Retta Gudmundsen Loveless and Fanny Gudmundsen Brunt

Retta Gudmundsen 1896 – 1978, first child of Lettie Austin and Abraham Gudmundsen, she would make the moves required in raising and caring for large families. Hers was a growing family, with two from her father’s first marriage, two from her mother’s first marriage and four following her. For all the innovative work her father did he yet needed to feed and clothe these children. Steady work would come from without, and finally the family would settle in Payson, Utah where Retta’s father worked at the Utah Idaho Sugar plant.

Retta married Parley Oscar Loveless of Payson and they raised their own family there, which consisted of Helen, Duane, Gordon and Austin.

Retta’s home encouraged the mind as well as the spirit, her children would demonstrate this through various career choices and active church membership. Qualities found throughout her siblings and cousins as well.

Fanny Gudmundsen, born in 1890, was the first daughter in Isaac and Mary Ann’s family. She would, by 1901 be the eldest of three, with six brothers (three older, three younger). She was the first of the Gudmundsen children to born in the community of Iona, Idaho, where there would be Mulliner cousins, as her maternal grandmother had settled there also.

An astute observer, Fanny produced a large body of creative writing, garnering awards and memberships in writing organizations. One book at least, that I have seen, was published by one G Lynn Garff! It has been told that Fanny’s literary activity kept her away from home often -something this writer can well imagine -  and this affected her children, though at least two daughters have left well written histories of their families. [LaVon Brunt Eyring’s children have submitted a history of their parents with a chart that shows connections with (other) notable families: think of Kimballs, Romneys and Kirkhams.]

Fanny married Joseph Alfred Brunt, a native of Kaysville, Utah in 1910. He was employed in management and sales in family businesses. His death came in 1948.

Fanny Gudmundsen Brunt passed away in 1970 in Riverside, California, and with her husband is now at rest in Idaho Falls, Idaho.