A gal from Mona and a guy from Nephi-a match that was made and remains in heaven.

Donna Newton was from Mona while Mike Anderson was born and raised 7 miles away in Nephi, Utah. They didn't meet until both attended Utah State University. Indications would show this was a match made forever. After 44 years of earthly bliss, Donna unexpectedly passed through the veil following a massive blood clot in her lungs. Through the years, Mike runs the decades long tradition of operating the family Anderson Funeral Home in Nephi, while Donna was the Matriarch raising their three sons in Draper, Utah. Mike has always been professional but personal in the business, but when the process involves one of your own, it takes on a very personal sense of loss. So it is with Mike, and now requires all of us to assist him and the family. At this funeral, Mike's son Chad, who is also a Funeral Director-excelled in describing grief by saying "Grief is merely love with no place to go". One received the distinct impression that Donna Anderson loved gatherings of family and friends, then had a magnetic force to make new friends everywhere. Her presence was felt at the Vine Bluff Cemetery yesterday. Following most Grave Dedications, attendees scatter, but not this one! Nobody left, but remained and mingled, even when Mike tried to excuse people so workers could seal the vault. Even in death, Donna had her way, and all stayed while grave workers finished their job. Her radiance was there and you could see it in the eyes of the grandchildren. Those of us in Juab and Salt Lake County remain in good hands. The tradition of Miles Anderson continues with Mike Anderson; Kay Anderson Carroll; her son Brace Carroll; Joe Christensen; Chad Anderson and little does four year old Miles Anderson Jr. know he has a future job in the funeral business. I reached down and shook the hand of Miles Anderson to congratulate him.

Running for a political position in Nephi is much like going on the Utah deer hunt.

In Utah, the deer hunt remains an important family sporting event, although the sports media refuses to accept or cover it. The event involves spending a considerable amount of money to purchase a license; rifle; bullets, colorful attire and a truck load of Vienna Sausages and Spam. We help the environment by planting apple cores on Jones' Knoll, but in 60 years of planting, apparently we ain't no Johnny Appleseed. We hike and hike and see lot's of fall country and beauties of nature you just can't see from I-15. But then the work comes when we see that buck that started out as a 38 pointer, but shoot an entire box of shells to hit it and when he finally drops, we find it was only a two pointer. It requires team effort to clean and drag it back to camp; then to package it. It turns out that venison steak costs twenty five times what a good beef steak would cost, but at least we contributed to the local economy.

Same story goes for running for a political position in Nephi City.  It starts out being fun, knowing that if one wins, we are giving back to the greatest town a kid could ever be raised in. To be called the Mayor of Nephi or a member of the Nephi City Council puts you on the long list of public servants that have served notably throughout our history. Since I have been away from Nephi for 40 years fighting the evil empire of politics, my entry into the political arena seemed like a lunatic, and with insurmountable odds. That became a challenge I was willing to accept, and had fun walking around my hometown and get reacquainted with folks; hike the same trails I did as a kid passing papers; observed the beauties of Salt Creek and the great homes and features of my hometown. Now that the vote is in, it would appear the fun is over and the real work begins for me and Skip Worwood. But since I liked cutting and wrapping up the venison and giving it to people like Clead Blackett and Ervin Jarrett, I think my position as a member of the City Council..........will only make it more fun, and look forward to my four years of service to Nephi citizens of today and the future.

Thanks to all those that supported me, even though it may have been blind faith. I accept the challenge, and hope I can call on volunteers to continue to run the City, not us the politicians.