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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF VIDA LAURENA WALL'S LIFE Foreward: Vida Wall's Brief Biographical Sketch:
Early
Years -Age 1 to 12 Vida describes her father as a very nice man who never swore. Her mother was an educated person who kept order in the family and applied any discipline that was needed so the children would mind. Vida's favorite thing to do as a young child was riding horses. She had her own horse at the age of two. Vida retained a strong interest in horses for much of her teen and early adult life. While still a young child, Vida helped her mother scrub clothes on a scrubbing board while her sisters did the housework. Vida could scrub better than her sisters and therefore she was given this job.
Vida went to grade school at Cleveland. As a young teenager Vida still liked to ride horses and she rode them
to town. Vida was a hard worker as a teenager and was an expert horse
rider through out her life. Vida did not attend her senior year of high school, but dropped out to work for Henry Beckels in Price, Utah. Vida tended the Beckel's young children while they ran their meat market business. During this time, Vida first met Clarence. The first meeting was a blind date that occurred on September 16, 1935. It was the only blind date that Vida ever had. While Clarence was still a little bashful, he told Vida on the second date that he was going to marry her. And indeed he did. Now that is confidence. How many of you told your spouse on the second date that you were going to marry them. Vida dated Clarence for only 3 months and they were married on December 21, 1935. Vida was 3 months shy of 20 years old. In those days you had to grow up fast and be very responsible. And Vida was always very good to do her share of the work and to volunteer to help all those around her. Indeed she was what you would call highly responsible. And she still is highly responsible and as sharp as a tack. The Early Married Years - Age
20-30 A few months after they were married in 1935, Clarence and Vida moved to Spring Canyon, where Clarence got a job in the Spring Canyon Mine. Clarence was laid off in early 1936. In the spring of 1936, Vida stayed in Spring Canyon and tended Slug Krebs kids, Bud and Bob, while Clarence went to California to tromp sheep wool in those big long bags. Clarence worked for Slug Krebs. Bill Krebs, Slug's boy was in California at this time. Clarence learned that tromping wool was hard work. (The author of this bio sketch also tromped wool in those 9 feet long sacks. It was hot, dusty, and hard work). Vida, said during this time, Bud Krebs, a young child then, took a piece of coal from the neighbors and Vida made him take it back to teach him a lesson. One thing you can be sure, is that Vida was always a very honest person and she has retained that integrity through out her entire life. And Vida was a responsible and motivated person as evidenced by the fact that she stayed in Spring Canyon and tended kids while her husband went to California to work. Not many women today would do that, but not many women today could match Vida's drive and determination to help out at all times. Clarence came back from tromping wool in California, because his mother was very ill in Midway, Utah. And then Clarence and Vida went to Midway, Utah for a few weeks to help tend his mother (Fanny Krebs Wall, wife of Wilford Wall). After a few weeks, they returned to Spring Canyon and Clarence started working in the mine again. In 1936 Clarence and Vida got their own mining home in the coal camp. These were very small homes, but to a young couple those houses seemed like a mansion. They had no inside toilets and you had to go outside to use the bathroom. Hot water was heated by coal stove, which stove also heated the kitchen. You had to build a fire every morning using wood and coal. There was no heat in the bedrooms. The walls were thin and not well insulated and the bedrooms were very cold in the winter. Not only was was it very cold in the winter, but the rumor had it that mountain lions were lying in wait near the toilets. I know that we lived across the street from Clarence and Vida and I hated to go to the toilet at night in the winter months. It scared me to death when I was a child of 9 years old. I ran to the toilet and back again hoping the mountain lion would not be able to catch me. While using the toilet I imagined that the mountain lions were watching me through the holes in the toilet walls. It seems that all of the kids worried about this as my friends had similar stories. In the summer of 1936, Clarence was laid off from the Spring Canyon mine and Clarence and Vida went to Thousand Springs Ranch, near Twin Falls, Idaho. Clarence worked milking cows. Orval Wall, his older brother, was a foreman of the Ranch. Vida was pregnant with Lois in 1936. Clarence and Vida lived with Orval and Jewell Wall in a small house. Jewel Wall was also pregnant with Darlene. They scrubbed their clothes on a scrubbing board in a bucket of water. They had no washing machines. However, washing machines were just being sold by various salesman and they wished they had one. Not having any money to buy a washing machine, Vida and Jewell decided that they would try out all of the various vendor's brands. They did this and were able to use the various washing machines for quite some time that summer. You must admit they knew how to get the job done without spending money they did not have. Vida and Jewell liked to can fruit, but they had no wood and no coal
