Don Ray Christensen
As written by himself.
My name is Don Ray. I was born to loving, caring parents who loved life and its challenges so much that troubles seemed to go away.
I was the eldest son, second of six children. I don't remember ever having anyone care for us as a baby sitter. When we went to work, the whole family went together, whether to the hay fields or to work in the beets We learned to love each other working together. We also gained an appreciation and respect for our animals--especially horses, as they furnished our transportation and horsepower for the farm.
The depression experiences caused Mom and Dad to be humble and economical. With hopes and dreams for a better future, they built a new home with raw materials, sweat and tears. As the family grew, the farm grew. We were able to replace the horse-drawn equipment with new tractors, bailers and so forth as well as improve irrigating and farming techniques.
Dad honored his Priesthood and was the leader in our home, but he got his inspiration and many of his ideas from Mom who always supported and encouraged him to be the great man he became There isn t enough room for the praise of all of the things, little and big, that mother does that makes all of the difference, There is not a selfish thought in her life, but I am afraid many of her wants went unanswered as she sacrificed to make life special for her children.
Devotion to church and its callings, together with her uplifting example gave us kids a lot to look up to. I only hope I can instill some of these noble qualities in my posterity.
I enjoyed high school and received honors in agriculture and farm mechanics Later I also received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award.
After graduating from high school, I went to Snow College where I met Ramona Johnson of Monroe. We were married in the Manti Temple June 7, 1954. I have had many different callings in the church which I have enjoyed, especially the opportunity to be Young Men's Mutual President.
Ramona and I worked together on the requirements arid she received her Golden Gleaner Award and I received my Master M-Man
The farm provided a living for our family for many years. But for the past 13 years I have worked at the Moroni Feed Company, as well as trying to keep up with the farm. Ramona is a talented, ambitious person and has helped out with a catering business, ceramics and others creative ways of earning money.
We have 10 wonderful children:
Our oldest, Mary Lucile, is a beautiful, loving person who has been an uplifting example to all of us. She has had many problems in her life which, with the help of the Lord, she has been able to handle very well. She married Curtis Hatch in the Manti Temple and to this union was born five wonderful children Jared, Katie, Travis, Camille, and Kevin.
Their baby, Kevin, died when he was only six months old. Camille, who was just two years old died a short time later. They later adopted a little boy from South America they named Brian. This brought joy and happiness to their family, but soon sadness was upon them again as they learned that Curtis had cancer, and he also was taken from them.
Curtis encouraged Mary to go into the ceramic business to have a way of providing for there family after he was none. I was able to help Mary build a nice shop to do her ceramic work.
About two years later, after Curt's death, Mary married Alan Morgan, who had four kids of his own, Erie, Trevor, Lance, and Marcie. There house was quite small with a large family again, and we was able to build an addition on to their house just this past summer. They are happy and things are going quite well for them Mary is an uplifting help to everyone in the family and we all lean on her for support.
Our oldest son, Dale Ray, was a great help on the farm He learned to drive a tractor when he was Only five years old. He loved mechanics and he and his younger brother Karl enjoyed working together, repairing and rebuilding cars, building dune buggies and carts and all kinds of things.
After serving a mission in the Florida Talahasee Mission, Dale married Mary Vee Stanley and they have five children: Ryan, Candy, Jeremy, Jason, and Brandon. Dales mechanics experience out on the farm has proven helpful, as he is now employed on a large farm for the Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Utah out in west Corrine and is a mechanic and shop foreman.
Karl Lynn, is our second son and third child. He lives here in Moroni and has a auto body shop out on the farm where he does very well. He s an excellent mechanic and really enjoys buying ears that have been wrecked and totaled out and making them look as good as new again. Karl married Ruth Barton and they are expecting their first child in August. He s now stationed in Germany with the national guard and we are expecting him home soon. Karl s really excited about becoming a daddy.
Paula Jean, is our second daughter. She s a beautiful girl with a darling personality. She was a cheerleader in high school. She loves sports and all kinds of outdoor activities and she loves the mountains. She met and married Robert Brewer and they have one daughter named Brandy.
Paula didn't graduate from high school until after she was married, but then, after graduating from high school, went on to Snow College where she earned her degree She is now employed at Snow College in the President s office and is well thought of.
I still think of Fred Ramon, as our little blond, happy-go-lucky boy. He loved horses. He loved the farm. He has always been outgoing and makes friends easily. Fred served a mission in Rapid City South Dakota Mission. After his mission, he joined the Air Force. While stationed in Mississippi, he met Linda Douglas, and they were later married in the Atlanta, Georgia Temple. He is a Staff Sargent working in Radio Technology. He was stationed in England for three years. Mona went over to stay with him for one year for schooling. Fred is now stationed in Texas and we are expecting him to come up and visit us this summer for a long vacation
Duane Jay lived with a family in Salt Lake while attending high school. The Olive Killpack Family. After graduating from high school, he met and married Suzzane Brown. He and Suzy have two children, Brandy and Jaycee.
