#Myron Herbert Burgess

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Myron Herbert Burgess with his second wife Thelma Ellen Ross

[shamelessflowerhideout-blog]

John Banks Family - Miracles on the Ship Argo

Many Saints from the British Isles chose to join their fellow Saints in Utah.  Their first leg of the journey was to board a ship.  One such ship, the Argo set sail from Liverpool to New Orleans on January 10, 1850.  Among the passengers were 402 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Jeter Clinton was their captain and he appointed five counselors to assist him. Of the five counselors, two of them were our ancestors:  John Banks and Harrison Burgess.  John was the great-great grandfather of Merril Burgess.  He and his wife Ellen, and two living children – a daughter named Merab and a son named Franklin - and were immigrating to the States.  Harrison Burgess was finishing a mission to the British Isles and was returning home. We are indebted to him as he swung by Winter Quarters and picked up his young nephew George Martin Burgess, another of Merril’s great-great grandfathers, and took him to Utah.  The Banks and the Burgess lines finally joined many years later when Merril’s parents, Myron Herbert Burgess and Margaret Banks married.

Like most voyages, the journey was wrought with difficulties and blessings.  Passengers ranged from an infant who was born the night before the voyage to elderly men and women.  During the voyage babies were born, sickness and seasickness abounded, and a few passengers passed away. However, this particular passage was also blessed with miracles.

Harrison Burgess, one of the counselors, recorded one such miracle. “We sailed along quite comfortably until the twenty-sixth of the month [January] when a terrible storm arose. About two o'clock in the afternoon the sea began to swell and show its power, and the vessel lay first on one side and then on the other. Water came in upon us on both sides of our ship. We lost our sails and yard-arms, and the chains in the rigging of the ship broke.  In the evening, when everything looked most dismal, our president called together his counselors and all joined in prayer to the Lord to cause the winds to cease. Scarcely had the brethren ceased their supplications when there was a calm, so sudden in fact that the captain and the officers of the ship were greatly surprised, and they came and inquired of us how it was that we felt so happy and gay amid the great danger through which we had just passed. They could not realize that the Lord removed all fear from the hearts of his faithful Saints when they were endeavoring to do their duty.”1

The storm was just a minor incident compared to what happened on the evening of Saturday, March 2nd. The day had been beautiful as the ship sailed towards the Gulf of Mexico.  “The sun set at 7 o’clock, the night dark, though by times the stars shone in their countless numbers in the heavens, about 9 o’clock the wind arose, and blew us 9 knots.”2

Since the weather was hot, “the Saints were on the captain’s deck, or poop, for cool air.”3  The captain was “spinning yarns”4 and thus entertaining the passengers.

“At past 9 o'clock…it seemed as if the Lord had respect for his people, for the heavens seemed to open, and a chain of fire descended on to the earth, as some sort of a token. It took the attention of the Saints and as they stood gazing on the heavens Lo! another star shot forth…”5

Other passengers described the light as “ something like a large ball of fire [that] seemed to fall from the clouds”6 “a flash of lightning bright as day,” 7“a heavenly light, which for few seconds illuminated the surroundings”8 and “a most remarkable phenomena that was a light shining in the air.”9

Three passengers recorded that this miraculous light caused the captain to become aware of the fact that they were on a collision course with land.

Thanks to this light the captain’s “attention was drawn to notice land which lay directly before the ship & in less than 10 minutes the [ship] would have dashed to pieces.”10

“Some of our passengers eyes followed the ball of fire until it fell and that ball of fire showed the our passengers the land; Had it not been for that circumstance we must have ran onto the shore as the ship was standing head on to the land... I then thought I could have thrown a stone from off the ship onto shore and I could plainly see the terrible white breakers on the shore although it was a dark night.”11

Lo! another star shot forth To the surprise of all, we found ourselves running aground against the Rocks of the Pine Isles.”12

Note: The Isle of Pines, as it was called in 1850, was a Cuban Island just south of Cuba.13  

Upon seeing the land the captain took immediate control of the situation.

“He ran to the wheel, turned the ship long side, & then called the seamen from their berths. With great perseverance they managed to clear the land but only to find out that he was again deceived for instead of our having cleared the Cape, we found ourselves about (12 o'clock) running into another point of land which struck into the sea. The ship had immediately turned round and it was found that we were in 27 feet of water & ship taking 17 feet, found it very difficult to keep out from the land as the wind blew directly onto the shore. When we turned ship the storm appeared to be but a short stone throw from land the moon shining we could see the breakers dashing against the shore many yards high which formed a snow white ridge as for as the eye could trace. They turned the ship several times to clear the point, but could not succeed till towards day break when we cleared & sailed gaily around. (Thanks be to our God) it was a most miraculous escape.

Most of the brethren were on deck & found plenty to do in turning the sails & getting the anchor ready. Several sisters came up but was soon ordered down again. About 9 a.m. Sunday morning, we lost sight of land that part of Cuba to be very low which accounts for their not seeing it before dark.”14

Harrison Burgess described the event as following:

“All hands were called on deck and soon the Saints like brave sailors, hauled at the ropes &c to get ourselves clear from this awful situation, soon was the yardarms squared and on we rode, …but, we found ourselves running into the Cape St. Antonio, on the Isle of Cuba, and the danger was so great that we were obliged to haul out our cable, ready for the last extremity but through the prayers of the Saints, mixed with their works, we once more rode through the waters of the Lord.”15

Just 4 days before their arrival on March 8th, Harrison Burgess wrote a couple of interesting tidbits in his journal.

“Tues. 4th Elder John Banks withdrew himself from the office of counselor, but did not give any particular reason for so doing, and Elder John Haliday was elected in his place. At night the ship  hailed us take back a stowed away nigger age 21 a fine young man, run away from the Saxon, a steam packet New Orleans.”16

In a few days more we landed at the mouth of the Mississippi River, where we had a busy time in fishing up buckets of fresh water…The tug steamers came down the Mississippi to look for vessels that wanted to be tugged up to New Orleans. One came along and took us in tow. We got along for sometime until we came to a place I think they call the bar. The old ship Argo went aground and all the steaming and tugging she could do had no effect. There we stuck and had to wait until the tide came in. When it came in, we got off the bar amidst the cheering of all hands.17

1Burgess, Harrison, Sketch of a Well-Spent Life. http://forefamilies.blogspot.com/p/of-well-spent-life-by-harrison-burgess.html

2Burgess, Harrison, A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF HARRISON BURGESS, THE SON OF WILLIAM AND VIOLATY BURGESS, http://burgess.forefamilies.com/harrison.html

3Ibid.

4McKell, Robert, Autobiography of Robert McKell, https://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/mii/account/71

5Burgess, Harrison, A Short Sketch.

6Dunford, George,  Reminiscences and Journal of George Dunford, https://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/mii/account/70?scandinavia=on&europe=on&keywords=george+dunford&sweden=on&netherlands=on&mii=on

7McKell, Robert, Autobiography.

8Sister Jackson, quoted by Junius F. Wells, The Contributor: Representing the Young Men's and Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Associations of the Latter-day Saints, Volume 13

9Margetts, Richard Bishop, Diary of Richard Bishop Margetts, https://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/mii/account/73

10Ibid.

11Dunford, George, Reminiscences.

12Burgess, Harrison, A Short Sketch.

13Isla de la Juventud, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isla_de_la_Juventud  Wikipedia

This island’s name was changed to Isla de la Juventud in 1978.

14Margetts, Richard Bishop, Diary.

15Burgess, Harrison, A Short Sketch.

16Ibid.

17McKell, Robert, Autobiography

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Myron Herbert Burgess

Synopsis of My Life History: Written earlier by Myron H. Burgess                          Retyped by Sandra Burgess  24 Jul 2005, Words in Parentheses added by Sandra Burgess)

I was born in Knightsville, Juab Co., Utah on 31 Dec, 1917 to Herbert Alfred and Della Whitby Burgess.  I was a 2nd child.  My sister Laura, who was born premature passed away some three months before my birth. Shortly after my birth, my parents moved to Toole where my father obtained employment as an Iceman in the summer and he worked on the Power and Light crew in the winter.

Childhood: As a result of the flue epidemic of 1918, my parents passed away on 28 and 29 Nov, 1918 (respectively), leaving me for my grandparents (of Alpine, UT) to raise.  My grandmother died of cancer when I was six years old.  One of my earlier recollections was that of visiting her in the American Fork Hospital.

