Life Sketch Of Benoni Gashum Moroni Wilkes
By Rae Ann Wilkes (Granddaughter)

"Benoni G. Wilkes, son of Martha Hunt and John Wilkes, was born in a small log house in St. Charles, Idaho, on January 24, 1887. This small house can still be seen standing in St. Charles.

"Soon after Grandpa was born, his family moved to Afton, Wyoming, to make a new home. This is where he spent his early life. He was baptized by Clarence Gardner in Afton on June 15, 1895. He was confirmed by D.C. Leavitt on June 16, 1895. His schooling was in Afton consisting of about eight years.

"When Grandpa was about fifteen years of age, he drove the mail from Afton to Freedom. He did this for four years. He also spent time working on his father's farm.

"When he was eighteen, he met Mary Emily Lindsay whom he later married. They traveled from Star Valley to Logan in a wagon to be married. This trip took a couple of days. They were married in the Logan Temple on October 11, 1905. Grandpa continued working on the farm for two years after they were married. They then had a baby daughter, Rhena Emily, on February 3, 1907. Shortly after the birth of Rhena, Grandpa started hauling freight for Burton's Mercantile where he worked for five years. During this time, Grandma gave birth to two daughters and a son, Ruth was born on May 14, 1909, and John was born August 29, 1912. In July, 1919, Mary was born living only three hours.

"These five years while hauling freight were often hard for Grandpa. While hauling cheese out from Star Valley and bringing dry goods back, the trips were often long and stormy during the winter months. Usually one trip was to be made in four days. Because of bad weather conditions, however, some trips have been known to have taken seven days. During these trips, the freighters would spend the night going and coming at a small cabin and resting place half way between Montpelier and Afton.

"In the fall of 1912, Grandpa and his family moved to this place to make their home and to take care of the stage and freighters going through. This was their home for twelve years. During the winters, Grandma and the children would stay in Afton while the children went to school while at the half-way House, they made many friends and fed many people as anyone who was weary or hungry would stop and often spend the night. Grandpa built a two-room house with an upstairs and also enough barn space to take of sixty-four head of horses.

"The winters wee often very stormy and dangerous. Sometimes the storms would be very bad, and the snow would become very deep. At one time there was six feet of snow measured on April 15th. There were the times when the Half-Way House was appreciated and put to good use. At one time Grandpa was helping some people in a bad storm get to a place between their home and Montpelier where they could camp and spend the night. After arriving at the camp safely, Grandpa left to return home alone on horseback. The storm became worse as he traveled, and soon he found himself wandering around lost. When finally he found his way home on foot, for the snow became so bad that he had to leave his horse, he was so exhausted that he fell in the door and onto the floor. His overshoes wee frozen to his shoes and his face was covered with ice and snow. This was truly a narrow escape.

"In 1925 the family moved to Montpelier, Idaho, and Grandpa became employed with the Montpelier Coal and Lumber Company. He worked there hauling coal with a team and wagon for twenty years. In 1945 he was employed for a few months on the Union Pacific Railroad. Later he worked for the San Francisco Chemical Company at the mill in Montpelier. He also worked at Leaf, Wyoming, with this company. On February 1, 1951 Grandpa met with an accident and was hospitalized for four and a half months. We all feel that he was permitted to stay with us through the great faith and prayers of so many friends and relatives. After this accident he was unable to work.

"October 11, 1955, marked fifty years of happiness of Grandma and Grandpa together. They were honored by their children with a reception in the Montpelier Fourth Ward chapel where many friends came to call.

"Grandpa is now a high priest in the Melchizedek Priesthood. He has served as a ward teacher for thirty years.

"At the present time, July 1958, Grandma and Grandpa are living at Montpelier and have most of the family close by. They have fourteen grandchildren and twenty-nine great grandchildren. They all love their Grandpa very much and often the home is crowded with grandchildren and their children.

"Grandpa passed away on May 3, 1959, in the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital in Montpelier. Funeral services were held on May 6, at 1 p.m. in the Montpelier Third-Fifth Ward Chapel. He was buried in the Montpelier Cemetery."

TO ALL WHO MAY BE CONCERNED:

"I, LaVar B. Nield, a son-in-law of Benoni G. Wilkes, wish to write the following as the closing pages of his life story. Grandpa Wilkes, as we affectionately called him, spent the last three weeks of his life in the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital under an oxygen tent. The day we took him to the hospital, he told me he would not leave the hospital alive. He also said Grandpa would not live long after he went. He said the Lord had allowed him to live the last eight years to be with Grandma. Grandpa bore testimony many times that he was healed by the power of the priesthood through administrations by the Elders of the Church. He did not lose faith in the power of the priesthood. Every night while in the hospital he asked for the Elders and seemed to rest better after being administered to.

