Madsen-Lauper Family Reunion 2004

Report on the 2004 Madsen-Lauper Family Reunion

Saturday, August 14, 2004, at Wheeler Historic Farm
Sunday, August 15, 2004, at Eagle Gate Apartments

Table of Contents

• Reunion Summary
• Many Thanks
• Special Considerations
• Reunion Events
• Quilt
• Getting To Know You
• Attendance
• Future Reunions

A few photographs are on this page, with more in a separate Album.
Some of the shots are a bit "candid". Don't worry: we've all been there!

In the Album, click on the Comments link below each photo to send a message about the photo. Click on Exit Album to return to this page.

If you have photos that you would like to share, by all means send them! reunion@lauper.org

Reunion Summary

Mix and Match happened!

It was a hot summer day, but not as hot as it could have been: trees, awnings and a few clouds offered pleasant shade. For the kids, the water in wading pools, water balloons and the irrigation canal also helped keep it cool.

Helen Bingham and I (David Peterson) spent most of the afternoon at the registration table (as expected), so I was unable to mingle much. From my vantage point, however, it looked like most everyone was having fun visiting and participating in the activities.

Judging from the reactions, the kids' activities and homemade ice cream were particular hits. The teens and young adults had a riotous time with the Pioneer Relay.

Thanks to those that participated in our Getting to Know You and Family Word Taboo games. I hope you came away with a little better knowledge of your family.

By the early evening, many were ready to call it a day, but a cadre of die-hards stayed on for the square and line dancing. We had great fun!

On Sunday morning, we were surprised to have our Reunion recognized in the Tabernacle. Then, we had a most enjoyable service at the Eagle Gate Apartments, hosted by Irene Buehner. Thanks to those who shared your feelings about family and your musical talents.

Many Thanks

• to the members of the Viola Lauper Johnson family who were heroic in their labors: lots of excellent preparation work and much unsung effort in CLEAN-UP.
• to all the family members that helped with the set-up and take-down of chairs and tables.
• to Wilma Stocker for supervising the quilting with assitance from Paulie Hutchings.
• to Wilma Stocker, Brad Danielson and Michael Lauper for excellent displays.
• to Helen Bingham for creating the 34-foot chart "Descendants of Hans Madsen" that hung from the rafters, for supplying other family memorabilia, for help in identifying and contacting family members.
• to those that brought pictures.
• to Irene Buehner and family for hosting the Sunday service and providing delicious refreshments.
• to Dennis Brown and Aaron Lauper for sharing their photos.
• to Karen Talbert for our Mix and Match logo.

Special Considerations

To my knowledge, there were three people unable to attend due to serious health concerns.

Richard H. Madsen - is confined to home due to kidney failure requiring frequent dialysis. He is also recovering from a series of heart attacks.

Viola Lauper Johnson - had emergency surgery for a blocked intestine four days before the Reunion. At the age of 91, this is a particularly delicate operation and difficult convalescence.

LaMont Wardle - had hernia surgery the week before the Reunion. An unexpected, adverse reaction to the surgery has placed him in a coma and he continues to be in a very precarious condition.

Our prayers are for well-being of these stalwart individuals and their families.

Reunion Events

Quilt

We had a sheltered spot set up on the lawn where family members could participate in tying a baby quilt. Those who helped had their names entered in a drawing for another quilt, made beforehand by Viola Lauper Johnson and displayed nearby. I failed to do the drawing in front of everyone, as planned, but I later did it in front of several witnesses ("in the mouths of two or three...")

The winner was Marc Blocker (8 years old; great-great-grandson of Emma Lauper). The patriotic red-white-blue quilt will be sent to him.

The baby quilt will be donated to the Carmelite Monastery Humanitarian Project.

Getting to Know You

Here is the list of the descriptions and the people that fit them. Some of these descriptions are rather "unusual"!

