Marcia:
Another
Dadaism. "Cheaters always win ". So win at all cost even if you have
to cheat lol. My son Jared has adopted that philosophy from dad. Lol all
our kids say Jared always wins because , if need be he cheats, just
like grandpa Bodine! Lol.
Bill:
Heather met Dad when he came into Pizza Hut with Mark and Lora. She remembers him pulling out his wallet, showing Sharon's picture and saying, "This is my Big, Fat wife". When Heather protested that comment, he said simply, "Well that's what she calls herself". That was a typical Dadism, we knew he didn't mean it as a slam, just one of his things.
Marcia:
"Dad 'teased' ALOT ! Taken out of context his words could sound rude. But he was always laughing and making people laugh. If someone was hungry dad was one of the first to make sure they had food. If they were cold he was one of the first to make sure they had wood to burn in their stoves, ask Rhonda, she would be the first to tell you how dad saved her and her families lives in a time of great need! He did have a thing about " my big ole fat wife" but he only made that remark about beautiful women who at a glance you could see he was teasing !"
Bill:
We have laughed a bunch of times about when his neighbor moved in next door. Dad being the ever gracious neighbor, called over to her one day saying, "Lady, if that Dog bites me, we're going to have words!!!". Welcome to the neighborhood, "Lady".
Tiffany Walker:
"There
is one word that makes me smile when I think of Uncle Bill and that is "Seabee's". My kids heard stories from Uncle Bill and he would
say.... When I was in the "Seabee's"...... My kids when they were
younger truly believed that Uncle Bill served in the "Seabee's".
Bill:
It seemed that his favorite compliment for a well cooked meal, was that it was: "muy sloperichi"
Bill:
Help, someone is going to know the right quote or how to say/spell it, but the one foreign phrase he liked to say was something like:
"Buzi nizi mizi moku maughn". I have no idea what language it was, but I think he thought it was legit.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Random Memories....
Marcia:
Marcia was remembering the other day that Dad liked a neatly set table. In fact if possible, he wanted the table to be set all day long, however, if that was not possible he at least wanted the table set properly at meal time. I guess the Sawmill broke him of that desire:)
Bill:
Marcia reminded me that when Dad was in the Seminary/Institute program he was knows as Bill 'Tech' Bodine. I guess he took church ball pretty serious and was always getting technical fouls and being ejected from games.
Marcia:
Dad loved westerns, you are right Clint Eastwood and John Wayne were two of his favorite . He loved the white hat black hat type. Where it was obvious who was the good guy and who was the bad. The scene in the John Wayne movie McCintock ( may be a mis spell) where they had the big fight in the mud puddle with the Indians made him laugh till tears ran down his face. My favorite movie is Quigley down Under. I think that is because it is the last western I saw with him. He loved "Paint Your Wagon" and "Cat Ballou". It had a drunk horse leaning against the barn. I remember loving watch him laugh and loving life!
Marcia:
Do you know he got into long bike rides at one time. We lived in San Diego (I was in the 5th grade ) he rode to Andrews Air Force base and he was so tired he had to call mom to come pick them up and take them back home. Lol
Bill:
I remember going on a least one really long motorcycle ride with Dad on our Honda 175cc. It might not have been that long, but as a 12 year old, he let me drive and it seemed like we drove for ever. It was the greatest.
Marcia:
Dad went to school to get a solo air plane license . Don't know if he ever finished . He was not good at math and that was very hard for him. So I don't know if he ever got his private pilot license. But he did try! Not afraid of most anything, but never arrogant , always humble!
Bill:
I remember him going to pilot school as well. When I got home from my mission, he and I studied for a while to get our Real Estate licenses. Neither one of us studied enough and when we went to take the test, we both failed. Who knows, maybe we could have been Real Estate tycoons.
Bill:
There are people that have to always being doing something. Even if it is just fidgeting in place. The Dad I remember was NOT one of those people. I think that is what made him so comfortable for me. That's why 3 hour rides to Scottsdale each week were enjoyable. If he went to the mall shopping, he was content to find a bench and just wait peacefully while everyone finished their stuff. When we would go visit Dad, we didn't have to be out DOING something. We could just relax in the house and enjoy each others company. We took him on a cruise to Alaska before he died. My memory was that, while he enjoyed the excursions we did, he was just as content to sit on the deck and relax. Of course that was when he wasn't cheating at the card games we played.
Right now, Heather and I love to spend our Sunday evenings in the front yard doing nothing but enjoying each others company. I can see Dad fitting right in with that.
Bill:
Dad hated cats (not sure if the animal rights people would appreciate me putting the Dad-Cat story on the internet), but he loved Dogs. Gidget was the last dog he had. If I remember right, he spent more time petting dogs with his foot than he ever did with his hands.
Bill:
Towards the end of his life, he used to always go on walks with Gidget at the Golf course there by his house. While on the walk, he would hunt for golf balls. He had to have had hundreds of balls there at the house when he passed away. I think I only went on one of these walks with him, but these hunts must have been epic. Now, when I am in St. George with the family, we like following the same route on the Gold course that Dad would have taken. I always come back with ripped shirts, bloodied arms, backs, legs and heads and plenty of balls. Picturing Dad as a weekend 70 year old scavenging for these balls is fun. If I remember right, one of the last times he went was the time he really went deep into the brush after a ball and fell in the creek, making a bit of a dam, that runs by the Golf course. I think he was stuck there a while. That had to have been a scary ordeal. I hope that someone who has even more detail on this will elaborate.
Bill:
Like many of his generation. Dad loved Clint Eastwood movies. A no-nonsense guy in all his movies that exacted quick and decisive judgement.
