Grandpa Bingham--62 years ago

Today is the 62nd anniversary of the day my dad died. It is really hard for me to even think of that time. In June Arlo and I drove him to Alamosa to enter the hospital as he was having surgery the next morning to repair a hernia.

We went to Ruth and Bill's and had supper and then went to a movie. He had the surgery and there were complications. He had pains from adhesions from a former surgery. They operated to remove the scars, but that was not successful either. He developed a bowel obstruction and it progressed to the point that it burst.

The day he died, Keith sent a telegram that he had been released from the Navy and was on his way home. We tried to find him, but were not successful. Some of the aunts and uncles met every bus and train that came into Alamosa. He was home in time to go to the funeral.

We no longer had a home and Keith wanted to buy back the farm and take the four (Leon, Barbara, LaRue and Doris Faye), to raise them. He didn''t have the means to do that. After the funeral, Leon went to Farmington, New Mexico, Barbara went with Ethel and Don, to California, LaRue stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. Doris Faye went home with Arlo and me. Keith went to Los Alamos, New Mexico and lived with his friend Bud Richarson. He found work and remained there to marry Erma Rae and to raise his family.

The years go by, but the facts don't change that there was no place to go home again. After a year Leon went to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn's home. After 6 years Doris Faye also went to Grandma and Grandpa's home. Barbara was the last one to go to Grandma and Grandpa's home. All of them graduated from Manassa High School. I will forever be thankful to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. They were a great blessing to us.

School in Manassa

I went to kindergarten, first, second and third grades in Manassa, before we moved to Romeo.

Betty Jean Johnson, Helen McKenzie, Shirley Jackson, ViDella Huffaker and several others that some of you may know, were my school mates.

The kindergarten class was held in the basement of the old grade school building. That is where all of my children went to grade school. The other classes were held on the upper floor. There was a bell tower above where several of the young people rang the bell when it was not authorized by the school. There are several stories floating around about that bell.

I always liked school. I was not as good a student as my children, but I enjoyed the social part and I liked literature. That was my favorite. I didn't have the talent for math and science that my mom and sons had. My mom was a math genius. So were Keith and Doris Faye. I guess recess was my favorite. I liked my teachers.

Keith's Funeral

I spent Thursday night at Bonnie's. Leon Picked us up there at 4 A.M. and we drove to Kanab and picked up Don and Gloria. We drove to Belen, New Mexico, where we had 2 motel rooms reserved.

When we arrived there, we talked to Erma and she told us that The ward had prepared a meal for the family and we could come and eat with them. after we got cleaned up we went to the church and Keith and Erma's family were mostly all there. They have 70 members of their family. We had a very nice meal and got acquainted with members of their family that we hadn't seen in many years.

The viewing followed in the Relief Society room. The day Keith died, Erma asked Kelly if he could build a casket. Kelly said "no way". The other sons and three grandsons, said they would help him and together they got to Kelly's barn at 8A.M. and stayed late into the night, sometimes as late as 1 A.M. and made a beautiful casket. It was white pine with Cedar panels. The girls made the linings. It was a work of art. Keith looked good. He was thin after so much sikness, but he looked nice.

LaRue and Harold and Doris Faye and Bert came to the viewing. That was special. we took a lot of pictures.

We went back to the motel and prepared to leave at 7 A.M. the next morning to go to LosAlamos, where the funeral was held.

Barbara came for the funeral and all of my immediate family was there. That was special. We haven't all been together at one time since Barbara was sealed in the temple.

At the viewing, Cheryl and Elwood Cardon and Aldred and Gay Schofield were there. I only have 4 living cousins on Dad's side of the family. Cheryl, Aldred, Charley, and Winona are the only ones. It was good to see them. Keith and Erma's family was all there and it was good to see all of them too. The funeral was special. I will send you a program. All of it was their children, except the bishop gave a short talk. . It was a beautiful funeral. The tribute to Keith was wonderful. We stayed for the meal after and visited with my sisters and brother.

We started home at 4:30 in the afternoon and arrived in St George at 4:30 in the morning. It was a good time. everyone was so nice and I felt that being with family was great.

Uncle Keith's funeral

This last weekend as we went to the funeral I was very impressed with the spirit that was there. Not one time did I hear anything negative. Everyone of the kids took part in the funeral service. What a good job they did! It has always been a pleasure to be around Keith and Erma's family. It was so good to meet the grandchildren and great grandchildren of Keith and Erma. Thank you boys for being like your father. No one on this earth cares and loves like he does. I want you to know I love each and everyone one of you. Donnie

Keith's Funeral

On the web site at www.riversideofbelen.com is Keith's obituary. The information about the viewing in Belen is there. I am going to order flowers and if any of you want to help pay for them, you may. I think we can get them for about 15.00 each. I will order them and put your names on them and if you don't feel like you can help that is ok I will do them. Mom

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Keith Bingham
(March 4, 1927 - March 9, 2008)

Keith Edward Bingham stepped into eternity from complications due to Parkinson's disease March 9th, 2008 in Belen, New Mexico. The son of James Edward Bingham and Cora Emily Dunn, Keith was born March 4th, 1927 in Manassa, Colorado.

