Life sketch, given by Thomas -
How do you put into words the
events in a man’s life that made him who he is? I have tried to read more of
dads early life’s stories, look through his photo albums, and get input from
many who knew him. I didn’t want this to be my life sketch of dad, but his life
sketch from others. I’m not eloquent like he, nor do I share his ability with
words. I do however want to share some experiences from our family to combine
what you all know of him with a few things you may not know so we can paint the
true picture of “One Good Man.”
Keith Auger and Idris Egbert Hebdon moved from Idaho to
Washington to pursue the farming lifestyle they desired. They had purchased
property in Royal City but the land did not yet have water to it, so they
settled in Quincy for a time. Dad was born in Ephrata on July 16, 1957, while
the family lived in Quincy, the fifth of seven children.
The family lived in a small camper trailer till they were
able to build a home. Dad remembers carrying nails and boards as they built
this home, which as you may know, the walls were built with 2x4s stacked on
top of each other.
He talked about the early process of taming the land and
the lack of amenities that we now enjoy like running water. He remembers
bathing in the canal near the home and at a young age changing siphon tubes.
Fixing holes in the dirt ditches and changing water which was always a family
affair. Later up grading to hand lines and to pumps to wheel lines and
eventually circles. He remembers when the family bought a harobed, which was
one of the first in the area, and as kids they ran in front of it turning flat
bales on edge as Dennis would pick them up. These experiences along with many
others taught dad how to Work, and the importance of it.
Dad learned the importance of Sharing and Spending Wisely
as, during the difficult years, the activities of daily life were centered
around the basic necessities of the family.
Dad was “born of goodly parents who loved the Lord” who
taught the importance of Church Service and Missionary Work. I found in his
photo album many certificates for participation in church activities such as
boy scouts and the young men’s organization which show his desire to follow
those teachings. From 1976-1978 he served a mission in Barcelona Spain. This
was not the first of his serving opportunities nor the last but was one that
we, as his children, know he cherished. We know it provided a broad range of
experiences that helped shape him as a man, a father, husband, brother,
teacher, friend and cook. He would often make Spanish tortillas for breakfast
and taught us simple Spanish words occasionally at the dinner table like leche
and sandia and agua, allowing us to share in the excitement of his experiences
and sharing in his own way his testimony of the work.
After returning from his mission, dad continued his life
like most returned missionaries, attending firesides and activities, getting to
know new people. In June of 1979 at a young adult dance dad met Elaine Rodeback
a beautiful young woman. They danced, then went on their own ways after. The
next day at a fireside, dad asked mom again to accompany him to an activity in
Kennewick, she was pleased to accept the invitation. It didn’t take long for
mom and dad to recognize something special in each other and they knew they
wanted to continue with courtship.
Mom, in her teenage years, had developed a “mental list
of qualities” her future husband must posses, qualities like Tall, Dark, and
Handsome, Kind, Humble, Knowledgeable, Thoughtful and has a sense of Humor.
Dad, in his life up until
this moment, must have been developing those qualities in himself. Because when
they met, he fit the mold.
I don’t know if dad had a list for mom, I never found one
in his journal but I did find a couple pages of notes and drafts of this poem
he sent to mom. And how can you give dad’s life sketch without a poem or two?
This poem was the first that mom knew dad to write. It was a strength to her
then, and as you blog followers may know, it has been a strength since. He
wrote:
My heart is full
It can not write
And so my hand
Picks up the plight
To express to you
My love and care
And thank you most
For being there
For permitting my acquaintance
With you to grow
And become a love
that’s true we know
A thing that thrives
When we’re together
A bonding force
For worse or better
An emotion that
One day may be
A light far off
That we can see
Which guides us both
In our trek together
Bringing sunshine
In stormy weather
That utopia we both
Must strive to find
Through tenderness
And being kind
Now let it be said
Before I’m through
Elaine, my dearest
I do love you!
