Landon Burdette and Vilda Passey Pugmire (Parents of Merlyn Pugmire Sorenson)

History of L. Burdette and Vilda Passey Pugmire

 By Merlyn Sorenson 1995

November 13, 1907- This date an important event took place which was and is of great importance!! Picture Salt Lake City, Utah, the magnificent LDS Temple beckoning to an excited couple in love to come and be married and seal their love together for time and all eternity. Landon Rich Pugmire, age 2 I, and Carrie Whilhelmsen Brewer, age 19 were this happy starry eyed couple.

November 3, 1909-Again a great event!! A handsome healthy son, Landon Burdette Pugmire arrived, sounding his arrival with his powerful little lungs, to this happy couple now first time parents.

Burdette was a happy baby and brought much joy and happiness to his parents. He was joined by a brother, Laurel Thomas, on June 29, 1916. Their parents endeavored to raise their children wisely and instill in them the character traits which would help them throughout their lives.

Burdette grew up on the family ranch, learning at an early age the value of work and of always giving a full days work for a full days pay. He milked cows, rode horses, became skilled at breaking horses, and learned to cut and harvest hay and grain. At this time, the farm work was done with horses; he learned to drive nine head of horses at a time on the gang plow. He helped cut wood from the canyon for winter fuel, learned how to fence properly, irrigate the land, and developed many other skills.

Burdette played with the neighborhood kids and his cousins, but was always very serious minded and seemed to prefer to work rather than play. He was a good boy, but a typical boy. One night there was a social in the Ward Hall sponsored by the Sunday School. Home made ice cream was served, which was just delicious. Some of the young boys decided to unlock a window so they could get back into the hall, after all the others went home, and have a little more ice cream. This they did. The next day the Superintendent of the Sunday School discovered the "break in" and somehow found out who was involved. When Landon, Burdette's father, heard about it he insisted Burdette go to the Superintendent and apologize and offer to pay for the ice cream he had eaten. He also told Burdette if the wrong could not be made right this way then the County Sheriff would have to take over. Burdette learned a valuable lesson at this time.   

Fielding Academy

He attended school in St. Charles for eight years and then attended high school at Paris, Idaho at the Fielding Academy. The Saturday before school started his senior year, the school burned down. The school board, by Monday, had found various locations where classes could be held and school started as scheduled. A new school was constructed which became known as Fielding High School, however it was completed after he graduated. 

 While attending high school Burdette was very active in student affairs and played on the varsity basketball and football teams. At high school he met ViIda Passey, his wife to be. He was elected the Sophomore Class President and she the Vice President.

They attended Seminary for three years, where they learned keys to happiness, and success. They graduated from Seminary on May 19th of 1928.

September 2, 1896-An important event took place which was and is of great importance! Picture the magnificent LDS Temple in Logan, Utah, where George Henry Passey and Carrie Roberts were married and sealed their love together for time and all eternity. That day Carrie became not only a wife but the mother to three little girls whose mother had passed away the year before while giving birth to a fourth daughter.

April 19, 1909-Eventful Day! After a very cold winter in Sterling Alberta, Canada, the Passey household, which included four brothers, one sister and two half sisters, was anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new baby. The boys hoped for a brother and the girls prayed for a little sister. The girl's prayers were answered and Vilda made her entrance into this world. Later two more sisters joined the family and three more brothers, previously two half sisters had died.

When Vilda was six years old her family moved to Paris, Idaho. Her Grandfather, Thomas Passey, would always tease her. He had a cane and would love to trip her as she walked past him. Her Grandfather, John Roberts, was a very very large man. He always wore a black coat and hat and had a curly white beard. She was half afraid of him as he had a deep voice but she loved to run her fingers through his curly beard.

Vilda took piano lessons. Her teacher would sit by her and if she made a mistake he would hit her fingers with a ruler. She begged her mother to let her quit piano lessons and her mother finally consented. Later she took guitar lessons. Her real love was art however, and she was very good at it.

