Vance Clifton Koon
By: Mandy Simmons
Vance
Clifton Koon was born October 14, 1918 in Union, Madison, Idaho, USA. He grew
up in and around Thornton, Idaho. At the age of 22 on February 7, 194 he
married Eliza Elna Petersen. They were married in Lyman, Madison, Idaho. Vance
and Elna had 8 children, 6 boys and 2 girls. They lived in a two story, four
bedroom home on a farm. A small canal or slough ran through the property that
his children and grandchildren still love to play and swim in. The slough is
bordered by cattails. On one side (the house
side) of the slough in a small but beautiful apple orchard, the other side is
farmland. He lived here until his death on January 14, 1979.
Vance
held many different jobs in his life including a soldier for the United States
Army during WWII, a farmer, and running the boilers at Mammoth Hot Springs in
Yellowstone National Park. He had a calm temperament but could have a temper.
He loved his family and was a good example to them. Vance disapproved of
breaking the law, bad language and lying. As punishment for bad behavior Vance
would use a switch, stand the offending person(s) in the corner, or lecture them
to try and teach them what was right and what he expected.
A favorite pastime of Vance’s was to
go fishing and hunting which he would include his children in. The celebrated
holidays in true American fashion and ate their meals as a family around the
dinner table. Meals would include pork ham, mutton, fish, homemade bread, and vegetables
grown fresh from their garden. Some family traditions that Vance enjoyed was
fishing together, farming with cousins and uncles, and having family get
togethers (a tradition that continued with his children and their families). Vance
encouraged his children to go to school to get an education. He was a Presbyterian
and was a member of a small church in New Caledonia.[1]
[1]
All information was taken from
family records and an interview with Bruce L. Koon, one of Vance’s sons.
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