May 17, 2011

Where did you serve? Which areas did you serve in? How long did you serve in each area?

I was called to the Texas North Mission in Dallas Texas, and it was later named the Texas Dallas Mission after I had served about a year and the Texas San Antonio Mission was created from our mission and the Texas South Mission then renamed as the Texas Houston Mission.

I flew into the Love Field Airport going to my mission and two years later flew out of the new DFW International Airport to return home. I had also flown into and out of Love Field during my mission as I went from Midland to Dallas for a Zone Leaders conference.

I began my service in Arlington with two companions, Elder Fernelius (Missoula Montana) and Elder Astle for a week and then Elder Astle was transferred and I had one one senior companion for two weeks. Elder Fernelius was my trainer from Oct 5 thru Oct 29th.

I then transferred to Terrell Texas with my companion Elder Monte Rex Tyler (Ririe, Idaho) from Oct 30^th thru November 30^th. We had a large area and I really enjoyed it. It was there where I dedicated my first grave. I still recall instructions given prior to that use of the Priesthood to make sure I didn’t dedicate it as a FINAL resting place for the deceased member.

I was then transferred back closer to the mission home and assigned as a trainer. I served with Elder Legrand Ellison (Provo, UT) in Garland from Nov 30^th to Jan 26, 1973. Elder Mark Humphries (Summit, Ut) was then assigned to me to be trained from Jan 26^th thru March 1 and finally in Garland Elder James Wakley (Malad. Idaho) served with me as a new missionary from March 1^st thru May 15^th. We had a huge turnover in the mission with almost 130 Elders coming into the mission within four months. That required a lot of the missionaries to be trainers shortly after arriving themselves.

I was a trainer for four months and then transferred to  Stephenville and assigned as a District Leader. I served there with Elders John Ferguson (Whittier, CA) and Elder John Segesman (Rio Del, CA). We were only a trio for one week before Elder Segesman was transferred.  Elder Ferguson was with me from May 15^th to June 5 and then Elder Steven Beckstead was with me from June 5^th thru Sept 25^th.

I was then transferred to Cleburn  with Elder John Vernon Billings (Orem, Utah) for one week (Sept 25 to Oct 2) while waiting to go to Midland in west Texas.

I was called as a co-zone leader with Elder Richard Haire (Winnepeg, Canada) and we served together from Oct 2 thru Feb 25^th. He sneezed three times without fail every morning, never two or four always three.

 I was then assigned to Pampa in the Texas panhandle as a District Leader with Elder Kevin Kimball (LeGrande, Oregon) from Feb 26^th to April 24^th. Elder Leon Bright ((Lewiston, Utah) then served with me from April 25 thru June 5^th .

My final assignment was to Grand Prairie as a trainer. Elder Roger Wilson (Denver, Colorado) served with me from June 6 to July 25^th and Elder David Maughan (Tooele, Utah from July 25^th thru Oct 1, 1974.