Showing posts with label Mickel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mickel. Show all posts
Sunday, March 8, 2026
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
HAROLD LANAE MICKEL ~~~ FRIEND, BISHOP, STAKE PRESIDENT, TEACHER
Harold LaNae Mickel
January 25, 1936 — November 29, 2025
Spring City
Listen to Obituary
Harold LaNae Mickel died November 29, 2025, in Mt. Pleasant, Utah. He was born in Spring City, Utah, the second child of Harold and Dortha Mickel on January 25, 1936. He married Ada Jean Swapp and spent 60 incredibly happy years together before her passing. Harold was a man without guile, and a man who truly valued his testimony of Jesus Christ. He lived his entire life in Spring City, other than the years spent attending college and serving as a missionary. His heritage goes back to his grandparents and great-grandparents who emigrated from Denmark and England. They were among the original pioneers who settled his beloved Spring City.
Harold met Jeanie at BYU, and they were married in the Manti Temple on December 21, 1962. They had 4 children, Marli, Lori, Dan, and Matt. As a young family, we enjoyed vacations to National Parks, trips to the mountain, camping, and simply spending time together.
After earning his degree at BYU, he spent his career teaching math and science classes at North Sanpete High School for 32 years. He was a great teacher and had a profound interest in his students, often tutoring them in the evenings as they continued their education. Following his retirement from teaching, he stayed busy helping his sons with their farming and ranching business. He loved operating the farm equipment and riding horses.
Harold loved to be on the mountain. He spent much of his childhood there with his dad herding sheep, riding horses, and hunting for arrowheads. He shared that love with his family as we also enjoyed spending time on the mountain. He particularly loved the Horseshoe and spent much time gazing at it in his later years.
Dad had a sweet tooth. Tootsie rolls “grew” in his nightstand drawer for all the grandkids. He carried a tin of his “chocolate pills” in his pocket. Cookies, chocolate cake for dinner, Mounds or Hershey bars, pumpkin pie for breakfast were all health foods that helped him live almost 90 years.
Dad loved working and learning. He built an addition onto our family home; he fixed cars and tinkered with anything broken. He studied the scriptures daily and had an incredible knowledge of the gospel. He lived his testimony of Jesus Christ, serving in many leadership callings. At age 26, he was called to be the Bishop of the Spring City Ward after being married only 6 months. He later served in stake callings and as Stake President where his leadership blessed many lives. He served as a missionary in Brazil when there was only one mission that covered the entire country. He loved his time there. Later he and Jeanie served in the Rapid City, South Dakota Mission.
Dad loved his family. He chose to lead a simple life focused on what he valued—the gospel of Jesus Christ, family, time in the mountain, farming, sheep, horses, the temple, and time with Jeanie. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Harold is survived by his 4 children: Marli and Dan Walker, Lori and Darin Johansen, Dan and Shannon Mickel, Matt and Brenda Mickel, 18 grandchildren and 28 ½ great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Beverly Christensen, sister-in-law Karen Mickel, and many who called him Uncle or Grandpa.
He is preceded in death by his wife Jeanie, parents, brother Boyd Mickel, sister Dixie and her husband Garn Sperry, brother-in-law Ruel Christensen, and nephew Jeff Christensen. He is also preceded in death by his in-laws Archie and Margaret Swapp, and brothers-in-law Bill and John Swapp.
Funeral services will include viewings on Monday, December 8 from 6:00-8:00pm, and Tuesday December 9 from 9:00-10:30am, with the funeral beginning at 11:00 am. All services will be held at the Spring City 2nd Ward Church, 164 South Main. Interment will be at the Spring City Cemetery. We appreciate the compassionate service provided by the Spring City 2nd Ward Relief Society.
Harold’s family expresses gratitude to the staff at Good Life Senior Living Center for the tender and loving care he received there. We are so very grateful for all they did to make his last years happy and comfortable. When you see the moon, clouds, or the jet trails, think of him.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harold LaNae Mickel, please visit our flower stor
Monday, May 5, 2025
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Wanted ~~~~ Renewed Interest ~~~~ James Burns ~~~ Pioneer of the Month ~~~ December 2008
WHO WAS SHERIFF JAMES BURNS?
James Christopher Burns was the son of John and Lydia Ann Porter Burns. He was born in Linden-Rock Port, Atchison Missouri in September of 1849. His parents were headed for California in the Great Gold Rush of 1849.
At the place known as “the Last Crossing of the Sweetwater”, in the State of Wyoming, two-month-old baby James Burns was found by a company of other travelers. He was lying at his mother’s breast. Both parents lay cold in the embrace of death. They had succumbed to the deadly disease of cholera. Deadly cholera is a very contagious disease. One brave soul from the company by the name of Milton Dailey risked his life to save the baby, if possible. The kind-hearted people of the wagon train did what they could for the baby, and they put forth efforts to find any relatives.
