Christmas Letter ~ 1962

This will be backdated to 1962

In a previous post, a couple of Christmas newsletters from Grandma Lucille were showcased, along with some photos (see that post HERE). Another newsletter has surfaced  ... it's been retyped below for easier reading. 1962 was quite the year! Two weddings (one of those being Lamar&Margie), graduations and a horrible car accident.

On a technical note - this original newsletter has the purple print indicative of a mimeograph machine (lots of the school papers from this time frame have this look). Mimeographs were common for printing small quantities of a document, as in office work, classroom materials, and church bulletins, before photocopies and printers took over years later.

Again, Christmas Season rolls around, and the Westras wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. This has been a very eventful year for us.

February

• February 21, 1962: LaMar became engaged to Marjorie Norman, and presented her with a diamond at the Junior Prom. The wedding set for June 29.

May

• May 15: Lucille went to the hospital with bleeding ulcers. Was in the hospital five days and went home with a strict diet (Gelusil and cream).
• May 27: LaMar graduated from the Institute of Religion at the University of Utah.

June

• June 10 and 11: LaMar graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Chemistry) with honors.
• June 18: Marge graduated from Henager's Business College as a secretary.
• June 22: We bought a beautiful 1960 Pontiac Bonneville, red and white, with power windows, power steering, and power brakes.
• June 25: Marge and LaMar went to the Temple for her endowments.
• June 29: The wedding in the Salt Lake Temple, with President LeGrande Richards officiating. A wedding breakfast at Maxfield Lodge, and a lovely reception at the East Millcreek Stake Center.
• June 30: The newlyweds left for a honeymoon in Las Vegas
• June 30: Kent left for Santa Rosa, where he attended National Cash Register School for 5 weeks.

July

• July 1: The Westras left for the World's Fair in Seattle. Shannon Hopkins, Diane's friend was to share our well planned vacation. We got to Twin Falls, when Diane tried to pass a large truck, hit the soft shoulder, threw the car out of control and we rolled over 3 times, completely demolishing the car. We were all hospitalized. Shannon receiving the most serious injury, a broken back. Joe, a broken hand, wrenched shoulder, and abrasions. Lucille, a mashed face, bruises and abrasions. Steve, multiple cuts which required 18 stitches, and Diane wasn't injured, but was hospitalized for shock. Diane's fiancé, Jon Mauss, drove up to bring her and Steve home. My first airplane ride was flying home from Idaho. Shannon had to stay for 12 days, until her cast was put on, and then was allowed to come home. We were all lucky to be alive.
• Sharon flew down to meet Kent after he finished his schooling, and they vacationed in San Francisco and Disneyland.

August

• Bought a new 62 Ford Galaxie, which we like very much.
• Joe, Steve and Lucille vacationed at Campfire Lodge, West Yellowstone, Montana, and had a wonderful time. Caught lots of beautiful trout. Visited Virginia City, Lava Hot Springs, Logan and the Temple.

September

• Back to school for Steve, a Junior at Highland High.
• Plans for an October wedding for Diane and Jon.

October

• October 1: Back to school for LaMar, who is getting his Masters in Chemistry, and also teaching chemistry under a fellowship.
• October 17: Wedding day for Diane and Jon. A wedding luncheon at Harmons, and a reception at Crestwood Villa. President Lee Nelson of Wilford Stake performed the beautiful ceremony.
• October 21: Diane and Jon Mauss left for Phoenix Arizona, where they will make their home, and where Jon turns pro golfer. We have now lost two deductions.
• Shannon threw her brace away, and is well. This is really something to be thankful for.

November

• Thanksgiving at the Westras. The family was together - Westras, Bensons, Lewises, and Amanns - 17 in all. We missed our little girl and her new husband. Joe has had some heart flare-ups which have worried us. We are still on our ulcer diet (sort of). My face is still lumpy, but we have much to be thankful for.

December

• We love to think of our dear friends, far and near, and hope 1962 has been good to all of you. May 1963 bring you all success and much happiness.

THE WESTRAS

Joe - Lucille - Steve

The Wedding ~ Lamar & Marge

 

... the day it all began. June 29, 1962. Lamar and Margie with their parents, in one of the few color photos from the wedding. Below, is a larger group shot, those featuring the bridesmaids and a couple more shown a little later. You can see all the wedding photos in Dropbox (1962 folder) to enlarge or see individual pictures. 

Back in the day, the newspaper would write up weddings for free (as well as births and obituaries). The article includes quite a bit of information (including the addresses of the parents) and the fact that "the bride wore a gown of lace and tulle highlighted with pearl and sequin trim. Her veil cascaded from a pearl-studded headdress."

... the article mentions "prenuptial parties" (bridal showers) and there are a couple of pictures capturing the activities there. Putting bows in the brides hair and "creating" a dress are classic shower antics.

