[Image by freekkorremans from Pixabay]
A kind, former bishop came to our rescue in Sandy, Utah while traveling from Arizona to Wyoming.
It was a hot summer day during our two-week family camping trip from Mesa, Arizona to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the mid-1980’s. We were excited for the trip that lay ahead, which included driving for 6-8 hours each day and camping at various scenic spots along the way.
But, our journey took an unexpected turn on the second day. As we were cruising through Sandy, Utah, our trailer, packed to the brim with all our camping gear, suddenly broke down. The trailer tongue had collapsed, causing the trailer to drag along the freeway. My heart sank as I realized that we were stranded, far from home, and without a functional trailer.
In this moment of desperation, I tried to think of a solution. We didn’t have cell phones back then, but we were fortunate enough to spot a phone booth along the freeway – a common sight in those days, fortunately placed a mile or so apart in metropolitan areas. As I made my way to the phone booth, a spark of hope came to me. I remembered that our former bishop from California, Howard Anderson, had moved to Sandy. Not only was Howard a former bishop, but he was also like family to us. He had played a pivotal role in our lives, helping our family navigate through challenging times, and even activating my parents’ faith. Our family’s trajectory had taken a positive turn thanks to him and other kind souls in our church.
Feeling a surge of hope, I searched for Howard’s contact information and dialed his number. To our relief, he quickly came to meet us on the freeway with a truck. With Howard’s help, we towed our broken-down trailer up the hill to his house. As it turned out, we had broken down just due west of his home – an incredible stroke of luck! Howard graciously welcomed us into his home, provided a warm meal, and offered us a place to stay for the night. He went above and beyond by reaching out to a friend who was a welder, arranging for our trailer to be repaired. The next morning, we were back on the road, filled with gratitude for Howard’s kindness and the serendipitous turn of events.
Our night out with good friends Mark and Sandra Anderson (Howard’s daughter) leads to a discovery.
A recent night out with our good friends Mark and Sandra Anderson brought back fond memories of the past, causing me to think about the experiences we shared with Sandra’s father, Howard Anderson. As fate would have it, my best friend from childhood, Mark, married Howard’s daughter Sandra, and they now live in Howard’s home in Sandy. Although Howard passed away over a decade ago, his presence is still felt in the lives of those he touched, and his legacy lives on in our memories.
Living fairly close to Mark and Sandra, we often get together. This time, we met at a local restaurant with Mark, Sandra, my wife Rose, and I to celebrate my birthday. It was a great evening and reminded me of the many moments of kindness and friendship we’d experienced over the years, with Howard playing an key role in our live. I expressed to Mark and Sandra that one of the things we wanted to do this year as we celebrate our 50th anniversary is to thank people who have made such a difference in our life.
Recently, I had a conversation with my older brother, and we both agreed that Howard Anderson had been a life-changer for our family. His guidance and support left an indelible mark on our family and significantly influenced the course of our lives.
Intrigued by our shared history and my interest in family history, I decided to research Howard’s ancestry. As I traced his lineage on FamilySearch.org, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we shared a common ancestry – we were related! This realization further deepened my appreciation for Howard. The bond we felt with him and his family was not only one of friendship and faith, but also one of ancestry and heritage. I’ll explain this heritage in the “Generations of cousins shared with Sandra Anderson” section below.
And then there is Mark’s father Lorin Anderson, and we’re related too!
Growing up with Mark, his parents became like second parents to me. Their home was filled with love and warmth, and they always treated me like one of their own. Mark’s siblings embraced me as a brother, creating a sense of belonging that has lasted a lifetime.
One particular memory that remains etched in my mind is the first time we met Bishop Howard Anderson and his first counselor, Lorin Anderson – Mark’s father. Our family had just moved into our new home and the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward. Before we had even unpacked our belongings, Bishop Anderson and Lorin paid us a visit. They sat on cardboard moving boxes, eager to welcome us into the community and get to know our family, especially my father.
Their kindness and genuine interest in our lives left a lasting impression on us all. Soon after, they invited my father to serve as the ward clerk in their newly formed bishopric. This opportunity was life-changing for my dad, as he discovered a new sense of purpose and belonging within the ward and church.
Howard Harold Anderson
28 July 1921
–
14 December 2008
Lorin R. Anderson
15 March 1925
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30 December 2016
As I reminisced about the profound impact that both Bishop Howard Anderson and Lorin Anderson had on our family, I couldn’t help but wonder if our connection to Lorin extended beyond friendship and faith. To my delight, as I researched his family history, I discovered that we were indeed related. This revelation was pretty exciting and further deepened my appreciation for the remarkable individuals who had played such significant roles in our lives. I’ll explain this heritage in the “Generations of cousins shared with Mark Anderson” section below.
Sandra’s family and mine connect in the little town of Hjørring, Denmark in the 1600’s
Our family lines connect with Jens Christensen Bastholm (or Jens Christensen) and Gertrud Pedersdatter who married in 1666 in
Vrejlev, Børglum, Hjørring, Denmark.
