A Brief History of the
Life of Letha Alta Boice Cunliffe
July 1990
This life story is located in my grandmother
Leta Boice Boutwell’s Book of Remembrance
(Spelling and punctuation corrections have
been made – no changes were made to the
sentence structure or voice – other corrections
will be shown in parenthesis –
Linda Fretwell Duchaine – March 2007)
I, Letha Alta Boice Cunliffe, was born Tuesday,
March 22, 1904 at 4:00 AM at Bountiful,
Conejos Co., Colorado to Alta Artena Ball Boice
and John Edwin Boice.
My parents had just moved into a little log cabin.
It wasn’t finished and my mother told me they had
to hand blankets up to keep some of the cold out
until my father could chink mud between the logs.
Mama said the day I was born was such a bad blizzard. Of course, mama and papa were very happy to get a
baby girl. Their first child was a boy, Edwin who was 16 months old when I was born. He was a sickly child and
my parents were afraid he wouldn’t live. He suffered with bad headaches and was often sick to his stomach
which caused by folks great concern. He was smart in school, especially in history and geography.
My father was a very ambitious man and wanted to have a nicer home. He bought a lot in Bountiful and began
to build a nice, adobe house. It had an upstairs with two bedrooms. Downstairs there was a kitchen, dining
room and living room and bedroom. They had their home completed when Delbert was born 3, November
1905—I was a year and a half. He was a sweet baby and always has been obedient and kind.
In 1907, papa received his 2nd Mission call for the California Mission. (He had served a 2-year mission to the
Northern States Mission before he was married.) He and mama had just been married 5 years, and they had
very little money. The home was not paid for, but being good Latter Day Saints, they felt it was right for him to
go and knew they would be blessed in their obedience.
Mama was such a good manager, she knew she could somehow get along. I’m sure it took a lot of courage
and faith for them to meet this challenge. They decided to rent the 80-acre farm for $300 a year. This was to
make payment on the home, expenses for papa’s mission and to help sustain mama and the three children.
Mama rented out a room to a school teacher for $1.50 a month and did washing and ironing for a family. She
raised a garden, had a cow, chickens and a horse for her transportation.
I can remember when papa left for his mission. I was just 3 years old. Many friends and relatives came to tell
him good-bye. Delbert was sitting on a bucket that was turned up-side-down, Edwin and I were standing
around watching the people as they came to bid farewell and crying. We didn’t know why. My Aunt May (mama’
s sister) stayed all night with mama. I can remember mama crying when she would hear the train whistle. We
just lived possible a mile from the railroad tracks. This was the D & RG narrow gauge.
Papa’s diary tells that many times he slept in a hay stack or under trees and went without many meals. He went
to the California mission and spent much of his time in San Francisco and Sacramento. In those days,
missionaries went out without purse or scrip and depended largely on the kindness of the people they visited
to give them meals and provide a bed for them. Papa would call me his ‘sweet, little Lethy girl’ and when he
came home from his mission, he brought me a cute doll. I loved dolls and would spend many hours playing with
them.
I was so happy to have a new little sister to our home. Leta was born in 1909 and was such a sweet, loving
companion.
In 1912, we moved to Manassa as there were better schools. Papa had a nice home built there. He was a
good provider and he taught us many things and HOW TO WORK. He and mama were thrifty. They taught us
to be prompt and to keep our promise and to be honest. They set a good example for all the family. If we didn’t
do the things they taught us, it sure wasn’t their fault. I know I did many things that were dishonest that they
didn’t know about until I was older—like stealing eggs from the chicken coop to buy candy with. I wore
bloomers, had 2 dresses, one for school and one for best. I was baptized in ‘Little River’ 7 July, 1912. My
parents took us to church faithfully and taught us the Gospel. They lived the teachings and honored their
covenants made in the Holy Temple.
Another sister was born in 1913 in Manassa, Lois. She was a cute baby that I enjoyed tending. I had to rock
her to sleep in the buggy and when she was older, she slept with me. I would put her to the front of the bed, as
I was afraid of the dark. When Papa came into the room one night and found us sleeping that way, he scolded
me and told me to always put her next to the wall so that she wouldn’t fall off the bed. I would start her out that
way, but soon I was next to the wall. Mama frightened me many times, in her joking and prankster ways, but I
was very much afraid of ghosts, etc. as a result of these playful incidents.
Lynn was born when I was 12 years old. He was the first one in the family to have red hair. He was as smart as
a whip and papa’s favorite. Grant was born in 1920 and was mama’s favorite. As a baby he had eczema very
bad and was a fussy baby and received much care and attention from all of us. He also had red hair. We four
older kids always said papa and mama were so strict with us but Lois, Lynn and Grant got away with things we
never could. I know now that it was good that they were strict because I have benefited from their teachings
and it has kept me close to the church and to the family.