... more pictures from the wedding reception ...

... the little flower girls are Kathy and Kerry Howell. In addition to family (Nelva, Sharon and Diane for bridesmaids and Steven, Kent and Merrill for groomsmen) Mom/Margie's good friend Judy Shultz and Dad/Lamar's buds Frank Willardsen and Richard Van Wagonen flushed out the wedding party.

Both sets of grandparents on Margie's side were able to attend.

Let them eat cake!

The actual wedding invitation/announcement isn't saved in Dropbox (if it turns up somewhere, let me know!) but going through one of the family boxes, a personalized napkin from the reception was found and scanned in. You can see it below, along with a few other random wedding pictures.

... in addition to the napkin, this collage features the bouquet toss (nice catch! the flowers and the photo!), Mom's cousin Diana Brady there at the guest book, and of course ... the car!

Graduation 1962 x 2

Graduation day ... on the left, the year was 1961, and Miss Margie was graduating from high school. The photo on the right was college graduation a year later, 1962.  Different cap and gown ... same pose/foot placement!

Mom/Margie started her sophomore year at Murray High School, but then the family moved, and her junior and senior year were at Olympus.  Mom wrote in her history ...

Olympus was a very big school, with 720 in my graduating class in 1961, so I didn’t get well acquainted in my two years there. I went from being “a big fish in a little pond” to being “a little fish in a big pond.”

After high school, Margie went to Stevens Henager College ...

I received a full-tuition scholarship to Henager’s Business College, so I went there and graduated in 1962. I was voted by my classmates at graduation as “The Secretary most likely to Succeed.” 

Mom's memories after seeing these photos ...

I remember I graduated #20 academically out of the 720 graduates at Olympus. I only know because I asked one of my business teachers to write me a letter of recommendation, and she dictated the letter to me in shorthand and had me type it up! She found out my academic standing amongst the graduates, and wrote it in the letter.

The top 10% of graduates (I think it was) were invited to turn in a possible speech for graduation, but I don't think I bothered to do it. Then they chose the speakers from those submitted.

I'd had so many business classes at Olympus that I was able to graduate from Steven-Henager in one year. They said any of their students could come back free for a refresher course for the rest of their lives for employment help. I wondered if they would really honor that.

Just a note of interest ... Stevens–Henager College was a private college, was one of four educational institutions affiliated with the Salt Lake City-based Center for Excellence in Higher Education. Established in 1891, the college had campuses in Idaho and Utah. It closed abruptly in August 2021.

While there wasn't any memorabilia found from the high school graduation, 

there was an invitation and a program saved from the college graduation. 

Mom/Margie is there on the first page, second from the bottom on the right side. Marjorie Norman ... graduation was just shortly before the wedding, when she became a Westra. Marked with ** which meant "Graduated with high academic honors". 

Dad/Lamar graduated from South High School in 1955. While there are many memories written up (check out Dad's history, school memories and the post with his school yearbooks), no memorabilia or photo was found to showcase the high school graduation.  Dad went on to the U for a couple of years, then on his mission, then back to the U to meet Margie, and to graduate. 

There are pictures of this event.

While we weren't able to locate the actual diploma or commencement program - this outline of activities for graduation gives some insight into all the goings on. As stated, graduation was June 11th, on a Monday, with Mom/Margie's graduation June 16, that following Saturday. Busy week for young Mom and Dad!

College Complete ... Time to Work

This school ID ... looks a little like a mug shot!

Dad/Lamar finished up his mission and returned to school at the University of Utah. He graduated in 1962, then spent an additional year of postgraduate study, changing his emphasis from Chemistry to Math and Computers. He had an assistantship which paid a stipend for teaching lab and research classes in Chemistry. Newly married and done with school, it was time to embark upon a career. 

In the summer of 1963, LaMar went on two interview trips. He went to Denver by himself to check out Marathon Oil, and then both LaMar and Margie drove to San Francisco to interview with Shell Oil Company. Meanwhile, there was correspondence with a third possibility ... General Electric, in Richland Washington.

The quality of some of the scans/images isn't the best, but is hopefully readable ... Typed on an actual typewriter. Dad's responses on yellow make it easy to see which are to him and from him at a quick glance. The back and forth, in letters, snail mail, taking weeks at a time ~ very different contact than job recruitment today. 

In early February, a letter from GE to Mr. Westra, 

confirming receipt of his application.  

Later in February ... there was a job offer.

LaMar's response ... this is a big decision!

... a quick response from GE

... and LaMar accepts the job.

Now finalizing the details ... a bit of back and forth

Dad/Lamar was hired as a chemist, but never did any work in chemistry. He was assigned to work in computer programming, and spent the next 40 years as a computer programmer/systems analyst. The couple had only planned on staying in Richland for a couple years, but ended up staying for nine years before moving back to Utah.