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| Wilma Parish Youth Picture |
During the winter it was so cold that by the time they reached school they were nearly froze to the horse. Their teacher would rub their hands and feet to make them warm. One of the chores she hated most was hauling water from her Aunt May's home which was just a short distance but she was afraid of the dark.
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| Wilma is the 3rd one over on the 2nd row |
Wilma Nelson is the 2nd one over on the front row
Wilma was always full of pranks, scaring the children by sneaking out the bedroom
window, and running around to the front door, knocking and when the children
opened the door they found a scary looking man dressed in big coats etc , and would yell in a deep gruff voice,
"Abra-ka-dabra". Her mother would send Wilma to the bedroom
thinking she was punishing her but only to give her
the opportunity to do it again as she would slip out the window and sneak around the house.
Wilma
wasn't pampered as much as her older sisters. They had long beautiful ringlets,
and she was more plain with short brown hair. She was treated more like a son
because she 'was the fifth girl and her
father wanted a son. She helped him with the chores. She use to drive the team and wagon up the
mountains to help her father haul wood. The road was so narrow that this really
frightened her.
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| Wilma Nelson |
In Oakley High
School
At
the age of 19 her father died. This was very hard on Wilma and it took many
years to get over this. She has longed to be with her father many times. Wilma then moved to Burley and lived in an apartment with
some girlfriends. She worked at Western Auto and had such a way with people she
could sell them anything, even if they really didn't need it. She later went to
work at the Court House. She told of one time when she helped take a boy to St. Anthony , Idaho
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| Wilma Nelson -Graduation Picture |
During
the war there was not many boys to date but this didn't matter because she had
many friends. She says they use to have lots of fun. One time they needed a
ride home from town so they got in the back
of a boy's car and hid down next to the seat. This turned out to be very embarrassing for
the two girl as the boys told dirty jokes, on the way home. What is the rest? We will have to guess!
She
started to write
to Oel Parish while he was in the service upon the request of his mother.
When he came home they met and later were married on 8 April 1946 in the Salt Lake
Temple
She has been faithful to her role as a mother having nine children, three girls and six boys: Brenda, Dwight N., Warren E., Barton A. Randy Lee, Cory Lane, Hollie Ann, Sonja Kay and Kyle Bruce. When she would try to call one of us, she would name all the children in order until she had the right one.
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| Oel Elihu Parish |
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| Wilma Nelson Parish and Oel Elihu Parish about 1948 |
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| Carol Nelson, Wilma Nelson Parish, Merna Nelson Franks Brenda Parish born July 1, 1947 |
She has been faithful to her role as a mother having nine children, three girls and six boys: Brenda, Dwight N., Warren E., Barton A. Randy Lee, Cory Lane, Hollie Ann, Sonja Kay and Kyle Bruce. When she would try to call one of us, she would name all the children in order until she had the right one.
Her husband worked for meager wages and what he did make went into the horses so she didn't have a lot of money to spend. One time when he was on a racing trip there was no food in the house and her small son Randy said, “Mom, we could have a catsup sandwich." She has always found a way to feed and clothe her family.
She
is a wonderful seamstress. She has made clothes for relatives, including
wedding dresses, cheer-leading outfits, etc. She could make me a dress in about
1 hour. She could make her own patterns. She was very creative. One time at a
Primary Party the mothers were to help their daughters make a hat out of the
odds and ends they had in a sack. We won
first prize!
Her knowledge in the gospel was vast. She learns something new every~ and passed it on to her children. If she can’t answer a question then she knows where to find an answer. She has done her own carpenter work, knocking out walls, building planters, painting etc. trying to improve her home.
Every
time a child was added to the family they needed more room. The home started
out a two room home. When mother and dad moved there they
had five rooms. Now they have a large home, still unfinished, but there is room
for all.
She
loved to milk the cow. This seemed to
relieve the tension and help her to think
and relax. I can remember how she would Yodel:to
her hearts content. One time the cow disapproved and over went the milk!
When
she was expecting her fifth child, Randy, she had been very miserable. Her pelvis was out of place and she could only take baby
steps and move very slowly. One time the
cow got her in a corner and bumped her
in such a way that the pelvis went back in place.
Although busy as a mother
and housewife she was very active in Church affairs, such as Sunday School Co-coordinator, teacher, chorister and den mother. Wilma was very talented and could play the piano by ear, give musical readings, draw, sew, garden, take care of the animals etc. Everyone loved to come to our house and eat the homemade bread she made.
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| Wilma Nelson Parish holding Hollie Ann Parish on her blessing day 1962 7th Ward Church by the Dairy Queen |
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| Darlene Barkdull, Wilma Nelson Parish, Bonnie Hansen, Neta Wells Primary workers in Burley 7th Ward LDS Church |
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| Wilma Nelson and Oel Elihu Parish 1981 |
When Wilma was pregnant with Kyle, the 9th child, she was very misrable and quite large. She went over a month on her due date. She didn't go to the doctor until she was already in labor and the baby was so large he should have been a cecerian delivery. Wilma almost didn't live and Kyle was in the birth canal too long not getting enough oxygen. This caused his muscles to not develop. Brenda took her and the new baby to a specialist in Logan Utah and he told her that Kyle would never walk or sit up by himself.
Wilma had faith and through prayer found Dr. Wegner who was an old German Doctor practicing in Burley. She worked for him to pay for Kyle's treatments. He massaged his nerves and muscles every week for three years. For a year and a half she worked with Dr. Wegner learning how to message him and eventually he could walk, talk, eat and do all the normal things of life. She spent hours having him walk up and down stairs to strength his muscles. This was a trial for her because he was a large baby to carry around.
Warren decided to go stay with his friend and later Wilma wrote a poem to him. His friend's mother called Wilma and told her Warren was sitting out in front of her house crying. He understood and it wasn't long before Warren was back home.
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| Randy Lee, Barton A., Oel Elihu Parish, Wilma Nelson Parish Brenda Parish Bailey, Lamar W. Bailey Cory Lane, Hollie Ann, Sonja Kay, Kyle Bruce Nicole Bailey, Natalie Sue Bailey Oel and Wilma were remarried at the home of Brenda and Lamar Bailey in 1972 |
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| Wilma Nelson Parish Thanksgiving Dinner at the Star Ward Church |
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| Wilma Nelson Parish Picture was taken June 1996 at a grandson's wedding three months before her death |
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| Sonja Parish, Hollie Parish Washburn, Wilma Nelson Parish, Brenda Parish Bailey taken in 1996 three months before Wilma had a stroke and passed away at the Cassia Regional Medical Center on Sept 22, 1996. TRIBUTE TO OUR MOTHER IS REFLECTED IN THE QUOTE  |
