Alvin LeRoy Tolman
29 May 1916 – 29 Sep 1993
Son of William Alvin Tolman & Hattie Naomi Tolman
To my Family and all it may concern,
I write this brief history. I was born the twenty-ninth of May in the year 1916 in Oakley, Cassia, Idaho, in a log house, which was seven miles north of the village of Island, to William Alvin and Hattie Naomi Tolman. I was the sixth child in a family of eleven children—five brothers and five sisters. Their names were Naomi Jane, Emma Briggs, Armenia, William Odell, Alma Jaren, Marvin Ray, Alvin LeRoy, Wendell Lavar, Bernice, Hattie, and Noel Jay. I grew up with a normal childhood on the farm. At the age of six years, I entered the Island school. During this eventful year, I learned to milk on an old red cow named Cherry
The following years I experienced the average boyhood life, gaining many friends and attaining average, or a little above, grades at school. In the summers, I helped on the farm herding cows, hoeing weeds, etc. I well remember on wash day how I would arise early to turn the old hand washer. Among other vivid recollections are the times we went with our Father to the mountains after timber and for fishing trips.
A faith promoting instance in my life occurred as my father and I were in the mountains one winter hauling cedar wood. We had taken the wagon up on the mountain and loaded it with wood. Since there were no roads down, we would rough lock the wheel and tie a large tree behind it to go down the mountain. I had pulled the wagon to the brow of the hill before locking the wheel, but I pulled too far and the horses couldn’t hold the wagon, so there we went with a load pushing the wagon and horses on the run down a steep hill. Finally the front wheel hit a large rock, and threw me off in front of the wheel. Then the miracle—as if someone picked me up and moved me to the side while the wagon went on by. Had I not been flipped, the wheels of the wagon would have cut me in two. I know the hand of fate stepped in.
Of course I had my boyhood sweetheart whose name was Fern Woodhouse. I even have pictures of times we used to play house. One event I remember while in the second grade was the time my brother Bill fell on my leg in the winter and broke it. I was layed up for some time and had lots of friends come to see me wishing they could be out of school with me so that we could get into mischief in places like cherry orchards, gooseberry patches, etc. Some of these friends were Johnny Crane, Kenneth Cranning, Glen Tolman, and Roscoe Sessions. We would always have a big time in the things we did. I played on the ward baseball team and on the M Men basketball team.
I graduated from the public school at age fourteen in the spring of 1930. I then entered the Oakley Royal High School in September of that same year. My high school days were well spent. My studies were not hard, except English and History. Mathematics and Chemistry were a breeze. I liked good books and did much reading, Also, I thoroughly enjoyed my three years of Seminary in connection with high school and graduated from it. I graduated from high school in the spring of 1934. I hired out for farm work to Frank Lynch and bought my first car—a 1930 Model A Ford. A few months later, returning from Twin Falls with a group of friends, we wrecked and practically demolished the car, but no one was seriously hurt.. A great testimony of the blessings of the Lord was manifest at this time.
Before beginning the events of my adult life, there are a few more memories of my growing up, I’d like to share. There were often fun times when families would get together. The children always played Run Sheep Run. I remember that cousin La Verda and sister Armenia were always good leaders.
Also, at night, we would light lanterns, hang them in the old straw sheds where the sparrows made their nests, and then we’d scrape the straw roofs. Sparrows would come out and we would hit them with clubs. This helped to keep sparrow populations from becoming too numerous.
I always remember having a dog, especially an old yellow dog. He was no good only as a special pal for me. We would play by the hour. Guess I still do the same thing—I love a dog and still can enjoy playing with them. I remember some horses—Old Bronc, a grey horse, who was so very gentle that four or five children could get on him at once. Then there was old Sally, a bronco-faced sorrel, very gentle except when she stepped in wire; then she would really take off and no one could hold her. There was also an old black horse called Chisel Rump because he had a pointed rear end. But I especially remember Dad’s team, old Daisy and Slim—they didn’t match in collar but could sure pull together. Daisy was well trained—could cultivate with her and not have a driver. She would come to the end of a row, turn around herself, and go on all day. Also in the mountains when we were snaking out timber, once she got a trail, she would go and come herself without a driver. If she happened to get caught on a stump, she would work around until she got it loose herself.
Another event I should relate was when I was about twelve or fourteen, some friends and I went to the mountains to spend the Fourth of July and do a little fishing. Well, we were only to stay two days, but we decided we wanted to stay longer. So we went to a ranger station and called home and said our horses were lost, and we would come as soon as we could find them. Well, that night after, we really did lose our horses: I learned it doesn’t pay to tell a story. To end the story, we found two of the horses next day—one was for the wagon and the other, a riding horse. So we hooked up the work horse and the riding horse to the wagon and started for home. Got about halfway down when a cousin met us with the other work horse which had gone home. We returned home safely.