In 1922, I graduated from High School and went into Nurses training in Salt Lake City with my girlfriend Ethel
Dunn. After meeting George Cunliffe, we both decided being a nurse was not for me, so I quit and got married
October 9. We were very happy. I loved city life. Sending our laundry out and eating baker’s bread was really
living high. It wasn’t long before I was hungry for mama’s delicious bread and cinnamon rolls.
In January, I found out I was going to have a baby and things weren’t so rosy. I was so sick and thought I wasn’
t going to live. Then in March, I had new pains in my right side and went to see Dr. Peterson who told me I had
appendicitis and would have to have surgery.
George was working for Galliger’s Machinery when we were married, but in May he was laid off as business
was very bad. He then got a job at the Rio Grande Round house making $3.25 a day, which couldn’t begin to
pay the Dr. bills and other expenses so he decided to go to Bingham and work for the Utah Construction Co.
He worked as a brakeman and then as an engineer. We rented a two-room apartment with running cold water,
a sink with no hot water and the toilet was up a flight of stairs, but we were happy to get settled in a place of
our own without bedbugs.
George wanted to go duck hunting on the first of October, this being the 27th of Sept. when we moved. We
planned to go to S.L.C. to get his shot gun, but when he came home I wasn’t feeling so good so told him I
would stay home and bake him an apple pie which I was so hungry for. We had no car and had to ride the bus,
so George left early so he could get back for work that afternoon and then be ready for the big hunt on the
first. When he came back home, Beth and Al (George’s brother) informed him that he wasn’t going duck
hunting but was going to take me to Salt Lake to the hospital. We hired a taxi for $10 and left for the County
hospital where I had been in training. We found out Dr. Peterson (my Dr.) wasn’t on the staff at the hospital
and George wouldn’t have a substitute Dr. so he phoned his mother and told her our plight. She said, ‘Bring
her up here, and I’ll take care of her,’ which she did. She was very kind and good to me. Donna was born
Sunday at 1:00 PM on Sept. 30, 1923 and weighted a little under 5 pounds—a sweet little girl with a round
face and no hair and tiny features. I was so glad she was a girl but think George was disappointed that he didn’
t get a boy, but if he was, he soon got over it for Donna was the apple of his eye and has brought much joy
and happiness to both of us. George didn’t get to go duck hunting on the first day but did get to go later on in
the week and was happy.
In about a year, we bought us a secondhand Dodge and kept it a few months, then turned it in on an Overland
car. We were very proud of it. George was given the job as an engineer and we were given the chance to live
in one of the Utah Construction shacks, as they were called. They had tar paper on the outside. The inside
was building paper. The rent was $10.00 per month which included lights and water. Our place was very close
to the tracks and when the engines with their loads would come by puffing and puffing, their red hot cinders
would fall on our house. It’s a wonder a fire wasn’t started. At 3:30 in the afternoon and at 2:30 in the morning
the blasting would start and rocks would pelt our house which sounded like a hailstorm. The “big pit” was
interesting and exciting. (I wonder where OSHA was?)
George worked seven days a week. The only time he had a vacation was the 4th of July and Christmas. He
would always take time off to go deer hunting. On the 4th of July our neighbors, the Madisons, would go fishing
with us on Strawberry Lake, the most desolate place in the world, but the men would love it. Our evenings at
home would be spent with the men making spinners for their next fishing trip or polishing their rifles and
shotguns for their next big hunt. We women would embroidery and crochet which made the evenings enjoyable.
George didn’t get to attend church very much as he worked on Sunday, but when we lived down in lower
Bingham, he was working nights, and he could go to Priesthood meeting and Sunday School. Bishop Wright
asked him if we would like to go to the Temple. Of course, that was our Heart’s Desire, so he ordained George
and Elder in June 1924, and we went to the Salt Lake Temple on June 26, 1924 and were married for time and
eternity and had our darling baby sealed to us. That was the happiest day of our lives.
In November 1929, the depression struck the Utah Copper. They laid off hundreds of men. The Utah
Construction knew when they had finished their contract it would be the last of their work. It lasted until 1931.
No work could be found, so we just stayed in our little shack, rent free, all winter. In the spring, we drove to
Colorado, as the folks had sold their place in Manassa and had decided to build out on the ranch. It was then
that George helped them with their plumbing. When the work was finished, Papa and Mama, George and I
went to Missouri to see Leta and Wade who had gone there to live. We enjoyed every minute we were with
them. Elaine, their beautiful baby, was so sweet and we were very sad to think they lived so far away.