Marcia was remembering the other day that Dad liked a neatly set table. In fact if possible, he wanted the table to be set all day long, however, if that was not possible he at least wanted the table set properly at meal time. I guess the Sawmill broke him of that desire:)
Bill:
Marcia reminded me that when Dad was in the Seminary/Institute program he was knows as Bill 'Tech' Bodine. I guess he took church ball pretty serious and was always getting technical fouls and being ejected from games.
Marcia:
Dad loved westerns, you are right Clint Eastwood and John Wayne were two of his favorite . He loved the white hat black hat type. Where it was obvious who was the good guy and who was the bad. The scene in the John Wayne movie McCintock ( may be a mis spell) where they had the big fight in the mud puddle with the Indians made him laugh till tears ran down his face. My favorite movie is Quigley down Under. I think that is because it is the last western I saw with him. He loved "Paint Your Wagon" and "Cat Ballou". It had a drunk horse leaning against the barn. I remember loving watch him laugh and loving life!
Marcia:
Do you know he got into long bike rides at one time. We lived in San Diego (I was in the 5th grade ) he rode to Andrews Air Force base and he was so tired he had to call mom to come pick them up and take them back home. Lol
Bill:
I remember going on a least one really long motorcycle ride with Dad on our Honda 175cc. It might not have been that long, but as a 12 year old, he let me drive and it seemed like we drove for ever. It was the greatest.
Marcia:
Dad went to school to get a solo air plane license . Don't know if he ever finished . He was not good at math and that was very hard for him. So I don't know if he ever got his private pilot license. But he did try! Not afraid of most anything, but never arrogant , always humble!
Bill:
I remember him going to pilot school as well. When I got home from my mission, he and I studied for a while to get our Real Estate licenses. Neither one of us studied enough and when we went to take the test, we both failed. Who knows, maybe we could have been Real Estate tycoons.
Bill:
There are people that have to always being doing something. Even if it is just fidgeting in place. The Dad I remember was NOT one of those people. I think that is what made him so comfortable for me. That's why 3 hour rides to Scottsdale each week were enjoyable. If he went to the mall shopping, he was content to find a bench and just wait peacefully while everyone finished their stuff. When we would go visit Dad, we didn't have to be out DOING something. We could just relax in the house and enjoy each others company. We took him on a cruise to Alaska before he died. My memory was that, while he enjoyed the excursions we did, he was just as content to sit on the deck and relax. Of course that was when he wasn't cheating at the card games we played.
Right now, Heather and I love to spend our Sunday evenings in the front yard doing nothing but enjoying each others company. I can see Dad fitting right in with that.
Bill:
Dad hated cats (not sure if the animal rights people would appreciate me putting the Dad-Cat story on the internet), but he loved Dogs. Gidget was the last dog he had. If I remember right, he spent more time petting dogs with his foot than he ever did with his hands.
Bill:
Towards the end of his life, he used to always go on walks with Gidget at the Golf course there by his house. While on the walk, he would hunt for golf balls. He had to have had hundreds of balls there at the house when he passed away. I think I only went on one of these walks with him, but these hunts must have been epic. Now, when I am in St. George with the family, we like following the same route on the Gold course that Dad would have taken. I always come back with ripped shirts, bloodied arms, backs, legs and heads and plenty of balls. Picturing Dad as a weekend 70 year old scavenging for these balls is fun. If I remember right, one of the last times he went was the time he really went deep into the brush after a ball and fell in the creek, making a bit of a dam, that runs by the Golf course. I think he was stuck there a while. That had to have been a scary ordeal. I hope that someone who has even more detail on this will elaborate.
Bill:
Like many of his generation. Dad loved Clint Eastwood movies. A no-nonsense guy in all his movies that exacted quick and decisive judgement.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Dad and Marcia
When
Darwin and I were first married and making only $400 a month ( when his
boss could afford to pay us, we lived in a little very old shack. I
wanted a quaint adorable little cottage. Dad and mom drove ten hours up
to visit . Darwin worked two jobs and was only home about 4 hours out
of every 24 hours. But Dad set to work. Dismantled all the kitchen cabinets
, painted them, reassembled them, painted the rest of the house,
wallpapered three rooms revived an old couch we rescued from the dump.
And did all he could to give me that charming little cottage of my
dreams. This will probably only really, I guess, impress those who knew that dad
was NOT a handyman. Everything he did for me that week was WAY
out of his comfort zone, but for his little girl he did it all, almost
completely by himself and never once complained about how tired he was,
how hard it was, how impossible it was. (At least not to me anyway )
maybe he did to others. Remember how many kids he moved how many times,
how many fixer uppers he help so many of us with. Dad I can never
repay!!!
A few of the peope who loved Dad....
NOTE: I pulled most of these off facebook pages. Let me know if you would like to remove or add to any of these...
Marcia:
"I think of dad every day of my life. I long for the time I get to see and talk to him again. I have never met a greater man. Love and miss you dad."
Lora:
"Thanks for that reminder I add my thanks for the blessings I have because if my dad's faithfulness"
Joi:
"Well, it's been 10 years since my father died. Some days it seems like it was just yesterday. The hurt and pain never really quite leave, but every year I think I learn just a bit more to appreciate the wonderful man that he was and the incredible influence he continues to be in my life. I love you dad!!!"
" I can be thankful for the wonderful influence he was in my life. He taught me so much and helped make me the woman I am today. Even though he is gone he still teaches me lessons every day. I love you dad!"
