May 28-June 3, 2023
SUNDAY
There was a visitor at church today. After Sacrament meeting, he came up to the organ while I was playing postlude and introduced himself. It was an acquaintance from San Bernardino, Dave Dotter. I have not seen him for at least 30 years and had no idea who he was until he introduced himself. He is in Europe for his work, which is to inspect and help with renovation of the temples and church buildings. He oversaw the building of the Northpark Building in San Bernardino and we knew his family then. What a small world in the Church!
A quiet afternoon was welcomed after the last two days in Belgium with the Senior Couples.
MONDAY
Mondays are always a busy day at the office, especially since we were gone for a couple days last week. 😁
It is Ascension Day here in The Netherlands. Almost all the businesses are closed today. For a country with few religious people, there sure are a lot of religious holidays!
TUESDAY
We were pleasantly surprised to have visitors at the office today. Hannah Hammer recently returned home from her mission here and her grandparents along with their youngest son are visiting Europe. They came to Gouda for the cheese and saw the Mission Office so they stopped in. What a treat for us to meet more of Hannah's family!
We were invited to celebrate Elder Leman's birthday by having dinner at Alja and Henk's house. As we were visiting, she asked what we would miss from The Netherlands when we go home in a few months. Really, it's the people like Alja and Henk! They have become such good friends. We will certainly miss them.
We talked about the differences in the foods traditionally eaten here. For instance, for breakfast every morning Henk has bread with butter and hagelslag (basically, chocolate sprinkles). The idea of eating eggs for breakfast is very foreign to them. Eggs are often eaten for dinner. It is so interesting to experience the differences in culture.
WEDNESDAY
I decided to eat a traditional Dutch breakfast this morning!
Doug cleaned the 'back yard' parking area at the office today. The trees have dropped old blossoms so every time you step into a car, it tracks in the foliage. So he got the gas powered blower and cleaned the area. When he came back into the office, Jeff Wagner was on the phone with his wife. He had gone for a bike ride, crashed and was not sure where he was or how the accident had happened. Doug talked to him for a few minutes, we figured out where he was and the three of us went to pick him up. As we are driving, Doug noticed a hole in his suit pants. Apparently, the gas from the blower had leaked and had now eaten a hole through the fabric. It wasn't torn...just deteriorated. Crazy!
We took dinner to Martin and Ilona Kleijweg tonight. They are having some challenges in their extended family and it has been hard to know what we can do to help. So we took dinner and stayed to share it with them. We love being in their home and they said they enjoyed the conversation and diversion. Another great family we will definitely miss when we return home.
THURSDAY
Our regular Thursday dinner with the missionaries. This is the last time for Sister Flake and Elder Blodgett as they will both return home next week. Doug asked them to share their testimonies and some things they have learned. I was so touched by Sister Flake. She talked about the story of the orchestra leader who said that everyone wanted to play First Violin but few people want to play Second Violin. But in reality, the Second Violin adds harmony and richness to the orchestra and is just as important. She related herself to the Second Violin because she doesn't really see herself as a leader but has come to recognize that her role is just as important. I love that thought so much. We are all important! We are not and should not be all the same. We all have talents and gifts.
SATURDAY
Lache Majola was baptized today! She and her husband moved to Utrecht a few months ago from South Africa. Her husband, Msingathi, joined the Church 10 years ago. They married last year and Lache has been investigating the Church since then. It was a beautiful day! Msingathi gave a talk on baptism and Doug spoke about the Holy Ghost.The Gift of the Holy Ghost comes as we 'receive' it. We renew our covenants each week as we partake of the sacrament. We promise to "take upon [us] the name of thy son". This means that we do what He would do, live like Him, become like Him. We also promise to "always remember Him". He should be the focus of our lives. If we do those things the promise to us is "that [we] may always have his Spirit to be with [us]".
Dwight's parents passed away within 12 days of each other and today a double funeral took place. Thankfully, technology made it possible for us to 'attend' the funeral. Dwight and several of his siblings spoke about their parents. Beautifully done!
Though it is a loss, Edie called it 'romantic'. What a blessing for them to pass together. They leave a wonderful posterity and tradition of service in the Church. Both of them and all 9 of their children served full-time missions!
Clinton Arlo Michaelson
Clinton Arlo Michaelson, 96, peacefully passed away due to natural causes, surrounded by family members on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in South Jordan, Utah.