D. J. went to Snow College and is now a computer technician for the Moroni Processing Plant. He lives in our family home that Morn and Dad built here in Moroni.
DON RAY CHRISTENSEN
A Tribute written by his wife, Ramona
Don Ray was born to Raymond David and Ila Peterson Christensen on January 11, 1935. He was the second child of eight children. He has four sisters and one brother still living. As the oldest son, he learned how to work very hard at a young age. He helped his father on the farm. They raised cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, pigs and horses.
I met Don Ray at Snow College in 1953 at an LDS Institute Dance. Don loved to dance and he is very good at it. He felt obligated to "rescue" me from some city folks who were trying to teach the country bumpkins how to dance the jitter-hug. It was I who asked him for our first date, the Preference Ball on December 7, 1953. We were married on June 7, 1954.
We have six sons and four daughters. Don Ray loves children. He always said he wanted to have a dozen kids.
FARMER
Don started farming at the age of eight when he bought his first calf. He started milking his own cow at the age of ten. He had helped on the farm since he was old enough to walk. He loved the animals, especially horses. His first horse was a Shetland pony named Geronimo. Don Ray tried very hard to please his father. One day, he made a promise to plow the field east of the milk barn before dark. He already had too much to do and not enough time to finish. He worked stead fast without stopping all day. Late afternoon, he started to worry that he would not be able to get the field plowed as he had promised. He tilled the fields with a horse and a hand-operated plow. As despair started to dawn on him, he spotted a tractor traveling toward him. He ran into the road and stopped the farmer on the tractor. He offered all his savings if the farmer would take an hour out of his day and plow the field. The farmer responded saying, "This is not my tractor. I am only hired help and I must get out to my fields right away." Don Ray was disappointed but still worked and made every effort to get the field plowed. When the day ended, he still had not hooked the horse up and plowed the field. He still feels had that he let his Dad down that day.
INVENTOR
Even as a young boy, Don Ray would always figure a way to do his farm tasks quicker and more efficient. He would design and build different contraptions to help him complete his work. He set up different gallon cans in the granary, so that they could store nails, etc. by their size.
We traveled all over the state looking at different milk barns. We came home and drew up our own plans. Don fixed the milk house doors so they would open and close by pulling ropes without walking over to each door. Ropes were also used to grain the cows that were being milked each morning and night. Often times, the inventions that he makes are very complex, and requires much thought and work tor the finished project.
He built a cement boat so that he could pour our drive way. He has built and designed tool benches, presses, trailers, hitches, and many more items needed by himself, family or friends. I am always impressed how well each of his inventions works.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
Over the years, Don has learned to do many things. This has been a great help to him and to others. At the age of 18, he was a good welder. He went to Snow College and took classes that would help him on the farm. During his second year there, he convinced his father into taking a class with him. That winter, they built a horse trailer, and many hay wagons. They enjoyed doing things together.
He is a carpenter. He has done most of the remodeling on our home. He has laid brick, done cement work, plastered walls, as well as some plumbing, electrical, and installing metal siding.
VOCAL TALENTS
I can't say something about Don Ray without saying something about his love of singing and music. One of our first dates was going on a hay ride and caroling. While we were on our honeymoon, he wanted us to sing and I think he was disappointed when he found out that I could not harmonize with him hut I could sing the same as he did. Now many years later, he is still singing. He was asked to sing solos at conference, and at the Manti Temple dedication. He knows the words to hundreds of songs. He likes to sing and yodel at family parties and reunions. However, his talents are not limited to friends and family. When we went to Salt Lake to get Karl off the plane from the Gulf War, he was so happy, he started to yodel on the bus in front of 50 strangers. They loved it.
We took a vacation to Hawaii in 1986. Don Ray started to sing and yodel on the airplane in front of total strangers. He jokes that he has ‘sang on the air."
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Few people know that Don was the one who thought up some of the projects that his father took on to serve the community. One example was the city water irrigation system that Don planned and helped to install. He talked about it for a long time and tried to come up with the most efficient method. It started with the idea that he could bring water down and sprinkle our large lawn.
Another example of his community service, was the Senior Citizen Building Project. Don Ray would get up an hour early just so that he could use the jack hammer and break up the cement. Then lie would dig and clean out under the building so that Ray D. could build and remodel during the day.
Don Ray has been teaching Sunday School and/or Webelo Scouts for approximately 20 years. He has served in the Elders Quorum, ward choir and Young Men's Mutual President. He loves the church and his service cannot he measured by time or effort.
