Is there anything Moms can’t do? For whatever reason, that is a lesson boys seem to have a hard time learning.
Or maybe it’s just genetic with the men in our family.
The other day we posted a few videos of Maurine Westover sharing memories of her Mom. Now we get to hear a little of her experience as a mother. I’m sure this wasn’t the only challenge she faced — and I’m equally sure she met other challenges with similar success.
In today’s installment of Memories of Mom Kyle J. Westover recalls challenging his mother to a contest of “squaw wrestling” — if only because he had spurt up in size and had the mental capacity of a teenager. (What was he thinking?)
Do you have a memory of Mom to archive forever as part of our family history? Please do so by sharing an audio file or a phone call…and we’ll post it up here so all can enjoy.
https://westoverfamilyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/westoverz.jpg6081200Jeff Westoverhttps://westoverfamilyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo22.pngJeff Westover2016-05-07 04:00:092024-03-03 12:31:01Memories of Mom -- Squaw Wrestling Mom
It has been a little more than a year since my Mom passed. Frankly, it is still hard for me to speak of her without getting emotional.
As boys I don’t think we realize the importance of Moms in our lives. But as men we sure do.
There is a bond between Mother and Son that is not quite like any other. I felt it with my mother. And I have witnessed it between my wife and our son, too.
In this installment in our series on Memories of Mom I share the story of the time my Mom actually encouraged me to pursue girls when I was a teenager. I don’t know how many Moms do that, but I suppose I was a special case. That experience is shared in context with a later relationship my Mother would have with the girl I chose to marry.
And that too proved to be a relationship I never really expected:
https://westoverfamilyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/meandmom.jpg6781200Jeff Westoverhttps://westoverfamilyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo22.pngJeff Westover2016-05-06 04:00:242024-03-03 12:30:30Memories of Mom -- Mom and Mother in Law
Pictured to the right is Evelyn Riggs Westover — Aunt Evie to many of us. She took to the phone this past week to share with us some thoughts of her mother, Muriel Snow Riggs.
As part of her storytelling she relates a tale of getting into fits of giggles with her mother. I didn’t know this is where Evie gets this wonderful talent.
It delights me to hear her tell this story because it takes me back to a time when Evie would take us to early morning seminary when I was in high school. I couldn’t figure out how she could always be so positive and full of energy so early in the morning and can remember many, many times doing or saying the smallest thing that would, literally, give her fits of giggles.
I can recall one time being at the grocery store with Aunt Evie. She spied a tabloid at the checkout counter with a headline that screamed, “Man Marries Head of Lettuce”. She got to giggling about that headline so bad she could hardly write out her check.
So listen closely to this story as this wonderful talent was one she has had her whole life, and one she apparently shared with her Mom:
https://westoverfamilyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/gmariggs.jpg513941Jeff Westoverhttps://westoverfamilyhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/logo22.pngJeff Westover2016-05-05 04:00:132024-03-03 12:29:57Memories of Mom -- Evie's Fits of Giggles with Her Mother
From the history of my grandmother, Maurine R. Westover, comes these videos sharing a little of what life was like as her mother got ill and had to rely on some direction from Grandma Snow. The 2nd video in particular gives a glimpse into the life and personality of her Grandma Snow (Mary Nielsen Snow).
Even though this video was put together more than 30 years ago I think it appropriate to post it as part of our Memories of Mom series. In reality, these give us a little information about the lives of three women — Mary Nielsen Snow, Muriel Snow Riggs and Maurine Riggs Westover — grandmother, mother and daughter. This first video discusses the situation and what happened:
In this extended video we hear about Grandma Snow in particular. There are some tragic details as well as a humorous twist at the end that showcases some of the best of what I remember my Grandma’s personality being. Hearing her laugh again is a warm memory for me. Seeing this now is like having another visit with her…
The faint voice you hear in this video asking questions is my father, Kyle J. Westover. This video was recorded around 1985-86.
Tomorrow, continuing our series, we hear much more about Grandma Riggs, Muriel Snow Riggs, from my Aunt Evie, who recorded these memories just the other day. It too is a delight to hear.
Here’s a great story of Grandma Westover, wife of Arnold and grandma to bunches, including Barta Westover, who shares this story originally told to her, I believe, by her dad, Darrell.
Mary Ann Smith Westover was one of our first truly great family historians. The photos that make up the Sam Westover Collection in the photo area of this site are mostly from Grandma Westover, who kept outstanding records and who faithfully completed a lot of family temple work.
Grandma Westover penned her own history. It begins, “I was born at Victor, Idaho, July 12 1896. Here I spent my childhood on my father’s ranch, three miles from town. Here I went through the grade schools. I played on the basketball team and we played against the neighboring schools. I also played baseball. In 1910 I went to Rexburg to a county fair where I had met Arnold Westover the year before. I was living in Victor when the train first came there about 1913. We used to go sleigh riding and coasting. We would go on horses up into the mountains to pick huckleberries. I was married to Arnold Westover, September 19th 1914 at Rexburg, by Bishop Henry Flamm. Here we made our home, living in the old homestead of Arnold’s father. In 1915, June 9, we went to the Salt Lake Temple and were sealed for time and all eternity. Here at Rexburg, our nine children were born….”
The photo above this post is a picture of Mary Ann around 1914, with a cousin who sits on the horse.
I’ve heard a lot of stories about Grandma Westover, though she passed in 1959, well before my time. Without exception, she has been described to me as a very strong personality. She raised 9 children, 7 of them boys! And all of them exceptional people. I love this story of Grandma not only excelling in the manly art of firearms — but humbling those who questioned her abilities:
Grandma Westover with 2 of her grandchildren, Kirk on the left and Barta on the right.
We have not yet worked up our own profile yet of Grandma Westover but you can access more information about her at FamilySearch. She is, of course, our link to a prolific Smith line that provides its own pioneer stories of faith. Her story and the stories of her ancestors are ones we are anxious to learn and share.
Is there anything Moms can’t do? For whatever reason, that is a lesson boys seem to have a hard time learning. 