to put in their stove. So, they got some sage brush and burned it,
providing the heat they needed to can fruit. Those two were
resourceful and they were not looking for road blocks. They looked
for solutions to life's problems. During this period, a lifetime
bond formed between Jewell and Vida Wall and they both got along well
and never had any disagreements their entire life. And to this day
they both think the world of each other. And Jewel is 90 years old and
Vida is 85 years old as this is being written. And both are terrific
people, and you don't find many people like these two any more. In Sept. of 1936, Vida & Clarence returned to the Spring Canyon Mine Coal as they were beginning to call the miners back to work to supply homes with the coal they needed to burn for the coming winter. The reason the mines laid off workers in the spring was the cold weather was declining and no one needed large quantities of coal, like they did in the winter months. In those days, most families burned coal in the family cook stove to heat water, bake bread, cook meals. Many had a separate coal and wood burning heater stove for the living room. The bedrooms had no heat and water would freeze in the bedrooms on cold winter nights. They paid rent for these homes, but it was only $15.00 per month or so. If you wanted you could get a type of script money ( a coupon) from the Coal Mining Company and spend it at the company store. Then they would take this amount out of your pay check. But you had to be careful because the company stores were very expensive. If you spent too much, you would not get a paycheck. Vida was very frugal and she did not demand to be treated like a queen. She always ordered the cheapest meal on the menu. Vida saved her money and did not spend it on her self. She was happy to be able to spend her money on others. And that is still true today. Lois was born in Cleveland and Vida's Mom's home. James and Lynn were l born in Clarence's and Vida's small house located in Spring Canyon. They were all born during the years from 1936 to 1941. Dr. Merrill, the local town physician, came to their home and delivered the children. Vida said that she did not have a hard time during child birth. But you have to remember that Vida was tough and many others would say it was unbearable, But Vida said it was easy. In 1937 the famous "tomato incident" occurred. Vida was 21 years old. Clarence came up behind Vida, who was then bending over. Clarence, for some strange reason, that no one could ever understand, took a ripe tomato and rammed it up Vida's dress, as she was still bent forward. Of course the unthinkable happened. The ripe tomato was squashed, and the tomato particles ran all down her legs. Do you think Vida laughed at this incident and treated it as a joke? If you do, you are not as smart as you need to be? Vida immediately turned around and launched after Clarence threatening him with bodily harm as she chased him. Clarence, being no fool, immediately started to run out of the house, jumped the fence, with Vida in hot pursuit. Clarence was lucky he could run faster then Vida and he escaped by running down the road. This was not one of Clarence's best decisions in life as Vida made him pay for that little tomato incident in many different ways, ways which shall not be enumerated here. In 1936, Clarence and Vida purchased a 1929 yellow Studebaker. This was their first car. They were very proud of this car. Many years later this car became an antique. Now it would be worth a lot of money, but they did not keep it, but they valued it then. Dorothy Fillmore said she remembers Clarence and Vida visiting them in Midway in about 1940 or 1941 in which Clarence was driving a brand new Nash. I don't know it the year was accurate, but they did have a Nash. Lloyd Wall also bought a Nash. And I know Corky Wall was teased about having upside foot prints on the dash board. The front seat on those Nash cars folded down into a bed. In 1942 and 1943 Clarence and Vida went on the Shearing Road with an old homemade house trailer. In 1942 they bought another car. I don't know what type it was. David was born in the Standardville, Hospital. This was a town about a mile up the road from Spring Canyon. Clarence told Vida to stay in the hospital for 10 days, and she did. That meant Clarence did not have to take care of Vida for 10 days. Wilma, the youngest child, was born in the Price, Hospital. And of course Wilma and David received less discipline than the other kids, if you are to believe stories told by their older siblings. Vida maintained order in the home and taught the kids how to behave
and how to work hard to get what they wanted to get in life.
Clarence and Vida's kids all appreciate her wonderful guidance over the
years. And what wonderful children Clarence and Vida raised.
They are all hard working, nice people who would do anything for you.
They are a lot like Clarence and Vida. And I guess that is not
surprising, since Vida spent a lot of time and effort in molding them into
being good children, good students, good workers, good friends, and good
people. And I know her kids really appreciate Vida and Clarence.
