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1. Rodney J PARK was born
on 11 Aug 1957 in Murray, Salt Lake, Utah. He was baptized into the LDS church
on 5 Sep 1965. He was sealed to parents BIC. The earliest recollection I have
of our family, is the early 1960's, while we lived in Granger, S-Lk, Ut. I remember
our little house there, and the fact that we purchased it from a couple named
Sharp. (Keith and Vonda) I can even remember the floor plan of this house.
The main entry to the house was in the living room. To the left of the living
room was my room. These two room comprised the front half of the house. to
the rear of the living room was the kitchen. Just on the left of the kitchen
was the bathroom, and to the left of the bathroom was my parents bedroom.
I recall this setup, because between my room and my parents room, there was one
large walk-through closet , from which you could go from one bedroom to the other
without having to go in the main part of the house. I had great fun playing in
this closet as a child. My sister, Rhonda slept in a basement room, next to
the laundry room.
I also remember the day of the big earthquake. I was playing with my toy trucks
next to a built-in bookcase. My mother was on the telephone, and standing next
to me at the time. I remember that when the quake hit, the books cascaded out
of their shelves right on top of me! Mother dug me from the pile of books, and
let me know that everything was all right. My next memory of the quake, was
going outside to find the front steps had separated from the house, and there
was a three foot chasm in their place.
I also have limited, fleeting memories of attending Academy Park Elementary School,
and later, Pioneer Elementary.
My brother Michael was born in February, 1960. He was a source of great joy
for my sister and I. Mother was always telling Rhonda and myself what a good
baby Mike was, and how we should take him along to play with us. We used to resent
this just a little, every child knows you can't have any fun at all when you
have to watch a toddler.
One of the ways we got around this, was to take Mike on a ride in my little red
wagon, parking it in the middle of the alfalfa field. We told Mike that if he
tried to get out, there were alligators in the alfalfa who would bite his legs.
After counciling Mike about the gators, we could then go on our way and have
some fun, while Mike remained frozen and crying in the wagon. We always knew
he would be just where we left him when we returned.
It was about 1964, that our house at 4437 South 4000 West was purchased from
my folks. The company that bought it, demolished it to provide access for an
apartment complex they were building. That was how we ended up in Riverton.