When we got back to Colorado, we packed our grips and hurried off to Utah as we had told Roy Barnett, our
brother-in-law, that we would go to Kirby, Oregon with a company of six other people to claim a gold mine. We
were impressed by the beautiful scenery and lovely people, but soon found out that large equipment was
needed to dig out the gold…as no one had money to invest in such a project, we decided to return home via
California and visit Dorothy and Farrel. We thought we had arrived in the Garden of Eden and Hollywood to
boot! The beaches and various points of interest made us fall in love with Los Angeles. After a perfect six-
week vacation with our dear relatives, we went back to Utah to “pack up” and return to Southern California.
We moved to Los Angeles in November of 1932 and lived with the Farnsworths. Donna loved her cousins,
Beverly and Bonnie, and was so happy to have playmates. In March of 1933, we all experienced the BIG
earthquake, but it couldn’t shake us from California. George couldn’t find work but finally landed a job on the
PWA—not much money, but we were glad for that much. In May of 1933, I went to work at a lingerie factory
sewing piece work on a power machine which was very hard work. I averaged $18 a week which was
considered good in those days. In September, we rented us a three-room court on Grand Avenue. We didn’t
stay there long as so many silverfish were in cupboards, closets, baseboards, etc. that we couldn’t stand them,
so we found another three-room court nearer Dorothy. We were very happy there. The rent was $18 a month.
In October 1935, we moved into our ‘dream home’ at 554 West 90th Street, Los Angeles, CA. It was all paid for.
We went to church at Manchester Ward. I started going to Relief Society and found some life-long friends. The
people were so sociable and kind and made us feel very welcome. George was asked to work in the Sunday
School Superintendency, and we were very active in the Ward from then on.
Because of so much lint and dust in the factory, I developed some bad allergies and had hay fever. I quit
working in 1938. It was so nice to stay home in my beautiful surroundings. Our bedrooms were painted with oil
paint, then ‘combed’ in waving strokes, then hand painted flowers were bordered at the top centers and
corners. It was a sweet home.
World War II was declared December 7, 1941, which changed many lives. I was ‘fire warden’ for my block and
was diligent in attending civil defense meetings. One day, I had to ride my bike (I never did learn to drive a car)
to pick up my helmet. It was strapped around the handle bars and swinging, distracting my attention from the
road. I ran into a parked car and was thrown from my bike. What a traumatic experience. Luckily, I did not
break any bones but had several very bad bruises. Needless to say, I never road a bike again. I also
volunteered to help the Red Cross teach injured servicemen in Wilmington. The Red Cross car would pick me
up at 90th and Vermont and take me to the McArthur Army Base where I would teach leather craft. During the
war there were many adult education classes which I took advantage of, enjoying many lovely and useful
hobbies. While at the hospital, I learned about weaving and found it to be one of my favorite hobbies. All my
life I have enjoyed making beautiful crafts and have had much pleasure in giving things to my family and
friends.
December 14, 1944, Donna married John S. Haycock in the Mesa Temple in Arizona. Gasoline was rationed,
but we managed to get enough gas stamps to drive and take Johnnie’s mother with us. Papa and mama were
spending the winter in Arizona and it was a sweet reunion.
Leveade and Ray Gervais were some of our dearest friends with whom we took some lovely trips. One was in
1948 when we went to Carlsbad Caverns, then to Santa Fe to visit Lois and John, then to Kirtland to visit the
folks. They had almost been full circle—living in San Luis Valley, then to California to “retire”, and not liking
retirement and the big city, they moved back to the country, where they had a beautiful one-acre fruit farm. It
kept them busy and happy. In 1949, we flew to Lansing, MI. with the Gervais to pick up their new car. Then we
toured church history sites, saw the wonders of New York and Washington, D.C., Niagara Falls and the
beautiful country of America on our way home. The trip will always be a highlight. On our 60th wedding
anniversary, George and I went to Hawaii with Beehive Tours. It was also a most interesting and enjoyable
vacation with many fond memories.
In October 1951, Verla Boice (Edwin and Mary’s daughter) died. In November 1951, Papa died of a stroke he
suffered, also in October. These two deaths were the first in the immediate family of mama and papa. This was
a great shock to me.
Donna and Johnnie lived in their ‘dream home’ in South Gate, about 5 miles from us. We enjoyed them and
their three children, Russell, born 14 March, 1946, Gloria, born 30 Dec. 1948 and Sally, born 11 July, 1953
and were so happy to have them close so that we could watch them grow and to be able to teach and love
them. Then, the shock came. They and their friends, the Gillmans, decided to buy some property in the
country—Yucaipa. It was about 70 miles east. They sold their home in South Gate in 1955 and moved! They
built another “dream home” and raised their family in a rural atmosphere where they were happy in their
achievements. In 1966, we moved to Yucaipa also. Not because I wanted to, but because of the terrible
situation that had developed in Los Angeles with the blacks becoming so violent. George even slept with a gun
under his pillow, as there were so many horrible murders and burnings of building and homes. We were
literally forced out of our home.