My schooling:  My first 8 grades were at Alpine (except for the third grade where I attended school in Levan.)  The next 4 years were at American Fork High School, where I graduated in 1936.  I then spent the next year at USAC (known now as Utah State University).  I then decided it was time to seek my fortune.

Margaret:  In the Spring of 1938 I met Margaret Banks and we were marriedSeptember 20, 1939.  About three weeks later we moved into a basement home that we were building.  At the time all you could say for it was that it was enclosed. (Finally, Myron felt he had a family of his very own to love.)  Since that time we lived in Alpine, Salt Lake, Alpine, Lehi, UT; Tacoma, WA, Richland Washington; Lehi UT;. and finally in SLC. UT,  since 1946 (until death on 16 Feb, 1995).  I owned and ran Burgess Plumbing and Heating Company in SLC for many, many years.  

Children: We have five children: Allan Karl (1940), Merril Myron (1942) , Yvonne (1946), Laura Jo (1949), and Paul Leon (1951), whom, along with their spouses and children, we love dearly.  This was a good marriage and we were kept very busy in many callings in the church.   However, Margaret’s health began to give her problems and for the last 30 years of her life it got gradually worse.  She passed away 1 Mar 1981 of pneumonia, but the contributing causes were Rheumatic Fever, which she had 7 times, plus Rheumatoid Arthritis…which plagued her for 30 years and the side effects from the medications used to control them. Her body is resting at the Elysian Gardens Cemetery. (Married 42½ Yrs.)

Second Marriage: It had been my habit to spend some time at the Ogden Temple each month .  In May of 1981, I had been taking my loneliness to our Heavenly Father.  I had the feeling that day that I should go to the temple.  I obeyed! During the 4th session I attended that day (I usually always attended only once), it was made know to me that the next Sister Burgess was to be in the such, and I should not doubt. We were married and sealed on 7 Aug 1981 in the Ogden Temple.  Two of her three sons were sealed to us that day.  She has three sons and their lovely families and I love them as my own.  This means that now I have 8 children and 38 grandchildren.  Thelma and I got along well together.  We served a Family History Church Service Mission in the Processing Division of the Church.  (Married 14 yrs.)                    

Testimony:  Before closing, I want to leave my testimony that Jesus is the Christ and that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of the Lord and that the Church of Jesus Christ is the only true church upon the earth.  Myron is resting beside his beloved Margaret at the Elysian Gardens Burial (Cemetery) at 1075 E 4580 S, Murray, UT.  He died 16 Feb 1995. (Thelma is still alive and living in California at this entry.)  

 Margaret Banks

Margaret Banks was born 26 Mar 1921 to Junius Crossland Banks and Edna Myrtle Hackett. She was the youngest child having 3 Brothers and 1 sister.  She never knew  her  sister, as she passed away before Margaret was born.  Her brother Merril passed away following his mission of cancer.   Margaret was very bright and excelled in School.  She was a dedicated woman.  Her parents were both teachers and her mother was a principal.  She had a wonderful heritage.  She held many responsible callings in the ward.  She was well admired by many for her endurance of pain and suffering, but more importantly her character and integrity.  Most looked at her as a saint.  She did her very best in the circumstances she was given.  She loved her family and her husband.

Thelma Ellen Ross (Taken from her writings of her life history)

Born to Ferrie James and Carrie Ellen Prows in Ogden, UT  8 Jul 1916. She was the eldest of five girls and one boy.  Schooled in Ogden, UT, graduated in 1935. Married Harry E. Chappel about 2 years later. They had 3 sons: Ben (1938),  LeRoy (1939), Lenard (1944).  After 11 years of marriage, they left their husband and father because he was an alcoholic and was unsafe to live with. They lived in California in various places until all of the boys were adults and on their own. (She did an excellent job raising her sons.  All three served missions and remain active. Ben eventually was sealed to Myron in the temple as well.) Thelma decided to move back home to Ogden, UT to take care of her father. She had been working at the Ogden Temple in the Laundry Dept. for about 6 years when she met Myron. She too had been praying for acompanion and made it a habit to go on a session at least once a week.   She met Myron there, he sent her a letter addressed to the temple, she answered it, and that was it. They were married August 7, 1981  The Lord answered their prayers.  

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

The Family of Myron Herbert Burgess and Margaret Banks

Back Row: L to R: Laura Jo Burgess, Paul Leon Burgess, Allan Karl Burgess, Jean Frances McRae (Burgess), Merril Myron Burgess, Sandra Kay Russell (Burgess)

Middle Row: Margaret Banks, Myron Herbert Burgess

Front Row: Becky Ann Burgess (Daughter of Allan and Jeani), Marilee Burgess, Mark Merril Burgess, Scott Russell Burgess (Children of Merril and Sandy)

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Children of Myron Herbert Burgess and Margaret Banks

Back:  L to R:  Yvonne Burgess, Laura Jo Burgess

Front:  Merril Myron Burgess, Paul Leon Burgess, Allan Karl Burgess

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Myron and Margaret Burgess

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Margaret Banks, Wife of Myron Herbert Banks

Memories of Margaret Banks Burgess

Grandma Burgess was an amazing woman.  She was always cheerful despite years and years of pain.  Almost all of my memories are of her lying in a hospital bed in the living room of her house.  Grandpa had set her up with traction so she could be at home.  She moved from her bedroom bed to her living room bed every morning.

Grandma had several shelves in the hall covered with material.  Behind the fabric we found lot so fun toys and games to play with.  My favorite was the Etch-A-Sketch when I was young.  There was also a marble toy where you put together 4 circular ramps and then place d a marble on top and it spiraled down.  Another toy was a stuffed monkey that had mouth shaped so that you could put its thumb in its mouth.  It might have had a banana in its hand.  I liked that Grandma and Grandpa kept all of these toys for us to play with after their children grew up and left.

I remember sitting next to her and playing games.  I liked to talk to her.  She always used to say “yeller” instead of “yellow” due to her Alpine, Utah, upbringing. I thought that is was fun and funny that she said that.  I think that it was especially funny because even as a childI knew that she was very intelligent but she said “yeller.” She talked about her childhood and her friends.  She told about giving her friend whooping cough so they could be sick together.  She also told about school and speaking at her graduation.

Grandma was always busy, cutting up fruits and vegetables, crocheting or doing other things while in bed. Sometimes I would visit and do small chores such as clean the bathroom sinks.  I remember cleaning out the pantry one day.  Another time I we were doing some deep cleaning and I didn’t have gloves and my hands started burning due to the cleaner.  Grandpa took me to the store and bought some kind of spray that I think was used for sunburns and we applied that.  

Grandma was very talented with handiwork.  We had many crocheted items in our home, both clothing and toys growing up.  I still have a few items now.

Grandma remained very active in the Church.  At one time she taught Primary.  Since the church was very near her home, just a couple of houses down, the children walked to her house and sat in the living room and she taught them from her bed. One day as she was teaching she saw several spirits in the room in the corner of her eye.  If she looked straight on she couldn’t see them.  She realized that she was teaching people on both sides of the veil.

Grandpa rigged up traction in the car so Grandma could go places.  She went camping a few times.  I remember our family going camping with her.  When we were younger Grandma and Grandpa would come to our house for Christmas Eve.  I recall that she was able to come to our house in Riverton at least once, most likely for Christmas Eve.

Grandpa put a huge tub in the room that was connected to the living room so that Grandma could do some water therapy without having to leave the house.  As a teenager I was asked to get her out of the tub and help her to get dressed and back in bed.  I only did that one time but it was a little embarrassing for me as a teenager to see my grandmother without clothing.

When I turned 18 and a senior in high school, my boyfriend gave me a promise ring.  Dave and I went to my grandparents’ house to show them the ring which was a white opal set on a gold band.  I believe that this was the last time that I saw my grandmother alive. I received the ring for my birthday on February 17, 1981 and we visited shortly after that.  She passed away on March 1st. I was always glad that I got to see her that one last time.

Having had my own health problems for over a decade, I marvel at her ability to be so cheerful and kind during such suffering. My mother always called her a Saint and I heartily concur.  Since she passed away I have had a few sacred experiences with her.  I know that her spirit still lives on and that she continues to be loving and kind from the other side of the veil.

