My maternal grandmother, Nancy Lerona Durfee (“Nana”), was born July 31, 1890, in Willard, Utah to Henry “Hank” Miller Durfee and Rosa Florence Nicholas.  On May 31, 1902, they moved back to Almo, Idaho where they worked in ranching.  Rosa Florence Nicholas's mother always lived with them.  They built a very lovely rock home in Almo and for many years owned and operated Durfee Hot Springs swimming pool--a natural warm water spring on their ranch.  People from all around the country came to go swimming. 

    Nancy married Orville Welton Ward December 18, 1912, in Boise, Idaho.  They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple June 5, 1913.

   Gramp made his living as a rancher in Almo. I loved to go to Gramp and Nana’s house for visits.  I was curious about ranch life.  It was fun to be around the horses, cows, pigs, and chickens.  I remember being fascinated watching them milk the cows.  I loved the wide open spaces at the ranch.  They had a rock garden that I thought was kind of odd.  My mom was sentimental enough about the rocks that she brought many of them down to our house in Burley and started a rock garden of her own.

   Unfortunately, most of my memories of Gramp are after he suffered a stroke in about 1967 that left him paralyzed on his right side and unable to speak.  He lived for the next 10 years in the long term care unit at the Burley hospital.  Nana would alternate between staying with us so she could visit Gramp and living in Almo to look after her home.  Nana’s health declined after Gramp’s stroke and she died about five years later and was buried in the Almo cemetary.