Dear Relatives

BELVA VAN WAGONER HARPER

Belva Van Wagoner Harper was born March 26, 1913 in Midway, Utah. She was married to Thomas L. Harper June 8, 1932 and endowed in the Salt Lake Temple one week later. They had four children: Charlotte, Barbara, William and Alan. Belva has been active in primary and Sunday School activities and enjoys sewing as a hobby.

Thomas Harper (Tom) was born in Walsburgh, Utah. He is active in the High Priest Quorum and has been a café operator for the past twenty-five years. Now he is a meat inspector for the State of Utah.

Their first daughter, Charlotte, when she was only three years old, passed on. Their younger daughter, Barbara, is married and has five of her own children. Bill is married and has one son. Alan is presently working and attending college. He is also very active in the M.I.A. of which he is an officer. His hobby is art and music.

The Harpers live in Salt Lake City.

BARBARA HARPER WERNLI

Barbara Harper Wernli was born in Heber City, Utah, the 29th of August, 1935. She attended the Brigham Young University and married LeRoy Wernli the 27th of July, 1955. Barbara and Lee were endowed and had their children sealed to them in 1963 at the Logan Temple.

They have lived in various places, since Lee is a Captain for United Air Lines. They are presently living in West Dundee, Illinois, where Lee is the First Counselor in their Bishopric and Barbara is M.I.A. President.

Lee loves flying and enjoys photography as a hobby. Barbara enjoys art and sewing.

They have five children: four boys and one girl. Steven is 12, a Deacon and a member of his school band. David is now approaching eleven, enjoys art and playing the organ. Jeffery is nine and likes adventure and a good joke. Timmy is approaching eight and is looking forward to being baptized, he also enjoys teasing his brothers and sister. Lee Ann is four and enjoys charming her family. She takes pride in her dolls and keeping her brothers on their toes. She's the delight of the whole family. The whole family loves to go camping and for a nice boat outing in their boat.

WILLIAM THOMAS HARPER

William Thomas Harper was born in Heber City, Utah, the 17th of February 1939. He attended the Brigham Young University and served a L.D.S. Mission in the Central States. Bill worked in the M.I.A. after his return from the mission field.

Bill worked at Hercules and then with Occidential Life Insurance Company. On the 19th of April, 1963 he married Colleen Renee Fox in the Logan Temple. Later Bill went into the service station business. At the present time he is attending college full time and hopes to go into law.

Colleen was born the 13th of October in Murray, Utah. She has worked in Junior Sunday School as a teacher and coordinator, the M.I.A. and is presently working in the Primary. Both Bill and Colleen are leaders in the "Young Marrieds" in their wards. Colleen enjoys cooking, sewing, playing the piano and riding her horse.

On August 19th 1964 their son, Shon, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they now live. Shon is now three and a half years old. He takes pride in his toy trucks, his very own pony and adult-level conversations. He is the joy of his mother and father's life. The whole family enjoys riding their own horses together.

VIRGINIA VAN WAGONER THACKER

Virginia Van Wagoner Thacker was born 23 July 1919 to William L. Van Wagoner and Charlotte Sharp. She attended Wasatch High School.

She married Afton M. Thacker 11 December 1936. They later went to the Salt Lake Temple and were sealed 5 December 1960, Afton was a World War II Veteran. He has served in the Heber 6th Ward Sunday School Superintendency for ten years. He has been serving on a Stake Mission and has just been made President of the Stake Mission.

Virginia and Afton have worked on the Wasatch Fair Board Committee for ten years, also parades and talent shows.

They are the parents of four daughters and a son.

ANN THACKER CLYDE

Ann Thacker Clyde, born 13 August 1937 in Midway, Utah, daughter of Afton M. Thacker and Virginia Van Wagoner, was married to John Ross Clyde 6 September 1956 in Heber City, Utah. They have three daughters, Kathleen, Judie and Jodie.

Her husband John, is a Captain in the Air Force. They are stationed in South Carolina. He served ten months in Vietnam and was awarded eighteen medals. They now have their orders to go to London, England for three years.

CAROL THACKER BONNER

Carol Thacker Bonner, daughter of Afton M. Thacker and Virginia Van Wagoner, Born 25 December 1941 in Heber City, Wasatch County, Utah. She Gained her education in the Heber Schools.

Carol married Richard Glade Bonner 17 July 1957. They are the parents of four sons, Steven, Troy, Todd, and Scott.

LARRY J. THACKER

Larry J. Thacker, was born 8 December 1942 in Heber, Utah, a son of Afton M. Thacker and Virginia Van Wagoner. He attended the schools of Heber graduating from Wasatch High School. He also attended Weber College.

Larry married Sandra Lyne Sweat 8 September 1967 in the Salt Lake Temple. They live in Ogden, Utah where Larry is apprenticing at the Chapel of the Flowers Mortuary. They have alovely baby daughter, Andrea Lyne.