Written by her granddaughter, Marilee Burgess Cook

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Margaret Banks, Wife of Myron Herbert Burgess

Prompting, Blessing, Near-Death Experience, and Miracle of Margaret Banks

On August 1, 1976 I got a pain in my upper stomach. It hurt me off and on during the night, waking me each time and lasting for about one and one-half hours at a time. By morning, the pain got more intense. I went to the doctor and he told me what to do but as the day grew on, the pain got worse, so I

had to go to the hospital to have some tests run. I had tests for several days with no conclusive evidence as to the nature of the problem. The next morning they were going to give me another test by putting an iodine dye into my veins and then X-ray my liver and the tube leading to my stomach, thinking the tube had narrowed and not enough digestive juices were getting to my stomach when I ate.

On the day before the test, in the middle of the afternoon, I had the spirit tell me to call Myron and have him bring someone toto help him give me a blessing. I thought to myself-get a blessing just to have a test-but the feeling was so strong, I looked at my watch and thought I will have to wait an hour or two until Myron gets home from work. Again the urging was strong so I picked up the phone and called our home and Myron answered it. I told him what I wanted, expecting him to agree with me that it was silly to have a blessing for a test, however, he did not say anything to that effect but called Brother JaimeAstorga, 1st counselor in the bishopric to come to the hospital with him. Brother Astorga called Bishop John A. Walkenhorst and they both came. I asked the Bishop to give me a special blessing that I would get through this test because I was worried about it. He gave me a beautiful blessing, asking for the Lord's help.

I went to the X-ray dept. the next morning and they started an intravenous feeding in my arm. I soon began to get light headed, shaky and weak and so I told technician about it. They hurried and got me lying down on a cart and when I didn’t feel better, she called the Doctor. He took one look at me and immediately started telling everyone what to do and to hurry. My legs from my knees down went stiff as boards and I could not move them. I got a terrible pain in my head and then a terrible pain in my chest and shoulder. I was vomiting, even though I had not eaten.

Then I seemed to be out of pain and oblivious of anything going around about me. All of a sudden, I was in the most peaceful place I have ever experienced. Nothing on this earth can compare with it. I did not see anything or anyone but I know that I was either on the other side of the veil or very near it. If heaven is like that, we all would fight to get there. When I came back to reality, I realized that the doctors had been working on me about two and one half hours. I was allergic to the dye and this had caused my blood pressure to drop, this causing a cardiac arrest. Also, I had a blood clot move from my left lower leg and lodge in the wall of my left lung. Either one of these two things could have brought on death. I testify that I am here today because of the power of the priesthood given to me through my Heavenly Father's servants. Had I not followed the urging of the Holy Ghost, I would not be alive today. My greatest desire is to live the gospel and keep the Lord's commandments, to be a good example to my loved ones and finish the work I was sent here to do.

 If there is anything I could leave my family when I pass on, it would be that they would have a testimony that this gospel is-true and a great desire to keep God's commandments, so that we can all be together as a family in the Celestial Kingdom.

Excerpt from the Autobiography of Margaret Banks Burgess

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Edna Myrtle Hackett, Mother of Margaret Banks, Wife of Myron Herbert Burgess

Poem Written for Margaret and Myron on Their Wedding Day

MYRON'S INTRODUCTION TO HIS MOTHER- IN- LAW

 When Margaret was recovering from a recent operation,

Myron came to spend the evening, and view the situation;

I escorted him into the room where she was still in bed.

He planked himself beside her on my freshly laundered spread.

 I was surprised completely, so I blurted, "Myron, now,

That's one thing that I do not and never will allow.

You get right off that bedspread, this very present minute"

And I pushed a chair beside him and asked him to sit in it.

 He didn't budge, just grinned to see which one would be the boss,

What could I do to have him mind? I was surely at a loss.

As I closed the door behind me and stepped into the hall

I heard him faintly whisper, "Do you think she means it all?"

 Then Margaret assured him, "I really think so, yes."

Pale Myron quickly answered, "Then I'd better scram, I guess."

Just as he sprang upon his feet, his face still all a grin,

I entered quickly, brandishing a hard wood rolling pin.

 "Old boy you’ve saved your bacon," are the very words I said,

"Don't ever let me catch you sitting on my spread."

"Now Margaret, in your married life I think you'll often find

That you'll need some sort of gadget to make your husband mind;

So I present this rolling pin without a single flaw

In memory of the eventful night Myron challeged his mother in law.

I hope you will use it often; swing it low or high, _

For Myron's favorite dessert is homemade pumpkin pie."

 By Edna Banks

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Junius Crossland Banks, Father of Margaret Banks, Wife of Myron Herbert Burgess

Poem Written For Myron on His Wedding Day

FATHERLY ADVICE TO MY SON IN LAW

Now, Myron, since you have no dad to counsel you at all,

I thought I'd best assume his place, lest you should take a fall.

I've stood the test of married life the very best I could,

But you'll observe there's not much left of hair upon the wood.

 Although I bear a host of scars and other marks of strife,

I've gained some grand experience regarding married life.

And so I'll pass it on to you, with this one fervent wish,

That you'll accept these humble words from just a married fish.

 There’ll come a time, alack the day, when you put on a shirt,

And find no buttons on the front to cover up your dirt,

Now take a leaf from my own book. Don't cuss and rave and storm,

‘Twill do no good and may e'en do a vast amount of harm.

 Just calm.yourself and think things through, you'll find the best way out

Is not to raise a mighty roar, nor throw the chairs about,

But gently take the button box, and threaded needle too,

And sew the discs in place yourself, as model husbands do.

 For fear you may not have the goods, I herewith hand to You

A string of buttons, large and small of every sort of hue.

And here a spool of thread I give, and needle made to match,

Just thank your lucky stars, my son, that you are not a batch.

 By Junius Banks

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Margaret Banks, Wife of Myron Herbert Burgess

Myron and Margaret’s Engagement

That next Christmas day, December 1958, Myron asked me to marry him. He had a beautiful diamond ring and put it on my finger. It fit perfectly. I turned him down however, because we had only known each other for a very few months and I was still in high school. As it turned out, he told me that the ring was from Kress store (25¢) but he really did want to me to marry him. I have often wondered, if I had accepted the ring right then, what he would have done to get the ring off from my finger so he could give me the real thing.

Myron gave me my real diamond ring before my high school graduation exercises. He came early to take-me to the commencement program so that we would have a little time alone together to present the ring to me but it did not work out that way (Beth Britten Reimschiissel) came to our home to get ready because she didn’t want to walk up through the fields where she lived in her sandals and long dress so Ernest was at our home to pick her up. Of course, Dortha was living with us, so her date was there and her mother was late coming from Provo with her clothes so I was helping her the last minute to get ready.  As a result, Myron slipped the ring on my finger as we were walking toward the school. He had asked me and also my father at an earlier occasion. It was an exciting time for me as I was to give my talk in just a few minutes after that and of course, I had to show my ring off to everyone . People in the audience said that it really sparkled.

As soon as I received an engagement ring, Mother and I worked extra hard all summer. She helped me make pillow cases, table cloths, clothing and everything that goes into a trousseau because one could not get married without a trousseau. Also, mother and I canned every kind of fruit, vegetables, jams and pickles  there were. She  and daddy gave me the labor, the food, sugar, bottles and lids. This really did give us a big lift in getting started in our own household.

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Margaret Banks, Wife of Myron Herbert Burgess

How Myron and Margaret Met and Started Dating

At one time in my early life, the spirit whispered to me that the young man that I was to marry had a first name beginning with the letter "M". At that time, I tried to think of all the boys names that began that way. Several years later, I had forgotten about the whispering and I met Myron (I had never heard of the name Myron before) in any unusual way. My friend, Beth Britten (Reimschiissel) had been going with Ernest Reimschiissel from American Fork.  Ernest did not have a car and Beth did not have a telephone, so the only way they could get together was for Ernest to just come to Lehi and find Beth. This one evening, Myron brought Ernest to see Beth. I was with her and we were to a band concert at the school. Before Ernest had a chance to introduce me to Myron, I said to Myron, "You are the nephew of Edward Burgess." (I had stayed at my Aunt Marsh's home in Alpine for short vacations and I thought I knew all of the Burgess families, but someway or another, I had never seen Myron although he only lived three houses away from Aunt May). Ernest and Myron wanted to take us to Salt Lake City to see a movie so we went to Beth's home to get permission. Beth said to her mother, "I am going to Salt Lake to a movie with Ernest." That went over really good, so I thought I would try that strategy. My mother said, "What! At this time of night?" I begged and pleaded but to no avail and my brother Wallace and his wife, Ruth pleaded with mother to let me go. Finally, mother said for me to ask them to come in so she could meet them. ( I had already asked them to go in with me and they said they would wait in the car). I told mother I did not want to ask them to come in so she said, "I'll go out to the car then." As a teenager, I died a thousand deaths of embarrassment, but in later years, I can see that mother was right. She was introduced and when she found out what family Myron came from in Alpine, she let me go. That was our first date and I was afraid it would be our last one. I think that I could say I fell in love almost at first sight, even though at that particular time, I did not remember about the letter "M".