Sharon:
"He was the greatest man I've known. Not a day goes by that I also reach out to him. He gave me so much"
"Only a great man can love all children the same. He always talked and loved the 5 who came first but gave his all to us who came second. I was so blessed to be given such a wonderful man who loved so deeply. He was the love of my life"
Tiffany Walker:
"He was a huge example to me throughout my life. I loved going to see my Uncle Bill!! I love him, think about him and miss him everyday also!! I think about my own life and the things that I do and ask myself a lot... would uncle bill be OK with that? I have a lot of work to do!!!! But thru his example, he guides me to where I need to be in my life and I thank him for that!!!
Wilford Biggs:
" Bill, your daddy was always a very special person in my life. Just sitting and listening to him talk and tell stories. It was amazing. He could make the most ordinary event seem like a world shatteringly important happening. When he talked to you he always make your conversation seem to be the most important discussion. He could make such ordinary things seem so exciting. THANK YOU UNCLE BILL."
Dennis Miller:
"I was really lucky he was one of my best friends and the long talks we had and the smiles. He is deeply missed"
Rhonda Miller:
" How wonderful bill he is such a wonderful man and changed my life forever!!!"
Marcia:
"I think of dad every day of my life. I long for the time I get to see and talk to him again. I have never met a greater man. Love and miss you dad."
Lora:
"Thanks for that reminder I add my thanks for the blessings I have because if my dad's faithfulness"
Joi:
"Well, it's been 10 years since my father died. Some days it seems like it was just yesterday. The hurt and pain never really quite leave, but every year I think I learn just a bit more to appreciate the wonderful man that he was and the incredible influence he continues to be in my life. I love you dad!!!"
" I can be thankful for the wonderful influence he was in my life. He taught me so much and helped make me the woman I am today. Even though he is gone he still teaches me lessons every day. I love you dad!"
Sharon:
"He was the greatest man I've known. Not a day goes by that I also reach out to him. He gave me so much"
"Only a great man can love all children the same. He always talked and loved the 5 who came first but gave his all to us who came second. I was so blessed to be given such a wonderful man who loved so deeply. He was the love of my life"
Tiffany Walker:
"He was a huge example to me throughout my life. I loved going to see my Uncle Bill!! I love him, think about him and miss him everyday also!! I think about my own life and the things that I do and ask myself a lot... would uncle bill be OK with that? I have a lot of work to do!!!! But thru his example, he guides me to where I need to be in my life and I thank him for that!!!
Wilford Biggs:
" Bill, your daddy was always a very special person in my life. Just sitting and listening to him talk and tell stories. It was amazing. He could make the most ordinary event seem like a world shatteringly important happening. When he talked to you he always make your conversation seem to be the most important discussion. He could make such ordinary things seem so exciting. THANK YOU UNCLE BILL."
Dennis Miller:
"I was really lucky he was one of my best friends and the long talks we had and the smiles. He is deeply missed"
Rhonda Miller:
" How wonderful bill he is such a wonderful man and changed my life forever!!!"
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Dad and I (Bill)
- When I was in High School I was dating a girl that I found out later Dad didn't really approve of. One day I was at her house just hanging around and a knock came to the door. We opened it and Dad was standing there. He said very simply.... "I'm on my way home, you had better get there before I do!!!" I beat him home and that was the last time I spent any time with that girl.
- When I was in High School, I can't remember what instigated it, but Dad and I took a Karate class in Scottsdale. It was a bit unusual since Scottsdale is about 3 hours away from our home. So I think we only went once a week. We obviously never really got very good since, it takes a lot more work than a once a week session and neither Dad and I could touch our toes. But it was a great experience for us to do this together. The family has always laughed that we consider this a bonding experience considering that, since neither of us are talkers, we talked VERY little the whole way too and from the class.
- Even though Dad and I had a good relationship when he died, he and I almost never hugged. I think the reason goes back to when I was a kid. I remember, as a little boy, that when we would go to a game or something like together, he would take my hand as fathers do. I felt strength in his hands that I loved. As I got older, when ever I would come back into town we would shake hands rather than embrace and it reminded me of that strength that I always loved. He was a rock for me!!!
- When I was in High School, I can't remember what instigated it, but Dad and I took a Karate class in Scottsdale. It was a bit unusual since Scottsdale is about 3 hours away from our home. So I think we only went once a week. We obviously never really got very good since, it takes a lot more work than a once a week session and neither Dad and I could touch our toes. But it was a great experience for us to do this together. The family has always laughed that we consider this a bonding experience considering that, since neither of us are talkers, we talked VERY little the whole way too and from the class.
- Even though Dad and I had a good relationship when he died, he and I almost never hugged. I think the reason goes back to when I was a kid. I remember, as a little boy, that when we would go to a game or something like together, he would take my hand as fathers do. I felt strength in his hands that I loved. As I got older, when ever I would come back into town we would shake hands rather than embrace and it reminded me of that strength that I always loved. He was a rock for me!!!
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Vehicles....
Marcia:
"You know about his love for motor cycles and crazy pick up trucks. Main reason I wish I was part of the Harley side of our family is because of dad's love for bikes! I feel I have been left behind and live in another world than the rest of the family. But I can never forget how much he loved bikes and trucks, in a redneck way lol. Remember the crazy horns? Lol."
Bill:
He had an old International Scout 4x4 that was named "Mahonri Moriancmr". He carpeted every part of the inside, sides, top, etc. I think he had a custom steering wheel on every vehicle he owned. Some wood looking thing on his truck. Custom gear shifters. Always custom wheels. In his truck and Mahonri, he had a CB installed. He had huge antennas on both of them that were just for "looks". They had nothing to do with the CB's.