I recollect from my childhood going swimming at the artesian hot spring near Murtaugh. Many fun times were held here. On other occasions we went fishing down on Murtaugh Canal near Uncle Burt’s. Sometimes after we had put up the first crop hay, Dad and the boys, with Uncle Dan and his boys, would go fishing all together. Then there was the hay harvesting down at Burley, at our cousin Lawrence Goodfellow’s. You see, we had a good hay crew, with us five boys and two cousins, Glen and Russell. We would stay for a week, sometimes two weeks, hauling and stacking hay.
Another faith promoting experience that has been a real testimony to me was when my brother Bill was called on a mission. Mother and Dad never had very much, and it was a struggle each month for the money to keep him there. This one particular instance, early in the spring, they did not have the money to send and knew not where it would come from. There were three days left, and I remember the prayers of father and mother. Then a call came from a potato man in Burley, not a member of the Church, who wanted Dad and his family to take care of fifty acres of potatoes. He asked if we needed an advance payment. This took care of the month’s money needed for our missionary, as well as the finances for the rest of his mission. The Lord always provides if we are faithful.
Two years after high school graduation in the spring of 1936, my cousin and I were planning to go to northwestern Idaho to take up farming. Two days before I was to leave, my brother Bill called from Pocatello and wished me to come and work with him and another brother, Marvin, in a meat market. This I did, which changed the course of my life. We worked hard in the partnership and built a good business. I roomed and boarded in the home of my sister Emma. Then, in the year of 1938, we moved my parents and my younger brothers and sisters to Pocatello, too. At this time we purchased a farm and a dairy south of Pocatello and built a small slaughterhouse. I spent most of my time on the farm and helping my brother Marvin slaughter animals.
About this time in the year 1939, a great event happened to me. I received a call to fulfill a mission for the LDS Church to the Texas Mission. I arrived in Houston, Texas, on the tenth of December, 1939. The following two years were wonderful and I gained a great testimony of the Gospel and much knowledge of the scriptures which has been of great worth to me throughout my life and my experiences in the church. I especially remember teaching and converting one lady in New Orleans, Louisiana. We had tracted this street several times and had been refused entrance to one home—they had even rejected our literature, so we cancelled the home from our district. This one morning, however, as we were walking down this street, the spirit was so strong with both my companion and I that we should call upon this house again. Finally, after much pondering we listened to the spirit and knocked upon the door. Another lady answered, and when we introduced ourselves, she bade us come in, saying that she had been praying many years for us to come. In a matter of a few months she became a member of our Church. Another faith promoting instance was the inspirational way I was interviewed by President Christiansen, my mission president. I will always remember that morning in Houston, Texas, before he sent me to my field of labor. The interview was a constant strength to me throughout my mission and unto this day.
Then, in the year 1941 came Pearl Harbor, which brought with it the outbreak of World War II. Several days after Pearl Harbor, I was released from my mission and returned home, driving a new Plymouth station wagon from Detroit, Michigan. A short time after returning home, I met a sweet young lady who was later to become my wife—Miss Norma Hardy—all this thanks to my sister Bernice who introduced us.
On September 16, 1942, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps through the 3rd Platoon of the Mormon Batallion. I served my boot training in San Diego and was assigned to the 12th Marine Artillery Batallion, which was later attached to the 3rd Marine Division. I was shipped overseas in January of 1943 where I spent five months in New Zealand. Here I met Matthew Cowley who was President of the New Zealand Mission and who later became an Apostle. I had some wonderful experiences there and met some wonderful people. I was then shipped to Guadalcanal for further training. There I organized an LDS Servicemen’s group and saw a number of fellows come into activity. I especially remember Harold R. Germaine. I was in the Bouganville campaign and was known among my friends and buddies as the Reverend. Then came the Guam and Iwo Jima campaigns. Some rich experiences were had while in the service, especially among the LDS servicemen in our organized groups. While on Guam, I helped organize five other groups and we held a conference. I spent twenty-eight months overseas before I returned to the United States of America.
I sometimes feel I did more missionary work the three years in the Pacific than the two years I spent in the mission field. Many of our LDS boys who had strayed, I had the privilege of teaching and bringing back into the Gospel. It is a joy to know that some of them are now serving as counselors, bishops, and in stake presidencies. I thrill to their letters from these brethren thanking me for my help.
