most of us know he was addicted to
Black licorice. Usually he was eating the nibs when we would show up.
Along with grandma they would wave to us goodbye as long as they
could see our car. It was something they would do every time we would
stop by and visit. Sometimes my parents will do the same when we leave.
Didn't know grandpa as much as I would of liked. Happy 100th!!!

Remembering Grandpa

--I remember him in his blue coveralls in the garden. Mostly we just watched, sometimes we "helped."

--When he wasn't working, you could find him relaxing on the couch with his hands behind his head, eyes closed, but not sleeping: Just resting his eyes.

--Now, I do remember a stern Grandpa who threatened to spank Andrea and me when we were giggling past bedtime. I was probably 12 at the time, and the thought of being spanked made me want to laugh even harder, but we were able to control our laughter or at least quiet it until Grandpa went back upstairs.

--The most memorable experience I had with Grandpa was the last time I saw him. My dad tried to prepare us for how frail Grandpa would be, but we still weren't prepared. But, it didn't matter what Grandpa looked like, he was still Grandpa. I remember sitting on the den floor with all my siblings and some Hunt cousins as Grandpa talked to us. Honestly, I can't remember what he said, but I remember knowing he loved us, he loved the Lord, and he wasnt' afraid to die. Then each of us was able to have a one on one talk with Grandpa. I remember him asking me what I wanted to do when I grew up. I told him that I wanted to be a teacher, but I was also thinking about physical therapy because they made more money. He stopped me right there and told me not to make my decision based on how much money I would make, but instead, to base it on how happpy I would be. Right there, while I sat at his feet, I decided I was going to be a teacher, and even though I knew I would never be rich doing so, I never changed my mind. And, I have never regretted it, because it has been such a blessing to me and my children.

--Yes, Grandpa could be strict, but he knew what was important and he passed that on to those he loved, and that included me!

Miscellaneous Photos

I remember Dad

I remember Dad:

• taking me with him when I was little. He took me to the hardware store, to the Co-op for gas, to the barber shop, and most of all taking me to Davis High football and basketball games.
• when I was older, taking me to see the Salt Lake City Bees play, and to the Rotary Picnics, as well as Bennett's picnics and Father's and sons outings.
  
• taking me to work at Bennett's. I remember the different mechanical calculators, and the card sorting machine, and studying on Senator Bennett's desk. I also remember he had a supply of mechanical pencils with red on one end and black on the other. Sometimes he would buy us a soda or a candy bar. And he would let me operate the elevator. We often had to go up before we could go down so I could run the evelator more. When I was in college, I worked summers at Bennett's on 21st South. I started at 7:30. He started at 8:00. I got off at 4:30 and he left after 5:00. He would drive me in and I would walk or take a bus to the 1st south offices. I don't remember what we talked about but I enjoyed it.
  
• taking me to the stake farm. He would thin beets very fast and come back and inspect my rows. When he couldn't take me, he would make sure I had a ride and meet me there.
• wrestling with us all and it makes me happy to see the photos of him wrestling with my little ones.
  
• getting upset when I didn't meet expectations but I always knew he was proud of me and loved me. I also knew that the unforgivable sin was to treat Mom poorly.
  
• studying on the floor, preparing talks for church. He would be surrounded by books, scriptures and used key-sort card for note taking.
  
• having a ceramic piggy bank that was later replaced by a big glass bottle for change and he would let us count the money in it. It was great.
  
• being a city councilman. At different times he was in charge of Mosquito abatement and the city parks, including the softball fields down third west. Sometimes he would have to go to the field and make sure the lights were turned off. We always went early to see the last part of the game, no matter who was playing.
  
• loving his family. He visited his mother and she came to live with us now and then. We also visited Aunt Altha near Morgan and Uncle Cecil in Ogden and later in Salt Lake. It was hard for him to talk about the drowning of Walter and James but he would and he made sure we all could swim. He loved Uncle Knewel and Aunt Gertrude and was protective of them as a big brother should be. He let me know that even if Uncle Knewel didn't always go to church he was a good man and I grew up to know that it was so.
  
• worried about providing for our family. He worried about debt and wouldn't buy anything on time. I know he bought an encyclopedia on an installment basis because they wouldn't give him a discount for paying cash. He made sure I knew that he had the money set aside. As I grew older, Dad grew more generous and he always asked if I needed money. There were a few times that we needed the help and it was so comforting to know he had my back. It was so hard when he went, I was losing my job and didn't know how to find another one. I lost my job and my safety net the same year.
  
• and Mom bringing us the blue Ford fairlane to BYU for Sandy, Layne and I to use. It was unexpected and so useful.
  
• worring about Bennett's and Mom always teased him that he thought Bennett's couldn't survive without him. It turned out to be true. After he and Richard Bennett left, decisions were made that put Bennett's in jepoardy and eventually it went under.
  