"Grandpa's great concern was, what would happen to Grandma. He told me several times, he was ready to go (meaning to pass from this life) if he knew Grandma would be alright. I told him he could rest assured, that his children would look after Grandma. I also assured him that he and Grandma had instilled into their children the greatest love for each other and for their parents of any family I have ever known. He cried as he told me how proud he was of his family including Lucile his daughter-in-law, also his sons-in-law, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Then, as best he could, while he tried to control his tender emotions, he told me of this great love for Grandma. As he wept he said he could never have gotten along without her. He said the Lord had been good to them and blessed them with good children, for he knew they would do all they could for Grandma. He felt assured Grandma would be cared for.

"After Grandpa went to the hospital he seemed to grow weaker day by day. At the beginning of the third week the nurse said someone should stay with him at all times. This assignment was faithfully filled. Someone of the family was at his bedside until the end came May 3, 1959 at five o'clock, Sunday morning.

"I was at his bedside when he passed away. By request of Grandpa's grandson, Darrell W. Nield, and his granddaughter, Rae Ann Wilkes, who heard me relate some of the things which took place the last week as I sat at the bedside of Grandpa Wilkes. I write as follows and bear testimony that Grandpa was very close to the spirit world and at times I feel sure he was in the presence of some of his relatives who have proceeded him there.

"On the night of April 27th (1959), about eleven o'clock, the nurses came in to straighten Grandpa's bed. He had been asleep. I walked out to the waiting room and had just arrived there when one of the nurses called me saying Grandpa was terribly upset. As I arrived in his room he very boldly said, "Boy, am I glad to see you". Then he raised his head looking into the far corner of the room, he said that there was a casket standing on end wrapped in white muslin. He said the nurses think I am having a night-mare, but I am not. The casket was there alright, I saw them wheel it out of my room, I don't mean the nurses. After the nurses left the room he told me the casket he saw was not for him, but for a Brother John Adams, who had been brought into the hospital that day. He said, "LaVar, I know John Adams will die in a few days, they are after him. Then I will go. They are coming after me next, after Brother Adams". At this time John Adams was in a coma and never gain consciousness until he died May 1, at three o'clock a.m. Brother Adams came into the hospital on Monday and passed away the following Friday.

"Now, after Grandpa had told me of the things I have related, he once more carefully checked with me to be sure I understood what he wanted to take place at his funeral. He named the speakers as follows: Bishop Frank Gardner from Afton, Wyoming, one of his boyhood pals; Bishop Lorain Brown from Logan, Utah. Grandpa had previously asked Frank Gardner to speak at his funeral and before he died he asked Lorain Brown if he would fulfill this assignment at his funeral. Grandpa also had told us, myself and all members of his family, he wanted the following as pallbearers: Murray Wilkes, Junior Brown, Thede Holbrook, nephews, and Darrell Nield and John B. Nield, grandsons. As he reviewed the pallbearers he told me he was not sure Junior Brown would be well enough to take part and said if not, to have Mack Brown act in his stead. This was typical of grandpa to be so kind and considerate, not to want anyone to be harmed in any way. After being assured I understood his desires in this respect, he asked about his financial affairs. Make sure everything was taken care of as he desired. This was to be handled by his son, John, and by Grandma. Once more he asked me about Grandma asking if I thought she would be alright. I once more assured him all would be well with Grandma. He then said I would also like Bishop Eugene Shepherd to speak at the funeral. After Grandpa relieved his mind of these things I have written of he seemed much relaxed and slept most of the remainder of the night.

"The next few days from Monday until Friday morning he seemed to be of better spirit, but growing weaker each day. Grandma, Rhena, and Ruth were very attentive to Grandpa. One or two of them were at his bedside every day. John, his son, came in from Pocatello every few days and spent as much time with Grandpa and Grandma as he could. The week before Grandpa died John brought his family and stayed for a few days. This pleased Grandpa very much as he had the privilege of seeing and talking to them, even Rickey, Grandpa's pride and joy, was permitted to visit with him. Merlin and Ruth spent every evening the last week with Grandpa and I am sure they had the feeling he was very close to the spirit world.