Vilda remembered when the first street lights were installed in Paris. All of the neighborhood kids would get together at night and play games under the street lights. They would play "Kick the Can", "Hide and Seek", and other fun games. They would roller skate in the summer and coast on sleds in the winter. Their favorite hill was where the old Fielding Academy was before it burned down. They would start at the top and go clear down to Main Street by the Court House. She had many skinned knees and elbows, but could skate or sled all the way down to Main Street.

Vilda first attended school at a Presbyterian Church in Paris, with Miss Broomhead, being her first teacher. She loved school and was a very good student, earning straight A's most of the time.

School was closed in 1918 because of a flu epidemic. Many in Vilda’s family were very sick. She and her sister, Leola, started to loose their hair resulting from the flu, so their Dad took the clippers and shaved their heads like boys. They were very embarrassed and liked to wear overalls so people would think they were boys. One day they were invited by a group of boys to go skinny dipping, of course they didn't go, but they were elated that they had fooled the boys.

Vilda worked from the time she was in the fourth grade tending children. She earned 25 cents a night or 50 cents for a whole day. This also included cleaning the house and doing dishes etc. She used the money to buy shoes or school clothes which was a great help to her parents with such a large family 

Vilda Passey Pugmire

Vilda performed in various operas and plays in school, many times having the lead part. After she married she was in numerous three act plays. She won The Pep Popularity Contest in High School and one of her good friends described her as a very classy gal, one whom everyone wanted to be like. She was one of the artists for the school year book, Sophomore Vice President, sang in the school choir, and was a Cheerleader. 

Vilda and Burdette

While she was cheerleading, she kept watching this curly black headed basketball player, Burdette Pugmire. She said, "There is the man I'm going to marry!" He did propose to her just before Christmas of 1928, their senior year. She accepted and they became officially engaged.

Elder Landon Burdette Pugmire
while serving his mission in England

Burdette left for England on a mission for the L.D. S. Church on June 6, 1929. He sailed on the S.S. Leviathan. This was a former German battle ship which the United States took from the Germans in World War I and converted into a passenger ship. He sailed from

New York and one week later he arrived in Southampton, England. He went on into London and was assigned to the Liverpool District. Burdette made many great friends with different families and his companions while on his mission. He loved preaching the gospel to people and witnessing the marvelous changes it brought into their lives. He served two years in England and then toured with Elder Lauper and Elder Russell Peterson before returning home. Burdette has always said he was called to the best mission in the church.

Vilda and Burdette

Vilda worked at the Paris Confectionery in Paris, Idaho and also in a tomato factory in Utah while Burdette was gone. She faithfully wrote to him and remained true blue. She accompanied his parents to Salt Lake City, Utah to greet him when he came home from his mission in August of 1931. Their love had remained strong. One month later they were married for time and all eternity on September II, 1931 in the Salt Lake Temple and they began their life together.

Merlyn and Merrill

Their first home was an apartment in the back of the Drug Store in St. Charles, Idaho. Two children were born there at home. A boy, Merrill Burdette, on April 24, 1934 and their first daughter, Merlyn, on January 20, 1936.

Merlyn standing outside of the Pugmire Home in St. Charles

Burdette and Vilda purchased a home there in St. Charles in the summer of 1936. It had a beautiful view of Bear Lake which view they enjoyed each day for fifty-three years. They especially loved to watch the different colors of the lake which could change daily and the beautiful sunrises above it.. Burdette became a rancher and Vilda a housewife and a homemaker.

Merlyn, Lynette, Merrill

 Eight years later Vilda gave birth to a second daughter, Lynette, on June 29, 1944. Their family was now complete and they felt so very blessed.

Vilda was a very good cook. When the hired men came to help hay, they always looked forward to her delicious meals. She canned vegetables, fruit, made jams, jellies, and pickles. As her family grew, they all enjoyed her home cooked meals prepared from scratch and everyone, including her grandchildren, looked forward to her special fruit salad she always fixed for Thanksgiving Dinner. Vilda mended, darned socks, and sewed for their family. She sewed most of the girl's dresses. She would have them stand on the kitchen table and using a wooden yard stick, mark where the hem should be. It would get so hot, standing up on the table, the girls would nearly faint. Vilda would help them down off the table and have them hang their heads down between their legs. Then they would try again. She made both Merlyn's and Lynette's beautiful wedding dresses.