Excerpt from the Autobiography of Margaret Banks Burgess

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Margaret Banks, Wife of Myron Herbert Burgess

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARGARET BANKS BURGESS

I was born on Saturday, March 26, 1921, in my parent's home in Lehi, Utah County, Utah to Junius Crossland Banks and Edna Myrtle Hackett, I was the fifth and last child and the second daughter in the family. It was a cold day, my father telling me that a foot of snow was on the ground, making it miserable. It was the day before Easter Sunday and on that Saturday all of the children took a lunch and went for a long hike and ate their lunch. My father put up a lunch and got my three older brothers ready for the hike They walked through the snow down to the cereal mill (one block away) and then after eating their lunch they came home.

My earliest recollection was one of three incidents. One being when I was two years old. My father was remodeling our home and two leanto bedrooms had been torn down and that summer we slept in the loft of the barn, and I remember sleeping there. The next time, was the same summer, and I remember standing on the small sidewalk that went to the back door and looking up to see my father putting shingles on the roof. The third incident was when I was being pushed in the baby carriage. If one of my brothers was pushing me, I would really let out a yell until mother would take the carriage. This of course made my brothers want to push me all of the time.

I had preschool friends that lived next door to me and we had many good times with each other. One was Selena Peterson, who was being raised by her grandmother, Mary Winn, and the other was Dortha Evans (MoKnight)who was about one month older than I. we three played together everyday but Dortha and I were very close friends. We would have a little quarrel with each other and within minutes we would be best of friends again. One such time, she and I, were arguing over some trivial matter. we were in the lower end of our lot and as we walked up to the house I said, "I'm going into the house and get the nut crackers and hit you over the head with them", when we reached the back door, I did just that and she stood there and waited for me to come back. She immediately, after being hit, pushed me down to the ground and we both went home crying. .Our "never speaking to each other again" lasted about ten minutes.

Everywhere Dortha and I went, strangers would ask us if we were twins because we both had blond hair and lots of freckles. One day, Dortha and I decided that the only way our families knew us was by our clothes, so we decided to exchange clothes. That evening, we went to each other’s home for dinner. No one asked either of us about how come we changed clothes but went right along with us. After dinner, we changed back to our own clothes again. It wasn't until sometime later that we realized that we hadn't fooled anyone.

Selena and I caught whooping cough and in those days, it meant you were quaranteened in the house for six weeks. ,During the day (after all the children had gone to school)Selena and I played at one home or the other taking our big rags to throw up in. Dortha was left out with no one to play with. A little corner of glass was out of Selena's front room window. Dortha asked Selena to cough in her face through this small hole, which she did, and Dortha soon had the whooping cough. Dortha's birthday came at the time we were sick but Dortha wouldn't wait until she was well to have a party so Selena, Grace,(my cousin) and I were all who she could invite.

Helen, my sister, died with pneumonia and whooping cough at the age of two, before I was born, therefore I was raised as an only daughter with my three brothers. I can remember begging mother for a baby sister. All the time mother was having miscarriages, trying to have more babies but I was too young to understand that. I think that would be very trying for my mother to go through. One winter in Lehi, three baby girls (at different times) were left on door steps. Each time I cried and said, "Why wasn't she left on our doorstep? After having two sons of our own, Yvonne was born on June 7, 1946 in Richland Washington. I was very happy to have a daughter. Then Laura Jo came next on May 6, 1949 and my mother said to me, "I know you were really happy when Yvonne was born, but why are you so much happier now that you have Laura Jo?" My answer was, "because Yvonne has a sister." It meant that much to me.

At the age of six, I began my education in the first grade at Lehi Elementary School. My first teacher was Miss Chipman. That year I was taken into the third grade one day, to show off my penmanship. Miss Chipman would give a spelling test and all those who received one hundred per cent would get a treat (about once a month). I remember getting candy on one occasion.

My second grade teacher was Thelma Whitby. That year it was a presidential election in the country and we had a ballet in our school room. I'll never forget how angry Dortha was at me for voting for the  republican candidate. Their family voted democratic no matter what. Miss Whitby got married that summer and Dortha and I cried because we wouldn't see her again. However, she married and since she was Myron's cousin, I did get to see her many years later.

My third grade teacher was Carol Procter. I dearly loved her too. One day during recess, Dortha and I took some papers out of the waste basket. We felt guilty doing this because they didn't belong to us even if they were in the garbage. As soon as recess was over and we were in our seats, Miss Proctor called Dortha and I to go with her. As a punishment sometimes a child would have to go and sit in a lower class and we thought that was what was happening to us as we were taken to the first grade. However, it wasn't for punishment but to help the teacher by helping groups of first graders learn how to read.

My eighth birthday came on the Sunday that Lehi Stake regularly did the baptizing. I was looking forward very much to being baptized on my birthday. Also, March 26th that year was Easter Sunday., and when we got to the font, it was not open because it was Easter, and so I had to wait another month. Dortha's birthday was in February and she had waited to be baptized with me, so she had to wait another month also. The next month after we were baptized and confirmed (the same day) my father gave Dortha and me each a nickel to spend any way we wanted to, because we hadn't cried when we got baptized. I still remember buying a-grape and chocolate flavored all day suckers. (they were two for a nickle and so large you couldn't get one into your mouth very well) They truly were all day suckers. Becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was a most important day of my life and one of the best things that ever happened to me.

One of the very special days of my life was when I had my patriarchal blessing. I was twelve years of age and Brother Able John Evans was the patriarch. When he was through, he said that I had been given a promise that the Lord had not promised through him for a long time. Of course, we all know these promises are only given to us predicated on our living the commandments.

I cannot remember a lot about my brother Merril. I was almost nine when he passed away. I remember receiving letters from him when he was on his mission in Germany. He would write a little letter to each of us kids. I remember the day he came home, surprising us. He took sick in Germany with pneumonia and later developed dropsy and cancer.

When Wallace and Earl would tease me, Merril would always stick up for me and help-me., When he was a Priest, he always blessed the water so I asked him why he didn't ever bless the bread and he told me that the water was best. I loved his fiancee, Caroline Scorup. She very often brought me a little gift when she came to see Merril when he was sick in bed. One time the gift was a celluloid doll and the skirt was made of candy mints. My parents have told me what a special spirit Merril is and that he was needed elsewhere to teach the gospel.  

I mentioned that my brothers, Wallace and Earl, teased me a lot but they were good to me too. They each had a bicycle and they would let me ride them. Wallace had the patience to teach me how to ride the bike. He would help me on and I would ride around the block but when I would get on the other side of the block, I would always hit a rut and fall off. I couldn't get back on alone so I would have to walk and push the bicycle back home again.. Wallace also taught me the fundamentals of shifting and driving a car. The boys let me play with them and their friends and tag along with them to a movie and many more things they did for me that was nice.

On long summer evenings, my two brothers, Dortha's two brothers and two of her cousins gathered on the street corner to play games. I'll never know why they let Dortha and me play but they did. We played kick the can, run sheep run, poison, red rover and other games. We really had a lot of fun.

When I was eleven years old, I would go and help my Aunt Maud on Saturdays. She was on crutches and was keeping house for my Grandfather Hackett so I would help clean the house. When my twelth birthday came she had a surprise party for me and my friends. Mother helped her with the party. It really was a big surprise, I shook almost the entire evening. I thought it so nice of her to do that for me.

In my early teens, my knee cap kept slipping out of the socket. All one summer, I had to hot pack it for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. My knee kept getting worse and some years later I had surgery and had the knee cap removed.

I had been in the 4-H Club since the age of ten, learning how to sew. When I was fourteen, I entered a health contest that the 4~H Club sponsored. I won first place in Lehi and 1st place at the county fair in Provo for Utah County title. I then was given a free trip to Salt Lake City for three days to enter the contest at the state fair. We stayed in the Newhouse Hotel and ate in restaurants. What a rare experience it was for me. A girl in the fashion show and two girls in the cooking demonstration (from Utah Co.) and the 4-H leader for the county were in the hotel with me. The judging was very scrupulous. Ten points were taken from my score for a bunion I was going to have, and forty years later, I still haven't had the bunion.  I was given third place in the state of Utah. At an awards banquet, I was

Presented with a copper medallion. What a happy day for me that I was acclaimed to be the third healthiest girl in the state of Utah!