He graduated from Romeo High School in 1945. He served in the United States Navy from 1945-1946. Keith married Erma Rae Reynolds on August 6th, 1949 and they were sealed in the Arizona LDS Temple. They are the parents of Erma Laraine Bingham Wheeler, Richard Keith Bingham (Cindy), Sue Ann Bingham Cook (Keith), Kelly Lawrence Bingham (Ruth), Barry Lynn Bingham (Cheryl), and David Alan Bingham (Bonnie). He is survived by his wife Erma Rae, brother Leon Bingham, sisters Gatha Wilson, La Rue Lawson, Barbara White, Doris Faye Nottingham, six children, twenty eight grandchildren, and twenty three great grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all family and friends.

He worked in Los Alamos as a Welding Supervising Engineer for the Zia Company, Pan Am, and Johnson Controls. He loved working with his co-workers. Keith was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in many positions in the church, and especially loved serving as the Branch President in Llano, New Mexico. He enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts of America where he served more than 10 years.

Family and friends are invited to visit with the family Friday March 14th, 2008 from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on, 2199 Hwy 304, Belen.

Family will also receive visitors, Saturday March 15th 2008 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. at the Los Alamos Ward Chapel, 1967 18th Street, Los Alamos. Interment will follow at Guaje Pines Cemetery, Los Alamos.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund or the Humanitarian Aid Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or The Boy Scouts of America.

Arrangements are being handled by Riverside Funeral Home of Belen, 418 W. Reinken Ave. An online guest register is available at www.riversideofbelen.com

Keith Died

Keith died Sunday morning at about 5:15. All of their children were there. David was the last one to come. Because he has a new job, he hadn't been able to get there. At first they said the funeral would be Friday, It will be Saturday because of his work. It will be in Los Alamos at 11 A.M.

Mom

Houses-Many moves

The day Arlo and I were married, we moved into a little house that Isabel and Raedeen lived in. Isabel was staying in Arlene Barber's house while Arlene and Lyle and their children were gone somewhere.

When Isabel came back we lived with Grandma Vance for a while. we lived in two rooms that belonged to Charles and June Vance. That is where we lived when Dad died. Then Keith sent a wire and said he was released from the navy and was on his way home. one of the aunts or uncles met every bus or train that entered Alamosa until he got home. He was in time to go to Dad's funeral. Those were hard days.

Doris Faye came then to live with us. Arlo and I had been married 4 months. Arlo told Dad that he would take care of Doris Faye and raise her as his own.

Soon after that time we moved to Guymon's ranch where we lived until after Bonnie was born. That is where we lived until Arlo no longer worked for Ed.

We lived with Grandma Vance for a time after that and then we moved to the the Ross' place. Arlo worked for Walt Gylling while we lived there.

From there we moved to the house by Romeo, where Larry was born. He was born at home. LaRue and I decided to have our babies at home and Doctor Davis was willing to come to the house to deliver or babies. I took care of LaRue when Eddie was born and LaRue took care of me when Larry was born. Harold was overseas. He was in the army and was at both Viet Nam and Korean wars. While we lived there Don had rheumatic fever and st vitus dance. Arlo had a serious problem with his back and suffered greatly with it. He was working for Thales Smith when we lived there. Our home was part of his pay so when Arlo was not able to work we had to move. Richard and Roxanne came to visit us while we lived there. Larry and Gerald Lynn were both blessed in Romeo ward.

On the first of the year, Richard and Roxanne took Arlo to Grand Junction to the veterans hospital. He was there for about a month and was transfered to Denver where he had surgery on his back. While he was in the hospital, I moved our family to Manassa, so we could be close to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn, so they could help us while I worked at Manassa School hot lunch.

We moved into Lucille Jackson's house. We lived there for about some time. Arlo went to work for Boyd Pagett at the garage.

We bought the old Mary Christensen house, across the street from Maggie Weston, (Maggie's mother's house).

Our next house was the one on 3rd street. We bought it from Frank Maestas.

Our Family vacations

The one thing that we enjoyed together with Arlo being there was time spent in the mountains. When Kent was less than a month old we went to the mountains and camped out. We slept in sleeping bags and cooked on the camp fire. I don't remember the place that we camped but I do remember being in the mountains. We spent a lot of time camping out and then later spent time at the cabin. The cabin proved to be a great investment for us. I still like to go there. Our reunion there was great. We have owned it for many years.

One time Barbara, LaRue, Doris Faye and I took all of our children in one car and went to Los Alamos, to visit Keith and Erma. That wouldn't be possible today because of seat belt laws.

One time we took the VW pickup and went to Pueblo to visit Nona. The car broke down and we had to find a ride home.

When Bonnie Lynn had to go to Denver for a check up at the hospital, I took all of you children and we went several times. We went to the movie in a round theater, "It's a Mad Mad World". All of us laughed so hard we cried. Sometimes we went to a resturant where there was a toy train running around the room, near the ceiling. Can any one remember other things that we did?