The truck is one that originally he bought for me when I was in High School. It was the coolest thing ever. I remember the guy he bought it from was annoyed that Dad would give it to his teenager to drive. Dad reminded him that it wasn't any of his business. I accidentally ran it dry of oil and Dad took it over and "Mex'd" it out. Pretty funny.
He had a Honda 175 when we lived in Provo and California. In St. George he had a Honda Gold Wing. About 1000cc's as a recall. He and Sharon used to love riding that around. Maybe that's part of the reason Joi, Lora and Rhonda love their bikes so much.
Marcia:
"When dad worked at AAMCO, people would sometimes abandon cars that were too old and broken down they did not think they were worth repairing. Dad saw that as an opportunity to get a car for me and Lora to drive to school. You can imagine what a pitiful site they were. We named them all. The one I remember most was named "verge" because it was always on the "verge" of either running or breaking down. We never knew which!"
"Did you ever see the old model T that dad restored? He painted it bright purple. It had a rumble seat in the back, and it could only go 40mph. So he had to sell it because it couldn't get up to the minimum speed on the freeways. He had a real love for cars and he named them all, do you remember " the Queen. Mary"? After that was a firebird and he once had a little MG. He was so big he had a hard time getting in and out of it. Once he could not get out of it, even with many hands helping. He kept laughing (to keep from crying ). When we got him out and into the house he could not stand and was down on his back for many hours. I was quite frightened by his inability to stand up. But eventually he could, and he traded for a car more his size Lol."
"You know about his love for motor cycles and crazy pick up trucks. Main reason I wish I was part of the Harley side of our family is because of dad's love for bikes! I feel I have been left behind and live in another world than the rest of the family. But I can never forget how much he loved bikes and trucks, in a redneck way lol. Remember the crazy horns? Lol."
Bill:
He had an old International Scout 4x4 that was named "Mahonri Moriancmr". He carpeted every part of the inside, sides, top, etc. I think he had a custom steering wheel on every vehicle he owned. Some wood looking thing on his truck. Custom gear shifters. Always custom wheels. In his truck and Mahonri, he had a CB installed. He had huge antennas on both of them that were just for "looks". They had nothing to do with the CB's.
The truck is one that originally he bought for me when I was in High School. It was the coolest thing ever. I remember the guy he bought it from was annoyed that Dad would give it to his teenager to drive. Dad reminded him that it wasn't any of his business. I accidentally ran it dry of oil and Dad took it over and "Mex'd" it out. Pretty funny.
He had a Honda 175 when we lived in Provo and California. In St. George he had a Honda Gold Wing. About 1000cc's as a recall. He and Sharon used to love riding that around. Maybe that's part of the reason Joi, Lora and Rhonda love their bikes so much.
Marcia:
"When dad worked at AAMCO, people would sometimes abandon cars that were too old and broken down they did not think they were worth repairing. Dad saw that as an opportunity to get a car for me and Lora to drive to school. You can imagine what a pitiful site they were. We named them all. The one I remember most was named "verge" because it was always on the "verge" of either running or breaking down. We never knew which!"
"Did you ever see the old model T that dad restored? He painted it bright purple. It had a rumble seat in the back, and it could only go 40mph. So he had to sell it because it couldn't get up to the minimum speed on the freeways. He had a real love for cars and he named them all, do you remember " the Queen. Mary"? After that was a firebird and he once had a little MG. He was so big he had a hard time getting in and out of it. Once he could not get out of it, even with many hands helping. He kept laughing (to keep from crying ). When we got him out and into the house he could not stand and was down on his back for many hours. I was quite frightened by his inability to stand up. But eventually he could, and he traded for a car more his size Lol."
Sports...
Marcia:
"He loved to snow ski and water ski. I think those plus golf were his favorite sports not watched on TV. He was a big cougar fan. When we lived in Provo he NEVER missed a BYU football game."
"When we lived in Ontario, he loved to go night skiing. He would take me, my current boyfriend, and a couple of his students, Bogus had only one night run that was lighted and dad did not know how to turn so he would go into a tuck and go straight down ! You can imagine the mogul he would make when he fell. We all started naming the moguls he made because they were so big and deep they would still be there the next time we went! Lol. He was such a fun loving man. No wonder people were drawn to him!"
Bill:
I remember skiing with him on the Mountain. Sunrise. I think that was where the chair lift hit him one day on the back of the head. Pretty bad bump as I recall.
I don't think I ever played a pickup basketball game with him, that he didn't cheat. Especially, pre-high school. Since he outweighed me, he would just throw me around and it was assumed to not be a foul, ever.
Dad didn't miss very many of my High School basketball games if he missed any. There were a lot of times, that if he couldn't find someone to run the Sawmill, he would just close it down so he could come support me.
Last time I remember Dad playing basketball was when the Sawmill first opened, we had a promotional event where the Sawmill employees and friends played against the local radio station. The whole town was invited. Pretty fun.
Dad played football and ran track in High School. In football, he was a defensive end and offensive wide receiver. I'm assuming he was pretty good. He was voted as the "Homecoming King" in high school. I played one year of football in high school. The only reason I did, since I wasn't very good, was because I knew it was Dad's thing. In track he ran the "high" hurdles. Back then they did have two different heights that people would run. Truck was a very popular sport in the communities back then. When he went to school at ASU he ran on an Intramural track team as well.
He always said that the reason he didn't play Basketball in high school, was because he thought he had skinny legs and didn't want to display them.
Dad loved Golf. He had clubs, the house was decorated with Golf stuff; he loved it. Even though, like me, he really wasn't very good at it. I've seen him break a few windows with his slices and hooks over the years.