It was hard to leave my convenient shopping areas and the bus service and my friends. However, my friends
were also scattering. We built our second ‘dream home’ and had fun buying new things to adorn it. Mama
came to live with us for a short time until I had a sickness which left me deaf in my right ear. It was a trying time.
It was also a happy time to be a short mile from Donna and Johnnie and their children where we could enjoy
their teenage years and graduations and marriages.
Many of our friends from Manchester Ward moved to Yucaipa—the Gervais, Snyders, Robinsons, Floyd and
Ruth Haycock, the Walls. This made life more enjoyable, and I was adjusting better. George was happy and
enjoyed his lovely yard and garden. We planted fruit trees and enjoyed our home.
Mama died 13 February, 1970 in Farmington, N.M. It was another shock to me, although mama had lived a
good life and was too ready to progress to her eternal home.
By now, the grandchildren were being married. Russell married Silvia Campos 18 December, 1971. Sally
married Douglas Pulsipher 2 June 1972. Gloria married Jon Selden 29 July 1972. That was quite a period of
eight months to gain 3 more grandchildren—their spouses are all so special to us. Their unions have given us
14 great grandchildren, 13 living. We have truly had ‘joy in our posterity’ and are thankful for our many
blessings our family has brought us.
Positions I have held in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include:
Secretary in Mutual in Manassa in 1920
Secretary in Bingham Relief Society 1927-1931
Beehive teacher, Sunday School teacher and counselor in Relief Society in Manchester Ward.
I was Relief Society Work Leader in Manchester Ward under 5 Presidents.
I was also Primary Secy. there.
George and I were Stake Special Interest leaders in 1952.
I was Stake Beehive leader with Loraina Matthews and Lorna Broadbent.
I was the Stake work leader in R.S.
George and I were Temple Ordinance Workers for three and a half years.
I have been a Visiting Teacher for 67 years.
I have enjoyed working in the Church all my life and especially enjoyed being the wife of a Bishop—my beloved
George, who served in that capacity for almost four years. We nurtured many wonderful people and have fond
and precious memories of our experiences.
Since living in Yucaipa, I have been a Visiting Teacher along with temporary callings and assignments. At first,
when we came here, we took turns with Lois tending mama. Lois had to go to work full-time so I had mama.
Donna was good to tend her when we had to go places, and she enjoyed staying up to her house, enjoying
Gloria and Sally. Russell was away at college at that time. In 1968, I had a blood clot in my right ear causing
me to become deaf within an hour. I was very dizzy and sick. We did seek medical care, but we got the same
answer from all Drs.-that my hearing was gone. I suffered with dizziness and head noises for over two years. I
tended mama for several months then, I wrote Edwin and Delbert to see if they could take mama till I
recovered. They said they would take her, so I called Lynn to see if he could take her out to Colorado to Edwin’
s place. He gladly took her in his beautiful Cadillac, where she rode very comfortably. Edwin and Mary had
their little store in Romeo and they kept her for two months until it started getting cold. They had no heat in the
bedrooms, so decided she would be better off with Delbert and Blanche in Farmington (NM). She stayed with
them until she had a stroke and they were compelled to put her in a nice, new convalescent home, where they
and Leta and Floyd visited her every day. Leta was in a wheel chair, but Floyd never complained about taking
Leta to visit mama, even if it was had for both of them.
I have had a full life. George and I have been married for 68 years this coming October, 1990. I have had a
wonderful father and mother and four brothers and two sisters, whom I have enjoyed and loved very much. I
have a wonderful husband who has been my anchor all thru my married life, and we have our darling
daughter, Donna, who has been so sweet and helpful to us all her life. She and Johnnie have given us three
beautiful grandchildren and 14 sweet great grandchildren. They are all good children and are all active in the
church which we are thankful for. I know we have been blessed by staying close to the church. We have tried
to live the gospel standards and taught our children these principles.
I would like to bear my testimony that I know our Church is true, that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and we
have a true prophet now. The Book of Mormon is true and if we all will read and study, we can all improve our
lives and find much joy and happiness throughout our lives and eternally.
Love to all,
Letha Alta Boice Cunliffe
June 1990
P. S.
My ‘first love’ hobby is cooking. It gives me energy and enthusiasm whenever I have company and can cook
for them. I have over 150 cookbooks besides a drawer full of recipes.
LC
RASPBERRY PIE -- LETHA
1 c sugar
1 c water
3 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. white Karo syrup
2 tbsp. margarine
Cook in microwave, (I cooked mine 5 minutes) until clear.
Then take 3 tbsp. (heaping) raspberry Jell-O and stir until it is dissolved. Add 2 heaping cups raspberries.
Cool. Pour into baked 9” pie shell.
Serve with whipped cream.
