mike and ruth

Grandma Hill came home from the hospital on Tuesday and is doing very well at home. She has a hospital bed in her room as well as a device that will give her a ride up and down the stairs when she needs to come down or go back up. I think that Janice and Mary Ann stayed with her last night. The schedule will be a little interesting the next several days while things get worked out for her needs. We are so grateful to everyone who assisted a with the process of getting her home. The front porch may be finished by now but I am not in a position to share a photo since I am in Ohio and will be in three other states the next week and a half with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

We spent time at the hospital yesterday and saw another neighbor who is suffering from a stroke. Grandma didn’t come home on Monday and is still in the hospital because of complications caused by side-effects of the medications she has been given. They have been adjusting dosages and working to get them set so the side-effects are less undesirable. We spent time there yesterday evening but there have been so many visitors we decided not to go today so we would not be in the way of others who wanted to see her. (I did direct Aunt Ardy to call her late this afternoon though when she called us to see how Grandma was doing.) We were told this evening that Grandma was able to take a fairly long walk around the hospital wing with no light-headed after effect, take a “real” bath (shower?), and eat a good meal. Her blood pressure is much lower now, which is one of the things they were very worried about. Family members there indicate that if she has a good night they are quite certain she will be coming home tomorrow morning. We are very pleased to report this!
Ed and his family along with John’s kids, and Kent and his kids worked on the front porch today on Grandma’s house. It will be a little larger and nicer when they are done. I will post a photo for you to see their work later! Thank you everyone!

Hi everyone, grandma was scheduled to go home today but I was recently informed that because she is having a little difficulty breathing and has a cough they want to keep her for one more day in the hospital. She will come home Sunday and have company from the family to be with her for at least the next six weeks to help her get going again. The physical therapist will see her during the week and hopefully we will learn how to assist her to get the exercise she needs to improve her mobility and quality of life. She has a stairway chair to help her get upstairs to her room and other improvements to the home that will make it easier for her to get around and do the things she needs to do.
We spent several hours with her yesterday and she had numerous visitors at the hospital. She was somewhat tired but seems to be improving. We want her to get more rest but also to get around a bit more and are hopeful that getting up and around after having more rest will help her to heal more quickly.
Please let Mom or me, or Ed or Jean know if you have any questions.

High School and 50th Anniversary Photos

Dorothy was born on November 25, 1928, the 3rd child of Frank and Elinor Scholes Kennard, in Brigham City, Utah. When she was almost 3 years old, her young mother suddenly died after a surgical procedure. She then lived with her Scholes grandparents for several years, until her father married Gladys Bischoff, who became the mother of ten additional siblings. Dorothy spent her childhood years as an “army brat,” moving often with her large family because of her father’s assignments as an army officer. The family finally settled in Salt Lake City, where she graduated from East High School.

Dorothy had a great love for music. She was an accomplished flutist and had a beautiful singing voice. She sang in the East High A’cappella Choir (as both a junior and a senior!), and was also part of a vocal group that sang regularly on live radio. In 1947 she was called to sing in the “Message of the Ages” pageant choir, part of the Utah Pioneer Centennial celebration. It was there that Dorothy spotted a handsome bass with a beautiful voice, Oscar Hendriksen. She “chased him until he caught her.” They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 28, 1949. Their 62 years of love and devotion for each other has been a great example to family and friends.

Dorothy and Oscar sang together throughout their lives, blessing others with their talent. They sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for many years, and enjoyed traveling worldwide with the choir. As children were added to the family, Dorothy worked tirelessly to make sure that each one had the opportunity to develop musical talents. Each child received instruction on the piano and at least one other instrument. Mom was passionate about making sure that each of us practiced regularly and correctly.

Service was an important part of Dorothy’s life, and was always offered with diligence and excellence. She served faithfully in many ward and stake leadership positions, including 23 years as Ward Choir Director. She also served in civic and community organizations including time as president of the Utah Peace Officers Association Auxiliary, and the South High School PTA.

Dorothy was a loving mother and grandmother and is survived by her husband Oscar, children Leslie (Sherman) Anderson, Michael (Ruth), Daniel (Karen), Neil (Marie), Eric (Elaine), Mark (Judy), Elinor (John) Sargent, and Laurel Enke, 39 grandchildren and 41 great grandchildren, and counting. Also survived by her sister Rose Hoffmann, and by brothers James B., Aaron D., Lee G., Raeburn G., Roger B., Joseph C., and Royal C. Kennard. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Winnifred Call, F. Ralph Kennard, Marie Tayler, Robert Kennard, and a great granddaughter, Jennifer Dastrup.

Services will be held on Friday April 8, 2011, 12:00 noon, at Hunter Village Ward, 7035 West Loch Ness Avenue (3600 South), West Valley UT. Friends may call at Larkin Mortuary 260 E.South Temple in Salt Lake City, on Thursday evening April 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the day of the services from 10:30 to 11:45 at the meeting house.

The family wishes to express deep thanks and appreciation for the tender and loving services of Legacy Village Memory Care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Center for Alzheimer’s Care ‘Gift to Life Program’ at the University of Utah: http://uuhsc.utah.edu/cacir/gift.html. Interment at Redwood Memorial Estates, West Jordan, UT.