Hjørring is a town located on the island of Vendsyssel-Thy in northern Denmark, and it’s one of the oldest towns in the country. It celebrated its 750th anniversary as a market town in 1993, which shows that it has a long history. Today the urban population is about 26,000 and the municipality about 63,500.
Attribution: photo © 2004 by Tomasz Sienicki
[user: tsca, mail: tomasz.sienicki at gmail.com], CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia
Economic growth really took off around 1850, and by 1900 the population had more than quadrupled. After World War II, Hjørring continued to grow to what it is today. It is likely that in 1666 when Jens Christensen Bastholm and Gertrud Pedersdatter married that there were only about 5,000 -15,000 people in Hjørring and the surrounding area. In such a small town, it is highly likely that cousins met each other often and were certainly influenced by the same culture and standards of living.
See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Generations of cousins shared with Sandra Anderson
This family tree of shared cousins shows 7 generations who lived in the small Danish town of Hjørring.
FamilySearch.org identifiers have been provided to help you research and discover more information about these relatives.1
Johannah Elisabeth Christensen is my grandmother on my father’s side. And, Howard Anderson as I mentioned is Sandra’s father. I wrote about my great grandmother Thomine and grandmother Johannah in 4: Where there is Heart Room there is House Room – Even in a Dugout. It fascinates me that Howard (and his wife Ila Rose, Sandra’s mom) had some of the same attributes of kindness, generosity, and welcoming attitude as my great grandmother Thomine.
Mark’s family and mine connect in the town of Neuenbürg, Germany in the 1600’s
Our family lines connect through Anna Barbara Schöne of Neuenbürg, Germany. Her first husband, Hans Thomas Blanckenbühler, is my ancestor. Sometime after his death, Anna married Cyriacus Fleischmann, which is Mark’s ancestor.
Neuenbürg is a historic town located in the Enzkreis district of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. This is in the southwestern part of Germany near Stuttgart and the Franch border. Its history dates back to the 12th century when it originated as a village around a castle built by the House of Vaihingen. In the 13th century, Count Konrad of Calw-Vaihingen named himself Count of Neuenbürg, and the town of Neuenbürg was established.
Throughout its history, Neuenbürg has been home to several castle ruins and a castle museum, a medieval church, and a nature reserve area. The town’s strategic location has played a significant role in its development, as it was used as a crossing point over the Rhine river and a defensive stronghold.
Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Not far from Neuenbürg is where the famous Rock im Park festival is held annually. Rock im Park is one of the largest rock music festivals in Germany and features various international artists and bands, attracting thousands of music enthusiasts each year. Some research I’ve done on my Garr line indicates that some of their original farm land is now where the festival is held. I needed to include this tidbit because my friend Mark and I were in a Rock and Roll band together when we were young ;-).
Generations of cousins shared with Mark Anderson
Mark’s and my family history differs from mine and Sandra’s in that our ancestors were more transitory. Instead of residing in the same location for multiple generations, as my ancestors did with Sandra’s, Mark’s and my forebears were early settlers in America who arrived in the British colonies during the 1700s. They established themselves in towns like Culpeper, Virginia, which played a crucial role during the American Revolution.
As pioneers, both my Garr family and Mark’s Stewart family made their way across the United States, ultimately settling in Utah in the late 1840s and early 1850s. This westward journey was undertaken with the help of the Latter-day Saints pioneer companies, which organized and guided the migration of many families like ours. The perseverance and resilience of our ancestors laid the foundation for our families’ continued growth and connection to significant moments in American history.
FamilySearch.org identifiers have been provided to to help you research and discover more information about these relatives.2
Reflecting on Mark’s and my family history, I am struck by the pioneering spirit that seems to run through our lineage. Of course, this blog has many stories about my family and their pioneering spirit. For example, 3: Putting Families Back Together – Across the Centuries.
For Mark’s family, this trait seemed to continue as well, as exemplified by Lorin and Sally Anderson’s decision to move their family to Utah in the 1950s, where they became influential members of their community. Lorin, an elementary school principal, not only affected the lives of countless young students but also contributed to the community as a dedicated Little League coach.
The close bond shared by the Anderson family was clear when all four of their children and their families followed in their parents’ footsteps and relocated to Utah. The decision for Rose and me to leave Mesa, Arizona, and move to Utah was made easier by the prospect of living near my ‘second parents,’ Lorin and Sally Anderson. Their warmth and guidance had always been a source of strength for us, and we were eager to keep our close connection with them.
As we settled into our new home in Utah, we felt grateful for the lasting impact that Mark’s family had on our own journey. The strong familial ties that brought the Andersons together in Utah as well as the charity from both Howard and Lorin’s families served as a reminder of the importance of fostering connections and cherishing the relationships that shape our lives.
