Valerie Ann Jorgenson Anderson

Isn’t she lovely? The gracious and luminous lady with whom I have the incredible honor to be joined for eternity.

I. Though she enters my Mammy’s Gedenkschrift (the Section entitled “Leola”) rather late in the chronology, she quickly becomes an important character in that central story.

Married by Ben Bowring At Mammy’s birthplace Showing off first child in San Diego, 1966. Golden Andersons Anderson Generations

Another New Anderson Temple Garden Seminary 1958-59 John Harvard Constitution Boston Harbor

Sycamore Sidewalk Sturbridge Kieslings Christmas in Paris Chambord Visited Nauvoo in 2001

II. Since she and I are near contemporaries, she turns up even more frequently and significantly, in picture and prose, in my personal history, named “Such A Life”; it occupies the longest Section of this account.

Chapter Zero: Timeline, 1941-58

Met in 1956 Nowadays, at Bryan’s baptism

Chapter One: Here and there in Utah, 1941-1946

Chapter Two: Here and there in Utah, 1941-1946

Pretty at bridal shower Rock garden artist Resigned to my wet-blankethood …especially as regards dancing Triple date, with Brent & Karen In Pappy’s Corner Treasures Pappy’s writing-board Loves Thompson seedless grapes With Mammy, by lemon tree Drove Bébé to work Lived at 16th Street with Brent & Allens Curlers & Brigitte, 1965 Double date, with Don Ellsworth Double date Posed, with poise Dawn Harper, later Valerie’s brother Floyd’s first wife Second-generation high school student in San Bernardino Calls me “Richard” First met in Third Ward Sunday School, age 15 Quiet Seminary neighbor Leland Peterson a competitor for her affections Seminary 1956-57 Seminary 1958-59 …First Institute Secretary

Chapter Three: College, missions, marriage, 1958-1971

Married half-way through college Rejoices in my typing skills Wrote to her about Shakespeare magic at MIT Met in lounge at training center Kept my missionary journal Proposed marriage to her in the summer of 1961 Caused a bubbly feeling… Tolerated my switch to French, not without protest Transcribed my journal through 21 Jan 1964 Received spiritual help for ministry to her Would meet my “Rennes mothers” in 1968 My other wonderful sister missionary companion in the French Mission! Documented my year on the Staff mainly in letters to her Pâtisserie Valérie Cover of letter to Valerie Lived with folks on Sixteenth Street in 1963 Says Mammy spearheaded their Europe trip in 1963 Reminded me of visit to Poiriers’ with folks Esmé’s Cumorah, which she painted for Valerie and me Letter from Le Mans, March 2, 1964 Joined in special fast Knew Eve, Chris Fee’s fiancée, at BYU Sent many letters, as my days in Tours came to an end Married Richard in Los Angeles Temple Paid for own wedding Reception at Institute Ever gracious Borrowed wedding dress from Dean Jarman’s wife Union Pacific to Boston Cared for common areas at 115 Beacon Street Her sisters say they’d never live there Tulips & Mr. Washington Autumn in the Arboretum Depressed, but toughed it out Gorgeous At the White House Toured with visiting Beetle World’s Fair Escargots Tartuffe Visited Maggie’s Table at Durgin-Park Blithe poverty Chose Stanford Five months pregnant, at Cumorah Babysat at Stanford to alleviate poverty Loved being pregnant Loved boring weather Church News couldn’t spell her name Expected schoolteacher husband Rick arrived; Seminary cheered Developed primip’s case on Creevy Gave her Knickerbocker Poohs Visited Capuchino Karen’s smashing Matron of Honor Loved that little outfit Held her peace, as Mammy and I disagreed Deserves a better kitchen Best friends Linda, Glenda, Kay Served escargots to guests Gloriously pregnant, helping Kay Silver hold up a door Babysat governor’s granddaughter Presented books to library Showing off Rick in San Diego Visited Jorgensons in Mount Pleasant First visit to Church history spots Loved Dover sofa Says Rick wore out white shirt Suggested I share old tuition flyer Slid on Brattle Street ice Autumn leaves Folks’ Boston visit, Christmas 1966 Sang on Louisburg Square Not in love with my French dishtowels Old Ironsides Hosted Leroys in Belmont Sturbridge More Sturbridge Amused by Mammy’s anxiety Fertility issues Major baby-lover Cut down sport coat into overcoat for Rick Foster care Visited Kieslings in Le Vesinet At Chambord, in Citroën, at Christmas, 1967 at Notre-Dame, with Brent and Rick at Chenonceaux In Bombinette at Chambord With sleeping Rick in casserole Glamor shots Another foster child Mommy’s gwoss hair Adopted Erik Went back to Paris to help Pappy First family portrait, by Duette Separate passports Mission to France, 1968-69, with Pappy, Me, Rick, and Erik With Pappy, counselors, and me in Paris Joined the welcoming committee at Los Angeles International Describes her contribution dismissively We shared family love and support Took part in missionary zone conferences and member district conferences Showed off our gorgeous children “Supervisor of Mission Auxiliaries” As “Mission Mother” Spoke at Le Mans district conference, 1 December 1968 Her French rudimentary: I translated her discours Release letter Less-formal release letter expressed Pappy’s gratitude for Valerie’s sweetness Salient characteristics of our cohabitation Gained addiction to speaking in Church Second consecutive Christmas in Paris Mission Presidency’s holiday greeting card/calendar Family Christmas letter, 1968 With baguette, President Grandpappy, Elder Ricky in front of patisserie With Rick and Erik on the rue de Rivoli Presiding at Rick’s third birthday in the Mission Home dining room Formal release certificate …Flew home via Air France first-class With ajonc among menhirs at Carnac With ajonc among menhirs at Carnac On the beach at Dieppe Fontainebleau In Madrid Back in Belmont Identifies location of photo as George’s Island Christmas card and photo, 1969 Family Christmas letter, 1969 1970—another big year Christmas card, photo, 1970 Family Christmas letter, 1970 11 Hearthstone Drive, 1970 Gardening novices Snow and Heartquists Foss and the Super-Wagon Christmas card, photo, 1971 Christmas Letter, photo, 1971 Yucaipa Olivewood Lane Christmas morning, 1971, on Olivewood Lane With Erik and Chris, in Burlington With kids and her parents, in Yucaipa Allergies deprived her of the pretty in the Northwest On the deck, at Karps’ Brent’s and Janet’s marriage and Erik’s sealing At the Taits’, 5 June 1969 Erik’s second birthday Chris born, 18 May 1970 Valerie a precipitous deliverer Brand-new Chris, with family members Morning sickness a good sign? Enjoyed Brunnhilde’s turning radius Didn’ marry her for her typing skills Commencement In the Yahd In the Burlington back-yard: the family group on Commencement Day Loved teaching little kids in Primary Tolerated my traveling assignments Comparing babies with Pat Cantera