"He loved to snow ski and water ski. I think those plus golf were his favorite sports not watched on TV. He was a big cougar fan. When we lived in Provo he NEVER missed a BYU football game."
"When we lived in Ontario, he loved to go night skiing. He would take me, my current boyfriend, and a couple of his students, Bogus had only one night run that was lighted and dad did not know how to turn so he would go into a tuck and go straight down ! You can imagine the mogul he would make when he fell. We all started naming the moguls he made because they were so big and deep they would still be there the next time we went! Lol. He was such a fun loving man. No wonder people were drawn to him!"
Bill:
I remember skiing with him on the Mountain. Sunrise. I think that was where the chair lift hit him one day on the back of the head. Pretty bad bump as I recall.
I don't think I ever played a pickup basketball game with him, that he didn't cheat. Especially, pre-high school. Since he outweighed me, he would just throw me around and it was assumed to not be a foul, ever.
Dad didn't miss very many of my High School basketball games if he missed any. There were a lot of times, that if he couldn't find someone to run the Sawmill, he would just close it down so he could come support me.
Last time I remember Dad playing basketball was when the Sawmill first opened, we had a promotional event where the Sawmill employees and friends played against the local radio station. The whole town was invited. Pretty fun.
Dad played football and ran track in High School. In football, he was a defensive end and offensive wide receiver. I'm assuming he was pretty good. He was voted as the "Homecoming King" in high school. I played one year of football in high school. The only reason I did, since I wasn't very good, was because I knew it was Dad's thing. In track he ran the "high" hurdles. Back then they did have two different heights that people would run. Truck was a very popular sport in the communities back then. When he went to school at ASU he ran on an Intramural track team as well.
He always said that the reason he didn't play Basketball in high school, was because he thought he had skinny legs and didn't want to display them.
Dad loved Golf. He had clubs, the house was decorated with Golf stuff; he loved it. Even though, like me, he really wasn't very good at it. I've seen him break a few windows with his slices and hooks over the years.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Occupations....
- Seminary & Institute Teacher
Souther California
San Diego, California
San Luis Obispo, California
Treasure Valley Community College (Ontario, Oregon)
Monticello, Utah
Thatcher, Arizona
- Radio DJ (Marcia says "He had a great speaking voice and was a good at telling stories and for a time he moon lighted aa a radio DJ!")
- AAMCO Manager - Provo Utah
- Real Estate Sales - Woodland Hills, California
- Hypro - Soy bean meat supplement supplier - Woodland Hills, California
- Restaurant Owner, "Paul Bunyan's Sawmill", Pinetop, Arizona
- Landscaper - St. George, Utah
- High School Shop Teacher (Welding and Drafting)
Marcia remembers: "He was always poor money wise, but tried his best to do the best for his family. Often that meant working more than one job."
Souther California
San Diego, California
San Luis Obispo, California
Treasure Valley Community College (Ontario, Oregon)
Monticello, Utah
Thatcher, Arizona
- Radio DJ (Marcia says "He had a great speaking voice and was a good at telling stories and for a time he moon lighted aa a radio DJ!")
- AAMCO Manager - Provo Utah
- Real Estate Sales - Woodland Hills, California
- Hypro - Soy bean meat supplement supplier - Woodland Hills, California
- Restaurant Owner, "Paul Bunyan's Sawmill", Pinetop, Arizona
- Landscaper - St. George, Utah
- High School Shop Teacher (Welding and Drafting)
Marcia remembers: "He was always poor money wise, but tried his best to do the best for his family. Often that meant working more than one job."
My Ordination - October 9, 2014
Since Dad was not able to ordain me as an Elder before my mission, it was always my hope that if I was ever ordained a High Priest, he would be the one to perform the ordination. When he was diagnosed with cancer and it was clear that he would not be around a long time, I asked our current Stake President if it would be appropriate to see if I could be ordained. Normally, this doesn't happen unless you are being called to an office, like the Bishopric, that requires this office. However, the Stake President felt comfortable moving forward.
As I recall, the day before the ordination, we got a call from Sharon telling us that Dad was failing fast. He had not been able to get out of his bed at all that day and whether he would be lucid enough to give the ordination was doubtful.
We drove down the next day, October 9. Before our arrival Dad was given a blessing and was told that he would have the strength and presence of mind to give the blessing. He arose from his bed, came into the family room, talked and laughed with the family and ordained me as a High Priest with a beautiful blessing.
The following day, being a Sunday, the Deacons came to collect fast offerings while we were all gathered around as a family. As a family we have laughed many times since then as we recall those Deacons that came to the door. The spirit that was in home at that moment was so strong it was palpable. The Deacons came in and even though we were involved in casual family conversations at the time, they obviously KNEW that something powerful was happening in that room. We could see it in their faces, their countenances, everything about them.
We all witnessed the veil being thinned for Dad. I don't know who, from beyond the veil was there with us, but Dad saw them very clearly and made reference to them.
It was an amazing experience for me and my family to witness, so tangibly, God's Plan of Salvation being realized in the life of Dad.
I hope we never forget!!!!
Heather wrote a talk sometime after Dad's passing. It gives a good account of the dealings surrounding this ordination:
As I recall, the day before the ordination, we got a call from Sharon telling us that Dad was failing fast. He had not been able to get out of his bed at all that day and whether he would be lucid enough to give the ordination was doubtful.
We drove down the next day, October 9. Before our arrival Dad was given a blessing and was told that he would have the strength and presence of mind to give the blessing. He arose from his bed, came into the family room, talked and laughed with the family and ordained me as a High Priest with a beautiful blessing.
