Franklin Fenimore Thompson

  Generelle notater:

Gift med Eleanor Woodmansee den 2 juni 1930 i Rexburg, Idaho, besejlet den 15 december 1983 i Idaho Falls Templet.

I was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1931 in Rexburg, Idaho to Eleanor Woodmansee and Franklin Fenimore Thompson. Thanksgiving Day has always been a special day for me. My paternal grandparents came from Denmark and Switzerland, and my maternal grandparents came from Ogden, UT. I had two younger sisters, Margaret and Barbara; and a younger brother, Rodger who passed away in 1947 of cancer. I was married to Carolyn Rasmussen on July 11, 1952 and had four children, Gay, Jill, Franklin, and Kim.

My name comes from both sides of my parents. I was named after my father but was given my mother's married name of "Woodmansee" as my middle name. I've found that over the years, my middle name is quite rare. I've always been called "Frankie" by close friends.

My childhood home seemed like a castle to me at the time. It was located in Rexburg, Idaho at 119 S. 1st W., just 1.5 blocks from main street and the schools I would attend for the next twelve years. The home was rather small really, my sister and I had our bedrooms downstairs next to the coal stoker furnace room. It was a white wood home and we always kept the yard very groomed. There was a small garage to the rear and side of the home that matched. Dad kept his only new car, a 1936 Chevrolet, there. Mom had roses, sweet peas, tulips and hollyhocks around the house. My memories of this little home are dear to me. We moved in 1946 to a larger rock home. Dad sold the old home for $4300.

If asked what are my favorite things, I would have to say reading, especially the Book of Mormon, song "I Believe in Christ," author, "Bruce R. McConkie," sport, "basketball-UT Jazz/golf," vacation spot, "St. George," and food, "chocolate/steak."

As a young child, I loved all the seasons and never gave much thought as to how hot or cold it was or how windy some days could be. I loved to ice skate on the canal in the winter along with skiing in Mill Hollow, Rexburg--it seemed so very steep. I took pride caring for my 1940 Schwinn bicycle and rode it daily when possible. I enjoyed baseball, football, track during my school years. Camping with a friend, especially with a .22 rifle was a real treat.

Here is a list of my church blessings and ordinances and ordinations:

Blessing 1/3/32 AJ Hansen
Baptism 1/4/40 TR Woodmansee
Confirmation 1/7/40 TR Woodmansee
Deacon 3/16/44 Harold Griffen
Teacher 12/7/47 DG Taylor
Elder 8/16/53 John L. Clark
Endowed 8/21/53 Idaho Falls
Seventy 11/6/73 Tom L. Perry
High Priest 11/28/76 Leo M. Smith
1st Counselor 4/13/80 Rex Bennion
Bishop 3/14/82 Val Dalling
Missionary New Zealand, Auckland 1986-87

My recollections as a young church member is rather faint. My mother taught in primary but I never can remember attending any church functions with my father. I recall how proud I was the first time I passed the sacrament as a deacon. I was never ordained as a priest and so missed out on all those blessings pertaining to that calling. Whatever promptings I received as a youth certainly came through my mother and the Woodmansee family, especially my grandmother, Elizabeth Woodmansee. She had a barn and I and my cousins had great times in that ol' barn. I recall trying to milk a cow one time--it took more muscle and strength that I had anticipated. I was glad that milking a cow wasn't one of my daily chores. Any fears I had as a child, I was able to overcome. grow and learn from.

In 1940, I remember a special Thanksgiving Day when Grandma Thompson had her five sons, their cousins, and her grandchildren all present. Grandpa had been dead for 12 years and grandma was sixty-two. Anytime family members can be together and sahre their love, it is a very special thing. I am most thankful for the small community, strong values, and simple uncomplicated times of the 30-40s that I was raised in. We loved all the seasons of the year. In winter, I recall going to the post office located on College Avenue in the evenings when people would pick up their mail, and catching the rear bumper of cars with my cousin Pete. When the cars left, we slid on our overshoes behind the cars having the times of our lives. I don't recommend this to anyone today.

Boy Scout summer camp always took place at Treasure Mountain in the Grand Teton. Our scoutmaster was LeRoy Armstrong, the city water master for over thirty-five years. He was kind and patient and a friend. He taught me how to tie all the special knows of scouting. I remember canoeing in the cold lake nearby and hiking to Table Rock near the snow line. As I became older, I realized how much of my life I had missed by not coming from a more religious family. Those set-backs in one's younger years certainly take a long time to overcome. I've always felt bad by not serving a mission when 19 years old.