Arriving in Salt Lake City, they found the Saints gathering for the conference, and Milton Dailey gave the baby to Brigham Young who held him in his arms before the conference gathering, told of his parents' tragic death, and asked for information. The baby’s aunt, his mother’s sister, was among the saints and claimed the child.
He was then taken to the home of his grandmother at Provo, Utah. His early boyhood and manhood were spent in Mt. Pleasant, where he was educated and grew to the type of man that earned the love and respect of all who came in contact with him.
He fell in love with Matilda Josephine Anderson. It was thought by many to be “love at first sight”. James Burns often remarked that when he gazed into Matilda’s eyes of blue, he knew she was the one being in the world to make him happy. They were married on the 22nd March 1869.
After the Blackhawk War, he made friends with the red men, allowing his children to play with them, learn the Indian songs and dances, and many of their phrases.
James Burns prospered and progressed and became the Sheriff of Mt. Pleasant, and later served the people of Sanpete County in the same capacity.
Then on the 24th of September 1894, he received a telegraph notice from Scott Bruno, asking him to meet him in the morning at Moroni, as there had been a sheep-stealing case.
The following is taken from the writings of Niels Heber Anderson:
‘Bill Brewer, Scott Bruno, Niels Heber Anderson, and Sheriff James Burns confronted sheep rustlers at Reader’s Ridgeback of the Horseshoe Mountain. Evidence of the changing of the earmarks and brands made it quite clear that certain sheep had been stolen.
Sheriff Burns made an attempt to place the rustlers under arrest without first disarming them. As he approached them, they shot and killed the sheriff, then warned the other men that if they did not stay out of the affair, they would receive the same treatment as had been given the sheriff.
Bill Brewer and Anderson brought the news to Spring City and Mt. Pleasant. Thomas Braby, with the Mt. Pleasant Militia, was soon on the scene of the shooting, and the body of James C. Burns was taken to Mt. Pleasant. Although the Militia searched and guarded for a couple of weeks in the ledges and dense timber, the murderers were never apprehended.
“James Burns’ life was short but some there are who do not have to live long to accomplish big things. He was killed in the performance of his duty.” Olivia Burns – daughter in law and author of James Burns History
James Christopher Burns was the son of John and Lydia Ann Porter Burns. He was born in Linden-Rock Port, Atchison Missouri in September of 1849. His parents were headed for California in the Great Gold Rush of 1849.
At the place known as “the Last Crossing of the Sweetwater”, in the State of Wyoming, two-month-old baby James Burns was found by a company of other travelers. He was lying at his mother’s breast. Both parents lay cold in the embrace of death. They had succumbed to the deadly disease of cholera. Deadly cholera is a very contagious disease. One brave soul from the company by the name of Milton Dailey risked his life to save the baby, if possible. The kind-hearted people of the wagon train did what they could for the baby, and they put forth efforts to find any relatives.
Arriving in Salt Lake City, they found the Saints gathering for the conference, and Milton Dailey gave the baby to Brigham Young who held him in his arms before the conference gathering, told of his parents' tragic death, and asked for information. The baby’s aunt, his mother’s sister, was among the saints and claimed the child.
He was then taken to the home of his grandmother at Provo, Utah. His early boyhood and manhood were spent in Mt. Pleasant, where he was educated and grew to the type of man that earned the love and respect of all who came in contact with him.
He fell in love with Matilda Josephine Anderson. It was thought by many to be “love at first sight”. James Burns often remarked that when he gazed into Matilda’s eyes of blue, he knew she was the one being in the world to make him happy. They were married on the 22nd March 1869.
After the Blackhawk War, he made friends with the red men, allowing his children to play with them, learn the Indian songs and dances, and many of their phrases.
James Burns prospered and progressed and became the Sheriff of Mt. Pleasant, and later served the people of Sanpete County in the same capacity.
Then on the 24th of September 1894, he received a telegraph notice from Scott Bruno, asking him to meet him in the morning at Moroni, as there had been a sheep-stealing case.
The following is taken from the writings of Niels Heber Anderson:
‘Bill Brewer, Scott Bruno, Niels Heber Anderson, and Sheriff James Burns confronted sheep rustlers at Reader’s Ridgeback of the Horseshoe Mountain. Evidence of the changing of the earmarks and brands made it quite clear that certain sheep had been stolen.
Sheriff Burns made an attempt to place the rustlers under arrest without first disarming them. As he approached them, they shot and killed the sheriff, then warned the other men that if they did not stay out of the affair, they would receive the same treatment as had been given the sheriff.
