Rulon Laverl Christiansen & Catheryen Jane Rolph: A History

By Jann C. Salisbury

You will love LaVerl and Catheryen even more as you travel through the years with them. Beginning with their birth and parents, learn about their likes and dislikes, school experiences, dating, marriage, family and more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663232380

Jann C. Salisbury

Jann Christiansen Salisbury became interested in gathering family information as a young adult. In her twenties she recorded genealogical information about her husband and children in her father’s unused Book of Remembrance. From this, her love of family history blossomed. Later on, she was determined to prove her relationship to Pocahontas – unfortunately, there was none. Next came an obsession with her great grandfather, John Social Rolph; a polygamist with six wives. She is a searcher, a finder, and a recorder.

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Copyright © 2022 Jann C. Salisbury.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical,

including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written

permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Jann Christiansen Salisbury is the third child of LaVerl and Catheryen. She became interested in gathering

family information as a young adult. In her twenties she recorded genealogical information about her husband and

children in her father’s unused Book of Remembrance. From this, her love of family history blossomed. Later on, she was

determined to prove her relationship to Pocahontas – unfortunately, there was none. Next came an obsession

with her great grandfather, John Social Rolph; a polygamist with six wives. She is a searcher, a finder, and a recorder.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-3239-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-3240-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-3238-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021923733

iUniverse rev. date: 12/14/2021

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PREFACE

LaVerl (Dad) and Catheryen (Mom) both grew up in Tooele, Utah. He was about two and a half years older than she was. His family moved to Tooele in time for LaVerl to begin seventh grade. He took notice of Catheryen a couple of years later. They both belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They dated a lot over the next seven years or so, all the while dating other people. He asked her to marry him at Christmastime 1942, a few months before going into the Army. He made it back home after nearly two and one-half years of service, and they were married two months later.

They were normal teenagers who wrote in diaries, had special someone’s, went to parties and shows, and hung out with their friends.

Their married life came with lots of ups and downs, but they endured to the end. They had five children, and all are grown with grandchildren of their own.

I have done a lot of research for this book and made every effort to include reliable information. I have also made assumptions about certain things. A lot of time and prayer have gone into putting this book together. I hope family members will come to know and love LaVerl and Catheryen even more.

NOTABLE SPOTS IN TOOELE

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Table of Contents

Part One: Rulon LaVerl Christiansen

Chapter 1     Birth

Chapter 2     Parents

Chapter 3     Siblings

Chapter 4     Religion

Chapter 5     Childhood

Chapter 6     Homes

Chapter 7     School

Chapter 8     World War II

Chapter 9     Letters to Catheryen

Chapter 10   Employment

Chapter 11   Likes and Dislikes

Chapter 12   Adulthood

Chapter 13   Wild Ideas and Inventions

Chapter 14   Health

Chapter 15   Death

Part Two: Catheryen Jane Rolph

Chapter 16   Birth

Chapter 17   Parents

Chapter 18   Siblings

Chapter 19   Religion

Chapter 20   Childhood

Chapter 21   Paper Dolls

Chapter 22   The Big Green House

Chapter 23   Grades 1-12

Chapter 24   College

Chapter 25   Employment

Chapter 26   Painting

Chapter 27   Likes, Dislikes, and Traditions

Chapter 28   Adulthood

Chapter 29   Health

Chapter 30   Death

Part Three: Their Life Together

Chapter 31   Marriage

Chapter 32   Homes

Chapter 33   Family

Chapter 34   Pets

PART ONE

Rulon LaVerl Christiansen

22 August 1923

to

6 April 1978

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CHAPTER 1

Birth

Rulon LaVerl Christiansen, known as LaVerl, Chris or Bus, was born 22 August 1923 in Tooele, Utah, to Lloyd LaVerl Christiansen and Mary Clara Ostler. He was the oldest of six children. The name section was left blank at the time of his birth. His mother later changed it to show his full name.

Birth certificate with supplement to add name

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CHAPTER 2

Parents

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LaVerl’s father, Loyd LaVerl Christiansen, was born 19 October 1901 in Mercur, Utah, to Niels Peter Christiansen Jr. and Matilda Stagg. LaVerl’s mother, Mary Clara Ostler, was born 1 March 1903 to Moroni Howarth Ostler and Mary Magdalene Anderson in Fountain Green, Utah. Clara taught in a one-room school house in Ibapah, Utah, for many years.

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LaVerl (far right) with father Loyd Christiansen, grandfather Niels Peter

Christiansen holding Gean Christiansen LaVerl’s son, 1947

Loyd and Clara’s Land Ownership

According to Delinquent Tax notices in the local paper, Loyd and Clara owned 640 acres in Onaqui, Tooele County, Utah, in 1956. The Onaqui Mountain Range in Utah’s west desert is home to a wild herd of mustangs known as the Onaqui herd. Johnson’s Pass, also known as Lookout Pass, is on the old Pony Express and Overland Stage route between the Onaqui and Sheeprock Mountains. From Johnson’s Pass, traveling the road west for three hours will take you to Ibapah, in the Deep Creek Mountain Range, where Loyd and Clara met and lived.

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The Transcript-Bulletin, 18 Dec 1956

CHAPTER 3

Siblings

LaVerl was the oldest child in his family. His siblings are listed below.

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Back Row: June, Loyd, Bud, LaVerl, Loya; Front Row: Jim, Bonney, Clara; about 1940

June DeNece Christiansen

June was born 29 June 1925 in Tooele, Utah.