The Life of TRUMAN DEWARD HEBDON

Truman R. Hebdon and Mary Louise Butterworth Hebdon were living in a little three room house in Star Valley, Wyoming a short distance from Thayne Wyoming it was time for their fist child to be born, there being no doctors in the valley, Truman hitched up the team of horses and made Louise as comfortable as possible, then started off to Idaho Falls, Idaho were Louise parents, Isaiah and Sarah Butterworth lived.   got a job harvesting sugar beets near Lincoln while Louie stayed with her parents.  Truman DeWard Hebdon was born on a beautiful fall afternoon Oct 2, 1906.  Ushered into this world by a Mrs. Roxberry, an excellent midwife.
When DeWard was three weeks old, Truman and Louise loaded a wagon with staple goods and went back to Thayne,  He was blessed at church the next Sunday , when they arrived home.
T.R. loved the life of a dairy~ Farmer, so little DeWard was taken to the barn by his mother to sit and watch while she helped milk the cows, if they would hold still long enough.
As he grew older he was trusted to take the herd to the pasture.  With his fishing pole and a nice lunch his mother packed, he was off for the day. He always caught a nice bunch of fish and was very proud to present them to his mother for the supper table.


 DeWard was four years old, a little sister, Wanda Louise, came to live with them a short while.  She passed sway when only six months old. When. DeWard was six and one half another beautiful baby girl whom they named Erma, was born to this family.  She and DeWard grew to be good pales, even tho DeWard was a big tease.  They shared many happy times together while living at Thayne.  Erma tells this:  When I was only four, DeWard helped me to know that Heavenly Father would hear and answer our prayers.  Out baby brother Eldon, was near death's door.  DeWard took me aside and told me we should pray, DeWard begged the Lord to help baby brother get well.  In Childish innocence we just knew be would.  Eldon did recover and it built my faith in Heavenly~Father and my big brother too.
As for being a big tease:  Santa brought me the most beautiful doll. She had curly hair, eyes that would open and shut. I put the doll in its bed one night and went into another room, when I came back my doll raised right up and held her arms out to me, I thought she had come to life for sure, so I screamed, seems as though DeWard had put strings on her neck and arms like a puppet then he pulled the strings and I though it was a miracle
Many, Many chores were done together and so we had lots of long talks. He was a choice understanding person and I shall miss him.
DeWard was baptized in Flat Creek near Thayne when he was eight.  There was ice on the pond and he had to be wrapped in a blanket to take him back home.  Melvin Hebdon a cousin was also baptized at the same time.
DeWard usually walked to school, But sometimes he rode a horse.  He liked school and got good grades.
 When he was about twelve, his folks sold the dairy farm and came to Idaho Falls once again.  At this time, his father was employed as a foeman at Wood livestock ranch, so DeWard learned how to work there.  Three years later they bought a farm south of Rigby.  It seemed their whole world revolved around making that farm pay and be a good one
DeWard tells the following story that happened when he was fourteen His father had been having attacks of appendicitis for some time but this one seemed different~in that nothing would ease the pain.  His mother called him and told him to get the Model T Ford running because old Dr. Cline had said they'd better get him in as soon as they could.  Of course it was cold blizzard night and the car wouldn't start.  Mother poured hot water from the tea kettle over the radiator and DeWard hitched up' his pony and pulled it his mother laid Dad in the back seat, covered him with quilts to keep him warm plus bottles of hot water and then kneeling between the seats he and Mother prayed that he could make it safely to Idaho Falls and the Dr. with his Dad 0 DeWard says he could not see any sign of the read, no tracks or landmarks, in as much as they were the first car out, so he just kept the car between the telephone poles, With every bump in the road, Dad would groan and fifteen miles seemed like a long way; but they did arrive safely.  The Dr. was amazed that a fourteen year old boy could bring his father all that long way alone.  It was not  too soon as the appendix had ruptured.  DeWard sat there thru the operation and prayed for his father.
His father recovered slowly and much of the farm work was on DeWard's shoulders till his father regained his health fully.
DeWard attend Rigby High School,  He was a class president to two years~and~took part in Band, Chorus and Drama.  He especially loved drama and can remember Fount Johnson as being  an outstanding director he worked under.
In one play he related telling his children how he took the role of a Negro mammy.  No one was supposed to guess who the mammy was and DeWard  portrayed the part so well that not until the end of the play did the audience discover the female Negro was really DeWard.  DeWard was also in several operas 1 as he had a fine singing voice.  He was ch6sen to play in a band composed of the best band students in southern Idaho, under a nationally known conductor.
 graduated from high school in  1926.  In  1927 he met Lulu Mae Hunt while working on a threshing crew at a neighbors place.  They were married on Nov 19,1927 and two weeks later he left for Chicago to enroll in an electrical school having already  planned to do this before he met Lulu.  He graduated from this school and then went back to Enterprise Utah, where his wife was living with her parents.
Their first born, a daughter DeLue was born there. the name was composed from part of DeWard's and part of Lulu's name.   next years were spent moving from southern Utah back to Idaho to help Dad on the farm~  Joy, Iris, Kay and Nelda Mae were born in the ensuing years.  When Kay was born she was a very thin beautiful baby but had a little malformed foot.
There just wasn't any heel or ankle.  The Dr. didn't know if she would ever walk right, but DeWard had faith in the Lord that something could be done for her. They took her to Primary Children Hospital in Salt lake City. DeWard stated he had faith that the Lord would show him a way.  A specialist in his field examined her and said ' yes" she would have a normal foot if they would massage it and exercise it.  She must also have special shoes wit braces, shoes mold and much therapy.  DeWard was devoted and faithful to this.  He wanted Her to walk normally and she did develop a normal foot.
A little son Truman R. was born Sept 22 1936, {n Idaho Falls, DeWard CUP Was filled to overflowing when Truman arrived.  A son to carry on his name.  Even though they never had many earthly things they had a close knit family and DeWard was very close to the Lord.  Those were depression days and DeWard tells of praying and fasting over Whatever he felt was important; the crops, the irrigation water, the cow would give more milk and that they could have a productive garden 9
It was hard indeed to keep the food on the table and the little growing family in food, but he always worked hard and relied on the Lord to help him. Then the war years came along with their heartache
Those were trouble times for everyone, also in their marriage and on Nov 30, 1945 they were divorced. moved back to Rigby with his folks and the next year he worked and earned enough money to go to a Swedish massage school in Chicago, Ill. His father gave him a blessing and said be would have an opportunity to be taught by the masters of physical therapy.  That he would possess a healing soothing quality in the touch so that many important people would come to him for his healing influence.  People from all over the valley have benefitted from his physical therapy treatments.  One lady attribute her longevity to Brother Hebdon's "magic fingers" to keep her old bones a moving'.  Many times he gave treatments and received no money from a person who really needed them.  He received his certificate as a graduate masseur Jan 16, 1947.
Upon his arrival back in Idaho Falls, he opened an office for physical therapy and massages.  His sister Barbara helped him.
His son Truman, lived with him there, they became very close and had some happy times together.  Truman was always a bright shining lighted in DeWard life.  He was so proud of him. Truman had visited him often and had great respect for his father.  Joy also visited and keeps track.
The bishop of his ward knew DeWard was lonesome and introduced him to Winona Larson Benson, who like himself was divorced.  He asked her to go with him to a stake formal dance,  That was the beginning of their courtship which often included Winona's two young sons, Rondo who was ten and Grant age eight.
Finding they had a lot in common they decided to be married and this marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls Temple June 10, 1948. Their first child,.David Lyn was born May22, 1950.  He fitted right in with Rondo aud Grant 1  The next year July 2, 1951 Harvey was born and DeWard was so proud because now he had five daughters and five sons.
DeWard and Winnona's little family grew and a little ~daughter, Linda was born Dec 20 1952.  Then Gloria another daughter was born on July 19, 1957.
They have had many happy times together as a family, going to family reunions, camping and playing ball and going for walks.  DeWard always had a good garden and thought his children to work in taking care of it.
Last summer when he couldn't walk he would lay between the rows to pull the weeds.  He even raised watermelon and cantaloupe.


