Louie Anderson

Louie Anderson, born 8 January 1915, in Grantsville, Tooele County Utah in the family home, to John William Anderson and Janet Hale.  She was the middle child with four older and 4 younger siblings, five sons and 4 daughters.  She was gentle kind and loving.  I believe she never did harm to anyone in her entire life.  Often we are refined by the trials of our life and she was certainly no exception.  Growing up in her day was a time when illness was treated with faith and time, not having the benefit of medication to fight infection and disease.  As a young girl she was stricken with a strep infection that lingered and eventually she contracted rheumatic fever and was extremely restricted in childhood activities and was left with damage to her heart.  Recovering from that ailment was slow then with added tribulation her teeth became infected and the treatment then was pulling and dentures.  My heart aches for this lovely nineteen year old suffering this sadness.  In spite of these trials, or perhaps in some way because of them, her faith grew strong in the goodness of the Lord.   After graduating from High School as valedictorian of her class she desired to attend college however the family funds would not allow such a luxury.  She left Grantsville to live with her oldest sister and her family in Wendover Utah, working as a waitress at the then State Line Cafe.  There she met Paul Selleneit who was working for the Rail Road.  They soon married and lived near Wendover in a little place call Saldera where Paul began working for the Potash plant there.  They had three children while living there, Paul Lloyd, Richard William and Luan.  Soon after they moved to Centerville Utah and began farming with a brother-in-law.  There another daughter Jeannie was born.  It seemed to be the perfect family even with the struggles of the times.  Tragedy  came to them when 10 year old Richard was suddenly killed in an auto pedestrian accident.  Sorrow filled the home for everyone living there.  To fill a void left by this loss two more sons were added to the family and joy for these two beautiful children was a blessing to her life.  Once again her health was challenged and she again contracted rheumatic fever  and the family was called upon to face this trial.  Trials can pull together or pull apart.  After five years of struggle, her marriage to Paul ended when he left requesting a divorce.  

There was still more trial in store for her life,  but also goodness and joy.  She never weakened in her faith and was a great example to all who knew her.

She died June 28, 1996 at the age of 81. 

Paul Selleneit

Paul Selleneit was born 16 April 1911 in Boyero, Lincoln County, Colorado, to Louis Charles Selleneit and Mattie Mae Bonham.  Charles and Mattie Mae had two children, a daughter Frances and a son Paul.  The little family moved to Ogden Utah because of Mattie Mae's failing health.  Mattie Mae died when Paul was 3 years old.  For much of Paul's early growing up years he had many heart breaking experiences having lost his mother, then another equally difficult experience going though the death of a beloved stepmother who had been as good a mother to Francis and Paul, and three more children, Charles Robert, Louis Wood, and Prudence Mae, as children would ever hope to have.  Needing to  find some order for his family, Paul's father married Minnie Lee Cobia.  Because of personality conflict and anger he couldn't define, Paul left home at a very young age to find his way alone.  What happens to the heart of a person when there is loss after loss no one can really explain.   But inspite of hurt and disappointment,  he learned self reliance and the principle of hard work,  this he showed throughout his life.  He married Louie Anderson of Grantsville, Tooele County, Utah and together they had  four sons and two daughters,  Paul Lloyd, Richard William, Luan, Jeannie, Kenneth Hall, John Carl.  

Determined to find the happiness we feel we deserve, and deep inside not allowing more disappointment and hurt to injure us, many times we make decisions that bring the very thing we hopped to avoid.  Paul divorced Louie and married Cora Lee Collier.  

He worked hard in his life and accomplished many things for which he can be proud.  He will always be remembered for the loving care he gave newborn calfs at a BYU farm, saving the lives of hundreds, when previously so many had died.

Paul died 19 February 1999 at the age of 88.  

Luan Selleneit age 3

I will always remember going to my Grandma Anderson's house in Grantsville Utah.  I loved going there and  have many good memories.  We went there often I am sure because a daughter always like to go home to her mother.  How long did it take me to realize that.  Far too long I think.  My grandma Anderson always wore an apron.  She had white curly hair and was always concerned about everyone else.  The first thing she said to anyone who came to her house was, "sit now and have something to eat".  She didn't mind if I climbed up and wanted to help with the dishes.  I know that takes a lot of patience now that I am a grandma.  It is so important to enjoy a little child's help even if water runs down their arms and splashes on the floor.  It saves a lot of time to do it yourself, but the memories saved are far more lasting.  I learned so much from her, things that followed through her to my own mother and on to myself.  I love to work and enjoy the results of never being afraid of a big job.  I thank her for that.  I thank her for her ever pleasant attitude.  She was fun to be around.  My grandma wasn't rich but she was good and kind and wise, and that's worth more than gold. 

Richard Sterling Hixson Age 3

Don't you just love the curls.  Is it fair that he has such long eye lashes.

Ellen Ferris Hixson

Ellen Ferris Hixson was born 22 November 1913 in Salt Lake City Utah.  She grew up in Utah.  Married Sterling King Hixson 21 September 1937.  Died 14 October 2000.

Sterling King Hixson

Sterling King Hixson, born 12 April, 1913 in Salt Lake City Utah.  Grew up in Salt Lake City.  Married Ellen Ferris 21 September 1937.  Died 10 Sept 1997.

Richard Sterling Hixson

Richard Sterling Hixson, born 16 May 1939 in Salt Lake City Utah.  Grew up in Idaho.  Married Luan Selleneit, 16 August, 1963.