03/10/2024
Glen Ray Spencer (1938-2023) My first Friend
Yesterday I learned from Jim Mortensen that Glen Ray had passed away a couple of weeks ago.
Today I watched the tape of his funeral and picture memorial. This brought back many fond memories of the first real friend I ever had. I was happy to see that he was active in the church. Glen Ray and I were inseparable for several years.
My father hired Glen Ray and I to clean chicken coops. (https://kenglade123.com/clean-coops.html) I wrote about this in the book (Working My Way to and Through College.) Dad hired older boys that did not work out and mom said it was about time I started working (6-8yr).
The first time our family had this thing called a vacation was a trip up the canyon to spend overnight at the “Cow Cabin”. Glen Ray and I shared a sleeping bag on the floor. This was great having my best friend on our first vacation. I think that we rode in the trunk up to the cabin in our old 38 Chevy.
One activity we did regularly was to ride on the fender to the Cemetery to milk “Bossie”, our cow. Glen Ray and would watch dad milk until we decided to tour the cemetery. On one occasion The Provstgaard Boys (Bob and Dick) decided to pull a dirty trick on us. (I think that they were related to Glen Ray and in the future Dick and I would be brothers-in-law.) They had connected baling wires together to reach across the street at head level to get us. It was always dusk and we didn’t see the wires until they hit us in the face. We were not hurt but that really ended us riding on the fender.
Glen Ray predicted that Old Red would have her colt on my birthday. Dad indicated that could be possible, but unlikely. As time approached I said all I wanted was a colt for my birthday. That would be my horse! Dad was hoping to get a race horse not a kid pony. Dad checked out Old Red when he came home from work after midnight to see if there was a colt. When we got up in the morning Glen Ray’s prophecy was realized. There was this spindle legged colt that we named Ginger, The first step to train a colt was to get a halter on her and train her to lead. With lots of help the three of us got the halter on Ginger. He then tied her to the side of the barn and let fight the rope where she would not hurt herself. After that treatment she was great to lead. We would go out and lead her around the corral. Dad entered her in a show in Spanish Fork where she won a red ribbon. We soon had this horse well trained to be a kids pony. In two years Glen Ray and I had spent hours with this horse. We were not supposed to ride her until she was two. When dad got ready to go out and ride her Jennie told him she was already broken. The kids have been riding her all over the corral. We didn’t technically ride her, we would just lean over her back and she would carry us around the corral.
When I wanted a bicycle for Christmas my father reported that Santa would bring a bike when I knew how to ride a bike. How can I learn to ride a bike without a bike to practice on. Dad suggested that maybe Glen Ray would help me get a bike like he helped me get a horse. Glen Ray promised to train me. Boy I bet that was his hardest job. Glen Ray had his sister's bicycle probably because I was so short. He worked for a couple of months getting me ready for a Christmas bike. It Seemed like forever before I could actually ride this bike, but I finally got so I could ride enough to convince Glen Ray and my dad that I could ride. After Santa gave me my bike I still needed lessons because I could just reach the pedals. I couldn’t throw my leg over the seat so Glen Ray diligently spent another couple of weeks teaching me to ride a boys bike. I am so thankful that I had such a devoted friend. This bike was later stolen when Glen Ray and I went to see the movie “Who Shot Jesse James’. We were so careful to park on the highway where it would be safe. I can well remember coming back to find Glen Ray’s bike but not mine. It was a couple more years before Santa Claus brought me another bike, which had a built-in lock system. (https://kenglade123.com/bicycles.html)
One day Glen Ray came to talk me into taking over his paper route. He did a really good sell job. He said his route had the highest rate/paper and with some salesmanship I could get it up to 50 or 60 papers and make much more. The higher rate meant more hills and getting new subscriptions was hard work. Then he said if I would take over the route the exercise would make me a fast runner like the person that had the route before him. This was not the same prophetic power seen in predicting the birth of a horse. I was still the slowest kid in class before and after the paper route. After about 15 months I decided to give up the paper route. When I was training someone to take over my route . The trainee was waiting for me to collect payment for the paper. The person waiting for me witnessed an accident where a truck coming down Peteetneet Hill hit a car crossing highway 91. The sun must have blinded the driver. As he explained to me what had happened Glen Ray got out of the car and was pretty shaken up. I later learned that Glen Ray had spleen damage. Much later in Ohio I would be reminded of this day when my son was hit by a pickup truck crossing the street gaining to school. https://kenglade123.com/news-paper.html . Both seemed to recover well.
I wanted Glen Ray’s family to know how special their ancestor was as a young boy growing in Payson Utah. I hope this note gives you some feeling of peace. May the Lord bless all of you.
Sincerely Kenneth G. Wilson.