1. Bonnie Goodliffe, Ping Pong Champion as a youth
2. Lawrie Greene, Showed Arabian horses
3. Christopher Phillips, Served a mission in Albania
4. Shane Mylar, Earned a Black Belt at age 11
5. Amy Greene, Has broken jaw twice
6. Richard Ahlgren, Leaves this month to serve mission in Santiago Chile Mission
7. Glade Goodliffe, Played violin in BYU Symphony Orchestra
8. Helen Bingham, Voted Woman of the Year in her city
9. Marc Ellison, Has survived a bone marrow transplant
10. Irene Buehner, The oldest living descendant of Hans AND Maria Madsen
11. Norm Stocker, Learned to bake pies in high school
12. Stevie Gates, Likes to read dictionaries & encyclopedias
13. Lamont Wardle, Has an airplane in his driveway

    Getting to Know You

14. Dennis Brown, Has traveled to Aruba
15. Marc Lauper, Has read 13 books on military history this last year
16. Max Davis, Has won two poetry contests
17. Julie Lauper-Cook, Has lived in 4 foreign countries
18. Drew Hooper, Earned a frequent flyer travel award before age 4
19. Tom & Julie Bradley, Attended dedication of Cochabamba Bolivia Temple
20. Crawford Gates, Is an arithmomaniac .
21. Richard Bushman, Has driven for over 40 years but doesn't own a car
22. Gabe Davis, Is learning to ride a unicycle
23. Marilyn Hunsaker, Is a foster parent
24. Brooke Storheim, Studied in London, England
25. Doug Peterson, Recently threw an alley-oop to an NBA player
26. Ashli Storheim, Has Hawaiian ancestry
27. Barney Madsen, Is a lawyer with a felony charge
28. Maddy Peterson, Usually refers to herself in the third person
29. Lanae Hooper, Has eaten turtle casserole
30. Sloan Hutchings, Always has to carry a gas mask while at work
31. Jed Madsen, Attending BYU on academic scholarship but has no high school diploma
32. Tiffany Greene, Has hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim
33. Robert Ahlgren, Is a graduate of the Marine Corps
34. Georgia Gates, Has danced the can can
35. Dave Lauper, Has visited every Swiss town/area with Lauper name in its title
36. Jack Bingham, Delivered a baby outside the delivery room
37. Truman Madsen, Has spent 5 years in the Holy Land
38. Sage Cook, Walked at 7 months
39. Connie Madsen, An accomplished water color artist
40. Claudia Bushman, Was written up in "National Enquirer"
41. Grant Davis, Likes to surf in Central America
42. Frank Madsen, Worked with President Reagan
43. Summer Peterson, Teaches a volleyball class
44. Danielle Blocker, Has been chased by a moose
45. Laura Hutchings, Enjoys reading Harry Potter in Latin
46. Kathy Bingham, Won cutest baby contest in Kamas, Utah
47. Erik Storheim, Toured Australia with a rugby team

Attendance

Here is our best effort at counting who was there. Not everyone checked in at the registration table, so we may have missed some or made other mistakes. In particular, we failed to note down most of the names of children under the age of four. Please let me know if you have a correction. reunion@lauper.org

The names are divided into the three main branches, then by family unit. Total numbers include both adults and children.

Branch	Saturday	Sunday
Lauper	86	40
Madsen-Sorensen	63	21
Madsen-Tetzner	47	0
TOTALS	196	61

Lauper Branch

Blocker	Nathan & Danielle Marc Tanner Karina
Brown	Dennis & Shirley-Ann Barbara
Brown	Eric & Karen
Bushman	Richard & Claudia
Danielson	Brad Abby
Ellison	Don & Susan David
Ellison	Marc & Yvonne Aaron Ashley Crystal Justin Sarah
Gates	Crawford & Georgia
Gates	Stephen & Nancy Stephen
Goodliffe	Glade & Bonnie
Goodliffe	Stephanie
Hooper	Lanae Drew Clayton Maryn
Hutchings	Gib & Paulie
Hutchings	Sloan & Laura
Kennedy	Elisa Rachel Tanner Christian Nate
Lauper	Dave & Judy Michael Jenny Aaron Adam
Lauper	Frances
Lauper	Jane
Lauper	Marc
Lauper	Troy & Angelina
Lauper-Cook	Julie Cassandra
Miner	Paul & JoAnn
Myler	Shane & Alyson
Peterson	David & Linda
Peterson	David (Jr.)
Peterson	Doug & Summer Maddy Eliza
Rodgers	Natalie Andrea
Smith	Jeff & guest Amy Sullivan
Smith	Roger
Stocker	Norman & Wilma
Storheim	Erik & Brooke Sam
Storheim	Matt & Ashli Isaac Luke
Storheim	Steve & guest Emmy Maloutas
Wardle	Becky
Wardle	Margaret Lynette Whitney