When I was fifteen years old, my brother Wallace was on a mission in Toronto Canada.  When he was to be released, Mother,Dad, Earl and I went back east to pick him up. We had a very lovely trip, seeing Niagra Falls, Chicago, Detroit and Toronto to name a few. We stayed all night in the Joseph Smith Sr. home, sleeping in the room where Joseph had his vision. When we were in the Sacred Grove, the spirit testified to the truthfulness of the gospel to me. We also visited the Kirtland Temple, Lincoln Memorial and other great places.

When I was sixteen, I kept having appendicitis attacks so as soon as school was out, I had my appendix removed in the Lehi Hospital. I was the only patient in the hospital and whatever I ordered to eat I got, and I had a doctor, nurse, cook and cleaning lady just for me.

At the age of seventeen, I had a lump growing in the left side of my neck.  When it got about as big as an egg, Dr. Cowan, a cancer specialist, removed it in the Lehi Hospital. The operation was very hard on my nerves as the Doctor only gave me a local anesthetic and he said to me "Don't move your head or I'll cut your juggler vein and you will be dead". He sewed me up after all the anesthetic was gone. He touched the nerve to my tongue to show the nurses how my tongue would curl up. I have problems today with my neck and tongue because he did this. My mother watched the operation and she kept telling the doctor to hurry and get the wound closed. We were very thankful that it was not cancer but a bronchial cyst.

In the rest of my school days, I had several teachers in each grade from Lehi Grammar school, Lehi Jr. High and Lehi High school. Some of the teachers I liked the best were Basil Dorton, Margaret Thurman, Vera Conder, Evan Croft, Ernest B. Garrett, Miss Varnock and especially my father, Junius C. Banks.  My father taught me Algebra, Chemistry, Plane Geometry and Physics. In each of these classes, I received an A, not because I was his daughter but because he had the natural ability to talk to anyone on their level, be it a child or the most educated person. He could explain anything to anyone so that they could understand it. pHis class discipline was marvelous and he was a very fair teacher but would not tolerate any cheating at all. I enjoyed very much being in his classes.

The year we were seniors, Dortha's father was elected County Sherriff and that meant they had to move to Provo. Dortha did not want to change schools in the middle of her senior year, so she got a room and was going to live alone. After a month or so, Mother told her she could live with us. I was the only child at home and had a double bed and a room to myself. We got along wonderfully well together. It made it easier to discuss yearbook problems. We used to sing "In the Garden", she an alto and I was a second soprano, while we washed and dried the evening dishes. How did my parents ever stand it? I

Dortha and I had both been on the year book staff at the high school and we heard a rumor that either Dortha or I was going to be chosen as the editor.  I believe that no matter who had been chosen both of us would have been unhappy. Miss Thurman posted the staff on the bulletin board and to our delight, we were named as co-editors. We got along famously with the year book work. It was during the depression and instead of asking business people to donate money for advertising, we printed our own book, making our own pictures and did our own art work. Each division page had a title with appropriate drawings and we all colored by hand, with colored pencils, each title page for every book. My father was over the taking and printing of the pictures and Miss Thurman was over the editorial part and Margaret Potter over the artwork. Each picture had to be pasted in the right place which the book owners did this. Each sheet had to have a stencil cut for both sides of the page and mimeographed off by hand, What a precious book that became!

After I had been in school a year or two, I made a new friend Beth Fox (Betts).  She just lived through the block from us and she also became due of my close friends. In Lehi, the movie theater changed its scheduling three times weekly, the better shows to be shown-on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, when we were teenagers, we had a genealogical class on Monday Evenings, and M I A on Tuesday evenings. All of my friends in the ward would go to the matinee on Sunday and not get out in time to go to Sacrament Meeting, so I went to church alone because I had been taught that we don't go to movies on Sunday. After some weeks of this, Beth Fox (Betta) came to me and said, "If you can stay home from the movie on Sunday, so can I”, and so she did and she went to Sacrament Meeting with me from then on.

I have to thank my parents for the many things they taught me. When I was big enough to help with the housework, cooking, washing,etc, I was given responsibilities. Saturday was our cleaning day and the day to get ready for Sunday, cooking-pressing-shining shoes and etc. The house was cleaned from stem to stern. The boys had to help clean the house as much as I did for the purpose was to teach us to work as well and to get the work done. From early summer until late fall, canning fruit and vegetables and drying them were worked on by everyone available. My parents did not have a lot of money but both were economical, never wasting a single thing and both worked very hard to make ends meet. Mother knew a lot about nutrition and every meal, though simple, was balanced. We had bottled fruit a lot for desserts, although we did have pudding, cookies, cakes and pies occasionally. One day, when I was small, we were ready for dessert and I piped out, "what are we having for fruit?"

My parents always taught us the principles of the gospel, both by precept and by example. They both studied the scriptures and as far as I know always did what was right regardless of the situation. They accepted calls from the Lord and fulfilled the positions to the best of their ability. I am thankful for the training I had as a child. If ever I needed a gospel question answered, they could answer it and show me the answer in one of the Standard Works of the Church. They taught me to be dependable-do what we said we would, to be honest and pray. They set a good example for the family in having love and unity in the home. Every meal almost, my father would get up from the table, go around back of mother's chair, put his arms around her, kiss her and say, "I love you, that was a very good meal".  When Dortha lived with us she said she didn't know people lived that way, which was a wonderful compliment to my parents. They spent many hours helping us and teaching us. They played games of all kinds with us, even jump the rope, jacks and hide the thimble. They always provided materials for us to work with such as paper, paste, wood, cloth, paint or whatever we needed. No matter how many friends or family were at our home at meal time, mother always invited them to eat and many times four or five of my friends would be there. Birthdays were always a special day. Money value was not the most important thing for a birthday but the love and the remembrance that was given. Birthday cakes were important and even

after I was married, I was really thrilled for a birthday cake that mother made for me.

About once a month, on a Saturday, when we were children, the family would drive to Salt Lake City to shop. In those days it took about one and one-half hours to drive the thirty miles each way so we would leave in the dark in the winter and get home in the dark. We would hate to bundle up in the winter because the car did not have a heater in it and only izing glass and imitation leather snap on sides to keep the show and rain out. First we would go into town to Kresses, Grants five and ten cent stores and then to Penneys. In the afternoon, we would shop the specials at about three different grocery stores. I cannot remember what we had for lunch but suppose it to be cheese and crackers or a sandwich brought from home. We looked forward to these trips as it was a real family outing.

We always had a nice Christmas, not extravagant but they were very happy times. We would look in the wish book (Sears catalogue) and pick out things we wanted. Of course, children want almost everything they see. Most of our Christmas gifts were items that either Mother or Father had made themselves, and we were very happy to receive them. We were taught the joy of giving of gifts, especially the ones we had made ourselves.

I want to relate something now and I do it in all humbleness but thought my children would like to know this about their mother. When I was a senior in high school, the chairman of the achievement  committee called me in to tell me I had the highest academic achievement of any of the seniors in the graduating class. However, the valedictorian was chosen by academic grades and outside activities. My friend, Zetella Price (Lind) was given the Valedictorian because she was in the opera cast which gave her more points and I was only in the chorus of the opera, thus giving her one more point than me. I was given an opportunity, however, to give an address at our commencement exercises.

At one time in my early life, the spirit whispered to me that the young man that I was to marry had a first name beginning with the letter "M". At that time, I tried to think of all the boys names that began that way. Several years later, I had forgotten about the whispering and I met Myron (I had never heard of the name Myron before) in any unusual way. My friend, Beth Britten (Reimschiissel) had been going with Ernest Reimschiissel from American Fork.  Ernest did not have a car and Beth did not have a telephone, so the only way they could get together was for Ernest to just come to Lehi and find Beth. This one evening, Myron brought Ernest to see Beth. I was with her and we were to a band concert at the school. Before Ernest had a chance to introduce me to Myron, I said to Myron, "You are the nephew of Edward Burgess." (I had stayed at my Aunt Marsh's home in Alpine for short vacations and I thought I knew all of the Burgess families, but someway or another, I had never seen Myron although he only lived three houses away from Aunt May). Ernest and Myron wanted to take us to Salt Lake City to see a movie so we went to Beth's home to get permission. Beth said to her mother, "I am going to Salt Lake to a movie with Ernest." That went over really good, so I thought I would try that strategy. My mother said, "What! At this time of night?" I begged and pleaded but to no avail and my brother Wallace and his wife, Ruth pleaded with mother to let me go. Finally, mother said for me to ask them to come in so she could meet them. ( I had already asked them to go in with me and they said they would wait in the car). I told mother I did not want to ask them to come in so she said, "I'll go out to the car then." As a teenager, I died a thousand deaths of embarrassment, but in later years, I can see that mother was right. She was

introduced and when she found out what family Myron came from in Alpine, she let me go. That was our first date and I was afraid it would be our last one. I think that I could say I fell in love almost at first sight, even though at that particular time, I did not remember about the letter "M".