Life of Letha Alta Boice Cunliffe
July 1990
This life story is located in my grandmother
Leta Boice Boutwell’s Book of Remembrance
(Spelling and punctuation corrections have
been made – no changes were made to the
sentence structure or voice – other corrections
will be shown in parenthesis –
Linda Fretwell Duchaine – March 2007)
I, Letha Alta Boice Cunliffe, was born Tuesday,
March 22, 1904 at 4:00 AM at Bountiful,
Conejos Co., Colorado to Alta Artena Ball Boice
and John Edwin Boice.
My parents had just moved into a little log cabin.
It wasn’t finished and my mother told me they had
to hand blankets up to keep some of the cold out
until my father could chink mud between the logs.
Mama said the day I was born was such a bad blizzard. Of course, mama and papa were very happy to get a
baby girl. Their first child was a boy, Edwin who was 16 months old when I was born. He was a sickly child and
my parents were afraid he wouldn’t live. He suffered with bad headaches and was often sick to his stomach
which caused by folks great concern. He was smart in school, especially in history and geography.
My father was a very ambitious man and wanted to have a nicer home. He bought a lot in Bountiful and began
to build a nice, adobe house. It had an upstairs with two bedrooms. Downstairs there was a kitchen, dining
room and living room and bedroom. They had their home completed when Delbert was born 3, November
1905—I was a year and a half. He was a sweet baby and always has been obedient and kind.
In 1907, papa received his 2nd Mission call for the California Mission. (He had served a 2-year mission to the
Northern States Mission before he was married.) He and mama had just been married 5 years, and they had
very little money. The home was not paid for, but being good Latter Day Saints, they felt it was right for him to
go and knew they would be blessed in their obedience.
Mama was such a good manager, she knew she could somehow get along. I’m sure it took a lot of courage
and faith for them to meet this challenge. They decided to rent the 80-acre farm for $300 a year. This was to
make payment on the home, expenses for papa’s mission and to help sustain mama and the three children.
Mama rented out a room to a school teacher for $1.50 a month and did washing and ironing for a family. She
raised a garden, had a cow, chickens and a horse for her transportation.
I can remember when papa left for his mission. I was just 3 years old. Many friends and relatives came to tell
him good-bye. Delbert was sitting on a bucket that was turned up-side-down, Edwin and I were standing
around watching the people as they came to bid farewell and crying. We didn’t know why. My Aunt May (mama’
s sister) stayed all night with mama. I can remember mama crying when she would hear the train whistle. We
just lived possible a mile from the railroad tracks. This was the D & RG narrow gauge.
Papa’s diary tells that many times he slept in a hay stack or under trees and went without many meals. He went
to the California mission and spent much of his time in San Francisco and Sacramento. In those days,
missionaries went out without purse or scrip and depended largely on the kindness of the people they visited
to give them meals and provide a bed for them. Papa would call me his ‘sweet, little Lethy girl’ and when he
came home from his mission, he brought me a cute doll. I loved dolls and would spend many hours playing with
them.
I was so happy to have a new little sister to our home. Leta was born in 1909 and was such a sweet, loving
companion.
In 1912, we moved to Manassa as there were better schools. Papa had a nice home built there. He was a
good provider and he taught us many things and HOW TO WORK. He and mama were thrifty. They taught us
to be prompt and to keep our promise and to be honest. They set a good example for all the family. If we didn’t
do the things they taught us, it sure wasn’t their fault. I know I did many things that were dishonest that they
didn’t know about until I was older—like stealing eggs from the chicken coop to buy candy with. I wore
bloomers, had 2 dresses, one for school and one for best. I was baptized in ‘Little River’ 7 July, 1912. My
parents took us to church faithfully and taught us the Gospel. They lived the teachings and honored their
covenants made in the Holy Temple.
Another sister was born in 1913 in Manassa, Lois. She was a cute baby that I enjoyed tending. I had to rock
her to sleep in the buggy and when she was older, she slept with me. I would put her to the front of the bed, as
I was afraid of the dark. When Papa came into the room one night and found us sleeping that way, he scolded
me and told me to always put her next to the wall so that she wouldn’t fall off the bed. I would start her out that
way, but soon I was next to the wall. Mama frightened me many times, in her joking and prankster ways, but I
was very much afraid of ghosts, etc. as a result of these playful incidents.
Lynn was born when I was 12 years old. He was the first one in the family to have red hair. He was as smart as
a whip and papa’s favorite. Grant was born in 1920 and was mama’s favorite. As a baby he had eczema very
bad and was a fussy baby and received much care and attention from all of us. He also had red hair. We four
older kids always said papa and mama were so strict with us but Lois, Lynn and Grant got away with things we
never could. I know now that it was good that they were strict because I have benefited from their teachings
and it has kept me close to the church and to the family.
