We just arrived home from attending the funeral and burial of Mark's Grandma Brinkerhoff (Mark's mom's mother) in Washington. We took the two oldest kids with us, Brandt and Kortney. Even though it was sad to have her die, what a blessing it is to have her reunited with her eternal companion, Grandpa Richardson. A lot of her posterity was able to attend the funeral and what an awesome sight it was to see so many who because of the choice of one woman to get baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, their lives have been richly blessed. I have to say, I don't think I have ever met a woman who had a stronger testimony than she did. She loved the gospel with all her heart and bore testimony of it, and the love of her savior every time I would visit with her. She was a great example to my children and wanted them to know how blessed she was in her life because of living the commandments. We are all blessed to have had her in our lives and how happy we are of the sweet reunion that has been taking place in heaven with her return.
Laurice Hilma Burch Richardson Brinkerhoff, age 94, passed away on September 8, 2008 in Orem, Utah. She was born April 6, 1914 in Astoria, Oregon, a daughter of Robert Burch, Jr. and Agnes Matilda Peterson Burch.Laurice was reared on a farm in Skamokawa, Washington, and attended the one-room West Valley Grade School. She was a graduate of Wahkiakum High School, attended the University of Idaho, and received an A.S degree in Library Science from Lower Columbia Junior College.She married Bertram Haldon Richardson, Jr. on September 10, 1931 in Vancouver, Washington, and together they ran a dairy farm in Skamokawa where they reared four daughters. When they retired from the farm, they moved a few miles away to Cathlamet, Washington where Laurice was an assistant librarian in the Cathlamet schools.Bert and Laurice were converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Laurice joining 20 years before her husband. She served many years in the Skamokawa Home Sunday School and later in the Cathlamet Branch, and as a district primary president.Bert preceded her in death on April 19, 1980 in Cathlamet. She then served an LDS mission in South Dakota and Minnesota, followed by a mission to the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City. She married Lloyd A. Brinkerhoff on April 11, 1987, and they moved to Orem where they were members of the Sharon 2nd Ward. Lloyd passed away on May 1, 2001. Recently, Laurice has been a resident of Courtyard at Jamestown in Provo, Utah.She is survived by four daughters: Laureen Jaussi (August) of Orem, Utah; Judy Garrison of Boise, Idaho; Karen Tarbet (Floyd) of Sandy, Utah; and Gail Barney (Denton) of Las Vegas, Nevada. Survivors also include 22 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Carol Quigley of Cathlamet, Washington, and two nephews.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund, 50 East North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 20, 2008, at the Cathlamet Branch, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with burial in the Greenwood Cemetery in Cathlamet.
Laurice Hilma Burch Richardson Brinkerhoff, age 94, passed away on September 8, 2008 in Orem, Utah. She was born April 6, 1914 in Astoria, Oregon, a daughter of Robert Burch, Jr. and Agnes Matilda Peterson Burch.Laurice was reared on a farm in Skamokawa, Washington, and attended the one-room West Valley Grade School. She was a graduate of Wahkiakum High School, attended the University of Idaho, and received an A.S degree in Library Science from Lower Columbia Junior College.She married Bertram Haldon Richardson, Jr. on September 10, 1931 in Vancouver, Washington, and together they ran a dairy farm in Skamokawa where they reared four daughters. When they retired from the farm, they moved a few miles away to Cathlamet, Washington where Laurice was an assistant librarian in the Cathlamet schools.Bert and Laurice were converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Laurice joining 20 years before her husband. She served many years in the Skamokawa Home Sunday School and later in the Cathlamet Branch, and as a district primary president.Bert preceded her in death on April 19, 1980 in Cathlamet. She then served an LDS mission in South Dakota and Minnesota, followed by a mission to the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City. She married Lloyd A. Brinkerhoff on April 11, 1987, and they moved to Orem where they were members of the Sharon 2nd Ward. Lloyd passed away on May 1, 2001. Recently, Laurice has been a resident of Courtyard at Jamestown in Provo, Utah.She is survived by four daughters: Laureen Jaussi (August) of Orem, Utah; Judy Garrison of Boise, Idaho; Karen Tarbet (Floyd) of Sandy, Utah; and Gail Barney (Denton) of Las Vegas, Nevada. Survivors also include 22 grandchildren, 68 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Carol Quigley of Cathlamet, Washington, and two nephews.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund, 50 East North Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150.Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 20, 2008, at the Cathlamet Branch, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with burial in the Greenwood Cemetery in Cathlamet.
Mark and his siblings, Dayna, Kirk and Dawna
Kortney, myself, Mark and Brandt
Mark and his family (Dad-Roy, Dayna, Mark, Kirk, Mom-Judy and Dawna)
During the last day of our retreat, the melody of a song kept coming to my mind but I was having a hard time remembering all the words. After I came home this evening, I found the words and realized why it was that I kept humming this tune in my head:
Tavyn blowing out the candles for her and Tyson both 
Kortney and her baby Diesel 
Post game talk with the coaches and team
I'm a proud Mom!
Colton - 15
