Laura Camille Forsgren (1883- 1979)
Laura Camille Forsgren …..March 30, 1883
Her Life History by Daughter, Beverly Earl Robinson 1968
Laura Camille Forsgren was born to Oscar Forsgren and Othelia Margret Eliza Anderson on March 30, 1883 in Brigham City, Utah. She was blessed in the 2nd Ward in Brigham City. She had asthma as a baby and a young child. Many of her asthma attacks were taken to be heart trouble and interrupted her activities in Primary and Sunday School.
The family lived on a farm and mother remembers when they had the hay in the barn all the children would be ut there playing. She would go out to be with them, but would end up going back into the house with a severe asthma attack. Her baptism was put off because of this illness, but being afraid that she might die during the winter, she insisted on being baptized on November 8, 1891. They all gathered at Johnson’s Pond in Brigham City Park, the eleders broke the ice, and there she was baptized. Her ddress was stiff and frozen as they walked home, but she never became ill from it.
Laura first attended school in a lady’s home, ( one room for all ages) at the age of 6 years. Here she learned her ABC’s. Later at about 8 or 9, she went to school in a room above Fishburn’s store with about 4 or 5 grades in one class. Finally a school was built east of Second Ward Chapel and she attended there until she graduated at age 17 which was the 9th grade.
After Laura’s graduation the Forsgren family moved into the home on 5th West in Brigham. Grandpa built it himself with the help of some traded labor. Her close friends were Lottie Horsllley and Ethel KElly, both of whom she outlived. She was active in church; taught in Sunday School, Primary and sang in the choir of which her dad was chorister. In Salt Lake City in later years she served as Relief Soceity visiting teacher for 35 years, also as a visiting teacher supervisor.
At the age of 10, something happened to a lady in Brigham City that has been faith promoting to mom. A sister Ella Jensen as a young lady was dying. She was blessed by a brother in the church and told to come back, that her mission here was not fulfilled. To much astonishment of those around who thought she was dead, she did come back and told them it was such a beautiful place that she would like to have stayed. She did live for many more years.
As a young girl, mom remembers going on bob-sleigh parties and to church dances for entertainment. Her first date with dad was to a Decoration Day Dance. She married him on April 21, 1910 in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Brigham for 2 or 3 years and it was htere they built their first home. Dad was so pleased to be able to have indoor plumbing, but mom wouldn’t use it at first so he had to build her an outhouse. By the 2nd winter she gave in and became modernized too. When they moved to Salt Lake City, they lived in the Kimball Court, which was where the new Deseret Gym (now the Conference Center) is now. Here, Don was born in March of 1914. Mom remembers wheeling Don in the buggy from Kimball Court to Sherman Avenue when they were building that house, and then on to McClelland St. to visit her sister Aunt Lucretia. She was worried about the walk back but dad said he would never walk –they would ride the bus and put the buggy on the back outside. They did. Sherman was home for 9 years at which time Ruth, Alice, and Glen were added to the family. In 1925 the home on Denver Streeet was bjuilt and in 1927 the last of the family, Beverlyl was born. Mom had each of her children at home with a doctor in attendance and then a nurse stayed with her for 2 weeks. She couldn’t bear to leave her other children and go to a “dreadful” hospital.
After the birth of Beverlyl, Mom says her asthma cleared up, but I can remember her burning Asmador Powder quite often because it smelled terrible. In February of 1f965 Mom had pneumonia and was hospitalized for 1 week. This was her first experience with a hospital. At age 82 she was a good patient, but impatient to get back home. Our home during the years was open to many family boarders — mom’s sisters and dad’s brothers. I remember that Uncle Hy had an apartment (room) in the basement on Denver Street and mom did his laundry and cooking until dad put a stop to it. Mom was a hard worker all of her life, at home before marriage and in her own home after. Things were always neat and clean, food was very delicious, she bottled all of her own fruit, made over clothing as well as making new things. She certainly was industrious, and still is.
At age 85 now, Mom still is very independent and does things for herself — all of her housework, laundry, cooking, shopping and gardening. The latter has been her hobby for many years and she is known by her family, friends and neighbors for having one of the most beautiful gardens in the city. She has served herself and family well. As as grandchild has been born she has been there to give help as needed and aslo in times of sickness with her married children. Mom kept the commandment to honor her mother and father too. She visited them in Brigham often, had them come to Salt Lake, took them on trips with her and ad and when he father was left a widower she wuld go to Brigham to get his laundry, clean the house and give him some food. During his hospital stay she went often to visit him and attend to his needs.
