September 25, 2015 at Choteau Montana we held a cousins reunion for the cousins on my Mother's side of the family. We met in a senior citizens center and stayed at a nearby hotel at night. It was a good arrangement and everyone who came enjoyed themselves. For a few golden days time stood still and we just basked in the memories of our growing up years and thought about the heritage we shared. We felt the strength and blessing of family. We laughed and cried and felt grateful for the foundation our grandparents laid to bless our lives. While we were there, we visited Bynum, Montana where our Grandma Packer lived with her six children after Grandpa passed away. We also visited a farm there that belonged to one of our cousins, cousins. It brought back memories of my growing up years. As we toured the barn, I remembered a barn dance our branch held when I was a little girl. All the women and girls in the branch decorated shoe boxes and put a lunch in it. They were to be auctioned off to raise money for something. A young man purchased mine. Someone must have tricked him into thinking it belonged to a girl he was interested in. Everyone laughed when they saw who he had purchased lunch with. He ate and ran. I didn't mind. It was a fun evening. It has been said that by small and simple means great things come to pass. Josiah George and Solon Chase Packer loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and had family prayer night and morning and read the scriptures with their children. Now years later, they have a posterity of more than one thousand people who have raised righteous families and are serving in the church and their communities and striving to make the world a better place. These grandparents were poor in the things of the world but they have made a great contribution to the world in more lasting ways. Sunday morning we attended fast and testimony meeting in the Choteau ward. Many of us shared our testimonies and felt a great spirit of love there. Later on Sunday, at Pauline's home in Victor, we visited with two cousins from my father's side of the family. We had a good visit with them as well and learned a little more about my Aunt Martha. Craig and I enjoyed our
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Marian Pearson Green and Sally Johnson |
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Bonnie Packer Stowell and Nancy Pearson Denning |
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Andrew Packer's grandaughter Madeline and her husband and stepfather. |
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David Packer and his wife Pat. |
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Lewis Savik and Pauline Trutzel |
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LaDonna Savik, Carol Savik Smith and Robert Pearson. |
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Bruce Johnson and Charles Pearson. |
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Charles Pearson, George Pearson, Edwin Savik and Bruce. |
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Marilyn and Walter Pearson, Melvin Pearson. |
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Sharon and Karen Pearson |
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Dad and I on the River Walk in Idaho Falls |
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The farm we visited. |
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This nice old barn brought back a happy memory. |
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Richard, Kathy and Craig |
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The Idaho Falls temple in the Background. |
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It was a lovely evening for a walk. |
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Dad liked this old piece of equipment on the farm. |
trip very much. We drove at a leisurely pace and stayed in Idaho Falls both ways.
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Johnson Cousins and Spouses |
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All in Attendance |
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Packer Cousins |
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Grandma Packer's home in Bynum Montana |
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The home as it looks today |