Tribute to a Modern Pioneer

A few weeks ago, my mom was asked to represent her local chapter of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.  Women in this organization are descendants of the first members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also known as Mormons) who settled Utah territory in the nineteenth century.  They currently work to preserve histories, artifacts and pioneer traditions.

As part of this honor, my mom requested that I write and present a short history during a program on Pioneer Day in my hometown.  This state holiday commemorates the arrival of the first Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. 

I enjoyed hearing my mom share several stories and feel that I know her a little better as a person.

After reading this sketch of her life, you might appreciate her more too.

Tribute for Charlene Staheli

 July 24, 2012

My mom and I waving at hometown crowds during the parade.
My 87-year-old dad (right) felt well enough that day to drive
the horses.

Charlene Yvonne Peacock Staheli was born into the family of Byron and Leona Peacock on Feb. 22, 1935 in Emery, Utah. The youngest of six children, she often wished her parents had named her Georgia instead, since she shared a birthday with George Washington.

In spite of a girlish distaste for her given name, Charlene appreciated her family with its rich pioneer heritage. Her Danish and English ancestors had settled Sanpete County, establishing homes and proving their faith through difficult times. Carrying on with their values, Charlene and her siblings worked together on their father's farm, performing additional chores in his dairy and beekeeping business. Charlene also learned homemaking skills, but she always preferred to drive a truck or tractor for her dad out in the fields.

News of the Pearl Harbor attack shocked the nation in 1941. Although she was only six years old, Charlene felt and witnessed some effects of World War II on her small hometown. Three older brothers enlisted in the armed forces, serving on both the Pacific and European fronts. Her older sister moved to  California where jobs were plentiful. This left only Charlene and her brother Perry at home to help their parents the best that they could. In their spare time, they joined other school-children who gathered scrap metal that was sent to munitions factories and milk weed pods with silky threads that were used to make parachutes. They took great pride in their volunteer efforts.

The strain and uncertainty took a toll on their family.  Still, their workload was lightened by plenty of homespun fun. Like pioneer children from the past, Charlene enjoyed Easter picnics at the nearby cliffs and winter sledding down chalk hills. She also viewed herself as an expert in aquatic technique because she could always touch the bottom while “swimming” in the irrigation canal.

When her father served as bishop of the Emery ward*, Charlene rang the church bell before meetings every Sunday. This ritual marked each passing week until the war ended and her brothers came home.  For a few more years, life settled into a more predictable routine.

As Charlene prepared for her senior year in high school, her parents decided to move to Oregon. They agreed to let her move in with relatives in Emery so that she could serve as yearbook editor and graduate with lifelong friends.

A summertime visit to a small community in southern Utah changed most of her plans. While staying with her brother Carlyle Peacock and his wife Elsie, Charlene made new friends and decided to transfer to the local high school. Undeterred by her status as a new girl in town, Charlene met with the principal and volunteered to serve as editor if he would allow a yearbook to be published every year. He agreed. She fulfilled her end of the bargain with characteristic flair, but her life soon took another unexpected turn.

Weeks before that fateful Halloween dance, Elsie Peacock told Stan Staheli, a local bachelor, that her “cute little niece” had come to live with them. But she hastened to add that Charlene was much too young for him. Still, he felt compelled to ask this attractive young lady for a dance. Something magical happened as they twirled across the wooden gym floor; before the night was over, he proposed.

After giving the matter some thought and prayer, Charlene consented. She and Stan were married on March 21, 1953 in the St. George temple. A short time later, she was honored as valedictorian at her high school graduation.

True to the spirit of her pioneer ancestors, Charlene continued learning and pushing forward through the joys and trials of lovingly raising a large family. Creative and resourceful, she often altered or sewed clothes for us girls and others. She could also share decades of experience on thrifting, crafting, gardening, and home decorating on blogs and that newest craze called Pinterest. She was a women ahead of her time. And who could forget her beautiful quilts? Each one is a labor of love that will be treasured by her children, grandchildren and a new generation of great-grandchildren.

In their later years, Charlene and Stan were thrilled to serve three missions** at Martin's Cove in central Wyoming. They cherished these opportunities to walk in the footsteps of valiant pioneers who sacrificed everything for their testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. More importantly, they opened

their hearts to new friends and thousands of visitors—especially the youth—who traveled long distances to feel the spirit of that sacred place. As Stan and Charlene shared stories of the Willie and Martin handcart companies, downcast people felt new hope to face their own trials. Countless lives have changed.

Mom and all four of us sisters riding in a surrey with
a fringe on the top!

Today we pay tribute to our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, and friend. She would never presume to stand on the same level as the pioneer women whom she loves and admires, but her faith, service, and dedication surely equal theirs. Thank you for devoting your life to nurturing each member of our family, for teaching us by example to cherish our heritage and our present relationships even as we reach out to others as we journey through life. Charlene Staheli is truly a modern-day pioneer. 

*The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is composed of thousands of local units called wards. Each ward is led by a bishop who supports himself and his family while he serves his congregation for several years without additional pay.

**In our church, thousands of young people and senior couples volunteer to serve full-time missions.  Young men and women usually concentrate on spreading a message of Jesus Christ and what we believe to be his restored gospel.  Senior couples serve in various ways, including work in our temples, teaching in church-supported schools, and acting as tour guides at historical sites that are significant to our religion.