"Now, as I related before, Grandpa predicted that Brother John Adams would be the first to pass away after he had first seen the casket for Brother Adams. Friday morning at three o'clock, I was sitting by Grandpa's bedside. He seemed to be sleeping soundly, when all of a sudden he raised up and looked about. He then asked me if I turned on a bright light. I replied, stating that I hadn't. He said some one did and it went right out again. Almost at that instant the nurse came to close the door and told me that Brother Adams had just died. Grandpa senses something was wrong. Then he asked and I told him that Brother Adams had just died. Grandpa again told me that he would go next. At this time the nurse came in and gave him a sedative to help him sleep and to ease the pain. Grandpa soon fell asleep and slept the rest of the night.

"Friday morning about six o'clock Grandpa work up. When I asked how he felt, he said, "I rested well". Then he said, "I am hungry". He asked for a drink of milk. I called the nurse and she brought the milk. Grandpa drank the most of it. He seemed a little better, but was terribly weak and having a hard time to breathe. I asked if he would like a shave. He said he would. I used an electric razor putting my arm through the opening in the oxygen tent so not to interfere with his oxygen supply. He seemed to enjoy the shave and thanked me, showing appreciation as always.

"The nurse soon came in with the breakfast tray. Grandpa ate very little of it. It was such an effort for him to breathe. His son, John, came Friday morning and spent most of the day with him. As John left to return home, Grandpa told him that he didn't know if he would see him again or not. Grandpa realized his time was short. He told me that night he could tell his body was dying from his feet up.

"Friday night was a restless night. He could hardly wait for the time to come when the nurse could give him another shot. Saturday was also a bad day for him. His breath seemed to come hard and at times he had quite a struggle to breathe. Grandma, Ruth and Rhena were with him most all day. Grandpa was conscious all of the time. About eleven o'clock p.m. I persuaded Rhena and Grandma to go home and get some rest. As they kissed Grandpa goodnight, he asked God to bless them, saying he didn't know if he would see them the next day or not. Ruth and Merlin stayed until after midnight before going home. Grandpa struggled for breath all night. He seemed to suffocate and was in so much agony. He prayed many times asking the Lord to take him. He continually asked me to ask the nurse to give him something to make him sleep that he might be relieved. When I told him the nurse could only give what the doctor had ordered I said, "Grandpa, you wouldn't want the nurse to do something wrong, would you?" He said no he wouldn't and apologized for asking. I told him the Lord had said, "Blessed is he that endureth to the end." He said yes he knew that and would try to rest. The nurse soon came and gave him a shot in the arm. He did quiet down for a while, but awakened about four o'clock. As I stepped to his bedside he asked who I was and for a moment didn't recognize me. When I told him my name he apologized. He then asked about Grandma and if I thought she would be alright. I again told him of the great love and kindness of his family and that Grandma would be in good hands. He again told me that Grandma would soon be with him. He said, "I know I am dying and you know I am too, don't you?" I told him he should try to rest and not try to talk. He dozed for a few minute then asked for a drink. I gave it to him. He then asked me what he should do, if he should just give up or try to live. But, before I answered him he said, "I have made up my mind, I am going to hand onto life as long as I can." I felt he was saying, "Blessed is he that endureth to the end." He then told me I should try to get some rest. He said you are just as tired as I am. He continued by saying "We will get some rest now, you had better rest too, you looked tired."

"As Grandpa spoke I felt the presence of Uncle Ed Wilkes, Grandpa's brother, who had died about two years earlier. Grandpa did seem to relax and rest for just a few minutes. When he awakened he called me and asked for help. It seemed that every organ of his body was in distress. I tried to help him and rang for the nurse. They came as quickly as they could, but was delayed a little. As they came in, two of them, they said a baby had just been born. When they looked at Grandpa they said nothing could be done for him. He had closed his eyes in death.

"As I witnessed this scene that night I thanked God in my heart for a way of life that would produce men like Grandpa, who was an example to us all. A man whose good qualities will live in the memory of all who knew him and his good wife who is of the same sterling quality. I also thanked God for a program in life to bring release to the human family when our work in mortality is finished.

"Now, as I close the life story of Grandpa Benoni G. Wilkes, I pay tribute to one of the most noble persons I have ever known. I am proud to be numbered with his family as the husband of his daughter, Rhena, who has the same good and noble qualities of her father and mother. May God help me that I might be worthy of my good wife and her heritage and also our posterity."

Aunt Mamie and Uncle Noen. Taken about 1905

Rhena, John, Ruth. About 1912-13

Rhena and Ruth at 'Halfway House' about 1920

Front: John, Aunt Mamie, Uncle Noen. Back: Ruth, Rhena. Taken about 1940.

Aunt Mamie and Uncle Noen.

Aunt Mamie and Uncle Noen.

Back: Roma Parker, John B., Rhena Louise Taite, Mary Lou Bunn. Middle: Betty Ruth Thurber, Naomi Grunig, Darrell N.. Front: Rhena Wilkes Nield, LaVar Nield. Picture taken about 1975.