As written by himself.
My name is Don Ray. I was born to loving, caring parents who loved life and its challenges so much that troubles seemed to go away.
I was the eldest son, second of six children. I don't remember ever having anyone care for us as a baby sitter. When we went to work, the whole family went together, whether to the hay fields or to work in the beets We learned to love each other working together. We also gained an appreciation and respect for our animals--especially horses, as they furnished our transportation and horsepower for the farm.
The depression experiences caused Mom and Dad to be humble and economical. With hopes and dreams for a better future, they built a new home with raw materials, sweat and tears. As the family grew, the farm grew. We were able to replace the horse-drawn equipment with new tractors, bailers and so forth as well as improve irrigating and farming techniques.
Dad honored his Priesthood and was the leader in our home, but he got his inspiration and many of his ideas from Mom who always supported and encouraged him to be the great man he became There isn t enough room for the praise of all of the things, little and big, that mother does that makes all of the difference, There is not a selfish thought in her life, but I am afraid many of her wants went unanswered as she sacrificed to make life special for her children.
Devotion to church and its callings, together with her uplifting example gave us kids a lot to look up to. I only hope I can instill some of these noble qualities in my posterity.
I enjoyed high school and received honors in agriculture and farm mechanics Later I also received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award.
After graduating from high school, I went to Snow College where I met Ramona Johnson of Monroe. We were married in the Manti Temple June 7, 1954. I have had many different callings in the church which I have enjoyed, especially the opportunity to be Young Men's Mutual President.
Ramona and I worked together on the requirements arid she received her Golden Gleaner Award and I received my Master M-Man
The farm provided a living for our family for many years. But for the past 13 years I have worked at the Moroni Feed Company, as well as trying to keep up with the farm. Ramona is a talented, ambitious person and has helped out with a catering business, ceramics and others creative ways of earning money.
We have 10 wonderful children:
Our oldest, Mary Lucile, is a beautiful, loving person who has been an uplifting example to all of us. She has had many problems in her life which, with the help of the Lord, she has been able to handle very well. She married Curtis Hatch in the Manti Temple and to this union was born five wonderful children Jared, Katie, Travis, Camille, and Kevin.
Their baby, Kevin, died when he was only six months old. Camille, who was just two years old died a short time later. They later adopted a little boy from South America they named Brian. This brought joy and happiness to their family, but soon sadness was upon them again as they learned that Curtis had cancer, and he also was taken from them.
Curtis encouraged Mary to go into the ceramic business to have a way of providing for there family after he was none. I was able to help Mary build a nice shop to do her ceramic work.
About two years later, after Curt's death, Mary married Alan Morgan, who had four kids of his own, Erie, Trevor, Lance, and Marcie. There house was quite small with a large family again, and we was able to build an addition on to their house just this past summer. They are happy and things are going quite well for them Mary is an uplifting help to everyone in the family and we all lean on her for support.
Our oldest son, Dale Ray, was a great help on the farm He learned to drive a tractor when he was Only five years old. He loved mechanics and he and his younger brother Karl enjoyed working together, repairing and rebuilding cars, building dune buggies and carts and all kinds of things.
After serving a mission in the Florida Talahasee Mission, Dale married Mary Vee Stanley and they have five children: Ryan, Candy, Jeremy, Jason, and Brandon. Dales mechanics experience out on the farm has proven helpful, as he is now employed on a large farm for the Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Utah out in west Corrine and is a mechanic and shop foreman.
Karl Lynn, is our second son and third child. He lives here in Moroni and has a auto body shop out on the farm where he does very well. He s an excellent mechanic and really enjoys buying ears that have been wrecked and totaled out and making them look as good as new again. Karl married Ruth Barton and they are expecting their first child in August. He s now stationed in Germany with the national guard and we are expecting him home soon. Karl s really excited about becoming a daddy.
Paula Jean, is our second daughter. She s a beautiful girl with a darling personality. She was a cheerleader in high school. She loves sports and all kinds of outdoor activities and she loves the mountains. She met and married Robert Brewer and they have one daughter named Brandy.
Paula didn't graduate from high school until after she was married, but then, after graduating from high school, went on to Snow College where she earned her degree She is now employed at Snow College in the President s office and is well thought of.
I still think of Fred Ramon, as our little blond, happy-go-lucky boy. He loved horses. He loved the farm. He has always been outgoing and makes friends easily. Fred served a mission in Rapid City South Dakota Mission. After his mission, he joined the Air Force. While stationed in Mississippi, he met Linda Douglas, and they were later married in the Atlanta, Georgia Temple. He is a Staff Sargent working in Radio Technology. He was stationed in England for three years. Mona went over to stay with him for one year for schooling. Fred is now stationed in Texas and we are expecting him to come up and visit us this summer for a long vacation
Duane Jay lived with a family in Salt Lake while attending high school. The Olive Killpack Family. After graduating from high school, he met and married Suzzane Brown. He and Suzy have two children, Brandy and Jaycee.