 always tried to make a better person of himself.  He had a curious mind and had several inventions, he constantly read and studied.  He completed the Dale Carnegie. Course to Success and used this knowledge to attract many people to his Health Salon, which he established on Basalt Street in the 1950.  Winona was his right hand helper here.
He worked at the L.D.S.Hospital several years and made many friends there.   He has always been mindful of his close neighbors and looking out for their welfare, giving them words of cheer when lonesome, giving them rides to church or town.  He was a gentle, kind man and had compassion for everyone.  He was a diligent home teacher and did not quit doing this till last Oct. He was especially interested in those  with health problems and went to the hospital every day to visit Uncle Will Hebdon from Thayne Wyo. He shaved him and combed his hair and cared for him when there was no one else to do so for nearly three weeks.



 was active in church work and served in many positions throughout the years.  At the time of his death he was serving as a High Priest.  He had been secretary to the High Priests, served a Stake Mission, been a Sunday School teacher, in the Sunday School Superintendence, on the Genealogy committee and was one of the Seven President of the Seventies, on the Sr. Aaronic Priesthood Committee.
Last winter, 1979 was a very hard winter for DeWard.  He had known he had a heart condition, and other illness but he developed a nasty little cough that would not go away.  In the spring the Dr. decided to see what made the cough and took a biopsy of the little growth they discovered. It proved to be malignant.


