Lynn Belnap and Sharon Evans Belnap--Bruce's only sister

Dinner is served at William Bruce and Tamara Olsen's home. Sharon and Lynn were serving a genealogy mission in Independence, MO---Fall 2011

 April 24, 2012--An ambulance took Bruce to the hospital, after his right leg gave out and he fell down four stairs. After an MRI revealed major lower back disc damage, a neurosurgeon admitted Bruce and he underwent a surgery to remove 5 large pieces of a herniated disc. He is spending 7 days in a rehab hospital to help his injury heal quicker. Aunt Sharon and Lyn Belnap, Dad's only sister, visited Dad before moving back to Logan, Utah. They have spent one year in Independence, Mo on a church genealogy mission..

Arriving in Kansas City--1964

After arriving to Kansas City to attend dental school, Bruce and Tamara lived in this motel before moving into a Kansas City, Kansas apartment. They lived in this area for 4 years while Bruce completed schooling.

The motel looked like this in 2012

 This was the daycare the couple's two youngest daughters attended while Tamara taught 1st grade at a nearby elementary school.

 The couple bought this condo and lived here until their 3rd child, Greg, was born.

 2012

Life Sketch of Lorenzo Toolson

LIFE SKETCH OF LORENZO TOOLSON

Lorenzo Toolson, son of Lars and Ingra Tuveson Toolson, was born in Smithfield, Utah, August 18, 1863. His parents, Lars and Ingra were natives of Sweden. They came to Utah in 1860 where they were among the first residents of Smithfield. His father, Lars, took up farming and stock raising and was also identified with various public interests and enterprises. He became a director of the Cooperative Mercantile Company--ZCMI and in the church he was a high priest and filled a mission to Sweden when about thirty years of age. Lorenzo acquired his education in the public schools of Smithfield and in the Brigham Young College, which he attended for one term. He then took up farming.

Lorenzo married Alice Harper in the Logan Temple on October 22, 1886. They became parents of four sons and six daughters. The children born to this union are Lorenzo Vern, who filled a two-year mission to England; Allie, who married Ezra Nielson and resides in Smithfield where Mr. Nielson passed away in 1913; Richard, who married Gertrude Ashcroft, and filled a two-year mission to England; Ingra, who married William Hurren; Tacy, who married George Chambers; Sybil, who married Willard Hansen; Salome, who married Lee Hansen; and Adrien and Daphne. Alice passed away November 22, 1914. In 1916 Lorenzo married Helen Pilgrim, a daughter of Thomas and Annie (Peacock) Pilgrim, who were natives of England and came to Utah in the years 1864 and 1859 respectively.

Lorenzo took up farming until 1908 when he purchased a large store at Smithfield becoming a partner of Bishop Winn though he still maintained a large farm. This they conducted together for two years, after which Lorenzo and members of his family purchased the interests of his partner and they then carried on the business alone. He met with substantial success in the conduct of this business. He carried a large and well selected stock and was accorded a liberal patronage.

Lorenzo served for ten years on the irrigation board and was chairman for six of those ten years. He was for four years a member of the city council during the years of 1916 to 1920 inclusive. He exercised his prerogatives in support of all plans and measures for the benefit and building up of his native city. He held a number of other positions of trust in the community and helped lay the foundations of that city and its industries. He was ordained bishop of the Smithfield Second Ward, March 2, 1919 by Apostle Talmage to succeed William Winn. Lorenzo was a very earnest conscientious man, very energetic, yet humble and devoted to his calling in the church and ever put forth his best efforts to magnify his calling to the advancement of the work. He had a distinction of presiding over one of the largest wards of the church at that time, numbering over 1200.

Bishop Toolson died at the LDS hospital in Salt Lake City, Sunday, 24 June 1923, following surgery for stomach trouble and other complications. The operation was considered successful and he seemed to be recovering until Saturday night a change for the worse came. Early Sunday morning the doctors advised a blood transfusion and were preparing for the same when death came suddenly.