Chapter Four: Raising the kids, 1972-2002

Cyndi arrives With Cyndi Family groups Christmas With Cyndi, Christmas 1972 Christmas card, family portrait Christmas letter, 1972 …Comfortable working in Primary …Loved teaching Gospel Doctrine in Sunday School Primary assignment in Cambridge Ward …Loved New Orleans With kids and cats Called Cyndi “Tootsie-Pop;” her version was “Ninny Be-Bop” At Weir’s Beach Chose bear-decals for blue cradle Christmas letter, 1973 Lookin’ good in ’74 Washington DC Temple Washington Temple Debbie arrives With siblings in Yucaipa With Debbie at Christmas Christmas letter, 1974 Allergic to linden Marched in Army Bicentennial parade; Elephant cake for Erik’s 7th birthday Christmas letter, 1975 At Concord Bridge, with Floyd and girls On Concord bridge with her dad and daughters Rebecca arrives Might have preferred to update kitchen appliances Lost “little trees” to Debbie “Antiqued” estate furniture from Dover Country Store Reserved kitchen, except Saturday mornings Christmas letter, 1976 1977—Made daughters dress-up dresses 2 March 1977—Cindy’s Fifth Rick’s Twelfth; separate cakes for friends’ and family parties “Widder Anderson” Made Debbie a traveling outfit Christmas card, 1977 Christmas letter, 1977 Six months pregnant when The Blizzard hit Justin arrives Christmas letter, 1978 Made frocks for our daughters On Georges Island Athletics In Redlands Set up Christmas-morning parade into family room Christmas letter, 1979 Made beautiful traveling outfits for Debbie Approved of my shelf-building Labeled January portraits In family room with Becky Christmas morning, 1980 Belated mini-honeymoon, out around New Brunswick Christmas morning, 1980 Christmas letter, 1980 Served on an advisory committee to the Arlington Redevelopment Board Lit birthday candles for Grandma’s Ninetieth Hosted international students for MIT and Harvard 1981—Autumn in New England 1981—Bluegrass Clowning with Janet 1981—Camping 1981—Patriots’Day Napping with Justin Made me chef’s attire Autumn in New England Christmas letter, 1981 Child care, PTO, Brownie troop, Primary Birthdays …Connecticut River to Indiana Helped push Van Wiggle from … Palmyra, Manchester, Fayette, Cumorah 1982—Niagara and Gettysburg Batesville Reunion Stairstep family portrait in Batesville With Brownie troop Granny & Karen Visit Swan-boats Adjusted antique dressers Presided at birthday celebrations …Christmas morning …Christmas morning Christmas letter, 1982 Scribe for family journal 1983—On Our Way: Strasburg Family groups in Batesville Family groups in Batesville With kids and butterfly At Neff homestead in Strasburg Cared for Joey Hairdo ‘n’ Flutterby Took care of Jock Jerrett’s daughter Christmas letter, 1983 Crystal, Kelly, Karen, Becky, Floyd, Wade, Justin, Valerie Yucaipa, with parents, sisters, Becky, Justin Christmas letter, 1984 Income from day-care helped a great deal Corrected my dating On back-yard lawn with day-care kids With Pappy & Norma in Boston On couch with me, kids, Puddleglum With Puddleglum Back-yard picnic with day-care girls Christmas letter, 1985 Teaching Gospel Doctrine, rooting for the Celtics Christmas letter, 1986 Working in high-school cafeteria At Chris’ high school graduation Still a virtual widow Christmas card, 1987 Christmas letter, 1987 Christmas letter, 1988 Young Women’s president Debbie, 15, delighted with bears Christmas card, 1989 Christmas letter, 1989 Reception line Wedding reception for Rick and Laura Kvelled as Cyndi received the McAvoy Prize Tall ships … Christmas morning Christmas letter, 1990 In Camp