The Ojuka Family: February 2010

Chad Kay Anderson, 89, died January 30, 2010, in Lewiston, Idaho. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, February 2, at 11:00 a.m. at the Park Center Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2300 E. Bergeson, Boise, Idaho. Chad was born November 17, 1920, in Hiawatha, Utah, to Erwin and Naomi Asay. He attended elementary and high school in Castle Dale, Utah, and graduated from Utah State University. The following year, Chad taught high school at Albion Normal School and Rockland High where he met his future wife, Betty Lou Barnard. Chad and Betty Lou were married July 3, 1943 in Soda Springs, Idaho. Chad enlisted in the Navy in July 1943 and was immediately transferred to the U.S. Naval Training Station at Farragut, Idaho. He received orders to report to Notre Dame for midshipman's school followed by additional training after which he spent his wartime duty in the Pacific. Chad spent the remainder of his naval career in the Naval Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander. In 1958, Chad joined Farrel Metcalf and managed a successful insurance agency, Metcalf-Anderson Agency, in Idaho Falls, Idaho until his retirement in 1987. During his lifetime, Chad held many callings in the church, some of which included; gospel doctrine teacher, elders quorum president, bishopric counselor, bishop, high counselor, high priests group leader and sealer in the Idaho Falls Temple. He is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Lou Anderson; his parents; and his sister, Doreen Bardsley of Ogden, Utah. Chad is survived by his sisters, Valoy Cox of Castle Dale, Utah, Shanna Bates of St. George, Utah, and Janone Richards of Phelan, California; daughters, Kathleen Kay Jensen, of Greensboro, North Carolina, Candace Marie Congreve of Clarkston, Washington; granddaughters, Jenny Rebecca Mizukawa of Cincinnati, Ohio, Emily Anne Koller of Crestwood, Kentucky, Kathryn Elizabeth Ojuka of Provo, Utah, Amanda Marie Detling of Stamford, Connecticut; and eleven great-grandchildren.

{My remarks at Grandpa's funeral}

Grandpa knew lots of different people in lots of different ways. But my sisters and I were the only four who knew him as Grandpa. We thought he was the perfect grandpa and we absolutely adored him. So we just wanted to take a few minutes today to share some of our favorite memories of him as a grandpa...so you can understand a little bit, of why we loved him so much.

Grandpa appreciated good food, especially Grandma's. And after dinner he was always ready for dessert, especially if it was pie. I think we've all inherited his sweet tooth.

We enjoyed many Thanksgivings with Grandpa where he always enjoyed a little bit of potatos with all of his gravy. I don't think any of us will ever celebrate Thanksgiving without thinking of our Grandparents.

When I was little I remember feeling special because Grandpa liked ham and beef jerky just as much as I did. He made the best beef jerky I've ever had and made me feel special by mailing some all the way to North Carolina just for me.

Some of our favorite memories as children were of our summer visits to Idaho Falls. Grandpa would let us sit in the wheel barrel, on top of the freshly cut grass, while he gave us rides around the yard.

We loved the bike rides he took us on through the fields and out to watch the airplanes take off. The seat on the back of Grandpa's bike was a coveted spot and I remember always hoping it would be my turn to ride with him.

Amanda remembers a bike ride where she spotted cat tales for the first time. Grandpa told her what they were then told her she could put them in a hot dog bun and eat them like a hot dog with ketchup and mustard. She believed him and went home and told mom, who said, "Did Grandpa tell you that?"

Grandpa also told me that if I ate the dark watermelon seeds they would put hair on my chest. I always made sure to spit them out.

We loved to hear about the camping trips he took mom and Candace on when they were growing up. And we have fond memories of camping with Grandpa and Grandma at Yellowstone one summer. Grandpa carved us each a walking stick to use for hiking.

For most of his life Grandpa's leisure time included hard work, which he really enjoyed. He like working in the yard, fixing things, building things. He built us the most amazing triple level tree house in a grove of pine trees in their backyard in Idaho Falls, which we still wish we could play in.

After working outside Grandpa's signature scent was a combination of freshly cut grass and dirt and wood and sweat! But it was a great smell we can still remember.

When we were little Grandpa would exchange our nickels for his dollars saying he liked the sound of the change in his pockets and it made him feel rich.

Grandpa was such a perfect grandpa that we just couldn't imagine that every other kids grandpa didn't live in Idaho, know how to camp and fish and build things or drive a motor home.

My sister Jenny and I remember the summer we took a road trip with Grandpa and Aunt Doreen down to Castle Dale to visit Aunt Valoy. It was so fun to be in the car with them to listen to them reminisce and tell stories.

Grandpa loved big band music. He was always reading a book. He always had stories to tell. We especially like to hear about how he worked in the Idaho Falls Temple as a sealer and how he had been set apart by President Spencer W. Kimball.

One of my favorite memories with Grandpa was my wedding two and half years ago. The most special part of that day was walking into the sealing room and seeing a room full of people I loved...friends and family, including Grandpa. It was the only time I ever got to be in the temple with him and it meant so much that he made the trip down to be there for me.

We know just like Grandpa knew that the sealing power of the temple gives us the opportunity to be eternal families. We know we will see Grandpa again and until then we are grateful for the memories we have of him.