Saturday, December 31, 2016

Rest in Peace, Ken Lynn

Kenneth Fred Lynn, our friend, neighbor, longtime member of the B7 Ward and the patriarch of his family, passed away quietly in his Bloomington home on Monday, December 26, 2017 with his family at his side after a courageous battle against cancer and Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Mona, UT in the summer of 1933, during the worst year of the Great Depression, Ken was the oldest of six children all who grew up on a farm where they learned the value of hard work and taking responsibility for their actions. 

At the age of 4, Ken accompanied his parents to Salt Lake City, presumably on a shopping trip where – in the big city about 77 miles from home – he became separated from Mom and Dad.  Without hesitation, he walked to the train tracks and began heading south.  About ten miles from where he had “misplaced” his family, he grew tired and was found by a kind-hearted woman who called the police.  Eight hours after he went missing, the youngster and his worried parents were reunited.

After graduation from Juab High School, he took a job as a ballistic meteorologist at Dugway Proving Grounds for one year, then joined the U. S. Army and served two years in Korea.  

After his discharge in 1954, he moved to Phoenix to attend school.  It was in Scottsdale where he chose his career path as a car salesman … and where he met Dorla Dean McFarland, who stood by his side for almost 48 years.  They were married in 1969 and were later sealed in the Manti LDS Temple. 

They then moved to Reno where Ken was general manager of the Ford agency for eight years, during which time he was named #1 Ford dealer in his district in 1974 and again in 1975.  In St. George, he opened and operated Lynn’s Auto Sales for twenty years.  To his friends and customers, Ken was always known as a hardworking, successful and generous man.  Upon his retirement, he had spent 50 years in the car business.

More than anything, Ken loved his family, including 5 children,19 grandchildren, 32 greats and 2 great-greats. His favorite things to do were dancing with his daughter Kendra or giving her horseback rides on his shoulders; classic movies, long road trips; country music (especially Patsy Cline); Disneyland and/or Knott’s Berry Farm; any kind of sports where his children, grandchildren – or BYU - were playing; holidays with the whole family present; family traditions, Christmas Eve parties; backyard bonfires; and Dorla, who he “treasured and made sure she knew it!”

His favorite hobby was golf – especially playing at courses in Branson, MO and Bella Vista, AK - and, for which he won several tournaments and made five holes-in-one in Reno and St. George!

Brother Lynn will be missed among those in his family and the community.  Condolences to Sister Dorla and the rest of the Lynn family.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Relief Society Celebrates Christmas

"Breathtaking" perhaps best describes the beautiful decorations at the B7 Ward Relief Society party on Thursday evening! Thanks to all who worked so hard to create this amazing and fun Christmas celebration - Debb Johnson, Bonnie Sorenson, Lain Carter, Roena Soleai, Linda Lowe (made tons of delicious homemade rolls), adorable Primary children, Katie Christensen, Taj Becker, (beautiful cello music) Brittney Munk, Karin Smith, Kim Jorgensen, Robin Walden, Andrea Luikart and all who made delicious food!

One

Unique fluffy snowflakes fall from above
Each carries a message of hope and of love.

Apart, they are cold and shrivel so tight
Void of the friendships they seek on their flight

Together, they knit such a beautiful sight,
Covering the earth with a blanket of white.

We, like the snowflakes, are miracles unique
With special gifts many others will seek

Alone, we may wander and soon become weak,
Forgetting the promises we desired so to keep.

All of God's daughters-a mighty force from above
Knit together, we blanket the earth with God's love.

-Vera Bakker
(Bonnie Sorenson's mother wrote this just for our Relief Society Christmas party)

As we entered the cultural hall, sisters were treated to cello music played by Katie Fielding and Taj Becker.

Sisters brought delicious soups, salads and cookies and Linda Lowe provided a heavenly aroma of her fresh-baked, delicious dinner rolls as we entered.  We played a "getting to know you better" activity, had dinner and then enjoyed our team building game of decorating a sister at each table as a snowman! Each table was provided with a bag of the same items to create a snowman in six minutes. (One table chose to have a melting snowman!)

Oh, and the hot chocolate bar!  It was truly gourmet, with selections of milk or dark chocolate, assorted sprinkles and flavorings and whipped cream. The presentation was a delight in and of itself.

The evening was capped of with a beautiful number sung by some of our precious Primary children and we later joined with them in song.

Our Relief Society is filled with such talented, giving and loving women! 

B7 Ward Celebrates Christmas, 2016


Breakfast with Santa Claus was a new theme for the annual B7 Ward Christmas Party held on Saturday, December 3, but ward members seemed to enjoy the early morning opportunity to gather together to celebrate the season.  

The breakfast repast was yummy with pancakes, scrambled eggs, crispy delicious and plentiful bacon, juice and milk cooked by a talented cook staff including 2nd Counselor Mike Foley and Ward Mission Leader Steve Van Wagoner.   

The program included a lively reading of “I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas” by Brother Dick Graf; a medley of Christmas songs by our own enthusiastic Primary children and, of course, a visit from Santa Claus.  It was a fun morning and everyone went home happy!