Rhena Emiley Wilkes:

I was born of goodly parents, my father being Benoni Gashum Moroni Wilkes and my mother Mary Emiley Lindsay.

When I was five years old, Dad and Mother decided to move to a halfway house between Afton and Montpelier. Previously my father had worked for the Burton Mercantile store driving one of their teams hauling freight between Montpelier and Afton and often stopped at the halfway house where they had room in the barn for their horses and a bunk house where they could bed won for the night. During these trips my father started to dream dreams. Why not homestead the area where the halfway house was located, buy the buildings and get in business for himself. In 1912 we moved to the place where Dad built more barn room, enough to take care of thirty five teams.

By the time I reached eight years of age my parents saw that it would now be necessary for Mother to keep us children in Afton so we could attend school. From thereon the family were mainly separated excepting during the summer months. Ruth and I were always together. We roamed the hills and picked wild flowers, spending a lot of time in the mountains.

In the fall when I was 13 I became sick and the doctor said I had diphtheria which caused paralysis and I was able to see very little. I was able to move my arms and hands but had no use of my legs. I was confined to a chair or the bed. That winter when our stake conference was being held we had a General Authority attend. While he was there he and the stake president came to see me and while they were there they layed their hands on my head and gave me a blessing. I must say I could feel the spirit of the Lord present as I never had before. I knew at that time I would get well and be able to walk again. From that time on I continued to get better and about six months later I was well and normal again. During the time of my illness I did a lot of hand-work, sewing, tatting, crocheting and embroidering.

Along about the seventeenth year I was working at the telephone company as an operator and the love-bug bit me. LaVar Nield, formerly of Afton, but he was living in Montpelier at the time, and I were married in the Logan Temple on the 10th of June 1925.

LaVar, with his brother, had previously leased and were operating a small transfer company, in fact, had already enlarged their company by purchasing a couple of competitors. There was a severe depression following World War I and on two separate occasions - a year or so apart - the banks they were depositing in both closed their doors. This became very discouraging and they had to close their business. After going into Utah to work for farmers during the harvest they slipped back into the freighting business delivering potatoes from Utah into the Montpelier and Afton areas. This was but temporary when they contracted to get fire wood from the canyons for the Burton Creamery Company in Afton.

They felt their fortune had to be in Montpelier where they again took over the livery barns and dray business. It was at this point that LaVar and I were married. The Nield Brother's Transfer expanded and went into the sand and gravel business and, also went into the ice business harvesting as much as four hundred tons of ice each winter which they put in saw-dust storage for summer use. Soon after they even expanded their now growing business and started a truck line between Montpelier and Pocatello. Freighting by truck was an entirely new venture for up until but a few years earlier all freighting was done by horse and wagon.

And then the Depression of the 1930's which was something else, and which we would all like to forget. The truck line was sold and we added to our other portion of our business an excavating trench digging business and later got into a coal yard business.

After a number of years LaVar sold his interest in the business to his brother and, with his son-in-law, Harold Grunig and bought the John Deere Implement business and about that time I chose to start a little shop which we labeled "Rhena's Cradle to School Store". The business expanded until we found larger quarters but, due to being on my feet too much, I developed feet and leg problems which caused us to decide I couldn't continue and we sold the shop.

After a few years in the implement business LaVar sold his interest to Harold, our son-in-law, and as if he hadn't had enough he and another son-in-law, Don Parker, went into the tire business. Twelve to fifteen years ago LaVar sold his interest there to Don although he continue to assist at that shop when needed.

We have had a wonderful life filled with adventure, with the joy of a wonderful family (five girls and two boys) Namoa, Roma, Darrell, Betty Ruth, Mary Lue, John B., and Rhena Louise. They all completed high school and the boys graduated from college, Darrell with a B.A. and John B. With a PhD. Both boys and Roma filled a mission for the Church. All seven children have married in the temple and are all, with their families, active in the Church. LaVar and I have been active having held any number of positions in the various wards we have been in as, also, in the stake.

Ruth Wilkes: By daughter, Nada Jean Dunn Thomas.

Ruth was born to Benoni and Mary Lindsey Wilkes in Afton, Wyoming, on the 14th of May 1909. The family lived the early part of her life at the half-way house between Montpelier, Idaho and Afton. They moved into Afton during the winter months after the children became old enough to attend school.

After moving to Montpelier Ruth met and married Thomas Merlin Dunn. Here they raised their family consisting of three girls and one boy, Allen, JoAnn, Nada Jean and Merla.