As long as I could remember, my father had his own sporting goods store at two different locations on Main Street in Rexburg. At first, he occupied one side of his father's building at 19 E. In 1946, we moved to 43 E., just after World War II. I always worked with my father after school and most Saturdays. Dad sold general sporting goods along with guns, fishing tackle, lawn mowers, and Schwinn bicycles.

We repaired most everything we sold. Some of my first jobs were repairing bicycles, sharpening hand (push) mowers and gun repair. We were also the only locksmiths in town and duplicated keys and worked on locks. We sold Johnson outboard motors. I really enjoyed the business and waiting on the customers.

My mother worked at home and was always there for us. Having four children and a home was a full time job for any mother. She always had or meals on time and took much pride in a tidy home. We always looked forward to her lovely picnics and I adored her personality and care for us. We were blessed with a good bringing up, but missed many religious functions. Mother and I were close and I could talk openly about any problems. She would often sit at the piano playing favorite songs. She would sing and have me join her, which helped to build familial bonding. I loved mother very much and began to realize that her trials and tribulations were significant during her life.

I first rode a bike when I was six years old. I got on the bike seat, which was much too high for me, and peddled two blocks toward Main Street. I was tired and very unstable and didn't know how to stop the bike. There was a gas station on the corner owned by Ace Taylor. I finally ran the bike into his gas pump and fell off. The only thing that was hurt was my pride. I remember snow skiing in the early 40's. We went mostly around the house, in the fields and sometimes over to Mill Hollow which had some fun hills.

One afternoon after school, I was about seven, my good friend Lee Clark and I decided to go see the ice in a lumber mill pond just north of Rexburg. The weather was still cold so we dressed up warm and I put on some high leather boots that I had received for Christmas and were full lace all the way up. While at the pond and where the sawmill floated logs, we came upon some warm spots where the ice had melted and we could see some small fish. I tried to get close to the thin ice and fell in over my head. My screaming for help alerted three high school girls who were ice skating at the time. They were unable to reach me and I was going down for the third time. They tied their coats together by the arms and I caught a part of the material so they could pull me out, saving my life! I did get a scolding from mom when I came home sopping wet.

As a child, I remember always getting up with my sister Margaret for Christmas morning. None of the gifts were to be opened before Christmas so the excitement was very high for a child--we received very little sleep until years later. Most of the morning was devoted to just our family and a wonderful breakfast. The rest of the day was spent visiting grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. We had many relatives living close and there was an intimate bond and feeling among families that I very much enjoyed. I recall warm talks and lots of playing with each other's toys. I loved new fresh snow and enjoyed being outside. We were usually out of school for ten days and I loved the holiday spirit.

One fourth of July, dad was chairman over the "Whoopee Days" celebration. I was about fourteen. He had made arrangements for a boxing ring to be erected on Main Street right in the middle of town. Boys with little experience could volunteer to participate. The opponents were from the St. Anthony Reform School ages 12-18. I volunteered without much conditioning and after the third round, my legs were as wobbly as Jello. I ended up winning but really don't know how. Dad was a hard worker, lovable and caring. He enjoyed life and the outdoors. He was good to his family. We had wonderful discussions at work. I can still remember him singing while working in the shop sharpening hand lawn mower blades. His image has had much to do with my character. My favorite movie was "Gone With The Wind." The main star, Clark Gable reminded me of my dad in looks and mannerisms. I encourage all to see it.

Sports during my youth was never a big factor because I didn't take the time. After school and Saturdays were mostly spent at the shop working. I enjoyed playing baseball during recess and later lettered in track. I was too small for football but enjoyed watching others. At times we would go swimming up to Green Canyon or Heise Springs and enjoyed those times. I did some golfing my senior year but when my father passed away in 1956, I never played golf again until 1982. When I was in the Navy in the Philippines, I played tennis.

My first recollections of personal prayer was by my bedside next to my mother. To begin with, I would repeat words spoken from her lips, later on I would say a few of my own thoughts along with hers. As I grew a little older into my young adult years, prayer was not part of my nature... (continues to vol. 2)

  Begivenheder i hans liv:

• Bopæl: Rexburg.

• Bopæl, 1920, Rexburg, Madison, Idaho, United States.

• Obituary, 1956, Idaho, United States.