Sweet Grandma Sharon and Great Grandma Yost

Two wonderful women who have brought great joy to me in my life have passed on. My Dad's Mother, Grandma Sharon; and my Mom's Grandma, Great Grandma Yost.
Great Grandma Yost died on Wednesday, May 13th of wide spread cancer. From the little I do know about her 88 years of life, she was a great example of endurance. Not merely getting by, but having grace, integrity, love, and joy as she endured.
She was the youngest of 8 children. At 18 months she was sent away to be cared for by an aunt and uncle on a farm in Idaho because her father was seriously ill. This living situation became permanent when both of her parents passed away, she was 8 years of age. She earned her keep by working the fields, tending the cattle, and the many other hard laborious chores that came with living on a farm. Thus at a very young age learning the importance of hard work. She learned never ending patients and trust in the Lord through being widowed at a very young age with three small children to care and provide for on her own. Throughout her life she was known for continuous service, kindness without end, a love for every one, charity, integrity, and virtue, regardless of her current circumstance.
I am very thankful that she was able to be apart of our lives for so long. I am so happy that she is with her eternal companion once again. I love her and she will be greatly missed.

Sweet Grandma Sharon left us on May 10th, Mothers day. She was only 67 years old. She has endured with poor health for most of her life. But you would never have guessed it because of her continuous care for others, pure love of life, and a great sense of humor. She could always find humor in any situation. She had a way of uplifting everyone around her. She was determined to live, and to have joy in every moment. Her faith was unshakeable.
When she was 10 years old she contracted polio, at that time it was claiming the lives of many. In the course of a day she went from having a pain in her armpit, to having a high fever, to eventually being placed in an iron lung in the hospital to make her breathe, not expected to make it through the night. That night in the hospital administering to the sick was President David O. McKay and The Twelve. They were able to give her a blessing and her mother was assured through the spirit that against all odds she would live. She was one of the few that survived the disease. Because of the severely high fever attacking her little muscles she had to have a rod placed in her back so that she could hold herself up, she had parts of both shin bones chipped away, her arms were left so weak that she was unable to lift them over her head, she could pull but not push anything with them, and her grip was left very weak also. Because of these effects, among others, form the polio she was told that she would never be able to have children because it would kill her. Her response was that she would die trying. She had many; many miss carriages, most of them in the late second or third trimester, and Gary who was carried full term that was still born. None of this stopped her and through it all she was blessed with 5 healthy sons that she literally would have given her life for.
When Grandma was young her mother used to baby-sit President Thomas S. Monson. Just before Christmas this last year she fractured her hip and was put into a rehabilitation center. To her great delight and surprise he visited that center while she was there and they were able to reminisce. He said that he hoped that he behaved himself and she reassured him that he did:)
Grandma also shared the same birthday as Mr. President Eisenhower, October 14. When he found out about her miraculous recovery of polio she received a letter from the white house inviting her to celebrate their birthdays together. So on her 11th birthday they shared a cake at a large celebration.
I have so many memories of tea parties, sleepovers, and honey toast on Saturday mornings, dress up, tickle attacks and bedtime stories. Walking next door just for a quick visit, lemonade and pop cycles in the back yard on hot summer days and hot cocoa with lots of marshmallows after making snowmen all day in her yard. Christmas with yummy traditional Swedish dishes, rushing over with report cards for kisses and praises and a sweet treat for doing well or loving encouragement to do better. She and Grandpa were always thrilled to see us and encouraged us to be the best we could be. Growing up next door to my grandparents was such a privilege. I have millions of memories and stories but I've gone on long enough! I am so happy they are now sharing eternity together. I miss them so much more than I could express, and I rejoice that I will have the opportunity to see them again someday.
These are pictures of Grandma Sharon throughout her life:)
Two wonderful women who have brought great joy to me in my life have passed on. My Dad's Mother, Grandma Sharon; and my Mom's Grandma, Great Grandma Yost.
Great Grandma Yost died on Wednesday, May 13th of wide spread cancer. From the little I do know about her 88 years of life, she was a great example of endurance. Not merely getting by, but having grace, integrity, love, and joy as she endured.
She was the youngest of 8 children. At 18 months she was sent away to be cared for by an aunt and uncle on a farm in Idaho because her father was seriously ill. This living situation became permanent when both of her parents passed away, she was 8 years of age. She earned her keep by working the fields, tending the cattle, and the many other hard laborious chores that came with living on a farm. Thus at a very young age learning the importance of hard work. She learned never ending patients and trust in the Lord through being widowed at a very young age with three small children to care and provide for on her own. Throughout her life she was known for continuous service, kindness without end, a love for every one, charity, integrity, and virtue, regardless of her current circumstance.
I am very thankful that she was able to be apart of our lives for so long. I am so happy that she is with her eternal companion once again. I love her and she will be greatly missed.

Sweet Grandma Sharon left us on May 10th, Mothers day. She was only 67 years old. She has endured with poor health for most of her life. But you would never have guessed it because of her continuous care for others, pure love of life, and a great sense of humor. She could always find humor in any situation. She had a way of uplifting everyone around her. She was determined to live, and to have joy in every moment. Her faith was unshakeable.
When she was 10 years old she contracted polio, at that time it was claiming the lives of many. In the course of a day she went from having a pain in her armpit, to having a high fever, to eventually being placed in an iron lung in the hospital to make her breathe, not expected to make it through the night. That night in the hospital administering to the sick was President David O. McKay and The Twelve. They were able to give her a blessing and her mother was assured through the spirit that against all odds she would live. She was one of the few that survived the disease. Because of the severely high fever attacking her little muscles she had to have a rod placed in her back so that she could hold herself up, she had parts of both shin bones chipped away, her arms were left so weak that she was unable to lift them over her head, she could pull but not push anything with them, and her grip was left very weak also. Because of these effects, among others, form the polio she was told that she would never be able to have children because it would kill her. Her response was that she would die trying. She had many; many miss carriages, most of them in the late second or third trimester, and Gary who was carried full term that was still born. None of this stopped her and through it all she was blessed with 5 healthy sons that she literally would have given her life for.
When Grandma was young her mother used to baby-sit President Thomas S. Monson. Just before Christmas this last year she fractured her hip and was put into a rehabilitation center. To her great delight and surprise he visited that center while she was there and they were able to reminisce. He said that he hoped that he behaved himself and she reassured him that he did:)
Grandma also shared the same birthday as Mr. President Eisenhower, October 14. When he found out about her miraculous recovery of polio she received a letter from the white house inviting her to celebrate their birthdays together. So on her 11th birthday they shared a cake at a large celebration.
I have so many memories of tea parties, sleepovers, and honey toast on Saturday mornings, dress up, tickle attacks and bedtime stories. Walking next door just for a quick visit, lemonade and pop cycles in the back yard on hot summer days and hot cocoa with lots of marshmallows after making snowmen all day in her yard. Christmas with yummy traditional Swedish dishes, rushing over with report cards for kisses and praises and a sweet treat for doing well or loving encouragement to do better. She and Grandpa were always thrilled to see us and encouraged us to be the best we could be. Growing up next door to my grandparents was such a privilege. I have millions of memories and stories but I've gone on long enough! I am so happy they are now sharing eternity together. I miss them so much more than I could express, and I rejoice that I will have the opportunity to see them again someday.

These are pictures of Grandma Sharon throughout her life:)