In 1922, I graduated from High School and went into Nurses training in Salt Lake City with my girlfriend Ethel
Dunn. After meeting George Cunliffe, we both decided being a nurse was not for me, so I quit and got married
October 9. We were very happy. I loved city life. Sending our laundry out and eating baker’s bread was really
living high. It wasn’t long before I was hungry for mama’s delicious bread and cinnamon rolls.
In January, I found out I was going to have a baby and things weren’t so rosy. I was so sick and thought I wasn’
t going to live. Then in March, I had new pains in my right side and went to see Dr. Peterson who told me I had
appendicitis and would have to have surgery.
George was working for Galliger’s Machinery when we were married, but in May he was laid off as business
was very bad. He then got a job at the Rio Grande Round house making $3.25 a day, which couldn’t begin to
pay the Dr. bills and other expenses so he decided to go to Bingham and work for the Utah Construction Co.
He worked as a brakeman and then as an engineer. We rented a two-room apartment with running cold water,
a sink with no hot water and the toilet was up a flight of stairs, but we were happy to get settled in a place of
our own without bedbugs.
George wanted to go duck hunting on the first of October, this being the 27th of Sept. when we moved. We
planned to go to S.L.C. to get his shot gun, but when he came home I wasn’t feeling so good so told him I
would stay home and bake him an apple pie which I was so hungry for. We had no car and had to ride the bus,
so George left early so he could get back for work that afternoon and then be ready for the big hunt on the
first. When he came back home, Beth and Al (George’s brother) informed him that he wasn’t going duck
hunting but was going to take me to Salt Lake to the hospital. We hired a taxi for $10 and left for the County
hospital where I had been in training. We found out Dr. Peterson (my Dr.) wasn’t on the staff at the hospital
and George wouldn’t have a substitute Dr. so he phoned his mother and told her our plight. She said, ‘Bring
her up here, and I’ll take care of her,’ which she did. She was very kind and good to me. Donna was born
Sunday at 1:00 PM on Sept. 30, 1923 and weighted a little under 5 pounds—a sweet little girl with a round
face and no hair and tiny features. I was so glad she was a girl but think George was disappointed that he didn’
t get a boy, but if he was, he soon got over it for Donna was the apple of his eye and has brought much joy
and happiness to both of us. George didn’t get to go duck hunting on the first day but did get to go later on in
the week and was happy.
In about a year, we bought us a secondhand Dodge and kept it a few months, then turned it in on an Overland
car. We were very proud of it. George was given the job as an engineer and we were given the chance to live
in one of the Utah Construction shacks, as they were called. They had tar paper on the outside. The inside
was building paper. The rent was $10.00 per month which included lights and water. Our place was very close
to the tracks and when the engines with their loads would come by puffing and puffing, their red hot cinders
would fall on our house. It’s a wonder a fire wasn’t started. At 3:30 in the afternoon and at 2:30 in the morning
the blasting would start and rocks would pelt our house which sounded like a hailstorm. The “big pit” was
interesting and exciting. (I wonder where OSHA was?)
George worked seven days a week. The only time he had a vacation was the 4th of July and Christmas. He
would always take time off to go deer hunting. On the 4th of July our neighbors, the Madisons, would go fishing
with us on Strawberry Lake, the most desolate place in the world, but the men would love it. Our evenings at
home would be spent with the men making spinners for their next fishing trip or polishing their rifles and
shotguns for their next big hunt. We women would embroidery and crochet which made the evenings enjoyable.
George didn’t get to attend church very much as he worked on Sunday, but when we lived down in lower
Bingham, he was working nights, and he could go to Priesthood meeting and Sunday School. Bishop Wright
asked him if we would like to go to the Temple. Of course, that was our Heart’s Desire, so he ordained George
and Elder in June 1924, and we went to the Salt Lake Temple on June 26, 1924 and were married for time and
eternity and had our darling baby sealed to us. That was the happiest day of our lives.
In November 1929, the depression struck the Utah Copper. They laid off hundreds of men. The Utah
Construction knew when they had finished their contract it would be the last of their work. It lasted until 1931.
No work could be found, so we just stayed in our little shack, rent free, all winter. In the spring, we drove to
Colorado, as the folks had sold their place in Manassa and had decided to build out on the ranch. It was then
that George helped them with their plumbing. When the work was finished, Papa and Mama, George and I
went to Missouri to see Leta and Wade who had gone there to live. We enjoyed every minute we were with
them. Elaine, their beautiful baby, was so sweet and we were very sad to think they lived so far away.
When we got back to Colorado, we packed our grips and hurried off to Utah as we had told Roy Barnett, our
brother-in-law, that we would go to Kirby, Oregon with a company of six other people to claim a gold mine. We
were impressed by the beautiful scenery and lovely people, but soon found out that large equipment was
needed to dig out the gold…as no one had money to invest in such a project, we decided to return home via
California and visit Dorothy and Farrel. We thought we had arrived in the Garden of Eden and Hollywood to
boot! The beaches and various points of interest made us fall in love with Los Angeles. After a perfect six-
week vacation with our dear relatives, we went back to Utah to “pack up” and return to Southern California.