Vilda was very talented in wall papering, painting, arranging flowers, decorating cakes, and drawing. She loved doing all these things. One time she painted brighter flowers on her wallpaper in her living room and she died the rug with a toothbrush so the pattern would stand out better. She learned to reupholster her chairs and make covers for her old fashioned rocking chair. She had a green thumb as her flowers beds and house plants verified. She made an art of being a good neighbor and friend.

Burdette and Vilda raised "perfect children". One year Vilda made and decorated a beautiful cake for the lOOth Anniversary of the Relief Society Organization. Merrill and his little sister, Merlyn, would sneak in their parent's bedroom and reach under the covering over the cake and pinch of the little frosting flowers. When Vilda went to take the cake to Relief Society, the cake was nearly bare on three sides. She didn't spank her children; she just sat down and cried. Merrill and Merlyn felt so bad they just begged their mother to spank them for the terrible thing they had done. They learned a very valuable lesson that day, we have our free agency but we must pay for the wrong decisions we make. Their mother forgave them but to this day they have never forgotten how guilty they felt and how they wished they could have undone the wrong they did.

Vilda was very active in the L.D.S. Church serving in the ward and stake choirs, the Sunday School, the Mutual, and Relief Society which was her great love. She served in this organization as a visiting teacher, first and second counselor, and as secretary for over 26 years in ward and stake positions. She loved going to Salt Lake City, Utah for the annual Relief Society General Conferences. Another position she loved was being the Story Princess in Junior Sunday. She told all the Bible stories and stories from the Book of Mormon on her flannel board. She instilled a love for these true stories in the hearts of the children of the St. Charles Ward.

Burdette has always been very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He has served as President of the Elders Quorum, President of the Mutual, Teacher in Sunday School, Counselor in the Bishopric, Bishop, then Counselor in the Stake Presidency, which position he held for ten years, Stake President for an addition ten years, a member of the High Council, and as a Ward and Home Teacher. While Burdette was Stake President, he and Vilda had the opportunity of having many of the General Authorities stay in their home. This was quite a worry for Vilda to prepare the meals for them but also a very enjoyable experience. After each conference Burdette and Vilda would receive a very nice "Thank You" letter from each of the authorities and their wives when they accompanied them. Some of these authorities were: Thorpe B. Isaacson, Ezra Taft Bensen, Spencer W. Kimball, Marion G. Romney, John Longden, Hugh B. Brown, A. Theodore Tuttle, Joseph L. Wirthlin, Mark E. Petersen, Alma Sonne, Antoine R. Ivins, S. Dilworth Young, Henry D. Taylor, Joseph Fielding Smith, Oscar A. Kirkham and Sterling W. Sill to name a few. One time when Joseph Fielding Smith and his wife came, Lynette, Burdette and Vilda’s youngest daughter offered Elder Smith a “Funny Book" to look at and one half stick of Juicy Fruit Gum. He refused the offer but sat down and played the piano with her. While Elder Smith and Burdette were at the Saturday night meeting, Sister Jesse Evans Smith wanted to sing so Vilda had their neighbor, Ruth Pugmire, come over to play the piano for Sister Smith. They all had a very enjoyable evening singing. Another time Elder Bruce R. McConkie came in the winter and didn't bring his overshoes. Burdette offered him his Size 13's but Elder McConkie needed Size 15. When Elder S. Dilworth Young and wife came, she became quite ill and had trouble breathing. She had brought her oxygen with her but Vilda had to sit with her and keep fanning her until their husbands returned from the Saturday night meeting. In 1954 Pres. David O. McKay sent a letter requesting Burdette offer the opening prayer at the Semi-Annual General Conference, this he did. Burdette has devoted his life to serving the Lord in what ever position he has been called.