That next Christmas day, December 1958, Myron asked me to marry him. He had a beautiful diamond ring and put it on my finger. It fit perfectly. I turned him down however, because we had only known each other for a very few months and I was still in high school. As it turned out, he told me that the ring was from Kress store (25¢) but he really did want to me to marry him. I have often wondered, if I had accepted the ring right then, what he would have done to get the ring off from my finger so he could give me the real thing.

Myron gave me my real diamond ring before my high school graduation exercises. He came early to take-me to the commencement program so that we would have a little time alone together to present the ring to me but it did not work out that way (Beth Britten Reimschiissel) came to our home to get ready because she didn’t want to walk up through the fields where she lived in her sandals and long dress so Ernest was at our home to pick her up. Of course, Dortha was living with us, so her date was there and her mother was late coming from Provo with her clothes so I was helping her the last minute to get ready.  As a result, Myron slipped the ring on my finger as we were walking toward the school. He had asked me and also my father at an earlier occasion. It was an exciting time for me as I was to give my talk in just a few minutes after that and of course, I had to show my ring off to everyone . People in the audience said that it really sparkled.

As soon as I received an engagement ring, Mother and I worked extra hard all summer. She helped me make pillow cases, table cloths, clothing and everything that goes into a trousseau because one could not get married without a trousseau. Also, mother and I canned every kind of fruit, vegetables, jams and pickles  there were. She  and daddy gave me the labor, the food, sugar, bottles and lids. This really did give us a big lift in getting started in our own household.

We were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 20, 1959 by President Chipman. After we were married, we drove to Nephi and stayed two nights and a day in a motel. Money was tight as the  depression was still on. Myron was building a basement house for us to live in in Alpine, Utah. Mother and Dad figured it would cost about one hundred dollars for a wedding reception and we could either have the money to help on our house or the reception. We chose the cash. Mother and Dad hired the ward Relief Society to cook a dinner in our honor. Myron's and my Aunts and Uncles on both sides were invited, and Wallace and Ruth. (Earl being on a mission in New England at the time) Mother and Dad each wrote Myron and me some advice in the way of some poems:

FATHERLY ADVICE TO MY SON IN LAW

Now, Myron, since you have no dad to counsel you at all,

I thought I'd best assume his place, lest you should take a fall.

I've stood the test of married life the very best I could,

But you'll observe there's not much left of hair upon the wood.

 Although I bear a host of scars and other marks of strife,

I've gained some grand experience regarding married life.

And so I'll pass it on to you, with this one fervent wish,

That you'll accept these humble words from just a married fish.

 There’ll come a time, alack the day, when you put on a shirt,

And find no buttons on the front to cover up your dirt,

Now take a leaf from my own book. Don't cuss and rave and storm,

‘Twill do no good and may e'en do a vast amount of harm.

 Just calm.yourself and think things through, you'll find the best way out

Is not to raise a mighty roar, nor throw the chairs about,

But gently take the button box, and threaded needle too,

And sew the discs in place yourself, as model husbands do.

 For fear you may not have the goods, I herewith hand to You

A string of buttons, large and small of every sort of hue.

And here a spool of thread I give, and needle made to match,

Just thank your lucky stars, my son, that you are not a batch.

 By Junius Banks

 MYRON'S INTRODUCTION TO HIS MOTHER- IN- LAW

 When Margaret was recovering from a recent operation,

Myron came to spend the evening, and view the situation;

I escorted him into the room where she was still in bed.

He planked himself beside her on my freshly laundered spread.

 I was surprised completely, so I blurted, "Myron, now,

That's one thing that I do not and never will allow.

You get right off that bedspread, this very present minute"

And I pushed a chair beside him and asked him to sit in it.

 He didn't budge, just grinned to see which one would be the boss,

What could I do to have him mind? I was surely at a loss.

As I closed the door behind me and stepped into the hall

I heard him faintly whisper, "Do you think she means it all?"

 Then Margaret assured him, "I really think so, yes."

Pale Myron quickly answered, "Then I'd better scram, I guess."

Just as he sprang upon his feet, his face still all a grin,

I entered quickly, brandishing a hard wood rolling pin.

 "Old boy you’ve saved your bacon," are the very words I said,

"Don't ever let me catch you sitting on my spread."

"Now Margaret, in your married life I think you'll often find

That you'll need some sort of gadget to make your husband mind;

So I present this rolling pin without a single flaw

In memory of the eventful night Myron challeged his mother in law.

I hope you will use it often; swing it low or high, _

For Myron's favorite dessert is homemade pumpkin pie."

 By Edna Banks

 Our house was ready to move into about three weeks after we were married.  However, we did not have a bathroom, no paint or wall paper and had congoleum rugs on the cement floor that only covered the middle of the room. We had a coal range for cooking and heat and hand-me-down furniture but we were happy to have a home of our own. Myron was working for Uncle Orion Burgess, combining wheat and he was generous with us as he paid Myron one dollar a day for a twelve hour day. Many were only getting paid fifty cents a day. Our payments to the hank for the loan for our home was ten dollars a month. Myron also had a small farm and so we had wheat, we took to the mill and traded for flour and Myron was feeding and milking a cow for the milk, butter and cream, and with the fruit and vegetables, Mother and I had put up, we always had plenty to eat.

 I got pregnant a couple of weeks after we were married which added to the expense of things but we were both very happy about it.  We did not have a refrigerator or washing machine.  I washed our garments and diapers out on the board each day and then boiled them on the stove to get Myron’s cotton garments clean.  (We did not have enough garments to go a week.)  Once a week I would go to Lehi to Mothers and there wash towels, sheets, etc.

 We spent a lot of evenings and suppers at Mom and Dad's the next summer. Every other day, Myron would take cucumbers from his farm to American Fork for the cannery and then we would go over to Lehi for the evening. My mother and father were very good to us. They actually were doing double duty for us and our children because Myron's parents had passed away.  Mother once said that Myron acted more at home at her house than either Wallace or Earl did. They helped us through tough spots  both with money and advice, whichever was needed.

 After Myron went to daytime plumbing school, we moved back to Alpine for a short time but Myron was able to get work in Salt Lake city, so we moved there, renting several different places, one of which we lived with Beth and Ernest Reimschiissel on Imperial Street for a few months. Beth, Ernest and Myron each worked away from home and I stayed home, cleaning the house, preparing dinner each night and

Doing the laundry as Allan was about four months old then. We then found a duplex across the street from [where] Myron worked so we moved there. Just before Merril was born, on October 26, 1942, we moved to Lehi, Mom and Myron remodeling their house to make an apartment for us to live in. (Dad had just had surgery and had to remain in bed for three months.) We lived there for some time and during World War Two Merril was born when we were living there. We wanted to buy a house but figured Myron would be called up so we decided to wait. After waiting some months and he wasn't called up for the war, we decided to go ahead. We found an older brick home on first east and seventh north in Lehi and we went to the American Fork Bank to sign the papers. We returned home, Myron’s draft notice was in the mailbox.

 Allan Karl Burgess was born in Lehi Utah on July 4, 1940.