The following day, being a Sunday, the Deacons came to collect fast offerings while we were all gathered around as a family. As a family we have laughed many times since then as we recall those Deacons that came to the door. The spirit that was in home at that moment was so strong it was palpable. The Deacons came in and even though we were involved in casual family conversations at the time, they obviously KNEW that something powerful was happening in that room. We could see it in their faces, their countenances, everything about them.
We all witnessed the veil being thinned for Dad. I don't know who, from beyond the veil was there with us, but Dad saw them very clearly and made reference to them.
It was an amazing experience for me and my family to witness, so tangibly, God's Plan of Salvation being realized in the life of Dad.
I hope we never forget!!!!
Heather wrote a talk sometime after Dad's passing. It gives a good account of the dealings surrounding this ordination:
"I’ve been asked to share a sacred experience that my family
and I were privileged to be a part of recently and I pray that the Lord’s
spirit will be with me in doing so. I
hope that some aspect of this story will bless your life as it has blessed my
family’s.
My husband’s name is Bill Guy Bodine. That’s particularly important to him because
he is the only son of Bill Glenn Bodine—who was also an only son
and whose name he is proud to bear.
Bill’s (my husband’s) dad is a wonderful, faithful man whose calling and
impact in life was teaching—both in his family and in the seminary &
institute programs of the church. My
husband benefited from his father’s strength & example and in my opinion
inherited many of his father’s fine qualities.
Events unfolded in Bill’s family in such a way that when it
came time for my husband to be ordained to the office of an Elder his father
was unable to perform the ordinance and he was ordained at the hands of someone
else.
Now, I have to tell you about my husband—he’s the easiest
man in the world to please. Even down to
eating and enjoying anything I put in front of him—(and I mean anything!) There is only one sadness or sorrow or
regret that I have ever heard him express-- his sorrow that he was
unable to receive his priesthood under the hands of his own father. The hope he expressed was that if there would
ever come a time when the Lord could use him as a High Priest it would occur during
his father’s lifetime so that he and his sons could inherit that priesthood line
of authority through his father.
Once I got all my kids in school I discovered that going to
the temple once a week was a tremendous blessing in my life. I particularly liked to make sure I had time
to linger and pray and gather thoughts in the celestial room. I had clearly been
told in my Patriarchal blessing that I needed to pray for every blessing
in my life or I would not receive it.
With that in mind, one of the purposes of my temple worship was to pray
for my husband that the one thing I had ever heard him hope for might
become a reality if it was in accordance with the Lord’s will. This was very important to me.
We were blindsided on August 13th of this year to find out that Bill’s
Dad had stage 4 cancer and wouldn’t be expected to live very long. All of a sudden it looked like we might run
out of time on our request. We prayed more fervently than ever that if this was
the Lord’s will it would come to pass.
Events unfolded (and I’m skipping tons here) so that the
week before stake conference Bill was interviewed and found worthy to be
ordained to the office of a High Priest.
We were SO happy about this, especially my son Garrett (whose
name is actually Bill Garrett—once again we see the Bill G. Bodine
theme)--Garrett shed some happy tears and recognized on a deep level that this
was an event that would bless his sons also.
We called Bill’s Dad who had been rapidly declining and told
him this would be happening and to hang in there. The plan was for Bill to be sustained during
the general session of Stake Conference on Sunday then we’d hop in the car and
race to St. George right afterward where a High Councilman down there would
oversee the ordination. Hopefully all this would occur “in time”.
The Friday night before Stake Conference we got a phone call
from worried family members that Bill’s Dad had not eaten or been lucid in 2
days and that whenever he came around he would ask in extreme concern—“when’s
he coming?—I don’t think I can make it .” He was worried he would die before he
could ordain his son. Our brothers-in-law gave Bill’s dad a priesthood blessing
that night that he’d be able to recover enough to see this event through .We
talked to President Killpack who made special arrangements for us and headed to
St. George Saturday morning as quickly as we could.
When we arrived we were astounded to see Bill’s dad
awake, coherent, and sitting up wearing a white shirt and tie—with a smile on
his face—ready to perform the ordination.
He took that opportunity with his family gathered around him to bear a
powerful testimony, express his love, and bless and encourage his
posterity. My husband then sat at his
feet and received the ordination.
So….my family and I witnessed a miracle that day—by the
power of the priesthood a man was raised up from death’s door to bless his
posterity-- one last time.—That was Saturday. On Sunday—Bill’s dad called for Bill to come
and give him a blessing this time.
A blessing of release from this mortal life. Bill blessed him that he would be able to
greet his Savior in loving embrace with a clear conscience and know that the
life he lived on this earth had been accepted and that his mortal mission was
fulfilled. He was told that his loved
ones would remember him and continue to benefit from his legacy. That we would be together again and that he
would have peace. Peace concerning his
family and peace concerning his passing into the next life.
We tucked him into bed that Sunday night—each having a
private moment to express love and said our goodbyes. He never got up again. He died during the next night.
Usually when our family drives back from St. George everyone
sleeps. This trip home was different. .
This time we spent the travel time bearing our testimonies and sharing our
feelings and impressions of that wonderful experience. Sleep was out of the question! Our family had
stood on sacred ground that whole weekend and WE ALL KNEW IT! Sacred
lessons had been written on our hearts that could not be denied. The veil was so thin. Heaven was so real. The spirit was unmistakable. Even our extended
family members who were there who have drifted away from the teachings of their
youth had been touched and softened by it. We all marveled at the overall
sensation of LOVE that we had felt through the whole experience. The closer we had walked our Grandpa to
Heaven the more we had felt our Heavenly Father’s and Savior’s love. It could not be denied. It was real.
