1956

The following entries were taken from historical reports prepared by ward clerks.

COLUMBIA BASIN WARD

Formerly dependent upon Pasco Ward and known as the Columbia Basin Heights Branch. Name shortened to Columbia Basin and made an independent branch on 29th April 1956. Heber Grant Bleazard sustained as Branch President.

Organized as a ward 19 July 1959. President Bleazard was sustained as the first Bishop.

Transferred to the new Pasco Stake 21st May 1967.

October 10, 1955 Robert Wayne Coltrin was made Deacon’s President with Dennis Barrow and Wayne Monson as Counselors and Larry John Richeson as Secretary.

October 21, 1955 Karen Barrow was sustained as Sunday School Secretary.
June Bitton was sustained as Primary President with Mary Bleazard and June Wilson as her Counselors.
Verna Hope was sustained as Relief Society President with Clara Barrow and Enid Coltrin as her counselors.
Owen Loftus was released as Branch Clerk.
Arlin Wilson was sustained as Branch Clerk.
Joyce Rigby was sustained as Branch Chorister.

November 6, 1955 Verna L. Hope was set apart as Relief Society President by H. Grant Bleazard.
Wilma June Bitton was set apart as Primary President by William Rigby.
Mary Elizabeth Bleazard was set apart as Counselor by H. Grant Bleazard.
June Rawlings Wilson was set apart as Counselor by Arlin Wilson.

December 21, 1955 A Christmas party was held. Primary presented a play.

April 30, 1956 Stake President James V. Thompson, Counselor Harold Davis and Marcus N. Myers visited our Branch today. A proposal was made to shorten the name of our Branch from Columbia Basin Heights Branch to Columbia Basin Branch. The proposal was accepted. Brother Thompson also made a proposal to make our branch an independent branch. This proposal was also approved. The officers and teachers in the branch will remain in the capacity they are now working.

Branch Presidency Relief Society
Heber Grant Bleazard Verna Hope
William Rigby Clara Barrow
Cecil Barrow Enid Coltrin
Jo Ann Eppich, Secretary

Sunday School Primary
George Herron June Bitton
Reese Hope Mary Bleazard
Ronald Steele June Wilson
Karen Barrow, Secretary Bardella Johnson, Secretary

May 6, 1956 Boyd Mackay was sustained financial clerk for our branch.

May 14, 1956 Brother Norman Johnson accepted position as Secretary to Aaronic Priesthood group.

May 14, 1956 Arrangements were made to grow 24 acres of beans for a project to start a building fund. Wayne Eppich is the Building Fund Chairman. He asked Boyd Mackay and Lloyd Poulson to help him as work directors.

May 15, 1956 With six tractors and needed equipment, the 24 acres of ground was worked ready to plant today. Brother Boyd Mackay will plant the beans tomorrow and we will start irrigation by a portable sprinkler until the electric pump is ready.

May 20, 1956 The planting of our bean crop was dedicated today.

June 3, 1956 Sustained Sister JoAnn Eppich as Secretary to the Building Fund Committee. Brother William Robison was sustained as a teacher in the Sunday School. Elmyra Gessel was sustained as a Sunday School teacher. Sister Marilyn Shelton was released as organist of the Primary.

July 13, 1956 Sixty-five members turned out and we weeded the Branch beans in 1/2 day. Lunch was served at the field.

July 24, 1956 Branch Party was held on the shore of the Columbia River at the Arthur Purser place, commemorating the 24th of July. Program was under the direction of the Sunday School and refreshments in charge of the Building Fund committee.

August 12, 1956 Membership records of Leonard Ferguson and family and Winfred Merrill and family were read and accepted into the branch.

August 19, 1956 Released Sister Bardella Johnson as Sunday School teacher with a vote of thanks. Sustained Sister Elaine Merrill as organist, Sister Sharon Merrill as teacher, and Sister Verna Hope as chorister in the Sunday School. Membership records for the Larry Adamson family were read and accepted into the branch.

September 2, 1956 Started holding church meetings in the old Eltopia School House.

September 23, 1956 Organized Branch choir under the direction of Joyce Rigby.

September 31, 1956 Membership records of Thayle Nielson and family were read and accepted into Branch.

October 14, 1956 The following were released from the Primary: Mary Bleazard as First Counselor, Pamela Ferguson as teacher, Bonnie Robison as organist and Joyce Rigby as chorister. June Monson was released as teacher from Relief Society.

October 1956 Harvested the church beans.

November 4, 1956 Boyd Mackay was sustained as MIA President with Thayle Nielson 1st Counselor and Homer Gessel 2nd Counselor. Alice Johnson was sustained as YWMIA President with Dorothy Jenkins 1st Counselor and Mary Bleazard, 2nd Counselor.

December 16, 1956 Sustained Joan Casper as 1st Counselor in the Primary. Sustained Shirley Cheney, Merle Baker, Colleen Ferguson and Roma Sharp as teachers in the Primary and Jean Withers as organist.