GUNNAR ÞÓRARINSSON

Gunnar Thorarinsson was born 25 April 1881 at Skalmarbaer, Thykkvabaerjarklaustur, Vestur Skaftafell, the son of Thorarinn Bjarnason, born 17 June 1849 at Hruni Kalfafell i Fljotshverfi, Vestur Skaftafell, died 21 February 1924 in Spanish Fork, Utah; and Brynhildur Jonsdottir, born 9 December 1849, died 4 March 1885 in Spanish Fork, Utah. Gunnar immigrated to Spanish Fork, Utah with his parents in 1883.
Gunnar moved to Cleveland, Utah in Emery County with his family. He married Isabelle Muir 8 February 1900 at Richfield, Utah. Isabelle was born 16 December 1880 at Richfield, Utah, died 28 July 1966 at Smithfield, Utah; she is buried in Richfield, Utah.
Gunnar worked at the Winter Quarters Mine near Scofield, Utah. 1 May 1900 was the day the Winter Quarters Mine blew up, killing at least 200 men. Gunnar was one of these miners. It was the worst single loss of life in Utah history and one of the five worst mining disasters in U.S. history. The Winter Quarters Mine record lists him as Gunnar Bjarnason from Richfield, Utah.

Sherman Scott Bowen

Sherman Scott Bowen, born November 8, 1942, in Spanish Fork, Utah to Isaac Sherman Bowen and Annie Ethel Threet, passed away February 19, 2010 in Orem, Utah after suffering many years from Parkinson's.

Scott served an LDS mission in the Great Lakes Area. He received a bachelor's degree at BYU and taught school at Lincoln and Lakeridge Jr. High schools.

He enjoyed genealogy, photography, geology, reading, and loved learning of all kinds. He is survived by his wife, Carma Jean Young Bowen, and 8 children: Nathan (Terasa), Suzanne Jones (Paul), Shannon Fawson (Eric), Brendan (Diann), Heather Hutchison (James), Jeanne, Jonathan (Ann), Michael (Devyn), 22 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Siblings include: Brent, Lila Black [deceased], Lon, and Carolyn Stephenson.

We would like to offer a special thanks to the staff of Aspen Ridge Rehabilitation Center for their loving and tender care of Scott.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pioneer 1st Ward, 400 N. 700 W. in Provo, Utah. Friends may call at the Berg Mortuary of Provo, 185 East Center, on Monday evening, February 22, from 6-8 p.m. or at the Ward Chapel on Tuesday from 10-10:45 a.m. Interment will follow at the Spanish Fork Cemetery, 420 S. 400 E. Condolences may be sent to info@bergmortuary.com.

Scott is the grandson of Karolina Isleiksdottir born 17 September 1888 at Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. Karolina immigrated to Utah in 1890.

Roy "Jack" Olson

Roy "Jack" Olson, age 80, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on February 8, 2010. He was born December 17, 1929 in Santaquin to Roy Victor and Vera Wilson Olson. He was sealed to his best friend, Nola Rae Butler, in the Manti LDS Temple on July 21, 1948.

Jack continued in his father's footsteps expanding the greenhouse business. His children and grandchildren will always remember him for his work ethic and his continued love and support that he so freely gave. He found enjoyment in taking his grandchildren fishing, playing games and going to Jazz games. He spent many hours carving cherished treasures for his children and grandchildren.

He was an active member of the LDS church where he served in various callings including Scoutmaster, in the High Priest Group leadership and was currently serving as a Temple Patron.

He is survived by his loving wife, Nola Rae; their children, Kent (Robin) Olson, Jackie (Richard) Fail, Bradley (Christine) Olson, Donnie (Linda) Olson, Salley Stewart, Bart (Yvonne) Olson, Robert (Karen) Norton; 50 grandchildren and 74 great grandchildren; his sister, Kathryn O. Patten; and his brother, Thomas Olson. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Darrell Stewart, and a granddaughter, Kallie Fail.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 13th at 12:00 noon at the Old Santaquin Stake Center, 90 South 200 East. A viewing will be held at the church on Friday from 6 to 8 pm and Saturday from 10:30 to 11:45 am. Interment, Santaquin Cemetery.

Jack is the grandson of Ólafur Helgason (Ole Olson, as he was known in Utah) born at Bjornskot, Holt undir Eyjafjallum, Rangarvalla and Þorbjörg Hólmfríður Magnúsdóttir born in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.