A time of sorrow?
Definitely—cause we love our Grandpa and will miss him. But a time of REJOICING was the
overall sensation. Rejoicing in the love
of family. Rejoicing in the blessed
assurance of a plan of happiness. Rejoicing
that families can be together forever and that love extends beyond the grave. Rejoicing
in the love of our Heavenly Father and Savior who made it all possible for
us.
I don’t think there
is any way for me to adequately relate what a thrill it was for me as a mother
to stand on this sacred holy ground with my children and husband and witness
such an outpouring of the spirit. Heavenly Father not only heard and answered
our prayers but blessed us beyond our wildest imagination. More sacred things
were written on our hearts than I could ever express. I was reminded of the scene from the movie
the Ten Commandments when Charlton Heston who plays Moses ascends the mountain,
spends time in the presence of God and descends completely changed in
countenance and spirit. We all marveled
at the change we felt in ourselves. We
knew we would never be the same. My 12 year old put it into memorable words for
me when he said, “After all that, I just want to be a better person. I’m going to try harder to live a better life.”
Doctrine&Covenants 42:61 says: “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive
revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou, mayest know
the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth
life eternal.”
Brothers and Sisters I bear testimony that:
- Miracles happen
- Prayers are heard and answered by a loving Father in Heaven
- Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ KNOW and LOVE each one of us!!!!
- The Priesthood is the Power of God and has been restored to the earth
- Families are forever— the efforts we take to strengthen our families in this life will bless us eternally!"
Monday, October 6, 2014
Reader...
Marcia remembers: "He loved to read, you remember his fabulous library, and he loved to collect inspiring quotes , you remember that collection."
I remember his always reading inspirational books. "As a Man Thinketh". "Think and Grow Rich"
I remember his always reading inspirational books. "As a Man Thinketh". "Think and Grow Rich"
Adversity...
Marcia remembers: "His father was a chain smoker, when Darwin and I saw grandpa Bodine in the hospital he was smoking through his trake in his neck. His mom died because she was driving while drunk and ran into a telephone pole. Yet dad loved them, and stayed strong. He told me that addiction was in my blood from both of his parents so I am very careful what I put in my body."
"When he passed a kidney stone the pain was so great that he physically bend down the metal bed rails of the hospital bed and refused pain medication because he feared addiction."
"When he passed a kidney stone the pain was so great that he physically bend down the metal bed rails of the hospital bed and refused pain medication because he feared addiction."
Masters Degree from BYU...
For his masters degree, Dad wrote a course of study for the Pacific Schools of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Marcia has a copy and an additional copy is located in the Church History Library.
Marcia says... "Interesting, because I now have a Polynesian granddaughter . Kalia , Darwin 's adopted daughter.
He had a chance to go there and teach it (to Somoa) but after praying about it he felt it would not be a good move for his family at the time. We always came first."
Marcia has a copy and an additional copy is located in the Church History Library.
Marcia says... "Interesting, because I now have a Polynesian granddaughter . Kalia , Darwin 's adopted daughter.
He had a chance to go there and teach it (to Somoa) but after praying about it he felt it would not be a good move for his family at the time. We always came first."
Seminary & Institute & Root beer...
His students love him and they hung around our house 24/7.
He used to have Root beer drinking contests with his students and he rarely lost even though it made him sick.
He used to always challenge his students to drink a gallon of root beer in an hour. Marcia remembered that the hardest part for the students was that they would always end up laughing so hard they could almost never do it. Dad would laugh until there were tears running down his cheeks.
He used to have Root beer drinking contests with his students and he rarely lost even though it made him sick.
He used to always challenge his students to drink a gallon of root beer in an hour. Marcia remembered that the hardest part for the students was that they would always end up laughing so hard they could almost never do it. Dad would laugh until there were tears running down his cheeks.
If You Can Smile...
Dad used to take Marcia to fireside and other speaking engagements with him in his Seminary and Institute days. If she would get emotional then or other times, she says he would quote this poem to her.
"If you can smile when things go wrong and say it doesn't matter....
If you can laugh at cares and woes and trouble makes you fatter....
If you can keep a cheerful face when all around are blue....
Then have your head examined bud, there's something wrong with you!
For one thing I've arrived at...
There are no ands and buts...
The guy who's smiling all the time....
Has gone completely nuts!!!!"
"If you can smile when things go wrong and say it doesn't matter....
If you can laugh at cares and woes and trouble makes you fatter....
If you can keep a cheerful face when all around are blue....
Then have your head examined bud, there's something wrong with you!
For one thing I've arrived at...
There are no ands and buts...
The guy who's smiling all the time....
Has gone completely nuts!!!!"
Neopolitan Ice Cream...
Brian Regan says that the serving size for Ice Cream is a half a cup. My memory of Dad eating Neopolitan Ice Cream is that if it didn't fill up his bowl it wasn't enough. I'm thinking his serving size was a half a gallon rather than half a cup.
Am I right in remembering that Neopolitan was his favorite? If I ever get that flavor, it is because I remember how much he enjoyed it.
Marcia remembers that he used to eat ice cream from a mixing bowl. A regular size cereal bowl was amateur.
Am I right in remembering that Neopolitan was his favorite? If I ever get that flavor, it is because I remember how much he enjoyed it.
Marcia remembers that he used to eat ice cream from a mixing bowl. A regular size cereal bowl was amateur.
Salesman/Teacher/Improvisor....
I am convinced that Dad must have been an amazing salesman....
Even though I have heard the legend of how amazing of a teacher he was from family and former students, I was a bit too young to have a memory of his seminary and institute teaching days. Marcia will have a better memory of that
However....