Bill Brewer and Anderson brought the news to Spring City and Mt. Pleasant. Thomas Braby, with the Mt. Pleasant Militia, was soon on the scene of the shooting, and the body of James C. Burns was taken to Mt. Pleasant. Although the Militia searched and guarded for a couple of weeks in the ledges and dense timber, the murderers were never apprehended.
“James Burns’ life was short but some there are who do not have to live long to accomplish big things. He was killed in the performance of his duty.” Olivia Burns – daughter in law and author of James Burns History
~~~~~
Niels Heber Anderson Account
 |
| Niels Heber Anderson |
 |
| Niels Heber Anderson |
Father lived in a most exciting period of the earth's history. He drove oxen and lived to see
automobiles and the airplane.
Apparently some sheep stealing had been going on in Sanpete County. Bill Brewer of Mt. Pleasant, Scott Bruno and my father, Niels Heber Anderson, of Moroni, on the 26th day of November, 1894, in company with Sheriff James Burns, came upon Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle at Reader's Ridge, back of the Horse Shoe Mountain.
Evidence of the changing of the ear marks in sheep and brands made it quite clear that certain sheep had been stolen. Sheriff Burns made an attempt to place Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle under arrest without first disarming them. As he approached them they shot and killed the sheriff, then warned the other men that if they did not stay out of the affair they would receive the same treatment as had been given the sheriff.
Hilda Madsen Longsdorf, in her book entitled Mount Pleasant, recorded the incident as follows: "November 26, 1894, Sheriff James Burns, while attempting to place Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle under arrest for stealing sheep, was shot and killed by them, several shots entering his body. The shooting took place on Reader's Ridge, back of the Horse Shoe Mountains, also called Orson Hyde's Arm Chair, or the Bishop's Chair. Bill Brewer, Heber Anderson and Scott Bruno witnessed the shooting. Bill Brewer and Anderson brought the news to Spring City. Thomas Braby, with the militia of Mt. Pleasant, was soon on the scene of the shooting, and the body was taken to Mt. Pleasant.
Although the Militia searched and guarded for a couple of weeks in the ledges and dense timber, the murderers were never apprehended." (Mount Pleasant, 1859-1930, Hilda Madsen Longsdorf, Stevens and Wallacis, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 175)
Father was nervous about the threat Kofford and Mickle had given him and the two other men and shortly after the incident, purchased a "six shooter" which he carried for several years thereafter. He told me that he had decided to sell his life as dearly as possible if ever he met Kofford or Mickle and the occasion might require it.
Many years after the shooting of Sheriff Burns took place, Father was asked to accompany the Sanpete County law officials into Idaho. A certain man, while drinking in a bar boasted of having killed Sheriff James Burns in Sanpete County, Utah. He claimed to be Moan Kofford. He was arrested and was being held in jail until the matter could be investigated. Bill Brewer and Scott Bruno were deceased and father was the only living witness to the shooting.
Father was well acquainted with Moan Kofford and as he entered the jail, he could hear a man singing and this was something he had never known Kofford to have ever done; but to be positive of his identification, he asked the man to walk down the hallway. As he did so, Father was positive that he was not Moan Kofford because Kofford had a peculiar gait as he walked.
Father said that he had seen Moan Kofford only once after the shooting. Kofford was driving a freight wagon near Levan and as their eyes met, Kofford pulled his hat down so as to cover his face and at the same time put the whip to the team.
 |
| Sheriff James Burns |
Niels Heber Anderson
Niels Heber Anderson
Father lived in a most exciting period of the earth's history. He drove oxen and lived to see
automobiles and the airplane.
Apparently some sheep stealing had been going on in Sanpete
County. Bill Brewer of Mt. Pleasant, Scott Bruno and my father, Niels Heber Anderson, of
Moroni, on the 26th day of November, 1894, in company with Sheriff James Burns, came upon
Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle at Reader's Ridge, back of the Horse Shoe Mountain.
Evidence of
the changing of the ear marks in sheep and brands made it quite clear that certain sheep had been
stolen.
Sheriff Burns made an attempt to place Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle under arrest without
first disarming them. As he approached them they shot and killed the sheriff, then warned the
other men that if they did not stay out of the affair they would receive the same treatment as had
been given the sheriff.
Hilda Madsen Longsdorf, in her book entitled Mount Pleasant, recorded
the incident as follows: "November 26, 1894, Sheriff James Burns, while attempting to place
Moan Kofford and Jim Mickle under arrest for stealing sheep, was shot and killed by them,
several shots entering his body. The shooting took place on Reader's Ridge, back of the Horse
Shoe Mountains, also called Orson Hyde's Arm Chair, or the Bishop's Chair. Bill Brewer, Heber
Anderson and Scott Bruno witnessed the shooting. Bill Brewer and Anderson brought the news
to Spring City. Thomas Braby, with the militia of Mt. Pleasant, was soon on the scene of the
shooting, and the body was taken to Mt. Pleasant.