While on my thirty-day furlough, I got acquainted once again with the lovely girl who waited for me, and we were married in the Logan LDS Temple on the twenty-second of May, 1945, by my former mission president, Elray L. Christiansen, who was then President of the Logan Temple. I returned to San Diego Marine Corps Base with my wife Norma. We spent about four months there. The war ended in August and I received my discharge from the Marine Corps in October, 1945. I returned home to work on the farm and in the business with brothers. We established our home in a small red house on the farm, where our first child, Kathy, was born on July 14, 1946.
n January 31, 1947, I was sustained as second counselor in the Eleventh Ward Bishopric to Bishop Henry C. West. I served as his counselor for about a year. We then moved north of town on Eldredge Road. Our son, Richard, came to us in August of 1948 while we were living in Galloway’s apartment. At this time we began building a basement house. I was called as second counselor to Emerson McOmber, Bishop of the Ninth Ward, on February 10, 1948. I had some grand experiences as I labored with these brethren. I was now working for Twayne Austin, agent of the Continental Oil Co., as a warehouseman. In the fall of 1949, we decided to go on a venture of our own and bought a grocery store in McCammon, Idaho. A few months after arriving there, I was sustained as second counselor to Bishop Joseph Norris of the McCammon Ward, on January 15, 1950, a position in which I served for about a year, being released on January 28, 1951. I helped get a new church building started. On April 6, 1950, Edwin Kent was born to us, but only stayed with us one day before returning to the presence of his Heavenly father.
The store didn’t pan out, so we moved back to Pocatello. I began working again for Twayne Austin. After returning to Pocatello, we rented a small house from Parley Packer, in a small community known as Prospect, on Hoffman Street. It was small but we were happy. I might relate another faith promoting instance at this time. In selling our business in McCammon, and after paying our debts, we ended up with $100, which we put into savings as a nest egg for a new home. Shortly after this, we received a letter from the bishop asking for $100 on the building fund. How did he know we had $100? This seemed to be a test of our faith, and we decided to give it to the Lord. Shortly after this, an opportunity came for us to purchase a large home that was being moved. And my employer said he would advance the money to buy the home and a lot to move it on. So we did our part with the Lord and he provided an opportunity for us to have a home. While living in this home, another sweet child came to our home from our Heavenly Father. Marilou was born on October 17, 1952.
Shortly after we arrived back in the Ninth Ward, it was divided, making the Eighteenth Ward with Joseph Howard sustained as Bishop. I went in as his first counselor on May 10, 1953. We enjoyed our service together. Then, because of some consolidation at his place of employment, he was transferred to Rexburg, Idaho, and we were released on March 13, 1955. Edwin K. Bullock was sustained as Bishop, and he asked me to be his first counselor. I served in this capacity from March 13, 1955 to August 28, 1955.
On April 6, 1954, little Debra Dee came to grace our home, and surely she came only to obtain a body and to be a blessing for us, for she never walked or talked (and finally passed on to the other side on November 5, 1960). We traded our large house for a small one and sometimes feel this was a mistake. Also, Twayne Austin was killed about this time in a truck accident. I then worked at an ice cream making plant for a few months and finally received employment at Zwiegart Packing Plant. I was made shipping foreman shortly after, and remained there for about four years. After trading our large house, we moved south of town and stayed in Mother’s home. We remained there for a year, then moved back to the Eighteenth Ward. During the summer, we lived on Lilac Street, and in the fall we moved into a small house on Zener. I was sustained as a bishop on October 21, 1956, and set apart October 28, 1956, by John Longden, an Assistant to the Council of the Twelve Apostles.
We had some wonderful experiences both faith promoting and testing of our faith as a family over the next years. As a Bishop with two fine counselors, Dwight Zundel and Archie Stoddard, we first completed the Ninth Ward Chapel and had it dedicated to the Lord. Then on January 17, 1958, came another sweet little girl to us, Tamara Sue. Shortly afterwards, my good wife came down with rheumatic fever and was bedridden for many months. Little Tamara had to be sent away for others to care for. Kathy grew up quickly with the added responsibility. A foster daughter came and lived with us for a while and helped out—Lourna Briscoe. This was a time of great test to our family because I was out of work part of the time, too. But looking back on it, much was gained and our faith was strengthened. During this period of time, I had a hand in dividing the Ninth and Eighteenth Wards making the new Twenty-sixth Ward. Also our stake was divided.