- How does a guy with no mechanical skills end up managing an AAMCO shop. I've heard the stories of him diagnosing customer transmission problems. What was the name of his foreman? Dad must have been a really good delegator.
- If what I heard was correct, when he moved out to California, he sold some sort of Real Estate. Is that right? Unfortunately, he worked for a dishonest relative that robbed him blind, but I hear he was really good.
- Did Dad have any business experience or experience in the food industry to open a restaurant in the little town of Pinetop, Arizona? Who did he sell that idea to? How did they even come up with that idea?
- What experience did Dad have to run a landscaping business in St. George? "Winter-kill!!!!"
- How does a guy that could not weld teach a successful welding course for years at the High school level. Another example of delegating to those who are capable. Marcia remembers that he had never welded before he got the job. Darwin gave him a crash course when he first started. When his students would ask him to show him how to do something that required welding, he would tell them "if I do it for you, you will never learn for yourself".
Even though I have heard the legend of how amazing of a teacher he was from family and former students, I was a bit too young to have a memory of his seminary and institute teaching days. Marcia will have a better memory of that
However....
- How does a guy with no mechanical skills end up managing an AAMCO shop. I've heard the stories of him diagnosing customer transmission problems. What was the name of his foreman? Dad must have been a really good delegator.
- If what I heard was correct, when he moved out to California, he sold some sort of Real Estate. Is that right? Unfortunately, he worked for a dishonest relative that robbed him blind, but I hear he was really good.
- Did Dad have any business experience or experience in the food industry to open a restaurant in the little town of Pinetop, Arizona? Who did he sell that idea to? How did they even come up with that idea?
- What experience did Dad have to run a landscaping business in St. George? "Winter-kill!!!!"
- How does a guy that could not weld teach a successful welding course for years at the High school level. Another example of delegating to those who are capable. Marcia remembers that he had never welded before he got the job. Darwin gave him a crash course when he first started. When his students would ask him to show him how to do something that required welding, he would tell them "if I do it for you, you will never learn for yourself".
Shoddy clothes....
As I recall, even though we were surviving on the living of a seminary teacher, Dad wasn't too crazy about sloppy clothes.
I think we were living in Provo, so I would have been about 12 or 13. I came into the room wearing a shirt that had a hole it. I probably had some teenage response when Dad told me to change it, so the next thing I knew, he had put his finger in the hole and completely ripped the entire shirt off my back. I went and put on a shirt that didn't have a hole in it.
Marcia says..." The sloppy clothes thing went for all of us. We had clothes ripped off that had holes in them too. Lol. If our drawers were sloppy he dumped them out on the floor and we had to fold them and put them back neatly. He was stickler for doing things right. I am grateful for those lessons. No shorts , no sleeveless tops. Our dress was to be temple ready long before we actually entered the temple. Such modesty from the get go."
Gotta love a "no-nonsense" Dad.
I think we were living in Provo, so I would have been about 12 or 13. I came into the room wearing a shirt that had a hole it. I probably had some teenage response when Dad told me to change it, so the next thing I knew, he had put his finger in the hole and completely ripped the entire shirt off my back. I went and put on a shirt that didn't have a hole in it.
Marcia says..." The sloppy clothes thing went for all of us. We had clothes ripped off that had holes in them too. Lol. If our drawers were sloppy he dumped them out on the floor and we had to fold them and put them back neatly. He was stickler for doing things right. I am grateful for those lessons. No shorts , no sleeveless tops. Our dress was to be temple ready long before we actually entered the temple. Such modesty from the get go."
Gotta love a "no-nonsense" Dad.
Nice Night In June....
Who of you remember Dad reciting this goofy poem?
"Nice night in June....
Stars shine, big moon....
In park, on bench, with girl in clench....
Me say me love, she coo like dove....
Me smart, me fast, never let chance pass....
Get hitched me say, she say OK.....
Wedding bells ring, ring, honeymoon everything....
Settled down married life, happy man, happy wife....
Another night in June....
Stars shine, big moon....
Aint happy no more.....
Carry baby walk floor....
Wife mad, she fuss....
Me mad, me cuss....
Nagging wife, bawling bratt....
Realize at last..... me too darn fast!!!!!"
"Nice night in June....
Stars shine, big moon....
In park, on bench, with girl in clench....
Me say me love, she coo like dove....
Me smart, me fast, never let chance pass....
Get hitched me say, she say OK.....
Wedding bells ring, ring, honeymoon everything....
Settled down married life, happy man, happy wife....
Another night in June....
Stars shine, big moon....
Aint happy no more.....
Carry baby walk floor....
Wife mad, she fuss....
Me mad, me cuss....
Nagging wife, bawling bratt....
Realize at last..... me too darn fast!!!!!"
Dad -- November 17, 1929 - October 12, 2004
I guess I'm feeling a bit nostalgic with the 10 year anniversary of Dad's passing coming up. I just want this to be a fun place for those of us who remember and loved Dad to be able to share thoughts and memories.
I know being the oldest, Marcia has different memories than I do. I want to hear everything you all have to offer.
It doesn't have to be any thing profound, but if you have a picture, a memory, a quote, anything please share. To start with, send your memories to me and I'll post them. If you want to post on your own, let me know and I'll give you rights to the site to be able to post.
Thanks
I know being the oldest, Marcia has different memories than I do. I want to hear everything you all have to offer.
It doesn't have to be any thing profound, but if you have a picture, a memory, a quote, anything please share. To start with, send your memories to me and I'll post them. If you want to post on your own, let me know and I'll give you rights to the site to be able to post.
Thanks
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