What else needs to be said after receiving a poem like
that? A couple more months of courtship led to their marriage on February 12,
1980 in the Idaho Falls Temple. Where they vowed to continue on life’s journey
together. To continue to check off many more “mental list qualities” as he
became her Best Friend, Loving Husband, Great Father, Great Example and Hard
Worker, along with many others. I
know he succeeded! I have seen it, I know many of you have seen these qualities
expressed through his actions and words.
Often times at home, we have joked about the older
children growing up with a different dad than the younger children. Life
definitely threw us a curveball that changed the game a little, but I know the
younger children still saw these qualities. We saw tributes on face book from
BrittanyJo and Chase and others that prove this. Dad never changed who he was. He grew up in a
time when your word was your bond, and a handshake was a contract. He never
changed that either, even when the world lowered its standards. He taught us to
be the same, by his example and we all can agree that he is our Hero!
He also taught us to work hard, that it was possible to
do hard things. He taught us, “early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy,
wealthy, and wise.” To “get up, get dressed, and get going.” He would quote the
film Bambi “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.” Taught us to do our
best in every task we faced. To not be afraid of the unknown or cower from a
challenge, that “he had signed up for this”. He was resourceful, he built
furniture pieces, some out of left over lumber from our house and some out of
scrap metal from the shop. It seemed he could repair anything we could break,
maybe not the conventional way but he would figure it out. He overhauled an
engine learning as he went, being meticulous and attentive as he tore it apart
so he could correctly put it back together. Whatever the task he worked till
the job was done.
He has always took pride in his accomplishments while
striving to maintain humility. He encouraged us to take “pride in ownership” no
matter the condition. As life has gone on his perspectives have changed a bit.
He has been able to achieve many of his business goals:
Work hard to get out of debt
Build an adequate home and provide for family
Become self reliant/dependent/sustaining
He also shifted more focus to
personal/family goals
#1 raise family in gospel-have joy in posterity
Attend graduations from HS and College
All boys serve missions
Attend all Temple Marriages
Some of these are nearing
completion, while others have a way to go still. But I know his passing will
not stop him from fulfilling these remaining goals, even though he cannot do so
in person.
I will always remember, as Akleigh calls them, the Seadattle
trips while dad was receiving transplants. How we were able to spend Christmas
together, ride the ducks, go to the zoo or the aquarium, and visit Pikes
Place Market. Last year we enjoyed finding and counting the 12th man
flags, a tradition we didn’t know would keep going where ever we go.
I remember seeing
his compassion towards others as they too were receiving treatments and facing
life’s trials. Sharing the gospel with many and love with all. Telling about
the different sleeves made by BrittanyJo and Ellen and sharing them with
others.
The different stories from his life as he and I worked
together for the past few years. Stories that weren’t momentous in many ways
but still brought us closer together. In trying to come up with a few things to
share about dad, I asked a few of my siblings if they had anything they thought
should be said. Through a lot of the ensuing small talk a common thread was the
way they enjoyed being able to spend time with him in different ways. Dad was
fun to be around and to learn from. There are many more experiences I could
share and I’m sure you have some of your own too.
I am grateful for the time we got to spend together. For
his unwavering and unshaken faith and positive outlook in his life that seemed
to be a lot like the weather outside today. For being the rock I needed at
times in my life when I was walking through sand and needed a solid place to
stand. May we never forget Dad’s life, nor the life of whom he followed.
I feel a little like my speaking today has gone against
one of dad’s other sayings. “Of all the things that come to your head, only 10%
of them should be said.” I may be around 15% now, so I will finish with a poem
from my Aunt Shawna,
The sofa is covered with children,
But it is empty too.
The room is lit and glowing,
But it is empty too.
The lady bug bucket is missing,
I’m sure it’s empty too.
But life goes on forever, we know,
Because of the empty tomb.
I love you, Dad!
-----
Now a note from Elaine:
The lady bug bucket is just a cute bucket I had at the house when Terry needed it. If you had visited the last month or two of his life you probably saw it sitting on the sofa, table, or floor beside him.
It was cuter than a garbage can or big plastic bowl, and it became his "spittoon" so to speak. He would use it to spit in, throw up in, or just put garbage in. He sometimes referred to it as his "ladybugget".
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