LARS AND BODEL MADSEN (from our archives)

 

JAMES NEIL JORGENSEN ~ Long Time Friend

 

James Neil Jorgensen

Listen to Obituary

James Neil Jorgensen passed away peacefully at home the morning of September 16th, 2026 in the same valley where he was born, where he lived, and where he left a legacy. Neil was born October 1st, 1935, the second of four children born to Delma Mortensen and James Ray Jorgensen.

Neil was shaped by the land and the people of Sanpete Valley. He grew up on the family farm west of Mt. Pleasant, alongside his brothers, Keith and Robert, His sister, Colleen, and his grandparents. There he learned at an early age the value of hard work, keeping your word, caring for those you love, and never being afraid to begin with very little. At only 14 years old Neil bought his first herd of sheep laying the foundation of the heritage he now leaves behind.

Neil graduated from North Sanpete High School in 1953. He played basketball, was FFA Chapter President, played the saxophone in the band ‘Three Hits and a Miss’, and was awarded the State Farmer Degree. He served an LDS mission in Canada then attended BYU where he began dating the love of his life, Diane Aagard. On July 31st, 1959, they were married for time and all eternity in the Logan, Utah temple.

As newlyweds, there was no honeymoon or easy beginning. They simply went to work, herding their own sheep together across the desert through winter and spring. It was a life they chose and the work they loved and they did it side by side.

That same devotion shaped the way Neil loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Everything he did was for family, and family was everything. Neil never withheld his support, steadiness, or the words ‘I love you.’ He was a shepherd and his family his flock. His greatest pride was never found in what he owned or built, but in the people who gathered around him.

As the patriarch of the multigenerational Skyline Sheep Company, Neil was a sheep rancher whose influence stretched far beyond his own ranch. He operated sheep across multiple states, owned a processing and packing company, managed private and public land, and tirelessly advocated for the domestic sheep industry in every way possible. Neil was a Sheepman through and through.

In addition to sheep ranching, Neil had an entrepreneurial spirit, a deep love for the community he called home, and a tender spot for the underdog. Along with Diane, he started and ran the Country Squire store, restored the Main Street North Sanpete High Gymnasium, provided jobs, and generously supported those in need. He found genuine joy and satisfaction in working hard, building his community, and helping others.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Delma and James Ray, brothers, Keith and Robert, and sister, Colleen Morley. He is survived by his beloved wife Diane, their 4 children Jeff, Todd, Lisa and Jenifer and their spouses, 19 grandchildren, and 45 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, September 21st, 11:00 am at the Mt. Pleasant North Stake Center, 461 N. 300 W. Mt Pleasant, Utah. Viewings will be held Sunday evening, 6:00-8:00 pm and Monday morning, 9:00-10:30 am at the Mt. Pleasant North Stake Center. 

To Watch Funeral Services Live, Click Here. The Live Zoom Link will Activate at 10:45 a.m. MST prior to services. 

Mrs. Stevens First Grade 1952

 

EDWARD NORMAN

 

DESTINATION MAIN STREET

 

NORTH SANPETE MIDDLE SCHOOL ~~~ TEACHERS AND STAFF

 

POSTCARDS FROM THE PAST (From our Archives)

 

HAMILTON ELEMENTARY ~~~ UNKNOWN YEAR

 

 

Unknown Year ~ Unknown Teacher ~ Unknown Students

Bette Millar is on the middle row ~ second from the left.

Hamilton Class
Unknown Year ~ Marsden Allred, Teacher ~ Unknown Students
Bette Millar is on back row ~ 3rd from the left 

HOME OF DR. WILLIAM WALLACE WOODRING AND WIFE MARY VIRGINIA SMUFFER

 

 

TILL MADSEN CARTER AND BYRON CARTER ~~~ (From our archives)

 

Posted September 21, 2012

I found this photo amongst Johanna's collection last night.

~~~

I sent the following photo to Dave Gunderson last night at 9:00 p.m., knowing it was a couple of his relatives; Til Madsen Carter and Byron Carter.  Both Til and Byron were originally from Mt. Pleasant. 

This morning I received the restored photo below and this message:

Dear Peter and Kathy,

I appreciate getting the picture of Uncle Byron and Aunt Till.

They were wonderful people. I think that Uncle Byron was the Bishop of Helper for 20 or 30 years.

I have worked on the picture and will attach both the original and the restored picture

for what ever you want to use them.

I appreciate all that you do and hope that you will continue to send pictures and articles as they come to you.

Thanks

David R. Gunderson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We genuinely appreciate Dave and all he does for us.  I think this is such a wonderful photo depicting a style used at the time of the photograph.

But also notice the photographer on the bottom:

  J.M. Boyden, Photographer, Mt. Pleasant, Utah.

This is one photographer I had not noticed before.

Even more amazing:

  Yesterday at the Relic Home, we had  some young girls come in looking for some history of their grandmother's home.  As it turned out, the home was built by 

J.M. Boyden

Most of this generation know this house as the Hans and Lois Poulsen home on 5th west.  

While the granddaughters were at the Relic Home, they told us that J.M. Boyden was the depot agent and he built it to somewhat match the depot which was just a half block away.  A lot of the gingerbread features were removed some time later.  

Any history on J.M. Boyden you can give us would be much appreciated. Did he

do his photography at the depot?  Was he the first Depot Agent? Did any of his 

children stay in the Mt. Pleasant area? Are there descendants living here or 

nearby now? 

Both Tudy and I know there are angels sitting on our shoulders as well as angels living on earth today

wanting to do all they can to support our efforts in preserving the history of Mt. Pleasant. 

Thank You All both on earth and in Heaven above !!!

FOLLIES ~~~ 1948

 

TURKEY BUSINESS ISN'T FOR THE BIRDS

 

DO THEY MISS ME AT HOME ~~~ Written by Mary Magaret Farquhar Cruickshank Morrison

 

This is one of Mary Margaret Farquhar Cruickshank Morrison Poems. She joined the LDS Church in Scotland and came to the United States with her husband, William; knowing she would never be able to return to her homeland and parents again.

Do they miss me at home, do they miss me?
It would be an assurance most dear
To know at this moment, some loved ones
Were saying, "I wish she were here."
To know that the group at the fireside
Were thinking of me as I roam.
Oh Yes t'would be a joy beyond measure
To know that they miss me at home.

When the twilight approaches the season
That ever is sacred to song
Does someone repeat my name over
And say that I tarry too long.
Or is there a chord in the music
That is missed when my voice away.