• not writing much while I was on my mission. Like Layne, all I got was the monthly bank statements and sometimes a note on it saying he hoped I was doing well. I knew he was doing this at work because sometimes he would sign it Dad and sometimes Steve.
• loving to watch and more to play sports. He could really pitch softball well, slow pitch or, even better, fast pitch. I wasn't the only one who knew he was the best. Whenever he went to the park, our ward team tried to talk him into playing. He would pitch and when it was his time to bat he would hit and walk the bases. He was afraid of pulling his leg muscle and having Mom find out he played. He could hit the ball a long way. I remember a triple that he hit and he walked, not ran, around the bases. I also remember him hitting a home run through one of the upper windows in the Pine Valley Chapel.
  
• liking politics. As everyone knows, he was strongly opinionated. I liked talking to him about different bills and policies and he understood them quite well. I sometimes questioned his proposed punishments for those who thought differently but we usually agreed that the others were wrong and we were right.
  
• serving in the church. When I was young, he was one of the seven presidents of seventy in the church. I wasn't clear what they did but I knew they were in charge of the part member families. I also saw him serve for years as financial clerk. Later he would serve in as a counselor in a bishopric and later as bishop. He also served as a high councillor.
  
• planninng to serve another mission when he retired. He spent so much time in the office during his first mission that he wanted to serve again he told me. He did but I think he may have done his best work using his office skills as acting director of the visitors center.
• being incredibly proud of Mom. He let us know he felt blessed to have her as his wife.
  
• teaching me to use a slide rule when I was in the sixth grade. I didn't need it then but I wanted to know and he wanted me to know. I used it until they invented and I could afford the electronic handheld calculators--I was in grad school.
  
• coming downstairs to check on us at about 10 pm and turn off the lights. Usually I would pretend to be asleep to avoid problems but sometimes we would talk. He knew I kept books under my bed and would read after bedtime but he usually didn't say anything.
  
• having a hard time with our vacation to the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, Waterton which was supposed to be followed by Banff and Jasper. The tent was not made correctly and was hard to set up. It was so much better when we decided to stay put in Glacier. He also enjoyed the trip to Quake lake and Yellowstone we took with the Flinders. There was no tents and we had a leisurely vacation.
  
• being very allergic to many things. He would break out into hives that would puff up his face and his eyes were almost swollen shut. He couldn't eat strawberries and had to have a foam pillow, not a feather pillow. Eventually that stage went away.
  
• when I was leaving for Mexico, taking me aside at the airport. I don't remember his exact words but he said that he knew that after this I wouldn't be coming home to stay but I would always be his son and I would always be a part of the family no matter where I was. It was not like him and I was pleased. I am more pleased now, remembering it.
  
• as a man my children don't quite recognize. He was stern and strict with us and that is how they remember him. I guess the difference is that I, like Sharla, always knew he loved us. No matter whether he was angry with us or upset with the democrats, I knew that nothing could stop that love.
  

Sharla's Memories

• Standing on the sidewalk in front of the house and waiting until we could see someone coming toward us. Waiting till we were quite sure and running up the block (if Layne was with me) to greet him as he walked home from the bus stop.
  
• Hugging his knees.
  
• Playing marbles on the round rug in the living room.
  
• His racing Sandy down the block and hitting the broken sidewalk in front of Lundbergs?, turfing it good and putting a hole in his new slacks.
  
• His going to the ward softball game and pitching and telling me not to tell mom.
  
• His putting alcohol on the wounds on my knees and shoulder and anywhere else I got them.
  
• His having me soak my infected scabs on my knees and shoulders (or where ever they were for that particular incident) and then pulling off the scabs and putting alcohol on my wounds again and bandaging me up - again.


• His putting alcohol on anything that needed fixing - including the dining room table.
  
• His skipping home with me from grandma's. We didn't last half a block, but I was thrilled that my serious, sober daddy would skip with me.
  
• The Lagoon days for the Bennett's party and how he would dare be seen by his secretaries in his swim suit.
  
• The Rotary parties in Mutton Hollow.
  
• He'd let me sit in Senator Bennett's office at his big desk with the huge glass slab while he finished working.
  
• His coming to look for me at Lagoon, Antelope Island, a few parties and even an evening orchestra practice if he thought it was time I be home.
  
• His grimacing whenever he tied his shoes. (I do that now)
  
• His kicking Reuben (cat) off the porch.
  
• His putting epsom salts on Reuben's bloody head when he got chewed up by another cat.
  
• His letting us sit on the back of the couch and comb his chair.
  
• How strong his arms were.


• He didn't like Red Skelton or Jack Benny or Three Stooges - or us telling too many jokes at the table.
  
• His climbing under the sink and fixing the disposal.
  
• How he said 'no' and how it always stayed 'no' even when I think he may have wanted to change his mind.
  
• His singing 'Sandman' to me before I went away to BYU.
  
• A letter to me at BYU with a dollar in it so I could take my roommate to JB's for a piece of strawberry pie.
  
• How he lit up when the grandkids came.
  
• How he would fret when the grandkids came.
  
• How he would walk me out to the car and offer to pay for the gas for having driven up to visit them.
  
• Him and mom as they stood on their porch and waved goodbye to us when we drove away.
  
• How it felt to hug him when I knew someday he wouldn't be there to hug.


• And I remember giving him his last haircut and telling him the difference between a good haircut and a bad one was 2 weeks and that he had to wait at least two weeks to die so he would look good at his funeral. He didn't.