We moved to Los Angeles in November of 1932 and lived with the Farnsworths. Donna loved her cousins,
Beverly and Bonnie, and was so happy to have playmates. In March of 1933, we all experienced the BIG
earthquake, but it couldn’t shake us from California. George couldn’t find work but finally landed a job on the
PWA—not much money, but we were glad for that much. In May of 1933, I went to work at a lingerie factory
sewing piece work on a power machine which was very hard work. I averaged $18 a week which was
considered good in those days. In September, we rented us a three-room court on Grand Avenue. We didn’t
stay there long as so many silverfish were in cupboards, closets, baseboards, etc. that we couldn’t stand them,
so we found another three-room court nearer Dorothy. We were very happy there. The rent was $18 a month.
In October 1935, we moved into our ‘dream home’ at 554 West 90th Street, Los Angeles, CA. It was all paid for.
We went to church at Manchester Ward. I started going to Relief Society and found some life-long friends. The
people were so sociable and kind and made us feel very welcome. George was asked to work in the Sunday
School Superintendency, and we were very active in the Ward from then on.
Because of so much lint and dust in the factory, I developed some bad allergies and had hay fever. I quit
working in 1938. It was so nice to stay home in my beautiful surroundings. Our bedrooms were painted with oil
paint, then ‘combed’ in waving strokes, then hand painted flowers were bordered at the top centers and
corners. It was a sweet home.
World War II was declared December 7, 1941, which changed many lives. I was ‘fire warden’ for my block and
was diligent in attending civil defense meetings. One day, I had to ride my bike (I never did learn to drive a car)
to pick up my helmet. It was strapped around the handle bars and swinging, distracting my attention from the
road. I ran into a parked car and was thrown from my bike. What a traumatic experience. Luckily, I did not
break any bones but had several very bad bruises. Needless to say, I never road a bike again. I also
volunteered to help the Red Cross teach injured servicemen in Wilmington. The Red Cross car would pick me
up at 90th and Vermont and take me to the McArthur Army Base where I would teach leather craft. During the
war there were many adult education classes which I took advantage of, enjoying many lovely and useful
hobbies. While at the hospital, I learned about weaving and found it to be one of my favorite hobbies. All my
life I have enjoyed making beautiful crafts and have had much pleasure in giving things to my family and
friends.
December 14, 1944, Donna married John S. Haycock in the Mesa Temple in Arizona. Gasoline was rationed,
but we managed to get enough gas stamps to drive and take Johnnie’s mother with us. Papa and mama were
spending the winter in Arizona and it was a sweet reunion.
Leveade and Ray Gervais were some of our dearest friends with whom we took some lovely trips. One was in
1948 when we went to Carlsbad Caverns, then to Santa Fe to visit Lois and John, then to Kirtland to visit the
folks. They had almost been full circle—living in San Luis Valley, then to California to “retire”, and not liking
retirement and the big city, they moved back to the country, where they had a beautiful one-acre fruit farm. It
kept them busy and happy. In 1949, we flew to Lansing, MI. with the Gervais to pick up their new car. Then we
toured church history sites, saw the wonders of New York and Washington, D.C., Niagara Falls and the
beautiful country of America on our way home. The trip will always be a highlight. On our 60th wedding
anniversary, George and I went to Hawaii with Beehive Tours. It was also a most interesting and enjoyable
vacation with many fond memories.
In October 1951, Verla Boice (Edwin and Mary’s daughter) died. In November 1951, Papa died of a stroke he
suffered, also in October. These two deaths were the first in the immediate family of mama and papa. This was
a great shock to me.
Donna and Johnnie lived in their ‘dream home’ in South Gate, about 5 miles from us. We enjoyed them and
their three children, Russell, born 14 March, 1946, Gloria, born 30 Dec. 1948 and Sally, born 11 July, 1953
and were so happy to have them close so that we could watch them grow and to be able to teach and love
them. Then, the shock came. They and their friends, the Gillmans, decided to buy some property in the
country—Yucaipa. It was about 70 miles east. They sold their home in South Gate in 1955 and moved! They
built another “dream home” and raised their family in a rural atmosphere where they were happy in their
achievements. In 1966, we moved to Yucaipa also. Not because I wanted to, but because of the terrible
situation that had developed in Los Angeles with the blacks becoming so violent. George even slept with a gun
under his pillow, as there were so many horrible murders and burnings of building and homes. We were
literally forced out of our home.
It was hard to leave my convenient shopping areas and the bus service and my friends. However, my friends
were also scattering. We built our second ‘dream home’ and had fun buying new things to adorn it. Mama
came to live with us for a short time until I had a sickness which left me deaf in my right ear. It was a trying time.