SANDRA LYNN SWEAT THACKER

Sandra Lynn Sweat Thacker, wife of Larry also graduated from Wasatch High School and Seminary. She was a member of the Pep Club. Her special interests are cooking and sewing and camping.

She was born 8 January 1949 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the daughter of Theon Sweat and Donna Rae Van Wagoner.

CLARISSA VAN WAGONER (PYPER)

Written by Son George

Clarissa was born 26 September 1880, in a beautiful little town nestled in the valley of the Wasatch Mountains, the sixth child of John Van Wagoner and Margaret Ann Fausett.

Mother attended the Midway school, which included the eighth grade. There were no high schools at that time.

Grandfather John was a mason by trade and built many of the homes in Midway. Mother, with her brothers and sisters, helped turn up brick to dry, and many times pitched them to someone in the wagon. Then they were hauled to the kilm for baking. They tried to make a game of it, but it was still hard work.

Her parents raised their children with kindness, love, and wisdom and were united in rearing their family. Mother said she never remembered her father laying a hand on her in anger.

As a young girl, Clarissa remembers many instances when the Indians came to her parents home to beg for food. One squaw in particular would come. Mother always ran and hid. One day this squaw cornered her and asked why she did this. Mother was to frightened to answer, but within herself she knew it was fright of all Indians.

The Children were fortunate to have one good dress and a pair of shoes. Each night they had to scrub their feet before going to bed. Saturday night they cleaned their shoes to be ready for church Sunday morning.

Clarissa met James Thomas Pyper while working for George Smith, her first paying job $1.00 a week. She was a beautiful young lady-small in stature, five feet three inches tall, dark hair and black eyes. Their courtship was a happy one attending dances and parties by buggy in summer and by sleigh in winter. They planned to be married February 7, 1900 in the Salt Lake Temple. Everything was arranged. Then a small pox epidemic caused the closing of the Temple. Through the advise of the Bishop and Stake President, they were married by Bishop John Watkins. Two months later, they were able to go to the Temple and were sealed April 5, 1900.

For a time they leased a farm. Then later, bought a hill-side and river bottom farm. It was here they reared their large family. This land had to be cleared of timber, brush and boulders. All was done by hand, but with hard work and love of farming, they had a prosperous farm. Using some of the first crop rotation in the valley, they raised wonderful crops of potatoes and truck garden and hay. Also fat cattle and hogs and chickens.

Clarissa and James were known far and wide for their hospitality by young and old, relatives and friends. They loved people and quickly made friends. She was well known for her delicious cookies and pies.

Everyone enjoyed dances at the ward and it was the favorite weekend entertainment. The 24th of July was always celebrated with a pioneer parade, covered wagons, a brass band, Indians and everything in pioneer style. It all ended at the public square. There a baseball game proceeded for the adults and races for the children, all kinds of sports, from climbing a greased pole to catching a greased pig. Then there were teams racing around the town square. There was fun for all with plenty of Lemonade and Popcorn.

With their large family there was plenty of sewing and cooking. In her spare time, Clara loved making quilts. When canning time arrived, everyone pitched in and helped including Dad, until it was finished.

Both Mother and Dad were active in church affairs all their lives. Mother being teacher, chorister, Relief Society Counselor and working on the Genealogy Committee.

In later years, when her husbands health failed, they sold the farm, moved to Salt Lake near the Temple. There they could spend time doing Temple work as set apart temple workers doing over 3,500 names before they quit counting.

As James became more frail, they bought a home in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He died there, April 14, 1956. They had eleven children.

Mother still lives in her little home in Pleasant Grove enjoying visits from family and friends. Her posterity: 44 grand children; 102 great grandchildren and 13 great great grandchildren.

RALPH DELOS PYPER, SR.

Ralph Delos Pyper, Sr. was born 26 July 1901 in Midway, Utah, the eldest son of Clarissa Van Wagoner and James Thomas Pyper. He attended the Midway and Wasatch High School. He loved fishing and hunting.

Delos married Ruth Jenkins 3 December 1925 in the Salt Lake Temple. Ruth is a very jolly person. She is an accomplished pianist. To them were born five handsome sons. They spent their life together in Salt Lake, wherethey built their home. Delos was department manager for Sears Roebuck and Company until his retirement. He was an Elder in the LDS Church. He died 22 July 1966.

RALPH DELOS PYPER, JR.

Ralph Delos Pyper, Jr., was born in Salt Lake City, the 6 April 1926, his parents were Ralph Delos Pyper and Ruth Jenkins. He attended South High School and the University of Utah. His interests are gardening and fishing.

Ralph married Audrey Gwynn 14 February 1952 in Salt Lake City. They reside in Salt Lake and have one daughter and three sons. Ralph is an Elder in the LDS Church and was baptized 10 June 1934. He is Department Manager of Mens wear for the Paris Company.