I am afraid the Ross household are temple tourists. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a couple of quirks. One of which, I like to drive by temples. The more distant a location, the greater likelihood I will plan visiting a temple. Even if it is just to drive past and snap a picture. Now that my children are old enough to attend the temple, my unwritten goal is to attend various temples. In visiting with Aliza and Hiram, they have not been keeping much of a record. Here I am, trying to re-create a list of temples they both have attended 2022 to present. I can cheat because we often take a picture while there.
Aliza could start attending the temple in January 2022. We did not have any goals for attendance, usually just whenever our Burley 11 Ward would go to the temple.
16 April 2022 – Pocatello Idaho Temple – Bill Teal, Mary Lou Teal, Amanda Ross, Aliza Ross, Paul Ross, Eliza Hales, Brad Hales, Aleah Hales
14 May 2022 – Logan Utah Temple – Paul and Aliza Ross with Aleah, Brad, and Eliza Hales
31 December 2022 – Brigham City Utah Temple – Paul Ross, Aleah Hales, Eliza Hales, Brad Hales, Aliza Ross, Amanda Ross
28 April 2023 – Ogden Utah Temple
27 May 2023 – Bountiful Utah Temple – Paul and Aliza Ross, Brad, Aleah, and Eliza Hales, Marianne Christensen
19 August 2023 – Twin Falls Idaho Temple – Paul Ross, Brad Hales, Aliza Ross, Aleah Hales, Eliza Hales
Hiram could start attending the temple in January 2024. That year the Burley 8 Ward (we moved houses) asked that we set a goal of attending monthly in 2024. We fulfilled that goal.
12 January 2024 – Pocatello Idaho Temple – Amanda, Aliza, Milo, Hiram, and Paul Ross
23 March 2024 – Manti Utah Temple – Amanda, Paul, Hiram, James, Lillie, and Aliza Ross with Jill Hemsley
17 May 2024 – Layton Utah Temple – Lillian Ross, Paul Ross, Amanda Ross, Aliza Ross, Bryan Hemsley, Jill Hemsley, James Ross, Hiram Ross
18 May 2024 – Taylorsville Utah Temple – Bryan Hemsley, James Ross, Jill Hemsley, Aliza Ross, Lillian Ross, Hiram Ross, Amanda Ross, Paul Ross
11 October 2024 – Deseret Peak Utah Temple – Paul Ross, James Ross, Amanda Ross, Hiram Ross, Aliza Ross, Jill Hemsley, Lillie Ross, Bryan Hemsley, Shanna Thompson
16 May 2025 – Syracuse Utah Temple
30 August 2025 – Elko Nevada Temple – Brad and Rachel Hales Family with Ross Family with Lea Pierucci Izama (exchange student from Germany, staying with Hales family)
8 November 2025 – Burley Idaho Temple, Amanda Ross, Brad Hales, Anson Hales, Aleah Hales, James Ross (front), Lea Pierucci Izama (back), Paul Ross, Audra Hales, Aliza Ross
This was a fun visit. Some of the kids commented about where under the temple, in the foundations, might their rocks be found? We all submitted rocks with thoughts and our names on them that were placed before the foundations were poured.
14 November 2025 – Burley Idaho Temple – Hiram Ross, Amanda Ross, Lillie Ross, Rowan Hemsley (arm around), Margo Hemsley, Bryan Hemsley, Olivia Hemsley, Jill Hemsley, Jack Hemsley, James Ross, Paul Ross, Aliza Ross, Jordan Hemsley, Derek Hemsley
And other drive by shootings related to temples in 2022-2025.
29 November 2025 – Provo City Utah Temple – Paul, Aliza, and Hiram Ross with Jill Hemsley
23 December 2025 – Laie Hawaii Temple – Amanda and Paul Ross
This is only a record of attending the temple for Aliza and Hiram. Many know I have had my own personal goal for monthly attending the temple from September 1998 to the present.
Before I talk about the Layton and Taylorsville Temples, I thought I better throw in another temple visit we made since I last updated. While on Spring Break this year, we made a stop in Vernal, Utah. While there, we scheduled and attended the Vernal Utah Temple with the kids. Glad we stopped to make another memory at another House of the Lord.
Hiram and Aliza at Vernal Utah Temple on 27 March 2024
Since the kids have a goal to attend the temple every month this year, we did also make it in April to the Twin Falls Temple. In May, while going to Utah for the open houses, we made sure to stop off and fulfill the monthly goal. May took us to Ogden Utah Temple.