We never wondered if our dad loved us. I remember that most.

Thanks Papa.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Happy 100th Birthday, Dad!

Dear Dad,

Today is your 100th birthday, and I thought I would share a few thoughts and feelings with you.

You were 42 years old when I was born, which means that I was born about half way through your mortal lifetime. My earliest memories of you are memories of getting up early in the morning so that I could take a bath with my dad. It was just-you-and-me time. I remember watching you shave. You would later up with a shaving brush using bar soap, and then you would shave. Sometimes with a double-edged blade and sometimes with a barber’s straight-edge. I remember watching you leave for work, and I was very excited over the years waiting and watching for you to walk down First North street after being dropped off by the bus.

I remember doing yard work with you and Denny on Saturdays. When I got a bit older, I remember sometimes going to Bennett’s offices on Saturdays, and you would let me play with the adding machines and typewriters as you did work. When I got into high school and learned how to run a printing press at the library as part of my job, I was able to use the printing press at your office. I was fascinated by the technology. The ThermoFax was particularly fascinating.

When I was a junior in high school, I had to decide on an elective class. After showing you the choices, you told me to take typing. I objected, telling you that only girls take typing, and only girls become secretaries. I will never forget your advice: “Layne, the future of business is in computers, and computers have typewriter keyboards. You will want to know how to type.” I took your advice, and I signed up for the typing class. The boy-to-girl ratio was as expected, but that ended up being an unexpected plus. More important, the typing class was very useful throughout high school, college, law school, and my career. Thanks, Dad.

When I think of my dad, I recall fourth (or 24th) of July breakfasts, working on the welfare farm, going home teaching to inactive or part-member families, and black licorice. (If I can find some sugar-free black licorice today, I will have some.) I have fond memories of sitting in priesthood meeting with my Dad, especially stake and general conference priesthood meetings. I enjoyed father-and-son outings, although I really hated the drive up and down that narrow road in Farmington Canyon. I loved the family vacations. I knew that Mom was the instigator and planner of a lot of them, and I was a bit surprised to learn from Mom that you were the planner and instigator of the 1962 vacation to the Seattle World’s Fair. That was fun. I loved our “family hour” and playing “Seven Little Travelers” (usually boys against the girls). I am grateful to a father who paid for my room and board during my first year of college as a “reward” for my getting a tuition scholarship. (The room and board was a lot more expensive than the tuition.)

You did not write me much during my mission, but you always made sure I had plenty of money in my checking account. I was particularly grateful when you returned my savings book from Barnes Bank after my mission, and not one penny had been spent. You told me to spend it wisely for college, and I did. With that savings account and my job at the Language Training Mission, I got my bachelor’s degree. I finally emptied the account when I bought Sharon’s engagement and wedding rings. I appreciate the financial help now and again. Each time I would come home from college to visit, you gave me gas money. One time, you asked what I would do with $50 if you gave it to me. I told you I would buy a spare tire for the Galaxy 500 that I was driving. You were upset that I did not have a spare. You gave me the $50, and I bought the spare tire.

I enjoyed our visits over the years. You did not lecture me. You mostly listened. When you gave advice, it was wise and welcomed. You were not the most patient grandpa in the world, but neither am I. My kids loved visiting you and Grandma (except for Matt, but that was because of the spiders in the basement).

As a boy, I was proud when people told me that I was like my dad. I still am. At your funeral, I expressed gratitude for the life lessons that you taught, mostly by your example. If anything, my gratitude is more profound now than it was 15 years ago. I am grateful for a father who loved his family and sacrificed to provide for them, honored his priesthood, served his fellow men, served his country, attended the Temple regularly, and did his duty both in his community and in the Church.

Happy Birthday, Dad. I miss you.

Layne

Keeping Busy

Pictures with Grandkids 2

Please post your own pictures.

Grandkids

Dad didn't get to meet his great-grandkids here on earth. But he was proud of his grandkids.

How to Post

There are two ways you can post. One, you can add your comments to an existing post and, two, you can be invited to be an author to the blog. If you email me at brotherdennis@rushforth.org, I will invite you to join the list of authors. When you are invited, you will need to accept the invitation before being able to post.

I plan to keep the blog open for a while and then collect the posts for a memory book.

The Track Star

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Introduction

Thomas Stevenson Rushforth was born in Kaysville, Utah on July 3, 1909 to Samuel Burton and Clara Jane Stevenson Rushforth. He was the fifth of seven children. He married Adelia Hall in San Francisco, California on December 9, 1945. They are the parents of Kent Hall Rushforth, Dennis Steven Rushforth, Sandra Lynn Rushforth, Layne Thomas Rushforth, Sharla Dene Rushforth Hunt. Glenda Hansen Crapo is also considered one of their daughters. Steve died December 8, 1993 in Fruit Heights, Utah.

All of us who knew him have memories of him and his deeds and accomplishments. We invite you to write a line or two about an incident or two that you remember about him. If you have pictures, please post them. This is our virtual birthday party for our Dad on his hundredth birthday and all of you are invited to participate.