In the wards’ division, I lost my counselor Archie Stoddard, and chose Donald Macbeth to replace him. About this time in March of 1959, we moved to the stake farm north of town in the Tyhee area. Here I became manager of the farm. My good wife regained her health out in the country, and we enjoyed the farm. The children grew up there, had many friends who loved to come and stay with them. I remained as bishop of the Eighteenth ward for two years after moving on the farm. It was much harder, however, to fulfill this calling being out of the ward, but was very fulfilling and the Lord blessed us. We remained in the Eighteenth Ward for about a year after my release as Bishop. I then served as Senior Aaronic Priesthood Adviser and teacher of the investigator class in Sunday School.
In about 1961 we moved our records to the Seventh Ward, Pocatello North Stake. We’ve enjoyed our stay here. I have served as secretary to the Aaronic Priesthood and had the opportunity of teaching seminars bringing some people into activity. I’ve also taught the Gospel Doctrine class and the Young Marrieds. Later I was called by Bishop Karl Loveland as Executive Secretary. Then I was called to be Superintendent of the Sunday School of the Seventh ward. I very much enjoyed this calling.
During this period our son Richard served as a missionary to the Eastern States. Many glorious experiences came to our home and in our son’s life. Kathy married Brent Harper, a former schoolmate in high school. We moved from the Church farm, having spent about thirteen years of hard labor there in March, 1972. But I feel I had accomplished much in improving the farm. I worked for the school district as a custodian until June of 1972, when I was employed at the Union Pacific Railroad.
In the year 1974 in August, the Seventh Ward was divided making a Thirty-seventh Ward. Bishop John H. Whitaker was sustained as our new bishop of the Seventh Ward, and he asked me to be his finance clerk, which I thoroughly enjoyed for about a year and a half. Then he wished me to be his Executive Secretary. I spent about six months in this position.
During this period, Richard and I decided to enter into a business of mobile butchering. After obtaining approval and building our plant, we commenced killing and processing meat in March of 1976. We have had some problems and learned much, worked hard, put in many hours, had much heartache, and experienced some family problems. I’m still working at the railroad, but I believe business is picking up and hope to be in full swing before long. The Lord has blessed us very much. My health has been good.
I know the Gospel to be true, and enjoy working in the Church. I enjoy the Temple and its blessings. I know God lives, hears and answers prayer. I know that Jesus Christ lives today and is our Redeemer. I have felt the influence of the Holy Ghost throughout my life and know He does exist. I know that Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration. We have had prophets since that time, and our present Prophet, Spencer W. Kimball, is one of the great ones.
In leaving my testimony, I would like to add a little about the select gifts the lord has blessed me with—my family—my good wife, Norma, whom I dearly love and who has been a great helpmate to me and those choice spirits who have come to our home.
Kathy is our oldest and a very special daughter who has been a delight to her father. She has done well in school (having received a B.A. degree from BYU) and has married a choice fellow whom we love very much. They have brought to us some sweet grandchildren—Jennifer, Heather, and Jeffrey—with another soon to be born. I do love each one and leave my testimony for them.
My son Richard is truly a spiritual giant. He always seemed such a little boy. Then, suddenly, he grew up and decided to be a missionary. And he was a successful, strong missionary. We, as a family were proud of him. He did have a serious accident while on his mission, took some time to adjust, went back to BYU and there met a special girl, whom we also love as our own daughter. Richard and Jeanie have brought us four fine grandchildren—Shelly, Richie, Amy, and recently born Michael.
Then there is our Marilou who so fervently loves the Gospel and her Savior, Jesus Christ. She is indeed a blessing to us in her own way. She was called on a mission to Texas and served faithfully and well. She accomplished immeasurable good and continually blessed our home with her spiritual letters and experiences. She is a sweetheart and has her niche in our family circle. We are hoping she soon can find that strong, worthy Priesthood bearer the lord has chosen to be her companion for eternity.
Finally, there is our Tammy, our baby whom we love dearly, our last child at home. How lonely it gets when she is away. I know there is that special someone for her, too.
Of course, we also have two sweet ones—Edwin and Debby—waiting to reunite with us on the other side of the veil.
I love my family and owe much to my good wife, Norma, for her teachings and influence upon the children. I pay heavenly tribute to her and am so grateful the Lord caused our paths to cross that we might be one. Marriage and family have been some of my most cherished earthly experiences.
I love my parents and appreciate the heritage they have given me. I love my brothers and sisters and their families and know they are most choice. May God bless us all to be faithful, pray always and keep the commandments. With all my love and blessings to be with you. May success be ours.
Alvin LeRoy Tolman
Visit FamilySearch to learn more about Alvin LeRoy Tolman. Visit the Thomas Tolman Family Organization to find out how you can get more involved in family history.