D. J. went to Snow College and is now a computer technician for the Moroni Processing Plant. He lives in our family home that Morn and Dad built here in Moroni.
DON RAY CHRISTENSEN
A Tribute written by his wife, Ramona
Don Ray was born to Raymond David and Ila Peterson Christensen on January 11, 1935. He was the second child of eight children. He has four sisters and one brother still living. As the oldest son, he learned how to work very hard at a young age. He helped his father on the farm. They raised cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, pigs and horses.
I met Don Ray at Snow College in 1953 at an LDS Institute Dance. Don loved to dance and he is very good at it. He felt obligated to "rescue" me from some city folks who were trying to teach the country bumpkins how to dance the jitter-hug. It was I who asked him for our first date, the Preference Ball on December 7, 1953. We were married on June 7, 1954.
We have six sons and four daughters. Don Ray loves children. He always said he wanted to have a dozen kids.
FARMER
Don started farming at the age of eight when he bought his first calf. He started milking his own cow at the age of ten. He had helped on the farm since he was old enough to walk. He loved the animals, especially horses. His first horse was a Shetland pony named Geronimo. Don Ray tried very hard to please his father. One day, he made a promise to plow the field east of the milk barn before dark. He already had too much to do and not enough time to finish. He worked stead fast without stopping all day. Late afternoon, he started to worry that he would not be able to get the field plowed as he had promised. He tilled the fields with a horse and a hand-operated plow. As despair started to dawn on him, he spotted a tractor traveling toward him. He ran into the road and stopped the farmer on the tractor. He offered all his savings if the farmer would take an hour out of his day and plow the field. The farmer responded saying, "This is not my tractor. I am only hired help and I must get out to my fields right away." Don Ray was disappointed but still worked and made every effort to get the field plowed. When the day ended, he still had not hooked the horse up and plowed the field. He still feels had that he let his Dad down that day.
INVENTOR
Even as a young boy, Don Ray would always figure a way to do his farm tasks quicker and more efficient. He would design and build different contraptions to help him complete his work. He set up different gallon cans in the granary, so that they could store nails, etc. by their size.
We traveled all over the state looking at different milk barns. We came home and drew up our own plans. Don fixed the milk house doors so they would open and close by pulling ropes without walking over to each door. Ropes were also used to grain the cows that were being milked each morning and night. Often times, the inventions that he makes are very complex, and requires much thought and work tor the finished project.
He built a cement boat so that he could pour our drive way. He has built and designed tool benches, presses, trailers, hitches, and many more items needed by himself, family or friends. I am always impressed how well each of his inventions works.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
Over the years, Don has learned to do many things. This has been a great help to him and to others. At the age of 18, he was a good welder. He went to Snow College and took classes that would help him on the farm. During his second year there, he convinced his father into taking a class with him. That winter, they built a horse trailer, and many hay wagons. They enjoyed doing things together.
He is a carpenter. He has done most of the remodeling on our home. He has laid brick, done cement work, plastered walls, as well as some plumbing, electrical, and installing metal siding.
VOCAL TALENTS
I can't say something about Don Ray without saying something about his love of singing and music. One of our first dates was going on a hay ride and caroling. While we were on our honeymoon, he wanted us to sing and I think he was disappointed when he found out that I could not harmonize with him hut I could sing the same as he did. Now many years later, he is still singing. He was asked to sing solos at conference, and at the Manti Temple dedication. He knows the words to hundreds of songs. He likes to sing and yodel at family parties and reunions. However, his talents are not limited to friends and family. When we went to Salt Lake to get Karl off the plane from the Gulf War, he was so happy, he started to yodel on the bus in front of 50 strangers. They loved it.
We took a vacation to Hawaii in 1986. Don Ray started to sing and yodel on the airplane in front of total strangers. He jokes that he has ‘sang on the air."
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Few people know that Don was the one who thought up some of the projects that his father took on to serve the community. One example was the city water irrigation system that Don planned and helped to install. He talked about it for a long time and tried to come up with the most efficient method. It started with the idea that he could bring water down and sprinkle our large lawn.
Another example of his community service, was the Senior Citizen Building Project. Don Ray would get up an hour early just so that he could use the jack hammer and break up the cement. Then lie would dig and clean out under the building so that Ray D. could build and remodel during the day.
Don Ray has been teaching Sunday School and/or Webelo Scouts for approximately 20 years. He has served in the Elders Quorum, ward choir and Young Men's Mutual President. He loves the church and his service cannot he measured by time or effort.
Don Ray Christensen
As written by himself.
