The Pasture - The Field

Grandpa used to leave notes to Grandma when he was going up into the field. This poem (and song) remind my mother of her dad asking Grandma in a note, "Do you still want to come up in the field with me?"

Lyrics:
I'm going out to clean the pasture spring;
I'll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I sha'n't be gone long. You come too.
I'm going out to fetch the little calf
That's standing by the mother. It's so young,
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I sha'n't be gone long. You come too.

Chester Lorenzo Simmonds - Obituary

Chester Simmonds “Chet”
Our dear father departed on earth’s last journey, our beautiful angel mother his escort, on December 8, 2007. His 92 years of life on the earth were exemplified by a steadfast commitment to God, his faith and family, a deep sense of personal responsibility and a genuine love and respect for honest hard work.
Chester Lorenzo Simmonds was born in Brigham City, Utah at the home of his grandmother on January 12, 1916. His parents, Warren C. Simmonds and Anna Helana Hansen Simmonds raised him with brother Art and sisters Eva and Alice on a small farm in Cornish, Utah. His entire young life was spent in his beloved Cache Valley. There, he attended school, entertained hundreds singing and playing at dances with his orchestra, learned and mastered several trades and began a career as a builder. As a young man in Cache Valley he met “the sweetest girl on earth”, Thelma Petersen. Chester won her heart and Thelma became his eternal sweetheart and wife in the Logan temple on May 5, 1937. He was never separated from her but for two brief periods: while he served in the Navy during WWII, and when she preceded him in death last winter.
The small town of Lewiston, Utah would become the home of the Simmonds family where Chet built a “dream home” for them. This remained home until a call from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took him and his family to Salt Lake City where the final addition to the family was born. Chet built another beautiful home for the family on the avenues of Salt Lake. Constructed with love and inspiration, it was a magical place where friends and family loved to gather and create memories.
Once his work for the LDS church was complete, Chet resumed his contracting career. He participated in the construction of the original Salt Palace arena and convention center in Salt Lake. He remained there in management until he retired. Chet never quit working however. He always had a project or two or three.
Chet and Thelma moved to the family property in Bountiful, Utah after becoming empty nesters. With a home, shop and several acres, Chet continued to enjoy building things, gardening and driving his tractor. With his health declining after his sweet wife’s death however, the tractor fell silent.
Throughout his life, dad served diligently in bishoprics, stake high councils and many other church callings. His particularly loved home teaching.
Numerous barns, homes, churches and other buildings stand as a testament to Chet Simmonds’ ingenuity, strength and initiative. Numerous individuals were mentored and served by him. Numerous memories will live on as they are shared amongst his posterity.
Chet is survived by six children; Sid Simmonds (Connie), Bonnie Sue Simmonds (Hedy Pezeshki), Julie Anderson, Sally Cannon (David), Launi Schneberger (Ron), Jon Simmonds (Suzy), 31 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren with four more being prepared for their mortal existence with the love and help of our parents.
Funeral services will be held 11 am Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at the Bountiful 16th Ward Chapel, 720 E. 550 N. Friends may call Tuesday from 6-8 pm at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E. and Wed. 9:45 – 10:45 am at the church prior to services. Interment Logan City Cemetery Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com

Thelma Petersen Simmonds - Obituary

Thelma Petersen Simmonds returned to her Heavenly Father on a bright winter morning, January 24, 2007. Born April 29, 1917 in Preston Idaho to Edith Hawkes and James Franklin Petersen, Thelma moved with her family to Worland, Wyoming where her father was head of the Wyoming State Experimental Farm. She lived there until her teenage years when her family moved back to Cache Valley. There she graduated from North Cache High School in 1935 and L.D.S. Business College in 1936. While living in Cornish, Utah she met Chester Simmonds who became her sweetheart and eternal husband in the Logan Temple on May 5, 1937. In 1955 her husband, a general contractor, received a call to work with the Building Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This meant leaving her home in Lewiston, Utah and moving to the Salt Lake City area where she lived throughout the rest of her life. The two were inseparable except for a brief period of time when Chester served in the Navy during World War II. Thelma served faithfully in the L.D.S. Church in many callings, receiving a 30 year pin for service in the Young Women's organization. She appreciated the simple joys of life; cooking, sewing, writing and anything musical. She loved "all creatures great and small" and took care of everyone and anything that had need of her help. Thelma was a beautiful and caring woman who nurtured many foster children, relatives and young people in need. Her gentle touch and belief in all that is good will continue to touch hearts for generations to come. She is survived by her husband Chester Simmonds; six children, Sidney, Bonnie Sue, Julie Anne, Sally, Launi and Jon; one brother, Jean C. Petersen; 31 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, three sisters and a foster son, Gordon Ross. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, Jan. 29, 2007 at the Bountiful 16th Ward Chapel, 720 E. 550 N. Friends may call Sunday, Jan. 28 from 6-8:00 p.m. at Lindquist's Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E. and from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the services. Interment Logan City Cemetery.