 felt very strongly that~ he should not under go surgery for this condition, so he placed himself in the Lord's hands.
There have been good weeks and some bad since that decision was made. His heart condition grew worse and he was hospitalize several times.
 This last Christmas time was a happy one for all of them even though DeWard was not so well.  They were all home togther.  On Jan 11, 1980 he entered the hospital once more, this time more serious than ever before. After some treatment they agreed to let him come home.  His suffering was intense last week.  On Jan 27, 1980 he passed away.  But he was home, where he was happy to be.
He is survived by his wife, Winona, Sons: Truman R. Hebdon of Meas Ariz. David, Harvey and Rondo of Idaho Falls, Grant of Rexburg.  Daughters: DeLue Lang, Nelda Mae Randall of St. George Ut. Iris Henderson of Cedar City Utah. Joy Cannon and Kay Nelson of Salt Lake City Utah. Linda of Idaho Falls and Gloria who is serving an L.D.S. mission in Venture California. Forty Three grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Sisters; Erma Lee of Rigby Nelda Baker of Teton, Donalue Hart of Idaho Falls and Barbara Hovis of Shelly Id.  He is preceded in death by his mother and father, a brother Eldon and a sister Wanda.

 DeWard was especially proud of Gloria, he encouraged her o go on her mission.  He has written to her faithful, till he was too ill.  He prayed for her not become too homesick and to work hard and be a good Missionary. It was his wish that she stay in Mission field and not come home at this  time.  We know that DeWard is pleased with her missionary work.
Sometimes sever pain and dependency on others brings an unseen blessing. A very strong bond between Linda and her father.  She was a comfort and help to him.  She always though first of his well being and living so close by she was able to take over the care of DeWard from Winona to rest her. The family will always be grateful to her.  It was she who held his hand as he slipped into eternity.  Linda's little son, Andrew was a source of joy to him as were all his grandchildren.
The other members of the family all looked for special little kindnesses they could preform for him in these last few months.  DeWard always stated that he didn't want to be a burden to anyone, but so appreciated what each one did for him.
The day the family brought DeWard home from the hospital last week, It seemed as if he just couldn't fill his eyes and heart full enough of how beautiful the sunlit was, how white the snow, how much he really loved life. Then he named each child and his dear Winona and told them how much he loved Them and~when he went into the house he called the sisters he could reach by home. He left a joyful legacy to his loved ones, full of determination. hope, and courage.
If we can follow DeWard's example and endure the pains of life well, even those times when the heavens seem to turn a deaf ear, our Heavenly Father will exalt us on high, and we will triumph over all, and our adversities and afflictions will be but a small moment.

Truman Hebdon
 Truman DeWard Hebdon, 73. owner and operator of Hebdon Health Salon, 256 Basalt, died Sunday at his home, from a heart attack.
He was born Oct. 2, 1906 at Lincoln, son of Truman R Hebdon and Mary Louise Butterworth Hebdon he attended school at Thayne, Wyo. Idaho Falls and Rigby, graduating from Rigby High School. He al-so attended a physical therapy and massage school in~Chicago. He has lived in Salt Lake City, St George, Utah, and Idaho Falls.
He was married to Lulu Mae Hunt Nov. 19, 1927. They were later divorced. He then married Winona Larson June 10, 1948 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Besides owning and operating the Hebdon Health Salon with his wife, he has been a carpenter, farmer, salesman. and an engineer at the LDS Hospital.
He was a member of the LDS Church and at the rime of his death was a high priest. He has served a stake mission, as secretary of high priests' quorum, Sunday School teacher and. in the Sunday school supentendency. He has been active in choir, served on genealogy committee, was ac-tive In MIA and was stake drama leader. He was one of the seven presidents of seventy and also active in senior Aaronic priesthood program.
Survivors include his widow, Winona Larson Benson Hebdon six sons, David L.. Harvy D. and Andrew D. Hebdon and Rondo L.~Benson all of Idaho Falls, Grant T. Benson of Rex-burg, and Truman R. Hebdon of Mesa, Ariz.; seven daughters, Linda D,'Hebdon of~Idaho Falls; Gloria W. Hebdon serving an LDS Mission in Ventura, Calif., De Lue Lang, Nelda Mae Randall and Iris Henderson, all of St.George, Utah Melva Joy Cannon and Claresia Kay Hunt both Of Salt Lake City, Utah; 43 grandchildren, and four sisters, Mrs. Harry (Erma) Lee of Rigby, Mrs. Ray (Nelda) Baker of Teton, Mrs. Jack (Donna Lue) Hart of Idaho Falls, and Mrs. Jerry (Barbara) Hovis of Shelley. He was preceded in death by one brother, Eldon services will held Wednesday at I PM. at the LDS 6th Ward Chapel Family will receive friends Tuesday from 7 to 9p.m. at the Woed Funeral Home and On Wednesday at the church one hour prior to services.
 Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.