Susan

Susan Kaye Christensen, born June 22, 1955 in SLC, Utah

     When we became aware of the next arrival in the family who would be born in late June 1955, just a month or so before my being released from active duty, Barbara let it be known that she definitely did not want to give birth to another child in the Naval Hospital. She said she might die of shock. She had said after Amy’s birth that if she were not a member of the Church, Amy would probably have been an only child.  We knew that she was serious and so we began making plans for Barbara to go home to Midway and for the birth to take place in the Salt Lake LDS Hospital.

     Before leaving the Charleston Ward, Barbara was asked by Bishop Robert Royall to sing a solo in sacrament meeting.  Barbara had been recognized as having a beautiful solo voice.  Barbara said, “Oh Bishop, as you can see, I am soon to deliver a baby.”  To which, Bishop Royall’s response was, “Sistah Bahbara, there is nothing moh beautiful than an expectant Mohmon muthah.”  She sang and did very well.  

    I applied for a leave of absence from my assignment for a week or so. It was not easy to leave South Carolina. We had learned to love those people so very much–not only the members of the Church, but also our neighbors and those with whom Joe worked in the service.
    Along with Ed and LaPriel Gillespie and their daughter Denise, from Arizona, who were ward members and Air Force friends, we three loaded into their car and the six of us drove to Albuquerue, New Mexico.  Dad, Mom and Verl met us there and we traveled to Midway for Barbara’s stay until the birth.  I returned to Charleston and moved into the Bachelor Officers’ Quarters (BOQ) for the remaining weeks of active duty.  While there, I was able to meet and associate with Lt. Howard Carroll who was training to take my place as the BX Officer.  (Our association led to his baptism and confirmation the night before my leaving active duty, but that is a story for another time.)

     I was informed that Susan had been born on June 22, 1955.  Dr. Howard Sharp had delivered her.  He was the obstetrician recommended by Barbara’s older sister and nurse, Marion, as the one in whom she had most confidence.  He ended up delivering all four of our children born while we were in the area.  The only exception was Douglas who was born in Moscow, Idaho.

     We had decided to name the baby Susan Kaye, should she be a girl. She was! She was a real darling. She and Amy didn’t look alike at all at birth. Susan was much darker and had some hair. She weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 19 inches long. She was a very healthy baby and we were and are so happy to have her. She and Amy were wonderful friends from the beginning and still enjoy each other a great deal.

     Without Barbara’s knowing it, I applied for a short leave, bought a one-way ticket on Delta Airlines, and flew to Salt Lake to see her and Susan before they left the hospital.  Obviously, they were surprised when I walked into the room.  She was such a beautiful baby and Barbara was doing well.  One little disappointment for me was that Amy, only 20-months old, at first, didn’t remember me.  When I went to pick her up, she fearfully ran to Aunt Ann who she had become well acquainted with in my five-week absence.

     After seeing Barbara, Susan, Amy and others of the family, I returned almost immediately to South Carolina.  I “hitchhiked” aboard an Air Force transport plane flying in a “bucket” seat to the Norfolk, Virginia Air Force Base on the east coast and then boarded another Air Force plane flying to the Charleston AFB. While it was difficult to be apart at this time, one blessing was the baptism of Howard Caroll which will be mentioned later. 

     We had had a marvelous Air Force, Church service and missionary experience while serving our active duty responsibility.  At the time, everyone who served in the military had an obligation to serve a combination of eight years active duty and active reserve experience.  I had six more years of active reserve time to fulfill before being officially released.  The Air Force had kindly offered me a regular career officer’s commission, but I declined since I wanted to go on to graduate school.

     Susan was blessed in the Banida Ward, August 7, 1955, just a few days after my having returned from active duty. Afterwards we moved down to Salt Lake for me to teach seminary for one year at Granite High School. Our address was 1116 South Ninth East. We had a wonderful year there.

     Susan has always been curious.  When very young and visiting others, she would like to go through sisters’ purses, cabinet drawers or whatever. Once when she was shopping with Barbara, at about three years old, she said, “Lift me up, Momma, all I can see are boards!” When she was five she asked Barbara: "Is Santa a Mormon or a Catholic?" Barbara answered "I don't suppose he's either." Susan replied: "Well, he came to the Mormon Church to our Christmas party and I know a Catholic wouldn't do that."

     This curiosity led her to become an in-depth scholar of the scriptures with a multitude of markings and notes in her copy of the Standard Works.  She has been called upon as a leader of youth at the ward, stake and as a member of the Young Womens’ General Board, where she often assisted in research and preparing speeches for the YW General Presidency.  Her teaching and speaking talents were recognized, and early on, she was called upon to teach youth and weekly Gospel study classes that attracted many from outside her stake boundaries.  She graduated from the BYU with many semesters of being on the Dean’s list and with a teaching certificate.  While dating, Susan had two returned missionaries who wanted to become serious.   In Jeffrey Jones, she chose the right one.  She is an unusually dedicated mother to her four children, all of whom served missions.  As a Stake Relief Society President, she has been dedicated to magnifying her calling and helping unnumbered sisters.