Hiram and Aliza Ross at Ogden Utah Temple 17 May 2024
Later that evening, we attended the open house of the Layton Utah Temple with Amanda’s parents. Beautiful.
Paul, Lillian, Amanda, Aliza, James, and Hiram Ross with Bryan and Jill Hemsley 17 May 2024
We look forward to attending the temple after it is dedicated.
The next day we attended the open house for the Taylorsville Utah Temple, again with Amanda’s parents. We were also excited to run into the Brad and Rachel Hales family as well as Sarah Sanderson!
Bryan and Jill Hemsley with James, Aliza, Lillian, Hiram, Amanda, and Paul Ross 18 May 2024
It has been a crazy year for temple attendance and temple open houses. We have attended quite a few and quite a few are coming up for open houses. Wow, should be fun. It is exciting that the Kingdom and Church of God on the earth is in such a position to build so many beautiful houses to the Lord. We are blessed to attend the open houses and hopefully return some day to participate in holy ordinances there.
When I was interviewed for my first temple recommend in 1998, President Gene Hansen indicated he had a goal since he was first endowed to attend the temple every single month. He challenged me to do the same. As long as I have held a recommend, or I had permission to attend, I have attended the temple every single month since 1998. That meant a full day off of work in Missouri as it was a 4 hour drive one way from Branson, Missouri, to St. Louis, Missouri. Or from Richmond, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., that was a 4-5 hour drive and we often would go up and spend the night and return home on Saturday or Sunday depending on the circumstances.
Many open houses are upcoming, including Deseret Peak Utah; Casper Wyoming; Grand Junction Colorado; Elko Nevada; Syracuse Utah; Burley Idaho; Lindon Utah; Ephraim Utah; Smithfield Utah; Montpelier Idaho; Heber Valley Utah; Teton River Idaho; Salt Lake City Utah; Provo Rock Canyon Utah; Cody Wyoming; Lethbridge Alberta; Lehi Utah; and West Jordan Utah. Hopefully we can make some of the more exotic ones, particularly Birmingham England; Edinburgh Scotland; Honolulu Hawaii; and Vancouver British Columbia. We will see what our future holds.
I thought it would be appropriate to commemorate the 100th birthday of my Grandpa, Wilburn Norwood Jonas. He went by Norwood his whole life, or Nor to those closest.
Grandpa was born 15 May 1924 in Lewiston, Cache, Utah to Lillian Coley and Joseph Nelson Jonas. The fourth child of eight to his parents. He marriedColleen Mary Andra 27 September 1946 in Elko, Elko, Nevada. Three children were born to him and Colleen; Douglas in 1952, Sandra in 1954, and Jackie in 1960. He died 14 March 1975 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho and was buried 19 March 1975 in Richmond, Cache, Utah.
I was trying to think of a way to commemorate Grandpa. As linked above, I have written of him before. This week, I went through an old book I have that belong to Norwood’s dad, Joseph. Inside were some newspaper clippings and notes. One linked to Grandpa. I share it to show that research is ongoing and can be found anywhere! Just takes a little luck, heaven’s guidance, and you will stumble on them. I will wrote more on the book and other clippings inside later.
Park School was in Richmond. It was only razed in the past few years. Grandpa went to North Cache High School, although he did not graduate. This clipping also has Irwin written in to it. Which tells me he was missed or it is the wrong Jonas boy that was listed. Although, I do have a class picture of Irwin and Norwood together, so I am not clear if that tips it one way or the other.
“Name Graduates of Park School
“The Richmond Park School commencement exercises will be held in the Benson Stake tabernacle Thursday, at 8 p. m.
“The program follows: Processional; Invocation, Bishop J. M. Godfrey; salutation, Garr Christensen; music, school orchestra; talks, Norma Kaye Funk, Margaret Merrill; music, class; class history, Joyce Larson; presentation of class gift, Oral L. Ballam Jr.; awarding of prizes and the presentation of the class. Principal G. G. Merrill; awarding of certificates, Levi H. Allen; class song, class; adjournment to the community building for dancing; benediction, S. W. Allen.
“The list of graduates are: Ivan Anderson, Oral Ballam, LaMarr Carlson, Archie Carver, Garr Christensen, Don Hansen, Warren Hamp, [Irwin written in, referring to Irwin Jonas], Norwood Jonas, Robert Johnson, Glenn Mortensen, Junior Peterborg, Darrell Smith, Gail Spackman, Alvin Spackman, Allen Spackman, James Scott, Boyd Tripp, Olive Biggs, Dorma Anderson, Joy Erickson, Norma Kaye Funk, Bernice Frandsen, Ruth Hutchison, Nadine Johnson, Eva Kershaw, Virginia Kirstofferson, Elaine Lewis, Anna May Lawrence, Joyce Larson, Margaret Merrill, Dorothy Nielsen, Beth Rich, Afton Sorensen, Lyle Wilding.