Madsen-Sorensen Branch

Bingham	Jack & Helen
Bingham	Kathy
Buehner	Irene
Cornaby	Brice & Stacey Kaitlyn Steven
Davis	Grant & Mindy Max Molly Gabriel
Gordon	Robyn Jamison Sequoia Sibhana Daemien
Hulet	Brian & Debra
Madsen	Barney & Cynthia Jed Kelly David Caroline
Madsen	Ben & Jeanetta
Madsen	Melanie
Madsen	J.R. & Mavis Chris Jeremy
Madsen	Truman & Ann
Merrill	Mark & Alexis Ava
Merrill	Penny
Merrill	Scott & Robin Allison Erin Jenna Marie
Merrill	Taylor
Merrill	Tom & Nancy Andrew Zachary Amelia
Sherman	Darrell & Jane Samuel Joseph Mark Daniel
Sudweeks	Mindy McKennan Michaela Mitchel
Terry	Connie
Whittle	Trent & Susan

Madsen-Tetzner Branch

Ahlgren	Ralph & Michelle Ashley David Jennifer Richard Robert
Bagley	Thomas & Julie
Densford	Karen
Jackson	Elizabeth
Jackson	Richard
Jackson	Steven
Jackson	Christopher & Jennifer
Greene	Robert & Lawrie Amy Eric
Greene	Ryan & Tiffany
Hunsaker	Lawry & Marilyn
Huntsman	David & Michelle Allison Sarah David Annie Mae Elle Daniel
Jensen	Kent & Lisa Zachary
Madsen	Frank & Connie
Madsen	David
Madsen	Doralee
Morrill	Kathleen Brie Maddie
Phillips	Christopher & Emily
Rawlings	Mary Lou
Rawlings	Stephen & Julie

Future Reunions

In conversation with Truman Madsen and Mavis Madsen, the subject came up: "when will we do this again?" They also noted that you shouldn't "ask a woman when she's having her next child just after she's given birth"!

My response and advice is that it would be wonderful to have a get-together in the future, but on a much simpler scale. Perhaps just a dinner and a mingling activity. Anyone who wishes to step forward and take on such an activity has my support! I would also recommend that each branch have their own reunions, but offer an open invitation to members of other branches that may wish to attend.

The Laupers, without a doubt, will continue their tradition of Family Reunions. In our regular rotation, responsibility for next year's reunion falls to the Dennis Lauper Branch, headed by Marc D. Lauper. As soon as information about that reunion is known, it will be made available.

Of course, if there is to be an open invitation, there has to be open and ongoing communication. I continue to volunteer my services as a webmaster for the family website and framework that I have established. I hope that we can continue to expand the resources for family history and information that it can provide. I hope that it can be a focal point for communication and sharing.

I have created a database of addresses, but in this mobile day and age, those can quickly become obsolete. In the case of the Lauper Branch, especially, I will be actively working to keep the "arteries" open and clear (with much assistance from Georgia Gates' Lauper Family Directory). I will, of course, continue to share information with any and all members of the other Madsen branches who are interested. Perhaps there are volunteers among the Madsens who wish to also volunteer as a "Branch Manager" and focal point for family contact and/or history information??

If we wish to have strong family bonds, then we have to be willing to define the nature of those bonds and willing to make the effort to maintain those bonds. I welcome and encourage constructive suggestions and efforts to keep our family connected.