My name is Don Ray. I was born to loving, caring parents who loved life and its challenges so much that troubles seemed to go away.
I was the eldest son, second of six children. I don't remember ever having anyone care for us as a baby sitter. When we went to work, the whole family went together, whether to the hay fields or to work in the beets We learned to love each other working together. We also gained an appreciation and respect for our animals--especially horses, as they furnished our transportation and horsepower for the farm.
The depression experiences caused Mom and Dad to be humble and economical. With hopes and dreams for a better future, they built a new home with raw materials, sweat and tears. As the family grew, the farm grew. We were able to replace the horse-drawn equipment with new tractors, bailers and so forth as well as improve irrigating and farming techniques.
Dad honored his Priesthood and was the leader in our home, but he got his inspiration and many of his ideas from Mom who always supported and encouraged him to be the great man he became There isn t enough room for the praise of all of the things, little and big, that mother does that makes all of the difference, There is not a selfish thought in her life, but I am afraid many of her wants went unanswered as she sacrificed to make life special for her children.
Devotion to church and its callings, together with her uplifting example gave us kids a lot to look up to. I only hope I can instill some of these noble qualities in my posterity.
I enjoyed high school and received honors in agriculture and farm mechanics Later I also received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award.
After graduating from high school, I went to Snow College where I met Ramona Johnson of Monroe. We were married in the Manti Temple June 7, 1954. I have had many different callings in the church which I have enjoyed, especially the opportunity to be Young Men's Mutual President.
Ramona and I worked together on the requirements arid she received her Golden Gleaner Award and I received my Master M-Man
The farm provided a living for our family for many years. But for the past 13 years I have worked at the Moroni Feed Company, as well as trying to keep up with the farm. Ramona is a talented, ambitious person and has helped out with a catering business, ceramics and others creative ways of earning money.
We have 10 wonderful children:
Our oldest, Mary Lucile, is a beautiful, loving person who has been an uplifting example to all of us. She has had many problems in her life which, with the help of the Lord, she has been able to handle very well. She married Curtis Hatch in the Manti Temple and to this union was born five wonderful children Jared, Katie, Travis, Camille, and Kevin.
Their baby, Kevin, died when he was only six months old. Camille, who was just two years old died a short time later. They later adopted a little boy from South America they named Brian. This brought joy and happiness to their family, but soon sadness was upon them again as they learned that Curtis had cancer, and he also was taken from them.
Curtis encouraged Mary to go into the ceramic business to have a way of providing for there family after he was none. I was able to help Mary build a nice shop to do her ceramic work.
About two years later, after Curt's death, Mary married Alan Morgan, who had four kids of his own, Erie, Trevor, Lance, and Marcie. There house was quite small with a large family again, and we was able to build an addition on to their house just this past summer. They are happy and things are going quite well for them Mary is an uplifting help to everyone in the family and we all lean on her for support.
Our oldest son, Dale Ray, was a great help on the farm He learned to drive a tractor when he was Only five years old. He loved mechanics and he and his younger brother Karl enjoyed working together, repairing and rebuilding cars, building dune buggies and carts and all kinds of things.
After serving a mission in the Florida Talahasee Mission, Dale married Mary Vee Stanley and they have five children: Ryan, Candy, Jeremy, Jason, and Brandon. Dales mechanics experience out on the farm has proven helpful, as he is now employed on a large farm for the Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Utah out in west Corrine and is a mechanic and shop foreman.
Karl Lynn, is our second son and third child. He lives here in Moroni and has a auto body shop out on the farm where he does very well. He s an excellent mechanic and really enjoys buying ears that have been wrecked and totaled out and making them look as good as new again. Karl married Ruth Barton and they are expecting their first child in August. He s now stationed in Germany with the national guard and we are expecting him home soon. Karl s really excited about becoming a daddy.
Paula Jean, is our second daughter. She s a beautiful girl with a darling personality. She was a cheerleader in high school. She loves sports and all kinds of outdoor activities and she loves the mountains. She met and married Robert Brewer and they have one daughter named Brandy.
Paula didn't graduate from high school until after she was married, but then, after graduating from high school, went on to Snow College where she earned her degree She is now employed at Snow College in the President s office and is well thought of.
I still think of Fred Ramon, as our little blond, happy-go-lucky boy. He loved horses. He loved the farm. He has always been outgoing and makes friends easily. Fred served a mission in Rapid City South Dakota Mission. After his mission, he joined the Air Force. While stationed in Mississippi, he met Linda Douglas, and they were later married in the Atlanta, Georgia Temple. He is a Staff Sargent working in Radio Technology. He was stationed in England for three years. Mona went over to stay with him for one year for schooling. Fred is now stationed in Texas and we are expecting him to come up and visit us this summer for a long vacation
Duane Jay lived with a family in Salt Lake while attending high school. The Olive Killpack Family. After graduating from high school, he met and married Suzzane Brown. He and Suzy have two children, Brandy and Jaycee.