 In 1940, when Allan was two months old, we were living in an apartment in Salt Lake city and work was quite scarce at that time. If Myron had the opportunity of working five days a week he would receive fourteen dollars. His boss called him one evening and asked him to come to work the following day. We had a problem. We did not have anything of the type that I could make a lunch for Myron and we did not have any milk for Allan. (We had bottled fruit and vegetables so we could get by at home easily) we had a few gallons of gasoline in our car and we were wondering what to do-~to drive to Lehi (30 miles) and borrow a dollar or so from my parents or what else could we do when a knock came on the door and Beth Fox (Betta) was there. I asked her to come in but she said that she couldn't but for me to step out into the hall for a minute, which I did.  She handed me a silver dollar and said "You need this." Being embarrassed and not wanting to admit we really did need it I said that we didn't need it. She insisted that I take the dollar. She would not come in and I had not even as much as talked to her on the telephone for months and I don't even know how she knew where we lived for he had not lived there long. Some may say it was a coincidence, but I know that the Lord sent her. The dollar bought all we needed, milk for Allan and food for Myron's lunch. Never again to this writing have we ever been without the food we needed.

 when each of my children were born, for some reason, my mother's milk wouldn't produce and we had to bottle feed them all. In Merril's case it became a serious problem. He would drink the milk but was in terrible pain and would scream and cry whether being held, rocked, wheeled or walked the floor with. Our doctor said there was nothing wrong with him, that he was just spoiled (at two weeks?) He screamed twenty~four hours a day except from midnight until two A. M. when he would sleep from pure exhaustion. My mother would stay up with him one night and I would stay up with him the next night, that way taking turns because we just couldn't leave him in his crib screaming. He had very bad diarrhea also. At six weeks, we took him to church to be blessed and of course he was crying and we could just have him blessed and taken right back out of church. A sister sitting next to mother told her the baby was sick and to take him to a Dr. Blood in Salt lake City. The next day we called for an appointment with Dr. Blood and as soon as he saw Merril, he knew he had chronic colic, and could not tolerate the fat in the milk, and of course the diarrhea problem. Dr. Blood wrote down all of his instructions and within two days, Merril's screaming had stopped and he was a very contented baby. He would lie awake and never fuss or cry. Beth Britton (Reimschiissel) told me later that every time they

came to see us, they thought that would be the last time they would see Merril alive.  It took Merril ten months to get back to what the doctor said was normal weight for him.  We had to boil rice and use the rice water as part of his formula, also using, evaporated skim.milk and three other medications in each

formula. My parents and we felt like Oriental people for we could not afford to throw the rice away and so we all ate rice in every possible way that winter.

 Myron had his patriarchal blessing by Brother Andrew Fjeld just before he left for his basic training. I hoped that he would be told that he would return from the war but no mention was made of that. If I hadn't been so disappointed, I would have realized that his blessing did promise him that, for his blessing promised him that he would hold positions of leadership and therefore would return home

from the war. This has been fulfilled and is still being fulfilled as he has been M I A Supt-. Sunday School Superintendent, Sr. Seventy's President, Elders Quorum President and counselors twice, in the Bishopric as first counselor and in the High Council.

 When Myron left for the army training, the fellows were being trained for six weeks and were then being sent immediately to Germany to fight the "Battle of the Bulge ", because so many were being lost in that area. When Myron left, my father said to me that he was going to pray that Myron would never be sent overseas. I told him that he would have to go overseas because they were sending everyone, but Dad Just reaffirmed that he was going to continue to pray. Myron never was sent overseas and I feel that it was because of the faith and prayers offered in his behalf.

Six months after Myron went for Basic Training, he was ill and had two operations and the Doctor demanded that he have a convalescent furlough before he could go back to duty. Myron had lost fifty pounds while he was in the hospital and his belt on his pants. literally gathered his pants around his waist. Myron came home on furlough and took me and the two boys back up to Kennewick, Washington

with him. Allan being five and Merril almost three. The army had made ten apartments out of a barracks building and we were able to rent one of these for twenty-seven dollars per month. No wall paper, paint or floor coverings and only minimal furniture. Our living room furniture comprised of one round belly coal heater. We were fortunate though to have that housing because housing was practically impossible to find. Kennewick was about seventeen miles from Myron's duty camp. In April we were able to get an all electric three room bedroom house, completely furnished for the price of five dollars and forty cents per month. Richland was a different type of city to live in. No one was allowed to live in Richland

unless they were army personnel or a worker at the atomic bomb plant. If you had a visitor in your home and they got sick, they would not let them in the hospital there. No one was there that had not been cleared by the F. B. I. People worked at and soldiers guarded a plant and did not even know what was being made there until the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. Yvonne was born here

in the Richland, Kedlac Hospital on June 7, 1946. With three children, Myron was to be mustered out and I had to get special permission to stay in Richland for a week, until he got back from Fort Lewis Washington. We then moved back to Utah.

 In our front yard in Richland, Washington, there was no grass but beautiful white fine sand. Each morning, we would dampen it with the hose and Allan and Merril had a full city built in the sand such as roads, bridges, buildings, etc. It was war time and no metal toys were available, so Grandpa Banks (Juniufi C.) made jeeps, trucks, soldiers,-guns out of wood for the boys which they played with in this

sand city. Many hours of fun were spent in this area.

 After Myron got released from the army in World War II, we moved back t to Salt Lake City and bought an older home at 124 Vidas Avenue, moving there when Yvonne was a few weeks old. The house needed many things done to it. We applied for a government loan. When the appraiser from the bank came to tell us the loan would not go through because of the poor arrangement of the house, we were in the middle of remodeling so he did not tell us the loan was turned down, but came back some months later when the remodeling was completed and told us the loan had gone through. The basement was dug about four feet deep so Myron dug the rest out by pick and shovel with a little help of Leon Davies, a neighbor boy. This he made into a full basement. He completely rewired the house, out in the sewer, city water, sprinkling system, two bathrooms, made fruit room, closets and cellar with painting,

and other misc. items. We thought we were going to live there the rest of our lives and everything he did was with that in mind.

 The first few years when our children were small seemed to race by and they all grew up too fast. Allan was always after us to go to California on a vacation. His dad put him off, saying "When you earn enough money to buy a car large enough for our family to go to California, we'll go." Allan said no more. Two or three years later Allan had saved six hundred dollars at about twenty-five cents per hour and he asked his dad to help him pick out a car. Allan kept looking at big cars and Myron kept telling him a small car took less gasoline and was the most economical. However, a Buick was decided upon. The next day at Sunday dinner, Allan pipes up,"Dad, when are we going to California?" Myron said, "We're not."

Allan then reminded him what he had said about a car big enough for our family. We went to California and it was one of the memorable trips we have ever taken.

  During our married life, it seems that my health has never been very good. I was quite sick all the time I was pregnant and was confined to bed for five months with the pregnancy of Paul. Paul was born on April 24, 1951., I also, had rheumatic fever six times, two broken ankles, and a broken back twice, ten operations and so on. I have been in bed at times for six or seven months at a time which made it very hard on my family and especially on Myron. It did, however, teach the children to cook, wash, and iron and clean the house. Myron of course was left with the brunt of things and I would like to say at this time that in all times that I have been incapacitated, he waited on me hand and foot, preparing meals, changing the bed and even emptying bed pans and never once did he complain or frown about waiting on me. He must have great love for me to be so good to me all of these years. I have been in a wheel chair, two different  times for a total of seven years and he and the children have taken me everywhere

I wanted to go. Myron made a ramp that would go up into our vacation trailer so I could go camping with him and he fixed another one on our little car top boat so that I could go fishing with him. I certainly am blessed and thankful to have a loving and thoughtful and kind husband like Myron. My children did not complain about all the extra work they had to do either and I am also thankful for them.

 We love our grandchildren, our children and their mates dearly and we know that life would not be worth living without membership and activity in the church and our family. We are proud of our family., They are all upright citizens, honest and willing to help when needed. I have loved and enjoyed each of my children as they have come along. Some people said, "Wait until they are teenagers, then you won't enjoy them." When they were teenagers, I enjoyed they even more if possible because I could have more companionship with them and they were so good to me. Now they are all adults, I still love and enjoy them, each one being different but kind and good to me. .They are all active in the church, trying to live a good life and be good neighbors. What-more could a mother want?

 As a child I was fairly awkward, falling down and skinning my knees and not very apt at running or skating or other games, however, I loved sports of all kinds, and liked to participate as well as be a spectator. I grew up naturally loving basket ball games as my father being a school teacher, got free passes to all of the basketball games and I being the youngest in the family always got taken (no baby sitters in those days). So we went to all of the games in the school district. As l grew older, I then went to High School football games as well as basket ball. The television was invented, and sports were on the screen, I enjoyed watching them and as Allan and Merril came along and played in sports, they took me to games and got me more interested. So it is I and not Myron who is the sportsman in our family.

 Myron and I have been active in the church, accepting the many different callings as they have come to us. I have worked as Jr. Sunday School coordinator and Sunday School teacher, I have taught almost every class in Primary as well as being Secretary, counselor and President twice, and I have been an MIA secretary and class leader. I think one of my biggest challenges was to organize a ward library from scratch. I felt very inadequate and lost. I was also in a wheel chair at the time, but the Lord helped me and with a good library staff, we mounted and catalogued over twenty-five hundred pictures, charts and maps.