Burdette has been asked to speak at many funerals, in and out of the Bear Lake Valley. Since he has started keeping track, he has spoken at 133 funerals outside of St. Charles and 149 funerals in St. Charles. Vilda was always a great help to him, when these assignments came, finding just the right poem for him to use in these talks. At the funerals, Burdette always seemed calm and collected, but no one except Vilda really knew how many sleepless nights he put in before the funerals. He has always felt honored to be ask to speak and has strived to bring comfort and hope to the families.

Burdette has always been active in civic affairs. He was elected County Commissioner and was called to serve on the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital Board where he acted as Chairman of the Board for 20 years. He labored diligently to help pass the Bond for the Bear

Lake County Nursing Home. He was elected Mayor of the City of St. Charles and was instrumental in getting the Sewer System installed. He has been chairman of the Bear Lake Cattle Association and clerk for the Bear Lake Regional Commission. While serving on the Bear Lake Regional Commission, Burdette was able to fly to Louisiana and Texas to observe the drilling of the oil wells which was an enjoyable and educational trip. All his life Burdette has enjoyed serving his fellow men, whether it be family, friends, church, or community.

When Burdette was released as Stake President he was contacted by D.D. Hyer and Devere Harris to see if he would become an agent for the National Public Service Insurance Company. He decided to go into this line of work and in the second year was chosen "Man of the Year" for the entire company. Throughout his career with NPS he won many awards and the respect of his associates and the clients he served. Burdette and Vilda made many choice friends while he worked for this company. 

They took trips to I Seattle, Washington for the company conventions and Burdette won two different trips to Hawaii. On their first trip to the islands they celebrated their 37th Wedding Anniversary.

This was a much happier celebration than their 1st Wedding Anniversary which was spent in Ogden, Utah at the hospital. That year, 1932, Burdette had gone up the canyon to cut wood. He took two bottles of homemade root beer, which he tied with his lunch on the back of the saddle on his horse. When he reached the canyon he took the bottles off, to put in the stream of water to keep cool. One of the bottles exploded, the glass hitting his left eye, cutting the iris. He was rushed to Ogden, Utah where his Uncle, Roy Pugmire, an eye specialist, took care of the injury. The eye was saved, but vision was lost and Burdette has only been able to distinguish light from dark in that eye. As always Vilda was right at his side giving of her strength and support as she did in every endeavor he has undertaken throughout his life.

Burdette has enjoyed good health most of his life. He did require an operation in 1960, was hospitalized with a kidney stone, had surgery in Salt Lake City where four peri-thyroid glands were removed from his neck. Then in 1984 he had thirty-five radium treatments for Cancer at the St. Benidict's Hospital in Ogden, Utah. Later he had a cancer removed from his lip. At this time, 1995, the cushions in his back are deteriorating requiring epidural injections in his spine on an average of every ten months. His doctor advised him to stop riding his horse. This has been a bitter pill to swallow as Burdette has always had a great love for horses and loved to own and ride them. However he is thankful he can still get around with the help of his cane or walker.

Vilda was quite healthy most of her life also. If you ever found her in bed in the daytime, you knew she was really ill. She had her tonsil removed at a doctor's office. He cut off the little palate in the back of her throat. This made a difference in the sound of her voice. She also had her middle finger pulled out of joint at a flag rush in high school and had her ear drum broken while swimming. A group of boys kept ducking Vilda, she had a cap on, the force of the water broke the ear drum. Her ear bothered her the rest of her life and definitely affected her hearing. She injured her back bone at one time which gave her occasional trouble. She didn't have any broken bones until 1962 when she fell coming

down a slick ramp from a frozen food locker in Paris, Idaho. She twisted her knee, as she fell, breaking it and was transferred to Salt Lake City, Utah for surgery. Several steel pins and powdered bone were put in her leg. Vilda was in a wheel chair and had a heavy leg brace for many months. She always joked that she didn't have time to do her Genealogy, but would do it when she broke her leg. Truer words were never spoken, while she was laid up with her leg, she did her Genealogy.

Mentioning jokes, Vilda enjoyed a good clean joke and always censored the jokes before Burdette would give them at parties. She always laughed when he told jokes even if she had heard them before. She had a cute dry humor and often surprised her family when she unexpectedly told a joke.