Her hands were always busy making beautiful articles either sewn, crocheted, or knitted for those she loved. Ruth was a very gracious lady. She died 10th of October 1967. Her posterity consists of four children, seventeen grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren as of 16th of June 1984.

John Raymond Wilkes: By daughter, Rae Ann Wilkes Merrill.

John was born 29 Aug 1912 at Afton. He attended school in Afton and Montpelier. He married Lucile Tueller of Montpelier in the Salt Lake Temple on 7th September 1933.

During the depression of the 1930's work was very hard to find and wages were low. After seven years their first child, Rae Ann, was born on 9th of June 1940. The next year they moved to Salt Lake where John had secured a truck driving job for Safeway Stores between Salt Lake the California coast. When World War II broke out the Union Pacific railroad advertized jobs were available so they moved back to Montpelier where John secured a job as fireman but due to work not being steady they moved to Kemmerer where the work was steadier. For the next few years work was still unsteady and they returned to Montpelier. Daughter Linda was born in a1943 and son, Richard (Ricky), in 1953 both in Montpelier.

In 1955 John became an engineer on the railway but found this job took him away from home even more than that of fireman. Eventually a move to Pocatello was found practicable. They loved camping and fishing and it so happened John and Lucille were on a short fishing trip with their camper and were camped on Hebgen Lake, Montana, the night before the earthquake of 1959 that claimed the lives of over 200 campers. A last minute decision took them to camp that night at Madison Junction in Yellowstone Park. Even there they were badly shaken up by the quake but no lives were lost there.

By 1970 it was found that Lucille had colon cancer for which she was operated on. For two or three additional years she enjoyed reasonably good health but by fall of 1974 the doctors confirmed that this dreaded disease was still pestering her. On the 30th of September John's mother, Mamie Wilkes, passes away in an Idaho Falls Nursing Home and in October Lucille was admitted to the hospital and passed away on 18th of December 1974. Surviving her was her husband, John, and children, Rae Ann, Linda and Richard and six grandchildren.

In February of 1983 John remarried. They now spend their winters in Arizona, California and Washington state, the latter two states where their children live.

Daughter, Linda, died as a young 39 year old mother on the 13th of April 1983 leaving her husband and two little children, Kelly Ann 13 and little Kasey John 4. Son Eric had passed away when he was but a year old.

Father, John, wrote the following poem in honor of his beloved daughter, Linda, which was read at the funeral service.

Dear Linda, I've been looking back and remembering: I guess that's what all Dads do, For the years have built so many memories, And I thought that I'd share them with you.

A most special day when you came along' Now another daughter we had, Our Linda, so tiny and bouncy and dear, A delight to your Mother and Dad. What a carefree and happy person you were, And yet what a caring one, too; You were always concerned about others, Our little worrywart, Pooh.

And how you loved puppies when you were a kid, There was always one somewhere around. Of course, there were other pets as you grew up, But puppies were favorites, we found.

And how close you were to that Mother of yours, And that closeness was lovely to see, For love between Mother and daughter, you know, Is just what was meant to be.

I remember so well your beautiful voice, As you sang years ago, my dear, At that State Fair in Idaho, and today In church it rings out true and clear.

You like having people around you, And seem to make friends every day. For still you're a most caring person, And I'm proud that you've stayed just that way.

What a comfort it's been, since your Mother's been gone To have had you supporting me still For happiness means a sharing of love, And happiness always will.

And you hold such a special place in my heart, My Linda - and as older I grow, The years of your life make my life more complete, So I just thought I'd tell you so.

Love, Dad

AN APOLOGY FROM JOHN

There appears no other place to insert this particular page than here and while it is going from the sublime to the ridiculous this writer is here inclined to let the reader in on what has been going on behind the scenes.

Just one day prior to our deadline to take this manuscript to the printers we were carrying a concern. We felt confident we should hear from John Raymond Wilkes son of Uncle Noen and Aunt Mamie from Mesa, Arizona but we hadn't. There was concern. We couldn't help but, feel John had not received our questionaire and, almost in desperation, a letter was put in the mail box to John's daughter, Rae Ann, asking where we could find her father. Our note to her was placed in our mailbox to be picked up by our mailman. Quite coincidentally, the mailman not only picked up our outgoing letter but he also left a letter from John.

We were sure John would have an explanation. He did and it follows:

And John adds, "I'm getting there"

John, you leave us with real concern. You only have to multiply your admitted condition by two and you will find yourself in the same condition some of us who are considerably older than you. Your problems are just beginning, we are sorry to have to report.

There has been so little humor in this book your bit of 'sunshine' has made the day for us all. Thanks, John.