Here is the class picture with many of these same names. It also includes Irwin and Norwood. I have written about it previously.
I really do not know anything about this photo. This was one of many photos that were in the Todd/Coley collection that I scanned in 2014. On the back of it was written “Leander Harral Twin Falls” in pencil. I really was not sure if that was enough information. This must have been a friend of Melvin Todd.
Doing a quick search today, I found an obituary for a Leander Harral. Everything seems to be a match. I uploaded the photo to his profile on FamilySearch.
Leander H. Harral
Des Moines, Iowa – Leander H. Harral, 84, died January 15, 2020. Born and reared in Twin Falls, Idaho. Graduated from Idaho State University with a B.S. in business, a minor in accounting. Worked for the State of Iowa, Department of Education for 30 years. Served in the US Army, post Korean Conflict for 6 years. He was active in Neighborhood Organizations in Des Moines. He loved to fish and travel. Most of all he loved his AKC Champion Border Terriers competing in Earthdog, Tracking, Agility, Rally and Obedience. Most rewarding to him was when he did volunteering with his therapy dog, Joy.
Survived by his wife, a 60 year marriage, Olga “Trudy” (Nerge) Harral; good neighbor and friend, Terry Davis; sister-in-law, Betty Lou (Paul) Schwake; sister, June (Wayne Tardiff) Harral; brother, Quintin (Avon) Harral; many nieces and nephews, great- and great-great-.
Leander was preceded in death by his parents, Quintin and Louise (Engelbrecht) Harral; father and mother-in-law, Clarence and Doris Nerge; sister and brother-in-law, Jacqueline and Raymond Davis; and brother-in-law, Harold Haverkamp.
Services will be held at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Waterloo, Iowa at a later date for the immediate family. Arrangements handled by Hamilton’s Funeral Home.
Here is another photo of the bunch. It shows Quinton Harral on it.
Quinton Harral
I found this obituary for Quinton Harral, he passed away just last year.
Quintin Henry Harral, age 86, passed away peacefully early Sunday morning on July 16, 2023, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, from post surgical complications.
Quintin was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, on July 23, 1936, to Quintin Leander Harral and Louise Lulu Engelbrecht Harral. Quintin was the second of three children, Leander, an older brother by 16 months and a younger sister, June, 2 years later.
Quintin grew up in Twin Falls and was a member of the first graduating class of Twin Falls High School in 1954. He then attended Idaho State College which is now called Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, and graduated in the Votec Auto Body and Fender Program. He also was a member of the ISU Marching Band. Quintin was a premier trumpeter and was often requested to play “Taps” at funerals and events.
He met Leona Rosa Henrie on October 31, 1957, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, while he was drag racing down Main Street. They eloped to Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 17, 1957. They were later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Quintin’s and Leona’s children are: Cindy Lu, Pamela Joy (deceased), Bruce Quin, and Anthony Vail. They raised their four children while living in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Boise, and Pocatello, Idaho. Leona passed away on June 21, 1993, in Pocatello, Idaho. On January 17, 1998, Quintin married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple Patricia Jane Hancock Anderson. Patricia passed away on November 24, 2001, in Pocatello, Idaho. On November 29, 2003, Quintin married, and is survived by Avon Woolstenhulme Hillman in Eagle, Idaho.
Quintin worked as a Body and Fender man at C Ed Flandro’s in Pocatello and Theisen Motor Company in Twin Falls after he and Leona married. In 1967, he changed careers and went to work for Farmers Insurance Company in Boise, Idaho, as an Auto Claims Adjuster. In 1971, he was promoted to the Pocatello Regional Office of Farmers Insurance as the Regional Auto Physical Damage Claims Manager overseeing Idaho, Montana, and Utah. Quintin retired from Farmers Insurance in 1998.
Quintin loved cars and racing. Drag racing was his obsession. Prior to retiring and Leona’s death, his two sons formed the “Harral Racing Team.” His daughter, Pam, was even involved in the racing world.
Quintin was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He joined the church in 1963, in Twin Falls, Idaho, and remained a faithful member. He had a strong testimony and never doubted it. He was always participating in many acts of service. He and Avon lived in St. George then returned to Ammon, Idaho, where they served a Humanitarian Mission and worked in the Idaho Falls Temple. Quintin held many church callings, including Elders Quorum President twice, Sunday School President, Ward Membership Clerk, Ward Clerk, and Financial Clerk for four different Bishops. He served a service mission in the East Pocatello Stake while he and Patricia were married.