D. J. went to Snow College and is now a computer technician for the Moroni Processing Plant. He lives in our family home that Morn and Dad built here in Moroni.
DON RAY CHRISTENSEN
A Tribute written by his wife, Ramona
Don Ray was born to Raymond David and Ila Peterson Christensen on January 11, 1935. He was the second child of eight children. He has four sisters and one brother still living. As the oldest son, he learned how to work very hard at a young age. He helped his father on the farm. They raised cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, pigs and horses.
I met Don Ray at Snow College in 1953 at an LDS Institute Dance. Don loved to dance and he is very good at it. He felt obligated to "rescue" me from some city folks who were trying to teach the country bumpkins how to dance the jitter-hug. It was I who asked him for our first date, the Preference Ball on December 7, 1953. We were married on June 7, 1954.
We have six sons and four daughters. Don Ray loves children. He always said he wanted to have a dozen kids.
FARMER
Don started farming at the age of eight when he bought his first calf. He started milking his own cow at the age of ten. He had helped on the farm since he was old enough to walk. He loved the animals, especially horses. His first horse was a Shetland pony named Geronimo. Don Ray tried very hard to please his father. One day, he made a promise to plow the field east of the milk barn before dark. He already had too much to do and not enough time to finish. He worked stead fast without stopping all day. Late afternoon, he started to worry that he would not be able to get the field plowed as he had promised. He tilled the fields with a horse and a hand-operated plow. As despair started to dawn on him, he spotted a tractor traveling toward him. He ran into the road and stopped the farmer on the tractor. He offered all his savings if the farmer would take an hour out of his day and plow the field. The farmer responded saying, "This is not my tractor. I am only hired help and I must get out to my fields right away." Don Ray was disappointed but still worked and made every effort to get the field plowed. When the day ended, he still had not hooked the horse up and plowed the field. He still feels had that he let his Dad down that day.
INVENTOR
Even as a young boy, Don Ray would always figure a way to do his farm tasks quicker and more efficient. He would design and build different contraptions to help him complete his work. He set up different gallon cans in the granary, so that they could store nails, etc. by their size.
We traveled all over the state looking at different milk barns. We came home and drew up our own plans. Don fixed the milk house doors so they would open and close by pulling ropes without walking over to each door. Ropes were also used to grain the cows that were being milked each morning and night. Often times, the inventions that he makes are very complex, and requires much thought and work tor the finished project.
He built a cement boat so that he could pour our drive way. He has built and designed tool benches, presses, trailers, hitches, and many more items needed by himself, family or friends. I am always impressed how well each of his inventions works.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
Over the years, Don has learned to do many things. This has been a great help to him and to others. At the age of 18, he was a good welder. He went to Snow College and took classes that would help him on the farm. During his second year there, he convinced his father into taking a class with him. That winter, they built a horse trailer, and many hay wagons. They enjoyed doing things together.
He is a carpenter. He has done most of the remodeling on our home. He has laid brick, done cement work, plastered walls, as well as some plumbing, electrical, and installing metal siding.
VOCAL TALENTS
I can't say something about Don Ray without saying something about his love of singing and music. One of our first dates was going on a hay ride and caroling. While we were on our honeymoon, he wanted us to sing and I think he was disappointed when he found out that I could not harmonize with him hut I could sing the same as he did. Now many years later, he is still singing. He was asked to sing solos at conference, and at the Manti Temple dedication. He knows the words to hundreds of songs. He likes to sing and yodel at family parties and reunions. However, his talents are not limited to friends and family. When we went to Salt Lake to get Karl off the plane from the Gulf War, he was so happy, he started to yodel on the bus in front of 50 strangers. They loved it.
We took a vacation to Hawaii in 1986. Don Ray started to sing and yodel on the airplane in front of total strangers. He jokes that he has ‘sang on the air."
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Few people know that Don was the one who thought up some of the projects that his father took on to serve the community. One example was the city water irrigation system that Don planned and helped to install. He talked about it for a long time and tried to come up with the most efficient method. It started with the idea that he could bring water down and sprinkle our large lawn.
Another example of his community service, was the Senior Citizen Building Project. Don Ray would get up an hour early just so that he could use the jack hammer and break up the cement. Then lie would dig and clean out under the building so that Ray D. could build and remodel during the day.
Don Ray has been teaching Sunday School and/or Webelo Scouts for approximately 20 years. He has served in the Elders Quorum, ward choir and Young Men's Mutual President. He loves the church and his service cannot he measured by time or effort.
As written by himself.