As we all do. Vida said that their move from Spring Canyon to Cleveland, was the best move they ever made. Vida was always proud of Clarence. She said he started off running a crew of men and developed good supervisory skills. Later on Clarence became active in the LDS church and Vida said this changed his life for the better. Vida said she thought the end of the world had come when they had to leave their Cleveland house. Clarence stayed in Hiawatha for three months before we could move as they had to wait for a house. Vida had the responsibility of the sheep, lambing and sick calves. Vida said finally she I was ready to move. She said Wilma wanted to move but they had quite a time getting David to move. They all soon loved to live in Hiawatha. Clarence and Vida made some life long friends. Vida joined the LDS Church and was baptized October 32, l953 by Bishop Bob Lister and confirmed by Joseph J. Laison. It was in Hiawatha that Clarence became active in the Church. Clarence was ordained an Elder in the LDS (Mormon) church, while they lived in Hiawatha. Vida served as a Primary Teacher and as a counselor in the Relief Society Presidency while they lived in Hiawatha. Upon moving to Cleveland, Clarence was ordained a High Priest and served as a counselor in the Bishopric. They have been home/visiting teaching companions for many years. In Hiawatha Vida was MIA president and teacher, Relief Society President and Primary president and Sunday School teacher. She enjoyed working in the church and is still active today. Clarence and Vida went to the Manti Temple on February 19, l966. And Clarence and Vida were sealed for time and eternity. Vida said this was a wonderful experience for them and improved the happiness and fullness of their lives From the late 1940's until the 1970's, Clarence and Vida hosted the Wall family and many friends at their farm near Cleveland for the pheasant season. Those were times when Clarence and Vida exhibited a degree of family friendliness and charity that remains engraved in the minds of those who hunted on their farm. Vida was an absolute jewel, or perhaps better described as a "superior diamond". Vida went above and beyond the call of duty. She fixed meals for over 20 hunters that Clarence had invited to the farm. I was one of them and they invited me and the rest of the Wall family year after year. And Vida not only fixed breakfast for them, but lunch and sometimes dinner as well. She furnished the food, cooked it, served it and did the dishes. All us male hunters had to do was to shoot pheasants and pack them back to the farm house. There we saw Vida's shiny smile and heard her invite us to sit down and eat another big meal. I don't think other women would have been so gracious as Vida was in those days. And to this day Vida would still do the same thing. When you go to her home, she still offers to fix you a big meal and many time she does just that, unless you can talk her into going to dinner with you. And even then Vida attempts to pay the check. What a woman. What a wife. One thing Vida would not tolerate during the pheasant hunting season, was shooting a hen pheasant. Vida threatened to turn in her own kids if she caught them shooting a hen pheasant. This never happened, but us teenagers understood the rules and none of us dared cross Vida. Vida was the best cook in Utah and we wanted to stay on her
good side because she gave us those good raisin filled cookies and her
famous hot bread and butter. If we shot a hen, that could have been
taken away. It was not worth it. The Married Years Continued - Age 60 to 85 & beyond
In October, l980, Clarence had open-heart surgery. On January 15 Clarence went back to work he was 65 years old. Clarence retired on January 15, l981. Clarence and Vida traveled a lot and did square dancing in various places around the world.. They spent l4 years going to Quartzsite, Arizona for the winter. And these were also very happy times for them and the Wall family who met them there for the winter months. It was there that Clarence learned to make ironwood carvings and clocks. In 1985 Clarence and Vida celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. There are photos of this even displayed on this web site (see anniversary under PHOTOS). They went to Quartzsite Arizona during this period of their lives and had many happy trips with his bothers and other relatives and friends. I visited with them many years in Quartzsite and I hated to see them stop going down there. We missed them both as did all of their friends. There are photos of these events trips displayed on this web site (see TRAVEL PHOTOS and Quartzsite). In 1995 Clarence and Vida celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. There are photos of this displayed on this web site (see anniversary under FAMILY PHOTOS). Vida was still able to wear her wedding dress on her 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries. How many women can say that? In 1995, Vida and Clarence, Lloyd & Margaret, Jewell Wall and my Uncle Tommy Beall & his wife Gladys came to my place in Alaska. Uncle Lowell & Aunt Francis and Evan Wall were invited, but could not make it. We all stayed in my home, ate together just like old times. All of us had a good time and we gave them a tour of the entire Kenai Peninsula. We went to south to Homer and saw them bring in the boats full of Halibut. Homer is the Halibut fishing capital of the world. We also took a boat to Seldovia, a Russian Village, located in Alaska. It was the site of old Russian fur traders. We then went north east from Soldotna to Seward and saw the 200 Ft. High Exit Glaciers. You can walk up to this glacier and we did. We then went to the town harbor of Seward and toured Resurrection Bay in a cruise boat and saw many remote islands and much sea life. We went There are some nice photos of this trip on the web site. ( See TRAVEL - Alaska 1995.) Vida continues today to be the coordinating center of her wonderful family. They get together for Christmas, Thanksgiving and other family events. Clarence and Vida are known for supporting all Wall family functions and we all appreciate their tremendous sense of family loyalty. While this is a biographical sketch of Vida's life, the author wishes to add that there is not a better person than Vida Laurena Timothy Wall in this entire world. And this view seems to be a common consensus among her family and friends. I know that I believe that to be true. Vida is truly a remarkable person, who is dearly loved by all those who know her. She is an honest, hardworking person who makes everyone feel comfortable in her presence. Vida's word is as good as gold. If she tells you she will do something, you can be sure she will do it. Vida would give you the shirt off her back and everyone knows that. We all hope that she continues to have good health for many years to come. When Vida is no longer with us, this world will no longer be the same. Vida is absolutely irreplaceable. Be sure and read the tributes from Clarence & Vida's kids (Jim, Lynn, David, Wilma and Lois), and tributes from some of the grand and great grand kids, other family members and friends of Clarence and Vida. Each of these tributes make a unique contribution to our memory of Clarence and Vida. Clarence and Vida's kids give their own perspective of their memories of being raised by Clarence and Vida. And as with most kids, they learned to appreciate their parents even more after they have raised some kids of their own. I believe that virtually everyone that knows Clarence and Vida regard them as being truly terrific people. I know that I do and I have known them for over 60 years. I can't imagine anyone having a better uncle and aunt than my Aunt Vida and my Uncle Clarence. I feel very fortunate to have known them for these many years. May God Bless bless them both. And may they have many more happy years ahead. Robert Wall - June 24, 2002
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