His funeral was one of the most impressive and well attended funerals ever held in Smithfield. It was also one of the grandest displays of flowers ever witnessed at a funeral.

William Dean Evans and Bernice Hurren Evans

Logan Temple, 27 October 1937.

              LIFE HISTORY OF WILLIAM DEAN EVANS AND BERNICE HURREN 

My father, William Dean Evans, was born 13 August 1917 in Logan, Cache, Utah, to William Evans Jr and Mabel Wealthy Wilcox Evans.

My mother, Bernice Hurren, was born 9 May 1920 at Trenton, Cache, Utah, to James William Hurren and Ingra Toolson.  They did not write about their lives and times. I think they were too busy living their lives to write anything down for posterity. That is a shame for us because they led good lives and were examples of honesty and integrity that would be helpful for their posterity to know.

However, the following is information I know that mother gave about our family to be written by someone else in a ward publication I think about the year 1973.

MEET THE EVANS FAMILY

The word Amity means friendly and harmonious.  Have you ever noticed how very friendly the LDS families are that live south of Meridian on Amity Road?  Maybe the road makes them amiable, or vice versa.   I do know though, that Dean and Bernice Evans (yes, they live on Amity) are one of the friendliest families I know.  Also one of the busiest.  They moved to this area over 25 years ago.  They have been farmers all the while.  They came from Layton, Utah, where Brother Evans worked at Hill Air Force Base after having served in the Army during World War II.

Dean was born in Logan, Cache, Utah on 13 August 1917 while Bernice came into the world on 9 May 1920 (a Mother's Day) at Trenton, Cache, Utah.  Both were born into active LDS homes.  Dean received his education at Logan, including 2 years at Utah State Agricultural College.  Bernice attended grade school and Jr. High at Smithfield, Cache, Utah and high school at North Cache High School at Richmond, Cache, Utah.

Since Logan and Smithfield were only seven miles apart it was no miracle that Dean and Bernice should meet and eventually form a "mutual admiration society", which blossomed into love.  They were married in the Logan Temple, 27 October 1937.

The Evans' welcomed four bundles from heaven over the years, William Bruce, the oldest, with his family live in Overland Park, Kansas, where he is a dentist; Sharon, their only daughter, lives with her husband, Lynn Belnap and family at Brigham City.  Brent is married also and is serving his country in the Navy, stationed in San Diego.  Robert, their youngest, is presently living in Boise.  Both Bruce and Brent fulfilled missions--Bruce in the Eastern States Mission and Brent in the West Spanish American Mission.  Dean and Bernice are proud of their 11 grandchildren.

For the past six years Dean has worked for the Idaho Highway Department in addition  to his farming.  After the children were grown Bernice decided to get a job.  She has been a sales lady for several years and is presently employed by Brookovers in Nampa.

They have always been active in church and both held man positions.  Dean has been Elders Quorum president, both Sunday School counselors, assistant stake clerk and is now assistant ward clerk.  Bernice has served as Relief Society President, counselor and teacher; Primary president, counselor and teacher and YMMIA stake as a counselor, ward counselor, attendance secretary and teacher.  She was also on the Stake Sunday School board and is presently a teacher in the Jr. Sunday School.  In addition they are faithful members of the choir.  They love to sing and seldom miss an opportunity to participate. 

To sum up, the Evans Family, they believe as King Benjamin, "when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

The above is certainly not the entire life history of my parents, Dean and Bernice Evans. I have subsequently found out that my mother, Bernice, gave more information to my daughter, Lisa, and Lisa used that information at mother's funeral. 

 That information will be intertwined in the history to come.  I will try to research and remember other more detailed happenings in their lives. This way we can get a glimpse into what made them so strong in their convictions and loyal to their God, family, and church.  I am going to begin with the early life of my mother and then the early life of my father and join the writing at marriage and write about the entire family from that point on.  

Although Bernice is my mother, I will refer to her as Bernice in this history for clarity

Chris, Paul and Katherine Lentz and her grandparents