Vilda was bothered with arthritis in her feet. She could not wear rubber soled shoes or in-expensive shoes. Name brand shoes, like Red Cross of Cobey, seemed to help her feet. When she had to quit wearing high heels she felt sad as they added to her five foot three inches and she really loved to wear them. Vilda began noticing her hands trembling, she thought she was just nervous but after consulting a doctor found out she had Parkinson Disease. This was a big shock to her and her family. This disease is a progressive disease of paralysis marked by loss of flexibility in the muscles, tremors, and a jerky gait. The doctor gave her medication which helped control the disease but it kept progressing for over thirty years. Her brother, Dr. Blaine H. Passey, was a great help as he kept up on all new medications as they were discovered. As the disease progressed it became more difficult for her to take care of their home, she had difficulty in walking sometimes "freezing" when she tried to go through a doorway. She still kept trying, never giving up.

Burdette and Vilda were honored by their children with an Open House on September 5, 1981 in observance of their 50th Wedding Anniversary, which was September 11, 1981. A family dinner was enjoyed at noon and then the Open House that evening with a special program. Tributes were given by word and in song by their children and friends. A beautiful gold tricot quilt and family tree painting was presented to them. Many relatives and friends attended the joyous occasion.. Burdette and Vilda were blessed that they could spend nearly sixty-one years together and enjoy much joy and happiness with their most prized possession, their family.

Merrill, Vilda, Lynette, Burdette, Merlyn

Burdette and Vilda had lived happily and contentedly in St. Charles, Idaho since they were married. Then Vilda starting having trouble with her health. The Parkinson Disease kept advancing, causing poor circulation thus resulting in terrible sores on her legs. In January of 1989 her tremors became much worse. She fell numerous times in just a couple of days. The sores became much worse and were spreading. Burdette and their children discussed the matter, it was decided that until they could regulate the medicine and get Vilda back

on her feet it would be best for them to move down to Ovid, Idaho with their daughter and her husband for a few weeks. Even though it was just going to be for a few weeks it was a hard thing for Burdette and Vilda to do.

Darrell and Merlyn fixed up a bedroom and a living room out of another bedroom for them to stay in. They made the best of the circumstances and prayed she would get better. This was not to be and finally on February 14, 1989, Vilda had to be taken by ambulance

to the Bear Lake Memorial Hospital in Montpelier, Idaho. The sore on her one leg was terrible, she was put into an isolation room at the hospital. Her Parkinson Disease had really flared up and her continual tremors were absolutely wearing her out. It was days before her family knew if Vilda would live. Many prayers were said in her behalf, finally after about two weeks she started to improve little by little.

Burdette and Vilda at their home in Ovid

As Vilda improved it was easy to see that even when she did get better she would not be able to walk and take care of a home. A decision, possible the hardest one in their lives, had to be made Darrell and Merlyn suggested that Bur built on the back of their home. That way they could still be in their own home but Merlyn would be close and could to the cooking, cleaning, etc. Burdette said this was such a hard decision to make, even though he could see no other solution, he didn't like the idea of changing Darrell and Merlyn's life and putting all that added responsibility on them. After much consideration and praying, this plan was decided on and work began in May for the new addition. By July the new apartment was finished and Burdette and Vilda moved into their home. They had a lovely big living room with two large picture windows with sliding doors between the living room and bedroom which could be opened back into the wall or closed. There was also a large bathroom with walk in shower with seat and a cute kitchen nook with fridge, cupboards and snackbar. They enjoyed watching it being built and just loved it and all the new furnishings. Burdette and Vilda were so happy and grateful to be together again in their third home.

Burdette was able to drive up to St. Charles often to check on things. George Hulme and his son Chad had leased the land and cattle from both Burdette and his brother Laurel back in 1983. Burdette helped on the round-up and with the branding. He would go down to George's place and check on the calves. Go up and watch them swathe and bale the hay and watch the sprinkling system.

