Toni Fabrizio Ogden wrote:

When I married Steve, Grandpa had already passed away, so I never had the opportunity to meet him. However; from the stories I’ve heard, I believe I will recognize him when I see him, and I am looking forward to that day.

I did know Grandma and shared many special experiences with her. When Steve and I had been married a year, we moved to Tarzana, California, and Steve went into the carpet business with his dad. In the winter months, Grandma Mary lived in an apartment located right behind the carpet store, and in the summer, she went to her home in Richfield. After Steve’s graduation from the Y in the summer of 1967, Grandma was in Richfield, so Steve, our first child, Chad, and I stayed in her apartment in Tarzana for a few months until she returned. I will always remember her comfortable home and “things” that she had left behind for the season. When she returned a few months later, we had moved into one of Dale’s rental homes about two houses away from her apartment. We were in the same ward with Grandma, and Dale served as our Bishop. One day during church, I asked her why she only mouthed the words to the hymns, and she told me she had lost her singing voice a few years earlier, but she said, “I love the Hymns, and Heavenly Father knows I’m doing my best.”

Grandma did do her best in everything she did. I was always impressed with her graciousness, her grooming, and her strength—a very good example of an “elect” lady.

Grandma and I became Visiting Teaching partners. We shared some unique experiences together. She was always prepared when I honked for her each month. One sister we visited in the Ward was a sweet, caring woman, but lacked refinement and domestic skills. Each month we experienced something new and different when we visited LaVerda. One time, the cat was upon the counter eating the cold grease from the frying pan on the stove. Another time, while the rabbits were hopping through the house leaving pellets in their tracks, the chickens were scratching and strutting through the clutter on the kitchen floor. Grandma kept her composure through all of this. The funniest was when LaVerda seated us with our backs to a broken kitchen window, and while Grandma was giving her the Relief Society message for the month, a cow put her head through the window and bellowed. I thought Grandma would have a heart attack. Again she regained her composure and finished the lesson in a very dignified manner. When we got in the car to leave, Grandma looked at me and busted out laughing!! We had the best time together.

I’m sure I seemed a little clumsy to Grandma as I cared for my first newborn baby. Periodically, she gave me little bits of advice to help me out. Remember, back then, we were doing cloth diapers, pins, and rubber pants. One day Dale gave me a quick hint on diapering techniques. Shortly thereafter, Grandma Mary told me I was doing it all wrong, and both Dale and Grandma were sure their way was right. Dale taught me up front that there were three ways to do things, the right way, the wrong way, and Walt Ogden’s way! I learned quickly that I had married into a family with strong opinions. Steve has since told me that Dale was a lot like Grandpa Walt, was he???