Wes Bagder

Arthur Wesley “Wes” Badger Wes was called back home by his Father in Heaven and into the arms of our Savior Jesus Christ at noon on Thursday, February 9, 2006, at his home in Elsinore, having lived a long and interesting life of 95+ years. He was born in Long Beach City, County of Los Angeles, California, on Friday October 13, 1910 to Earl Wayne and Susan Alice Sparks Badger. Subsequently, he enjoyed being raised as child number two to his (now deceased) sister, Carol. He enjoyed an idyllic childhood on the beach, on fishing boats (his favorite), and up to the time of death related many fascinating tales; i.e.: being awakened by pebbles hitting his upstair bedroom window at 3:30 or 4:00 in the morning, preparing friend egg sandwiches for he and his friends, and catching a place on one of the many fish boats in Long Beach Harbor. He and his friends were seemingly always lucky and the boys peddled their catch to the beach-side restaurants, earning money for the next day’s excursion. Wes’s family lived with his mother’s parents, his grandfather a retired attorney and his grandmother a retired school teacher, who paddled him across the back of his legs with a willow, he first selected, if his school papers did not meet her approval. As he grew older, he became enamored with the biddies the girls in his school wore and to the day of his death he spoke warmly of their pleated skirts and large, white sailor collars. Wes’s sister, Carol, took dancing lessons and she had an anxious and willing partner with whom to practice. The big bands of the 20's and 30's played in turn at several dance halls in Long Beach, and Wes was one of their youngest and most frequent customers. He bragged that he could remember at least fifty of the dance tunes, and proved it by singing them from time to time to the entertainment and delight of his second wife. The Badgers also had financial interests in Central Nebraska, and spent considerable time there. Some of their farms bordered on the Platte River, and Wes remembers warmly his father putting him in a number two wash tub and pulling him out to one of the many tow-heads, from which they fished or hunted ducks or other migrating birds. One of the proudest moments of his young life was receiving a twenty-two rifle for his seventh birthday. Along with the twenty-two came strongly worded instructions of the use and responsibility of gun ownership. He never forgot. During elementary and junior high school activities, he enjoyed hunting and fishing more than studying. At one time he begged his parents to let him quit high school and take a job with one of his friends at the fish cannery for the underwhelming amount of $5.00 a week. His father, was a real estate broker who arbitrated as many as five exchanges at a time and who acquired for is own benefit, numerous citrus groves and farms and raised the wheat which he fed his cattle. One occasion called for “killing off” several hundred of his cattle due to hoof and mouth disease. His father was a confirmed father figure for Wes, taking him on his buying and selling trips all across California. When, in Nebraska, Wes accompanied his father on daily inspections of their wheat and corn farms and through this experience, Wes became an excellent farmer. Wes became acquainted and enamored with a girl who attended his high school. Wes changed his viewpoint on the value of an education when she flatly told him she would never consider marrying an uneducated man. So, during the height of the depression, Wes attended the University of Southern California at Santa Barbara (USC). He carried the maximum load allowed, and completed a four-year course in Accounting and Financial Management with high grades in three years. The country was still in deep depression when he graduated, and he shook his head and laughed quite loudly over the first job he could find as the Accountant for a road building company that had a contract to construct Route 66 across the Stake of Arizona. His pay was twenty-five cents a day and room and board. We both regret in turning right instead of left on one of our trips from Southern California to Peach Tree Springs where he spent the very cold winter of 1932, doing his accounting work on that day’s business at night, buttoned in a warm coat his mother had sent him and wearing gloves with the fingers cut out so he could work on the books. He remains with a check of his head and deep regret having to tell his boss he was bankrupt. Back in Long Beach he found employment in the large Ford plant there. He worked all positions on the line, then a few months as Assistant to the head accountant and finally as the Comptroller for the company. This experience was followed by several years at Chrysler Motors and then on to one of his favorite jobs - with Firestone Rubber and Tire Company as Comptroller for their nine Western States. In the meantime, he wed his high school sweetheart, Mildred “Millie” Helen Scherbing, on October 12, 1933. With a $100.00 for a wedding present from his father, they spent all but $25.00 of it on a Class “A”, five-day, honey moon in San Francisco. Milly helped Wes in planning for the future and saving for it. On $2,000.00 they purchased their first plot of land on which was built some very bad “Fixer-Uppers” – but they succeeded and were soon on their way to a very successful building business. Wes then went into business with his father, earned his General Contractor’s license and they built five large tracts in Long Beach and Orange County. World War II was over and the G.I.’s were flocking to California , in early 1950. Wes was elected the first chairman of the B.I.C. in Southern California. This honor was his for three terms and he continues to hear from some of its members. By the end of the 50's and the beginning of the 60's, new construction was picking up - particularly in the more expensive neighborhoods and Wes enjoyed several of his models being pictured in Architectural Digest and several other magazines, such as Ladies Home Journal, Better Homes and Gardens, and Good Housekeeping. In the early 70's Wes was wheeled by daughter Sherry Ann to open a riding stable. This was a very successful venture until he decided to “retire” and shake California dust off his feet. He and Milly traveled some eleven hundred miles, cris-crossing the Western United States. They became enamored with Sevier County, Utah and took a long time in folding up their tents and moving to the home originally on 2500 North in Monroe, and now carrying an Elsinore address. The home originally built in 1875 does not qualify for heritage status since he remodeled it to its current configuration. He and Milly enjoyed more than sixteen years in this home of which he was very proud and in which he was very comfortable. Unfortunately, Milly passed away in July of 1993. Sometimes the highest compliment a man can pay a deceased wife – and so it was with Wes – that he remarried. Wes was involved in a lawsuit and it was in his attorney’s office that he found Milly’s replacement – marrying Luise Andersen Chadwick, his attorney’s secretary, on January 1, 1994. They have spent the last twelve years together, indulging in Wes’ love of travel with numerous trips back to Southern California, enjoying the great country-side near Yuma, Arizona, and personally frequently checking the status of his farms in Nebraska. Although blind, Wes traveled well with his wife at the wheel, relating tales the country-side reminded him of and relaxing nicely, content to live each day to the fullest – each day in his ninety-five plus years. Recently, on December 31, 2005, Wes decided to stop just enjoying his fine Mormon neighbors and acquaintances through the years and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This action took much more preparation than he thought it would, but he sailed through the requirements with the fine help of the local missionaries and home teachers. Brother Dayne and Sister Muriel Mathis, for some sixteen or seventeen years, and more recently, the fine lessons and unstinting assistance of Brother Bob Mattinson, combined to his baptism and he was so proud that he “finally did it”. He was looking forward to going to the Temple when authorized, at which time, he could be sealed to Milly and his daughter, Sherry Ann. He also planned to become very active in the Savior’s work. Although not a member of the Church until this late date, Wes lived the principles of the gospel his whole life. We share his regret at not reaching the age of one-hundred. Wes is survived by his wife, Luise of Elsinore; daughter Sherry Ann of Norfolk, Nebraska; step-son, Eugene Riley (Cynthia) Nielsen of Elsinore; brother Richard Earl (Betty) Badger of Orange Grove, California; two nieces, Joan (Dan) Wildfong of Dallas, Texas; Alice Reese of Hemet, California; two nephews: Michael Badger and Jesse Badger, both of Orange Grove, California. At his request, Wes’s remains will be cremated and burial will take place at a later date. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 11:00 A.M. at the Springer Turner Funeral Home in Richfield, with Bishop John Peterson of the Monroe 4th Ward officiating. Wes’s widow extends her sincere thanks to all who attended. Funeral Directors: Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield, Salina and Gunnison, Utah.