Quintin is survived by his wife, Avon Hillman; daughter, Cindy Lu Latimore (Mark) of Chubbuck, Idaho; son, Bruce Quin Harral (Cathy) of Eagle, Idaho; and son, Anthony Vail Harral (Bobbie) of Pocatello, Idaho; sister, June Harral of Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; and sister-in-law, Trudy Harral of Des Moines, Iowa; as well as his 14 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Preceding Quintin in death is Leona Henrie, wife; Patricia Anderson, wife; daughter, Pamela Harral; brother, Leander Harral; and his parents, Quintin Leander Harral and Lousie Lulu Engelbrecht Harral.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the Cortland Ridge Ward, 3934 E. 49th S., in Ammon. The family will visit with friends from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. in the Mountain View Cemetery in Pocatello, Idaho.
Lastly, there was this photo of Quinton, Leander, and June. Quinton’s obituary indicate she lives in Florida and is still alive.
For the 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse on October 14, we traveled to Wells, Nevada. We wanted to be in the path of totality for the full experience.
Ruby Valley Branch Church
We booked a hotel in Wells, Nevada and drove down Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we found out the entire hotel had been somehow double booked. There was no room at the inn. That was a total surprise and disappointment. We looked up available hotels, there was nothing available within many miles. The options were either to just sleep in our van or go home. We could have ventured back to Jackpot for a really expensive hotel room, or… We just didn’t know.
Aliza Ross, Zach Smart, Hiram Ross, Amanda Ross, James Ross, Alyssa Smart, Jill and Bryan Hemsley, and Lillie Ross looking heavenward
We did have a dinner appointment with Jordan and Kari Brough. Since we already had that dinner appointment, we decided to keep it and figure things out later. He was a missionary in Oklahoma City and we have kept in contact over the years. I knew he was in Nevada. I reached out and indicated we would be in his neck of the woods and he invited us over (he said to return the favor of dinners in Oklahoma. We had a great dinner with them and their three little children. The food and company was great, very worth the visit.
Amanda Ross, Alyssa Smart, and Jill Hemsley at Ruby Valley
After dinner, the Broughs asked us about our hotel accommodations. We were not planning on saying anything but we told them. They expanded their dinner invitation to include overnight stay! Which, we were afraid we would impose on them and they would do such. Kari is also pregnant. We had very limited options so we were happy for the chance. We emphasized that they must give us an opportunity to return the favor. We expressly invited them for the Burley Idaho Temple Open House or any other time they may be in our area.
Partial Eclipse at Ruby Valley Cemetery, behind Ruby Valley LDS church building
Another perk of staying at the Brough home was that they live in Clover Valley, part of the way between Wells and Ruby Valley. It reduced part of our trip to Ruby Valley. We had a pleasant breakfast with the Broughs, saw their chickens, and headed out.
Shadows on a wall during the full annular eclipse in Ruby Valley
We had already designated Ruby Valley as the location to meet with Amanda’s family from Utah. We chose The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints branch building in Ruby Valley. The Broughs told us to look out for the Neff family while we were there. Sure enough, a contingent of their family were there to watch the eclipse at the building too.
Solar Eclipse Timelapse by Bryan Hemsley
We went to Rexburg in 2017 for the total eclipse so we had expected something similar. It certainly did not get as dark. Bryan had his camera taking proper shots as the eclipse occurred. You can see the result above. We were very luck to be between clouds for the entire eclipse. The forecast had said it would be about 30% cloud cover, and they were about right. We were really worried we would get cloud cover for the full eclipse and we might not be able to see the sun at all.
Leading up to full eclipse, what we called cartoon shadows
Nothing quite adds up in the mind with the changes of light with an eclipse. This was no different. Even as we were driving out to Ruby Valley and the partial eclipse was starting, my eyes were not happy. My mind seemed to be trying to focus as it recognized something was wrong with the light.
Before the eclipse, the shows reflect the eclipse. You can see the full eclipse above with full circles.
It was already a partially chilly day. I do not think the eclipse helped at all. But we were just along for the ride.
After the eclipse, the webbing of our shadows
It was worth the drive. We are already looking into plans to make the April 2024 eclipse happen. It might be the last chance our children, or either of us, get to experience another eclipse in our lifetime. Where to go to maximize the eclipse length, reduce travel issues, lower costs, but yet avoid potential cloud cover. Where will we end up?
Bryan Hemsley, Amanda Ross, and Zach Smart after the total annular eclipse