Clinton, known as Arlo in his youth, was born October 19, 1926, to Albert Nels Michaelson and Amanda Klaith Michaelson in Melstone, Montana. He graduated from Pullman High School, as Salutatorian, with honors. He then enlisted in the United States Navy and served as Seaman first class operating and maintaining radio transmissions and landlines. He was honorably released and awarded the WWII Victory Medal (Asiatic-Pacific Campaign).
During his service in the Navy, he was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and gained a testimony of its truthfulness. He was baptized a member in Manilla Bay, Philippines. He was later called to serve as a full-time missionary in Norway and served there for 30 months.
Clinton attended Washington State University obtaining his Bachelor of Science, with honors, in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Mechanical Engineering. His first professional job was at Bonneville Power, in Portland, OR as an electrical engineer. He worked as an engineer his entire career. Notably, in 1969-1971 his job took him and his family to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was an entrepreneur at heart and eventually started his own engineering company, Deseret Engineering, Co. He was 80 years old when he climbed his last communications tower prior to retiring.
At the age of 32, he met his sweetheart, Hazel Hartley and they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in July 1959. Together they settled in West Jordan, Utah and welcomed and raised nine beautiful children.
Clinton was innovative and loved to build. He built a solid foundation of values that he instilled into his children, including working hard, being honest and truthful, living within one’s means, service, and generosity. In addition, he loved music, enjoyed singing, was a pilot of small aircraft, and was a great photographer. He built his house, a barn, furniture, and various pieces of equipment used in his business.
Clinton actively served his community and in the LDS church throughout his adult life, including callings in bishoprics, stake Sunday school presidency, stake missionary, stake high council representative, ordinance worker in the Jordan River Temple, and as a faithful home teacher/minister. Clinton loved to serve quietly and without fanfare. He was known for shoveling snow from neighbors’ driveways & sidewalks, helping hitchhikers, repairing broken-down cars, and more.
Clinton is survived by his wife, Hazel, their nine children, Ruth (husband Troy), Nelsen (wife Wendy), Peter (wife Pam), Ramona, (husband Santiago), Ted (wife Beckie), Craig (wife Lori), Dwight (wife Ann), James (wife Kollette preceded in death), Lawrence (wife Evelyn) and his sister, Connie Nelson.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Amanda Michaelson and brothers Ralph and Jim and grandson, Sawyer Michaelson.
Hazel Hartley Michaelson
Hazel Hartley Michaelson passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 28, 2023 of natural causes at the age of 92, 12 days after her husband passed.
Born on September 13, 1930 in Stirling, Alberta Canada, to Melinda and Russel Hartley, Hazel grew up on a small farm during the depression. She graduated from Stirling High School and went directly to college at Brigham Young University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.
After graduating, Hazel served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Eastern States Mission which extended from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean. Upon returning home, Hazel began a career as an elementary school teacher in San Diego, California. She especially enjoyed teaching the second grade. After a short time teaching in San Diego, Hazel moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where she met her husband on a blind date.
She married Clinton Michaelson on July 23, 1959 in the Salt Lake City temple. Soon after their marriage, they moved to West Jordan to homestead. They purchased four acres of land and over several years built the house in which they would raise their family. In 1969, Clinton took a job in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, and he and Hazel moved the family of then six children, the youngest just a toddler, to that beautiful country. It was a great experience, but she was happy to return to West Jordan with now seven children in 1971. In the following years, two more children joined their family for a total of nine. She always said she loved her children so much, she would’ve had a dozen if she could.
Hazel was an artist and made beautiful drawings throughout her life. She loved to capture the beauty of nature, especially flowers and birds, in her art work. Her favorite flower was the poinsettia.
Hazel served in many callings in the church, became an expert bread maker and relished raising her children. The two things she loved most were the Gospel of Jesus Christ and her family.
She is preceded in death by her parents, siblings Dale, Doreen, Wayne and Lola, her daughter-in-law Kollette, grandson Sawyer, and her husband of 64 years, Clinton. She is survived by her youngest brother Burton, her 9 children, Ruth Ann (Troy), Nelsen (Wendy), Peter (Pam), Ramona (Santiago), Ted (Beckie), Craig (Lori), Dwight (Ann), James, Lawrence (Evelyn) and 42 grandchildren, 57 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 3 at 11:00am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 7380 S 1300 W, West Jordan, UT. A viewing will precede these services from 9:00am until 10:30am. Internment at Memorial Cemetery.
How grateful we are for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Plan of Salvation and the ordinances that bind us together!
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