The Top of the World

Dale and Linda Mager invited Elder Brooks and I to their ranch on top of this bluff that you can see. It is the one in the far background. Wish it had been a clearer day (smoke in the air from the fires in CA). They have their cattle up there in the summer and have to check on them a couple times a week especially this year with the dry situation. It took us about an hour to get there. We went across country where I couldn't see any roads through about 6 fences, across dry creek beds up hills and mountains. I don't know how he found his way. An other example of how you can get back in the back country in Montana and be where people can't find you.

On top of the bluff and I felt like I could see forever, it was beautiful. Just enjoy the pictures.

Looks like the Big Dipper scratched in the rock (by Indians? Dale seemed to think so)

A Linger-Longer

Once a month we have a Linger-Longer or a Pot Luck after Church, it was always great food and a good time to visit with each other. These pictures are from our Branch Conference, so more are there than we normally have but no matter the number --  good food, good friends and good times. 

Getting the food on the tables.

Great Food.

Travis cut up the ham

Dale, Linda, Becky and Cherrel

Linda Mager, Becky Lewis, and Cherrel Budge

Merrilee Swickard

                                              Construction worker and High Councilor

And we eat

Some of the Branch and Stake Leaders

Sad to See It Go

As you can tell this is the State Theatre on main street in Harlowton. To us it was so sad to see such a landmark destroyed. It was a great old building. This building is about a block and a half from our home. I loved the eagle on it. In it prim it was a grand theatre with many plays put on there.

As you can tell it was gutted.

Volunteer Firemen watching the hot spots. They did a great job saving the building next to it.

A Final Farewell

Awhile back a man in our town passed away. He had worked all his life on ranches 

including his own. He was well know by most of the town and well thought of. How we got involved with his funeral is that his daughter is a member of the Church so we helped setup and helped with the food after the funeral. This is the first time I have seen a funeral at a Rodeo Grounds. I felt like a tourist but wanted to document this unusual funeral. They did decorate the grounds to look nice.

I loved his hat, shows a lot of hard work.

What they took the casket in.

The procession going up Main Street to the cemetery

The Family

The casket on the way to the cemetery.

 

                                                           His last ride.

Fellow Rancher riding for the finally time with a friend.

Standard of Truth

Standard Of Truth

       We read this every morning as I am sure all missionaries do ( at least I think they do, our mission does). What a powerful statement, it hits me every time I read it that the work will go forward if we are there to help or not. Even when we make dumb mistakes, the work will go on. If missionary work was left up to man it would never succeed. This is the Lords work and with his help it will succeed. We just pray that we will make a small difference here in the Harlowton area and with the Lords help we will.

24th in Harlo

Growing up I can remember having picnics and gatherings all over the states (Texas, Utah, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Oregon, Iowa, & Colorado) to celebrate our great pioneers ancestors and their arrival in the Salt Lake Valley. The tradition lives on here in Harlo, we had a picnic on the 24th. It was fun to get together in a causal setting. All the pictures are for me so I can remember the people in the Branch years from now.

Julie Power,  Claire & Allissa Christiansen, Rebekah Jacobson. John Power with Skyar Jacobson 

Travis Jacobson, John Power and Paul Mager

Cherrel Budge, she and her husband started the Branch in 1963 with about 20 members.

Joyce Lovatto

Great food

Claire & Allissa Christianson

Becky Lewis and Rebekah with Skylar

The Power kids making Ice cream.

Linda Mager with Grandson

Joyce talking about different medicines from herbs and plants that the Pioneers would use.

Elder Brooks playing Horseshoes whenever he can. Still good form.

Dale Mager

Travis and Paul