Life Sketch of Barbra Spencer Fewkes
By: D. Fewkes

June Barbra Spencer Fewkes. Born at Ogden, Utah, June 1, 1926 at home to Heber James Spencer, and Corrilla Beesley Spencer. They moved to Roy, Utah where the family farmed.

Mom and her sister, Jane Spencer (Tidwell) shared many of the typical chores of the families who weathered the years of The Great Depression. In order to feed the family and keep the bills paid the children were enlisted in the work of the small neighboring farms. They hoed sugar-beets for their father's farm. These rows of sugar-beets were long, and loaded with weeds. The sun was very hot as they labored removing these weeds. And dad, Spencer paid his young girls the sum of five-cents per row.

Of course, when it came time to visit a store for a new pair of shoes and their earnings were not enough Dad, Spencer would reach into his pockets of his blue, striped-bibbed, overalls and would pay for the difference.

As a young girl she was the envy of her older sister Jane, Mom had beautiful hair which was curly enough that her mother could style it into ringlets, where hers were straight.

We found that mom was camera shy in her younger years, when we asked the Tidwell's if they had any pictures of mom there were very few to be found. If there was a camera present mom was somewhere else.

In preparation for one school year Mom spencer took the girls shopping for fabric and found some really nice purple cloth and mom sewed a dress for June from it the only problem was that the pattern was too large for June but it fit her sister Jane perfectly. I t made a life-long memory for mom and recently she and Jane recalled the situation. Memories - Memories.

Her brother Eldon recalled how mom and June would chase him around with a broom and he would hide under the table to keep from getting hit so much.

In 1945the family would move to Nampa, Idaho to a farm on Franklin road. Mom graduated from Nampa High School in 1946.

Dad said he had seen mom at a couple of dances but seemed to give him the cold shoulder. Dad finally introduced himself at a Dance at Kuna High School. He asked her if he could take her to get a bite to eat and give her a ride home. She told him yes. They continued courting mainly going to church dances.

Dad and mom were married in the Salt Lake Temple on Nov. 5, 1947. They were well chaperoned on their way down my here mom, and on the way back by her mom and two Aunts Nettie and Liza.
They went down in a rain storm and overnight it changed to a snowstorm. When they awoke the next morning to go to the temple when they come out there was 14 or so inches.
Heading home the got in with a group of cars heading back this way and every so often someone would slide off the road and everyone would stop and help push the car back on the road. After this had happened 3 or 4 times. Dad Said He would take the lead. He slowed the caravan down and after that no one slid off the road. He led the way all the way to Decloe by then the snow floor had broken up pretty good so dad pulled over and let the others pass.

They first lived on his dad's farm on the Karcher Road. To run it as his dad had been called to serve a mission in California.
In 1948 they were blessed with a Daughter Lynda, In 1949 they were blessed with another daughter Dixie, 1951 marked another blessed event and Wanetta Jane was the blessings kept coming in 1956 Curt was born and in 1955 Dan made his presents known 1956 Patricia was born, 1958 brought bobby into the world. In Oct. 1959 at around 1: oo in the morning Carol made her dramatic entrance into the family. Mom had woken dad and told him it was time to go to the Hospital. Dad had gone upstairs to wake the two older girls and bring them down stairs to watch the younger children that were sleeping there.
Mom was standing at the Bathroom sink. Dad had just reached the landing at the bottom of them steps when mom yelled catch the baby Dad made a running, sliding catch and caught the baby just before she hit the floor. Dad's new dress pants were ruined as a leg was ripped. The Doctor was called and he came out to make sure mother and child were ok.
Mom would spend time sitting on the back step peeling potatoes, and there would be a snake sunning itself beside her, Yet she hated it when she would find it lying a crossed the shoulders of the clothes in the closet. The snake did a great job of mouse control.
Mom would work the summers at the corn cannery & the onion shed in the fall.
In 1961 the house burnt down and the family moved into a house on Jack Rabbit Flats while a new house was being built plumbing corrected of cold running water in the house and an outhouse down the path
Mom had her hands full as two young Nephews had come to live with us so mom had two toddlers she was trying to potty train.
Dad and grandpa and neighbors got the new house built and we had gotten moved in shortly thereafter in 1964 Sandra was born.
Mom spent many years in the Primary and she loved to sing in the Relief Society Choir, she liked to tempera paint and to make quilts.
I remember when it was canning time at home we all pitched in and were doing something, washing jars, peeling, bottling, cutting, there was always plenty to do.
Us kids liked it the most when it was time to do apricot or strawberry jam: Mom would always make several loaves of homemade bread at the same time. We would skim the foam off the top of Hot Jam and put it on the hot bread it was delicious. Mom would admonish us to leave enough bread for dad's lunch the next day and that is usually all there was 4 slices.
Mom was a good and interesting cook. Aunt Jane recalled that when mom had been there visiting she would find something on the counter or in the fridge the next day.
One time mom made a new casserole dish of some kind and it looked and smelled good but it tasted horrible, work spread quickly. Though us kids not to take very much, dad being from the old school you take some of everything on the table and your plate was clean before you left the table. Dad took a couple of bites and said something to the effect honey you're a good cook but I don't think you need to try this recipe again. Mom shot Dad a look that could have killed but after tasting it herself said we didn't have to eat it.

In 1972 the family moves to Fruitland mom looked forward to the Holidays on Thanksgiving the family would show up at mom and dad's, and split and stack wood while dinner was cooking. Most of the time it would snow.
In 1985 dad retired from the Sugar Factory and Mom and Dad moved to Nampa one of the things mom loved most was working in her flower garden. The day she had her stroke she had been out getting her flower beds ready for planting.
Mom was taken to the Hospital and an MRI was taken and the Doctor said there was really no hope of recovery. Mom said she wanted to go home so abiding by her wishes we brought her Home. The family gathered for Easter. And I am sure one of their fond memories will be of mom playing catch with them from her bed with a little red toy. Mom past away a few days later April 5, 2002. Mom you were loved and will be missed, we‘ll hold you in our hearts. Knowing you are in a far better place bye for now. Tell we meet again

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Parents:
Father: Heber James Spencer
Mother: Corilla Beesley

Spouse: Warren D Fewkes
Marriage: Nov. 5, 1947 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

June Barbara Spencer Fewkes, 75, of Nampa, passed away Friday, April 5, 2002, at her home. She was born June 1, 1926, at Ogden, Utah, to Heber and Corilla Beesley Spencer. She married Warren Dareld Fewkes on Nov. 3, 1947, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

She is survived by her husband; nine children and spouses; 36 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; a sister, Emma Jane; and two brothers, Eldon and Jerry. Her parents and two granddaughters preceded her in death.

Idaho Press-Tribune, Tuesday, April 9, 2002 - 5A