 While I was working as the ward librarian, the spirit whispered to me that I was going to be called into the Relief Society Presidency. I thought at first that I had just got a silly notion into my head, but the spirit kept telling me this. At the time, I wasn't attending Relief Society very often and wondered, why me? I didn't tell anyone about the whispering, not even Myron, but one evening, Bishop Harold W. Schreiber called and asked Myron and Me to go to his office and sure enough that is what he wanted. Now, our ward was just divided at the time, and we got small parts from three other wards to make up our ward. The new president, Gertrude Hertig, told me that she did not know why she had chosen me

for a counselor because she didn't even know me. She was in tune with the Lord. At the same time, I received a letter from Sister Dolly Singleton, who lives in Australia. She sent me four dollars to help buy material to make things for our bazaar. Now it takes a week to get a letter from Australia and I received it the next day after I was sustained. I was to be the work day counselor. The Lord had whispered this to her a week in advance of anyone knowing it here. Coincidence? Not on your life!

 I have a hobby that is fun. For special occasions, tributes, and with gifts, I sometimes write a poem to go with it. I am very much an amateur but it is fun and I can say in poetry what is hard to say in prose. One of my friends, Virginia Jones, who is physically unable to work was discouraged and wanted me to write a poem for her because she couldn't do the things for her small son and others that she wanted to do.  I tried to put myself in her position as I wrote this.

 Thoughts

 Sometimes when tears come in my eyes

When I am low-forlorn

    I need thy aid my dearest Lord

    To help me not to mourn.

  With health not good and desires unborn

Please give me strength, I plea,

    For all the things I want to do

    Are all inside of me.

 Help me to do the things I should,

Thy commandments here, to keep,

    For I am a mother, still

    And have my young to teach

 Please give me strength to understand

Why, I, your daughter, here

    Must suffer pain and anguish,

    Must always persevere.

   While others are so thoughtless

Always laughing, fun, and gay,

    Never having to suffer

    Never trying to go thy way.

 Please help me understand my lot,

Be thankful for thy gifts,

    Put a prayer upon my lips

    To give to me, thy lift.

 I wonder when I hear the Master’s voice,

Will I, then worthy be?

    To touch His robe, to see His face,

    To fall upon my knee?

 I thank thee Heavenly Father

For all thou’s giv’n to me

    The gospel great, my husband dear,

    And friends and family.

  I have a testimony that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true and it is the only true church on this earth. Even as a child, I had this testimony and would express it in fast meeting. Some of my friends chided me and said that I really didn’t know it to be true but only thought it to be true. I

cannot remember a time when I only thought it may be true. Since that time during my lifetime, I have experienced and seen many miracles happen through the use of the holy priesthood and so cannot doubt it for a second.

 On August 1, 1976 I got a pain in my upper stomach. It hurt me off and on during the night, waking me each time and lasting for about one and one-half hours at a time. By morning, the pain got more intense. I went to the doctor and he told me what to do but as the day grew on, the pain got worse, so I

had to go to the hospital to have some tests run. I had tests for several days with no conclusive evidence as to the nature of the problem. The next morning they were going to give me another test by putting an iodine dye into my veins and then X-ray my liver and the tube leading to my stomach, thinking the tube had narrowed and not enough digestive juices were getting to my stomach when I ate. On the day before the test, in the middle of the afternoon, I had the spirit tell me to call Myron and have him bring someone toto help him give me a blessing. I thought to myself-get a blessing just to have a test-but the feeling was so strong, I looked at my watch and thought I will have to wait an hour or two until Myron gets home from work. Again the urging was strong so I picked up the phone and called our home and Myron answered it. I told him what I wanted, expecting him to agree with me that it was silly to have a blessing for a test, however, he did not say anything to that effect but called Brother Jaime Astorga, 1st

counselor in the bishopric to come to the hospital with him. Brother Astorga called Bishop John A. Walkenhorst and they both came. I asked the Bishop to give me a special blessing that I would get through this test because I was worried about it. He gave me a beautiful blessing, asking for the Lord's help. I went to the X-ray dept. the next morning and they started an intravenous feeding in my arm. I soon began to get light headed, shaky and weak and so I told technician about it. They hurried and got me lying down on a cart and when I didn’t feel better, she called the Doctor. He took one look at me and immediately started telling everyone what to do and to hurry. My legs from my knees down went stiff as boards and I could not move them. I got a terrible pain in my head and then a terrible pain in my chest and shoulder. I was vomiting, even though I had not eaten. Then I seemed to be out of pain and oblivious of anything going around about me. All of a sudden, I was in the most peaceful place I have ever experienced. Nothing on this earth can compare with it. I did not see anything or anyone but I know that I was either on the other side of the veil or very near it. If heaven is like that, we all would fight to get there. When I came back to reality, I realized that the doctors had been working on me about two and one half hours. I was allergic to the dye and this had caused my blood pressure to drop, this causing a cardiac arrest. Also, I had a blood clot move from my left lower leg and lodge in the wall of my left lung. Either one of these two things could have brought on death. I testify that I am here today because of the power of the priesthood given to me through my Heavenly Father's servants. Had I not followed the urging of the Holy Ghost, I would not be alive today. My greatest desire is to live the gospel and keep the Lord's commandments, to be a good example to my loved ones and finish the work I was sent here to do.

 If there is anything I could leave my family when I pass on, it would be that they would have a testimony that this gospel is-true and a great desire to keep God's commandments, so that we can all be together as a family in the Celestial Kingdom.

 Written to November, 1976

 NOTE:  Margaret died 4 ½ years later and was truly a Saint in every sense of the word.

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Myron Herbert Burgess

In July, Merril had a bad accident on his motorcycle. It blew a rear tire and really tore him up and burned him so I stayed close to the business, then on August 2nd, Margaret went into the hospital for tests as she had a severe pain in her stomach for some time. Due to an allergy to one of the tests, she had a cardiac arrest and it was only through the help of the Lord and a blessing from the bishop that she pulled through. While in the cardiac arrest, a blood clot moved from her leg to her lung and lodged there.

Excerpt from The Autobiography of Myron Herbert Burgess

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Myron Herbert Burgess

I spent third grade living with Uncle Evan and Aunt Dora Shepherd on a chicken ranch in Levan, Utah--two or three years later, they moved to Alpine and I was again living with them or them with Grandfather and me. Anyway, we were on a Sunday drive when we passed a field that had some mares and some colts in it—Lois, because she had been raised on a chicken ranch referred to them as little biddie horseys and we promptly started to tease her about it.  This went on and on and the next afternoon, I was at it again, when she picked up a rock and really crowned me with-it and I carried a scar on my head for a long time after that.

Excerpt from The Autobiography of Myron Herbert Burgess

[miniaturelovercollectionstuff]

Myron Herbert Burgess

Myron was Healed Miraculously By a Priesthood Blessing

In June, 1971, I was called to be first counselor to Bishop Harold W. Schreiber in the Eldredge Ward and on July 2nd that year I had a cerebral hemorrhage and went down like I had been hit in the head with an ax. They rushed me to the hospital where both the doctor and specialist they had called in told Margaret that there was no chance that I could live. I was administered to by Allan and Merril, our sons, and Allan has said that at that time he had the impression that I would not make it. The following is what I have been told! The evening before my cerebral hemorrhage, Bishop Schreiber and his family were ready to leave on a vacation--when Bishop Schreiber arrived home, he told Sister Schreiber and his children that they could not go that night on their vacation, and when he was asked why, he said he did not know—I imagine what a commotion this caused--anyway they did not leave and the next morning, he went to work as usual. I had my hemorrhage about eight A- M. and about nine A. M., the bishop called his wife and asked her what had happened in the ward—-When she told him, he left work and picked up J. Parley Heiner, the ward clerk, and came to the hospital. Going straight to my room, where I was barely conscious, he rebuked the evil spirits and then proceeded to anoint and to pronounce a priesthood blessing upon my head. Then after talking to Margaret they went home and the Schreibers left on their vacation. Two days later was a regular fast day, and as Allan fasted and prayed that day, he knew that I would get well.. At this point, I want to leave my testimony that this is the true work of the Lord--what we have and what we are, belongs to the Lord--I am especially living here on borrowed time (so as to speak)--that it is the power of the priesthood that I am here today--my time and my efforts should rightfully be the Lords--I therefore try to be more diligent.

Exerpt from The Autobiography of Myron Herbert Burgess