Faith Steed Howarth

[Talking about Dad]

But, Al was so sweet when we were going together. You see, I was in a lot of plays, always in plays. I was in musicals. We had such wonderful help in that ward. She really gave us an education. In a lot of plays, I was made the "star." Another girl was there in 'the ward. She wanted me to go with her, downtown where there was a one of these agencies out hunting for new people. She would coax and coax me to go. Finally I went down, but I wouldn't go in and talk 'to them. I didn't want that.

[What was wrong with other boys!]

I'll tell you about one funny thing. Mother always waited up for us and I think the kids in the ward - you know how boys are. See, because I was hard-to-get. I didn't like boys. If they could get a date with me, you see, this was a something and if they could kiss me, you know, that was a big thing. So, we came home around the side of that house [15th East] and I was going up to the back door and he grabbed a hold of me, you see, and whammed me on the mouth. It was horrible. I swatted him right back and stepped right back and up the step, I came. Mother was looking out of the window holding her head. She was laughing so hard that - I don't think she worried about me any more. About me, you know, doing things that I shouldn't be doing with boys. Man, he could brag he kissed me goodnight. I just hated them for it. You didn't do things like that when you were a kid? [Dave, " 'fraid not."]

Those boys in that ward were horrible. [Dave - "Sounds like they were typical, unfortunately" The Bishop of that ward and Al were - you knew his hands, he had extraordinary hands for a man, they looked very, well, they were long and they were beautiful hands really and they didn't look like a hard-working man's see. The Bishop would grab his hand and he would hurt him in his shake. He stood it a few times and then he grabbed back and gave the Bishop -- the Bishop looked [laughs]. He wasn't one to be put upon like that [laughs]. He was mild, but he wasn't afraid.

[Mom discusses her marriage to Dad]

You wouldn't think that he would be interested in marrying a Mormon girl, that you know, wouldn't think of marriage except in the Temple. But, he had everything in perfect condition. Now whether mother talked to him, or whether he just knew, I don't know. But, mother liked him very much. So there was no [ .... ] that way. She didn't urge him one way or the other. But, she knew that I would make up my own mind, you know. But, he was just so different from the other boys that I began to appreciate him rather than, you know, and I realized why he came at such odd moments - it was any time that he could get the car [laughs]. Clear in from Tooele for an hour with me [laughs] That's love, isn't it?

[Mom answers a question regarding Dad's relationship with her Bishop]

I guess I was a little bit, because he was not very nice with Alvin. Now, I think he thought I should go with the boys in the ward. Now the boys in the ward, I could tell him. I wouldn't go with any of them. And, I never did except this one or two times. Anyhow, it worked out pretty good.

After we were married, and we went back there, I'm sure he [the Bishop] had nothing against him [Alvin] you know. Most of the boys were my age, more or less. He was a couple of years older. He was more a man than he was a kid even when he was younger. As you know, he was a very intelligent man. I have a few regrets that - I was never one to say the things out loud that, you know, and he was not very much either. But, we both knew, you know, and we felt it, but, that one time I told you of after he died, if I had only been strong enough (this was before he died). You see, he came in and he said, "1 love you and I never wanted any other woman". [Remember he said this after he had been unable to speak for about 10 years]. All I said to him was, "Thank you, dear," and kneeled down and said my prayer and got in bed.