On July 30, 1967, McKay Ward held a sacrament meeting to honor Laura F. Earl. Her family presented the following program:
Invocation — Glen Earl
Introduction of family members –Don Earl
Introduction of program –Raymond Earl
Verses by grandchildren, written by Beverly;
Mark: I”m thankful for my Grandma Earl
And all the things she does
She remembers all our birthdays
And blesses us with love
Nancy: Sometimes when we go visit her
The kitchen smells so sweet
Her sugar cookies are the best
That anyone could eat.
Keith: In the early springtime,
Through summer days and fall,
My grandma grows in her garden
The prettiest flowers of all.
Sharon: Grandma has a special drawer
For things that interest me.
I like to choose a story book
And climb upon her knee.
Wayne: We hope to make her happy,
That she may see and know
We’re glad she is our Grandma
Because we love her so.
Song: “A House Becomes a Home” by girls: Ruth, Elaine, Peggy, Jill, Judy, Martsie, Marge, Lauarene, Beverly, Janet, Janice (Susan had a wisdom tooth out) Alice accompanied them.
Remarks by Quentin - He paid tribute to Mom, told briefly of the Forsgren heritage and how the testimony has filtered down to the grandchildren. By kind, simple example Mom and Dad have influenced the lives of their posterity. Of 5 children and 3 married grandchildren there is 100% married in the temple. May we live our lives as to always make them proud and carry on the fine example to us given.
Organ Solo by Kathy - “Open the Gates of the Temple”
Remarks by Calvin Robinson - Is there revelation in the Church Today? While it may not be written down, there is indeed divine guidance through our prophet President David O. McKay for the Church; and through the Stake Pres. for his stake, the Bishop for his ward; the Head of the family for his family if he prays and lives clost to Heavenly Father.
Benediction - Warren
All family memebers were in attendance except for Jack, Brent, who was in Scout Camp, and Gary who was on a mission.
Don- Mary Raymond, his wife Elaine and son Douglas
Julie her husband Mike, and their daughters Laurie Ann and Nanette
Joan and her husband, Lee
Ralph and Jill
Ruth - Warren (Brent), Paul, Elaine, Peggy, Mark
Alice - Quentin: Kathy, (Gary), Laurene, Janice, Judy, Wayne, Keith, Alan
Glen - Marge: Linda (Jack), Craig, Martsie
Beverly - Cal: Jim, Susan, Janet, Nancy, Sharon
Mom and Dad’s progenitors number 43 to date, April 3, 1968. We are pleased with the life mom has lived, with the principles of life that she has exemplified and taught, and hope to be a credit to her always.
My Remembrances
Julie Ann Earl Larson
As I read about my grandmother I enjoy the feelings that come back to me. I realize that I didn’t know her as well as many of the cousins. I looked forward to going there on Christmas Morning. We would open up our gifts, and then take something like my favortie doll over to share with the cousins. Everyone would gather all the families, and the house felt so warm, and it smelled so good in the kitchen. Everyone sat in the living room and just shared being family together. Sometimes we would go downstairs and play, it was fun in the basement. I remember the cookie drawer and how fun it was to get a good cookie each time we came to visit. As I write this I can hear my grandmother’s voice, which I haven’t even thought about for a long time. The voice I hear is in the kitchen, and is the voice of an older grandmother. It brings me joy.
I have grandmothers voice on tape, which anyone is welcome to borrow at anytime.
For years my father would ride his bike to “Dee’s” a fast food hamburger place, and pick up a hamburger for his mother. She loved them, and he loved serving her. He would bike it over and while she ate he would mow the lawn, and putter around the place. Grandmother took a fall down the stairs and was not quite the same after that. She became very quiet. I remember one time my dad asking me if I would go with him to grandmas and sit with her while he mowed the lawn. It was a pleasant visit in the living room. She didn’t say much of anything. I felt sorry for her. It was hard for me to see her suffering. Grandmother died in her own home on the 9th of October 1979. I was living in Livermore, California at the time, and remember the call. Her family had been careing for her, and she now was finally released from this mortal struggle. I was unable to make my grandmother’s funeral. I was in the beginning months of a pregnancy and didn’t want to take a chance on travel. At that time, we were not the air travelers that we are now. That much time in the car they thought might not be good. I later miscarried that child. My mother told me of the services, and I felt the strength of family.