My name is Don Ray. I was born to loving, caring parents who loved life and its challenges so much that troubles seemed to go away.
I was the eldest son, second of six children. I don't remember ever having anyone care for us as a baby sitter. When we went to work, the whole family went together, whether to the hay fields or to work in the beets We learned to love each other working together. We also gained an appreciation and respect for our animals--especially horses, as they furnished our transportation and horsepower for the farm.
The depression experiences caused Mom and Dad to be humble and economical. With hopes and dreams for a better future, they built a new home with raw materials, sweat and tears. As the family grew, the farm grew. We were able to replace the horse-drawn equipment with new tractors, bailers and so forth as well as improve irrigating and farming techniques.
Dad honored his Priesthood and was the leader in our home, but he got his inspiration and many of his ideas from Mom who always supported and encouraged him to be the great man he became There isn t enough room for the praise of all of the things, little and big, that mother does that makes all of the difference, There is not a selfish thought in her life, but I am afraid many of her wants went unanswered as she sacrificed to make life special for her children.
Devotion to church and its callings, together with her uplifting example gave us kids a lot to look up to. I only hope I can instill some of these noble qualities in my posterity.
I enjoyed high school and received honors in agriculture and farm mechanics Later I also received the Outstanding Young Farmer Award.
After graduating from high school, I went to Snow College where I met Ramona Johnson of Monroe. We were married in the Manti Temple June 7, 1954. I have had many different callings in the church which I have enjoyed, especially the opportunity to be Young Men's Mutual President.
Ramona and I worked together on the requirements arid she received her Golden Gleaner Award and I received my Master M-Man
The farm provided a living for our family for many years. But for the past 13 years I have worked at the Moroni Feed Company, as well as trying to keep up with the farm. Ramona is a talented, ambitious person and has helped out with a catering business, ceramics and others creative ways of earning money.
We have 10 wonderful children:
Our oldest, Mary Lucile, is a beautiful, loving person who has been an uplifting example to all of us. She has had many problems in her life which, with the help of the Lord, she has been able to handle very well. She married Curtis Hatch in the Manti Temple and to this union was born five wonderful children Jared, Katie, Travis, Camille, and Kevin.
Their baby, Kevin, died when he was only six months old. Camille, who was just two years old died a short time later. They later adopted a little boy from South America they named Brian. This brought joy and happiness to their family, but soon sadness was upon them again as they learned that Curtis had cancer, and he also was taken from them.
Curtis encouraged Mary to go into the ceramic business to have a way of providing for there family after he was none. I was able to help Mary build a nice shop to do her ceramic work.
About two years later, after Curt's death, Mary married Alan Morgan, who had four kids of his own, Erie, Trevor, Lance, and Marcie. There house was quite small with a large family again, and we was able to build an addition on to their house just this past summer. They are happy and things are going quite well for them Mary is an uplifting help to everyone in the family and we all lean on her for support.
Our oldest son, Dale Ray, was a great help on the farm He learned to drive a tractor when he was Only five years old. He loved mechanics and he and his younger brother Karl enjoyed working together, repairing and rebuilding cars, building dune buggies and carts and all kinds of things.
After serving a mission in the Florida Talahasee Mission, Dale married Mary Vee Stanley and they have five children: Ryan, Candy, Jeremy, Jason, and Brandon. Dales mechanics experience out on the farm has proven helpful, as he is now employed on a large farm for the Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Utah out in west Corrine and is a mechanic and shop foreman.
Karl Lynn, is our second son and third child. He lives here in Moroni and has a auto body shop out on the farm where he does very well. He s an excellent mechanic and really enjoys buying ears that have been wrecked and totaled out and making them look as good as new again. Karl married Ruth Barton and they are expecting their first child in August. He s now stationed in Germany with the national guard and we are expecting him home soon. Karl s really excited about becoming a daddy.
Paula Jean, is our second daughter. She s a beautiful girl with a darling personality. She was a cheerleader in high school. She loves sports and all kinds of outdoor activities and she loves the mountains. She met and married Robert Brewer and they have one daughter named Brandy.
Paula didn't graduate from high school until after she was married, but then, after graduating from high school, went on to Snow College where she earned her degree She is now employed at Snow College in the President s office and is well thought of.
I still think of Fred Ramon, as our little blond, happy-go-lucky boy. He loved horses. He loved the farm. He has always been outgoing and makes friends easily. Fred served a mission in Rapid City South Dakota Mission. After his mission, he joined the Air Force. While stationed in Mississippi, he met Linda Douglas, and they were later married in the Atlanta, Georgia Temple. He is a Staff Sargent working in Radio Technology. He was stationed in England for three years. Mona went over to stay with him for one year for schooling. Fred is now stationed in Texas and we are expecting him to come up and visit us this summer for a long vacation
Duane Jay lived with a family in Salt Lake while attending high school. The Olive Killpack Family. After graduating from high school, he met and married Suzzane Brown. He and Suzy have two children, Brandy and Jaycee.