Although the Militia searched and guarded for
a couple of weeks in the ledges and dense timber, the murderers were never
apprehended." (Mount Pleasant, 1859-1930, Hilda Madsen Longsdorf, Stevens and Wallacis,
Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 175)
Father was nervous about the threat Kofford and Mickle had given him and the two other men
and shortly after the incident, purchased a "six shooter" which he carried for several years
thereafter. He told me that he had decided to sell his life as dearly as possible if ever he met
Kofford or Mickle and the occasion might require it.
Many years after the shooting of Sheriff Burns took place, Father was asked to accompany the
Sanpete County law officials into Idaho. A certain man, while drinking in a bar boasted of
having killed Sheriff James Burns in Sanpete County, Utah. He claimed to be Moan Kofford. He
was arrested and was being held in jail until the matter could be investigated. Bill Brewer and
Scott Bruno were deceased and father was the only living witness to the shooting.
Father was well acquainted with Moan Kofford and as he entered the jail, he could hear a man
singing and this was something he had never known Kofford to have ever done; but to be
positive of his identification, he asked the man to walk down the hallway. As he did so, Father
was positive that he was not Moan Kofford because Kofford had a peculiar gait as he walked.
Father said that he had seen Moan Kofford only once after the shooting. Kofford was driving
a freight wagon near Levan and as their eyes met, Kofford pulled his hat down so as to cover his
face and at the same time put the whip to the team.
Only speculation.
I'm also interested in why it was appended they were apprehended. What info was given and by whom to make the change?
Provo Dispatch | 1895-08-06 | Handy with a Pistol
Monday, March 9, 2020
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
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Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Wasatch Academy Football Wins 9 Games over North Sanpete's 1 ~ 1924-1933 ~ Submitted by Lee R. Christensen
In the ten years 1924 thru 1933 the North Sanpete Rams beat the Wasatch Tigers just once – 1929. That year a team quarterbacked by Eugene (Ganny) Peterson and starring Neil Hafen, end and Vernon Christensen, fullback, out scored Wasatch for the first time in coach Brunger’s tenure. They were not to do it again for another five years.
The Wasatch team was quarterbacked by Johnny Becker though not from Mt Pleasant he did marry a Mt Pleasanter. The Wasatch line was anchored by two local boys, Dee Keusseff and Dick Candland and I would guess sitting on the bench, Glen Williams and Fremont Draper.
Both quarterbacks returned to their high schools as teachers, Ganny to coach and Johnny to teach social studies; where he made freshmen girls giggle with his risqué stories.
The football game between the Wasatch Tigers and the North Sanpete Rams, played in early November, was among the five top events of the year in the Mt Pleasant ‘30s, ranking just behind the Junior Prom and just ahead of the opening of deer hunting. The climatic event preceding the game was a torch light parade that started on the North Sanpete campus. There nearly 200 students would each pick up a flaming torch and in unison all march down Main street and on to the corner of 1st West and 2nd South where they would throw their torch onto a flaming bon fire mid street. . Wasatch students would be circled around their fire. For the next 30 – 40 minutes students from both schools sang, shouted, rang bells, tooted horns and banged drums hoping to make enough noise to carry thru to next day’s game. All the games were memorable but the game played 11 November 1938 unforgettable. There was not even a threat of snow during the torch light festivities but during the night 10 inches of snow fell. The game was to be played at North Sanpete so they called on the hiway graders to scrape the field. Coach Brunger sensing Wasatch players had to stay warm bought long johns for the team... .... .... .... (Cleaned out J C Penny’s)
. Wasatch scored first just before the half with a play that brought smiles to the rooters of both teams. Wasatch had driven from mid field to the 3 yard line. From there Dewey Fills, a running back, was given the ball to charge into and thru the line for the score. Five yards into the end zone he was met head on and tackled by his younger brother, Elmer, North Sanpete’s safety. The referee whistled loud and long and charged Elmer with a penalty only to be told by Dewey “don’t penalize him Ref, I’ll take care of the kid tonight at home’”. Final score: Wasatch Academy 19 - North Sanpete 0, Fillis Family tied.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Saturday, February 6, 2010
North Sanpete Football Team 1929-30
(Comment by Lee R. Christensen): The North Sanpete football team of 1929 was the first football team I saw in action. Neil Hafen, on a "sleeper" play ,my first play. I don't know who was expected to throw him the ball, Granny Peterson ,the quarterback, or Vernon Christensen, halfback, but I doubt either of them could have thrown the ball across the field to Neil. The ball in those days was much fatter than today's ball. The field was dirt, the tumble weed stickers many , and the times simpler. I was a 2nd grader, on my own, wandering over from Hamilton to see the game. And like everyone else roaming up and down the sidelines following the team. Go Rams!!!
Lee R. Christensen
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