Valerie’s Young Women Christmas letter, 1991 Primary presidency At Debbie’s graduation At Debbie’s graduation Wedding reception for Cyndi and Ron Cyndi and Ron Christmas letter, 1992 All the kids are taller than their mom In the entry hall In the mountains, with the Webbs and the Ralstons Christmas letter, 1993 Teaching in Relief Society Still Life with Chocolate Chips Maggie and kin Seeing Debbie and Rebecca off at South Station Camerata and Shakers at Tanglewood Christmas letter, 1994 Marriage of Debbie and Tony Olsen At the Temple Family group Reception line Between Doris & me Spring Sing Christmas letter, 1995 Salem: Chris and Mary Beth wedding Mary Beth wedding shower With Arlington Ward at Boston Temple site Christmas letter, 1996 Sugaring-off Boston Temple site Christmas letter, 1997 Granny Valerie shows Tucker off Valerie, Rick, Rebecca, Merielle Wrasslin’ with Andergrandsquirts Greensboro Andersons Lindsay’s blessing day With Emily, in Washington At Timbaloo, with Olsens Granny and Tucker Jerry with Valerie, Doris, and Annie-cat Portrait At Marc’s wedding Holding Maestro Tucker With new Zannah At Maggie’s baptism Candids Burgeoning cuteness With Anderson grandkids in Greensboro With Bethany and eyebrow ring Perennially grateful for indoor plumbing Away for Temple dedication With Nielsen kids on the “T” With Heather in Concord At Kimball’s Farm Patriots’ Day She doesn’t believe she takes a good candid. What do you think? Christmas letter, 2000 Reunion at Timbaloo With Possums in the park Enjoying our gravestone Visiting with the Neffs At Strawberry Park, with Dry Branch Requested “If I Could But Touch the Hem of His Garment” With Ralph Stanley Visited together the Ancient Center Church Burying ground in Hartford With Emily in the entry hall Reunion piñata Reunion ring-around-the-rosie Reunion at the Forest Swimming at the Forest Public Garden and ducklings! Swan boats! With grandkids, in front of Timbaloo blackberries Nauvoo Christmas letter, 2001 Primary Brunch With new Matthew Matthew’s blessing Auto museum, Reno Auto Museum, again Tahoe Family Room & ficus Christmas letter, 2002

Chapter Five: Retirement, 2003-?

Hallowe’en With Chris & Mary Beth at Promontory At First Encampment park Bountiful Temple workers On Chankly site Oakland: Nathan & Sarah East Mill Creek: with Betty at the birthplace Los Altos: with Jorgenfamily Carson City: with Wolzes Reunion: Talent Show As my talented hands Sparks: with Andergrandkids Chankly garden Christmas letter, 2004 Haute Courtoisie Christmas letter, 2005 Rejoiced that Haute Courtoisie deal fell through Colebrook digression on our way to Commencement The One True Ward in front of the completed Boston Temple Commencement Granny Doris died Reunion at Chankly Reunion piñata Reunion portraits Fluffalo hike By Isaac Decker’s monument By our gravestone Followed ancestral peregrinations 2008: made Rachel’s blessing dress Will be buried near Grandpa Isaac 2009: with siblings in California April 2010: gathering at Chankly 2011: missed Amelia’s blessing A perennial treasure of frugality 2013: Out of town for cataract surgery On duty at Temple to receive news of Chris’ death Made quilt for Chris’ friend Derek Church travel motivated AAA membership Copycat gallstones Spent January in Australia with Rebecca and Mark Chris’ fifth, 2018 Missed Tucker’s endowment—in Australia again Totalled Eleanor Wore the obligatory face-mask in deference to the pandemic

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Updated June 2011

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