It was also a happy time to be a short mile from Donna and Johnnie and their children where we could enjoy
their teenage years and graduations and marriages.
Many of our friends from Manchester Ward moved to Yucaipa—the Gervais, Snyders, Robinsons, Floyd and
Ruth Haycock, the Walls. This made life more enjoyable, and I was adjusting better. George was happy and
enjoyed his lovely yard and garden. We planted fruit trees and enjoyed our home.
Mama died 13 February, 1970 in Farmington, N.M. It was another shock to me, although mama had lived a
good life and was too ready to progress to her eternal home.
By now, the grandchildren were being married. Russell married Silvia Campos 18 December, 1971. Sally
married Douglas Pulsipher 2 June 1972. Gloria married Jon Selden 29 July 1972. That was quite a period of
eight months to gain 3 more grandchildren—their spouses are all so special to us. Their unions have given us
14 great grandchildren, 13 living. We have truly had ‘joy in our posterity’ and are thankful for our many
blessings our family has brought us.
Positions I have held in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include:
Secretary in Mutual in Manassa in 1920
Secretary in Bingham Relief Society 1927-1931
Beehive teacher, Sunday School teacher and counselor in Relief Society in Manchester Ward.
I was Relief Society Work Leader in Manchester Ward under 5 Presidents.
I was also Primary Secy. there.
George and I were Stake Special Interest leaders in 1952.
I was Stake Beehive leader with Loraina Matthews and Lorna Broadbent.
I was the Stake work leader in R.S.
George and I were Temple Ordinance Workers for three and a half years.
I have been a Visiting Teacher for 67 years.
I have enjoyed working in the Church all my life and especially enjoyed being the wife of a Bishop—my beloved
George, who served in that capacity for almost four years. We nurtured many wonderful people and have fond
and precious memories of our experiences.
Since living in Yucaipa, I have been a Visiting Teacher along with temporary callings and assignments. At first,
when we came here, we took turns with Lois tending mama. Lois had to go to work full-time so I had mama.
Donna was good to tend her when we had to go places, and she enjoyed staying up to her house, enjoying
Gloria and Sally. Russell was away at college at that time. In 1968, I had a blood clot in my right ear causing
me to become deaf within an hour. I was very dizzy and sick. We did seek medical care, but we got the same
answer from all Drs.-that my hearing was gone. I suffered with dizziness and head noises for over two years. I
tended mama for several months then, I wrote Edwin and Delbert to see if they could take mama till I
recovered. They said they would take her, so I called Lynn to see if he could take her out to Colorado to Edwin’
s place. He gladly took her in his beautiful Cadillac, where she rode very comfortably. Edwin and Mary had
their little store in Romeo and they kept her for two months until it started getting cold. They had no heat in the
bedrooms, so decided she would be better off with Delbert and Blanche in Farmington (NM). She stayed with
them until she had a stroke and they were compelled to put her in a nice, new convalescent home, where they
and Leta and Floyd visited her every day. Leta was in a wheel chair, but Floyd never complained about taking
Leta to visit mama, even if it was had for both of them.
I have had a full life. George and I have been married for 68 years this coming October, 1990. I have had a
wonderful father and mother and four brothers and two sisters, whom I have enjoyed and loved very much. I
have a wonderful husband who has been my anchor all thru my married life, and we have our darling
daughter, Donna, who has been so sweet and helpful to us all her life. She and Johnnie have given us three
beautiful grandchildren and 14 sweet great grandchildren. They are all good children and are all active in the
church which we are thankful for. I know we have been blessed by staying close to the church. We have tried
to live the gospel standards and taught our children these principles.
I would like to bear my testimony that I know our Church is true, that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and we
have a true prophet now. The Book of Mormon is true and if we all will read and study, we can all improve our
lives and find much joy and happiness throughout our lives and eternally.
Love to all,
Letha Alta Boice Cunliffe
June 1990
P. S.
My ‘first love’ hobby is cooking. It gives me energy and enthusiasm whenever I have company and can cook
for them. I have over 150 cookbooks besides a drawer full of recipes.
LC
RASPBERRY PIE -- LETHA
1 c sugar
1 c water
3 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. white Karo syrup
2 tbsp. margarine
Cook in microwave, (I cooked mine 5 minutes) until clear.
Then take 3 tbsp. (heaping) raspberry Jell-O and stir until it is dissolved. Add 2 heaping cups raspberries.
Cool. Pour into baked 9” pie shell.
Serve with whipped cream.
Front: Alta Artena Ball Boice - mama
Children (birth order youngest to oldest): Grant, Lynn,
Lois, Leta, Delbert, Letha and Edwin
Children (birth order youngest to oldest): Grant, Lynn,
Lois, Leta, Delbert, Letha and Edwin