Vilda's health never did return after her stay in the hospital, she was there from February 14th until April 20th of 1989. However, she did get where she could walk with the help of a walker. She spent many many hours working on her picture albums which are just priceless treasurers. She was able to attend Relief Society, Sunday School, and Sacrament Meeting for nearly two years while living in Ovid, even though she had to go in a wheel chair she was so grateful to be able to go with Burdette. She always looked on the bright side of life and never complained about her health. When things really got rough, she would always say she knew the Lord would not give her more trials than she could endure. When she could not attend her meetings, the priesthood brought the sacrament to her and Burdette. They were so grateful for this kind act of service and all the kind and thoughtful things their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, neighbors in Ovid, former neighbors in St. Charles, and people in the St. Charles and Liberty Wards did for them both.

As Vilda's Parkinson's Disease progressed Merlyn finally had to agree to the idea of Burdette hiring some help as she just couldn't take care of her Mother herself. He hired Charlsye Ramey, a very nice young girl, whom Darrell located in Garden City, Utah and she moved in with Darrell and Merlyn the first part of March in 1992. She was able to help Vilda in the daytime when Merlyn was at work. Vilda's condition deteriorated very rapidly.

St. Charles Cemetery after Vilda's funeral
Keisha, RaKae and Carrie Roberts (great-grand daughters)

She caught a cold which quickly developed into pneumonia and she passed away - April 9, 1992 at her home in Ovid with her beloved husband at her side. This was just ten days before her 83rd birthday. Funeral services were held April 14, 1992 in the St. Charles Ward and she was laid to rest in the St. Charles Cemetery.

We have a loving Father in Heaven who does not let us choose the time or the way that we leave this existence, but those of us who are left behind are so grateful to our Father in Heaven that he did call Vilda home at that time so that she did not have to suffer longer. We know that Vilda had a strong testimony, and left this testimony with her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. We all know, there is life after this birth we call death, and as difficult as it is for those of us who are left here, yet we know there was rejoicing on the other side as they greeted ViIda.

There were many highlights in Vilda's life. Probably number one, was her marriage to Burdette, in the Temple of the Lord, for time and all eternity. This marriage and sealing was instrumental in bringing to pass all that were near and dear to her and Burdette. She endured to the end and set the example for all of us to follow.

At her funeral a letter was read written by one of her grandchildren which I'm sure portrays the feeling of all her family. "To me, Grandma, you signify the strength that I wish we all could have, by the way you overcame and lived with the adversity that you have had for years. Not only have you learned to live with it, but in my book, you have conquered it with the valiant outlook you have taken. Oh, how I wish that I too could confront obstacles with the same courage and strength that you have. You truly are one of my heroes. I want you to know that you have been a great help and an inspiration to me. I don't believe that life was ever meant to be easy, otherwise we couldn't grow and develop

I'm sure that as we pass through this life every obstacle that we must overcome will be for our eternal benefit and, It Will Be Worth It! I also think of the words from the song, "Wind Beneath My Wings"..Thank You, Thank You, Thank God for You, the Wind Beneath My Wings!"

L. Burdette Pugmire

It has now been nearly three years since Vilda was called home. Burdette is still living at his home in Ovid, Idaho and is still able to attend all his Church Meetings. Since moving to Ovid he has served as a Home Teacher and as a Teacher in the High Priest Quorum. He is still able to give service by speaking at funerals and he has given talks in Church and offered prayers. Many of his family and friends still seek his advice and council and he is a great example not only to his family but to all who know him.

Burdette has said many times that each night he thanks the Lord that he saw fit to take Vilda home even though he is so terribly lonely and misses her so. He has retained his strong testimony and shared it not very long ago with the Liberty Ward. His goal now in life is to endure to the end that he may be worthy to be with his precious wife, Vilda, again for all eternity.

Burdette celebrated his 87th birthday at his home in Ovid on Sunday Nov.3, 1996, feeling great. He voted on Tuesday, not feeling well, they brought the ballot to the car. He started taking antibiotics but his lungs were filling & his breathing became more difficult. He passed from this earthly life Sunday morning November 10, 1996, sitting in his chair, completely dressed with his wavy hair combed ready to meet his beloved mate for eternity, Vilda.