The Lighthouse at Dyrhólaey

The old lighthouse at Myrdal,
hard by Vik, is still a lighthouse,
though not a lighthouse anymore.
Its scorching eye that bored into the darkness
from the height in brawling storms
and prowling fog is turned outward
from the shores but does not see the sea.
The ashes of its searing light are cold,
gray as North Atlantic swells
that wrestle with the cliffs.
Its guttural voice no longer sounds
a baleful warning that Charybdis
lurks with gaping maw, and Scylla
beckons near the rocks.

And so it sits alone upon its stanchion
on the headland at Dyrhólaey,
looks down the avenue of continents
into the shifting valleys of the sea.

No one goes there but the wind,
bullying and boisterous like a hooligan
seeking easy pickings from tourists
who mill around and look
out on the dangers of the deep.
The door is locked.
The windows battened down.
Inside, ghosts of mariners
gather in reunion, living in the past
since they were lost in scowling seas.
Their wives, forlorn and all alone,
moaned anguished sobs
that echoed in the silent viks
and stilled the squawking of the gulls.

D. Gary Christian
Santa Clara, Utah
July 19, 2008

GRÓA ÞORLÁKSDÓTTIR

Groa Thorlaksdottir was born 3 May 1865 at Neshol, Asar i Skaftartunga, Vestur Skaftafell, the daughter of Thorlakur Benediktsson, born 23 November 1814, died 11 June 1866; and Ragnhildur Bodvarsdottir, born 7 August 1828, died 10 July 1916. Groa immigrated to Spanish Fork, Utah in 1874 with Gudrun Jonsdottir. Groa joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized 2 August 1883.
Groa married Julius Jonsson, born 1 July 1861, the son Jon Bjarnason, born 11 November 1823; and Steinunn Jonsdottir, born 22 February 1824. Julius was known as Julius Jon Bearnson. They were married 12 January 1887 in Logan, Utah. Groa and Julius had two children: Julius Bendikt, born 20 October 1887, died 17 October 1959; and Joseph, born 6 February 1890, died 7 March 1890. Groa died ten days after Joseph was born on, 16 February 1890. She is buried in the Spanish Fork City Cemetery. She was known as Gran Bearnson in Utah.

Þorrablót

Þorri, one of the Old Icelandic months, begins on a Friday, between the 19th and the 25th of January, and ends on a Saturday between the 18th and 24th of February. Therefore today (Friday, January 22, 2010) is the first of the old month of Þorri. Þorrablót traditionally takes place anytime during the month of Þorri.
Þorrablót, is a standard part of Icelandic social calendars, and has even been exported to many countries. Today Þorrablót are common events among Icelanders everywhere and can be anything from an informal dinner with friends and family to large organized events with stage performances and an after-dinner dance. These large Þorrablót are usually arranged by membership associations, associations of Icelanders living abroad, and as regional festivals in the countryside.

The Huldufólk

Eve is the mother of us all,
those close at hand that we can see,
those hidden in obscurity,
fruit of the tree and of the fall.

Once God announced that he would come
to visit her and all her brood.
“Now, children,” she said, “don’t be rude
when God is here. Spit out your gum.

“I want you looking clean and neat
so you will be presentable.
It sure would be lamentable
if we aren’t ready when we meet.”

The time was short. She did her best,
but couldn’t get them all prepared.
When time had come, then she got scared.
God’s surely an important guest.

Some kids were ready. Some were not.
And God was coming up the road.
That’s what I’d call a “mother load,”
for she was really on the spot.

What, then, to do with all the rest,
the one’s who weren’t ready yet.
They’d never make it on a bet.
She wanted God to be impressed.

So, lest the meeting be a flop,
she hid the unwashed kids away.
They’d be prepared another day.
They’re hair all combed--not like a mop.

The children stood all in a row
and God inspected them that day.
“My goodness,” he said, “what a way.
This really has been quite a show.”

“Do you have any other kids?”
he asked, and fearful, she said, ”No.”
You wonder why she answered so.
That’s one way to put on the skids.

God left. You’d think he had to know
how many children should be there,
how many given to her care,
how many kids were a no-show.

And all of them God didn’t see
that day, the ones of which he spoke,
can not be seen--their Huldufólk,
and will be for eternity.

So, hidden folk they’ll always be,
and always, unseen, be with us,
yet seldom ever make a fuss.
They’re well behaved, you must agree.

The Huldufólk aren’t really bad.
They are the most like human kind
of all the others you will find,
each Hulda-maiden, Huldu-lad.

So do not fear the Hidden Folk.
They’re not like trolls that lurk at night
out in the summer’s pale moonlight
as sinister as evil Lok.

D. Gary Christian
Santa Clara, Utah
June 5, 2007