D. J. went to Snow College and is now a computer technician for the Moroni Processing Plant. He lives in our family home that Morn and Dad built here in Moroni.
DON RAY CHRISTENSEN
A Tribute written by his wife, Ramona
Don Ray was born to Raymond David and Ila Peterson Christensen on January 11, 1935. He was the second child of eight children. He has four sisters and one brother still living. As the oldest son, he learned how to work very hard at a young age. He helped his father on the farm. They raised cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, pigs and horses.
I met Don Ray at Snow College in 1953 at an LDS Institute Dance. Don loved to dance and he is very good at it. He felt obligated to "rescue" me from some city folks who were trying to teach the country bumpkins how to dance the jitter-hug. It was I who asked him for our first date, the Preference Ball on December 7, 1953. We were married on June 7, 1954.
We have six sons and four daughters. Don Ray loves children. He always said he wanted to have a dozen kids.
FARMER
Don started farming at the age of eight when he bought his first calf. He started milking his own cow at the age of ten. He had helped on the farm since he was old enough to walk. He loved the animals, especially horses. His first horse was a Shetland pony named Geronimo. Don Ray tried very hard to please his father. One day, he made a promise to plow the field east of the milk barn before dark. He already had too much to do and not enough time to finish. He worked stead fast without stopping all day. Late afternoon, he started to worry that he would not be able to get the field plowed as he had promised. He tilled the fields with a horse and a hand-operated plow. As despair started to dawn on him, he spotted a tractor traveling toward him. He ran into the road and stopped the farmer on the tractor. He offered all his savings if the farmer would take an hour out of his day and plow the field. The farmer responded saying, "This is not my tractor. I am only hired help and I must get out to my fields right away." Don Ray was disappointed but still worked and made every effort to get the field plowed. When the day ended, he still had not hooked the horse up and plowed the field. He still feels had that he let his Dad down that day.
INVENTOR
Even as a young boy, Don Ray would always figure a way to do his farm tasks quicker and more efficient. He would design and build different contraptions to help him complete his work. He set up different gallon cans in the granary, so that they could store nails, etc. by their size.
We traveled all over the state looking at different milk barns. We came home and drew up our own plans. Don fixed the milk house doors so they would open and close by pulling ropes without walking over to each door. Ropes were also used to grain the cows that were being milked each morning and night. Often times, the inventions that he makes are very complex, and requires much thought and work tor the finished project.
He built a cement boat so that he could pour our drive way. He has built and designed tool benches, presses, trailers, hitches, and many more items needed by himself, family or friends. I am always impressed how well each of his inventions works.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
Over the years, Don has learned to do many things. This has been a great help to him and to others. At the age of 18, he was a good welder. He went to Snow College and took classes that would help him on the farm. During his second year there, he convinced his father into taking a class with him. That winter, they built a horse trailer, and many hay wagons. They enjoyed doing things together.
He is a carpenter. He has done most of the remodeling on our home. He has laid brick, done cement work, plastered walls, as well as some plumbing, electrical, and installing metal siding.
VOCAL TALENTS
I can't say something about Don Ray without saying something about his love of singing and music. One of our first dates was going on a hay ride and caroling. While we were on our honeymoon, he wanted us to sing and I think he was disappointed when he found out that I could not harmonize with him hut I could sing the same as he did. Now many years later, he is still singing. He was asked to sing solos at conference, and at the Manti Temple dedication. He knows the words to hundreds of songs. He likes to sing and yodel at family parties and reunions. However, his talents are not limited to friends and family. When we went to Salt Lake to get Karl off the plane from the Gulf War, he was so happy, he started to yodel on the bus in front of 50 strangers. They loved it.
We took a vacation to Hawaii in 1986. Don Ray started to sing and yodel on the airplane in front of total strangers. He jokes that he has ‘sang on the air."
CHURCH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Few people know that Don was the one who thought up some of the projects that his father took on to serve the community. One example was the city water irrigation system that Don planned and helped to install. He talked about it for a long time and tried to come up with the most efficient method. It started with the idea that he could bring water down and sprinkle our large lawn.
Another example of his community service, was the Senior Citizen Building Project. Don Ray would get up an hour early just so that he could use the jack hammer and break up the cement. Then lie would dig and clean out under the building so that Ray D. could build and remodel during the day.
Don Ray has been teaching Sunday School and/or Webelo Scouts for approximately 20 years. He has served in the Elders Quorum, ward choir and Young Men's Mutual President. He loves the church and his service cannot he measured by time or effort.
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MARRIED JUNE 7, 1954
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