Marti Clayson, DUP Museum President, welcomes everyone under the shady trees on the lawn next to the museum to hear the announcement of this year's Royalty.
Jolene Thomas, President of the Weber Far South West Company announces their queen:
Marilyn Briem Blakeley
Marilyn Briem Blakeley was born in 1934, in Ogden, Utah. She is a daughter of Leland Jesse Briem and Edity Ivy Gidney. In 1953, Marilyn married LuJean "Luke" Blakeley. She is the mother of 2 children and has 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, whom she loves dearly!
Education is important to Marilyn. She graduated from Weber State University at age 58. At age 74, Marilyn graduated from Utah State University with a master's degree. She celebrated her academic success by skydiving into the Ogden High School Football Stadium, at age 74!
Marilyn joined Daughters of Utah Pioneers in 2004. She is a member of Camp Sunbonnet in the Weber Far South West Company, where she has served as the Parliamentarian and Lesson Leader.
Marilyn has volunteered assisting elementary school students with their reading skills. She also hosts an annual Pirate Party for neighborhood children. She has served as a Cub Scout Den Mother, teacher in Primary and Young Women's classes, Meetinghouse Librarian, and Ogden Temple Receptionist. Marilyn has used her writing skills to write and direct a Roadshow - a short, humorous play, starring the residents of Harrison Regent Senior Living. Marilyn was responsible for three scenes in the "Walk with Christ" presentation.
Marilyn Briem Blakeley's pioneer ancestor is George Gidney, who was born and raised in Sharrington, Norfolk, England. When he was 22 years old, he and his father immigrated to America. George crossed the plains in 1860 with the Daniel Robinson Handcart Company. President Brigham Young assigned him to assist in building the new settlement of Brigham City, Utah. He became a great and generous landowner. He had two wives - Elizabeth Sarll, the mother of 9 children, and Emma Rand, the mother of 6. George Gidney died of pneumonia at age 66, in 1905.
Trudy Pehrson, President of the Weber North Company, announces their queen:
Heather Marie Bartholomew Neilson
Heather was born two and a half months early on February 14, 1972, in Napa, California to John and Debra Bartholomew. Her parents moved a lot with work opportunities, including Salt Lake City; Lewiston, Utah; Roswell, New Mexico; Harwood, Texas; Kearney, Missouri; Weston, Idaho; Logan, Utah, and Ogden. Heather and her husband Paul have lived in Pleasant View for 28 years.
Heather graduated from Logan High School and attended Utah State University with a major in Interior Design. She started photography in 1995 and has not put the camera down since! Heather enjoys getting out in Nature and meeting new people by taking their photos.
Heather and Paul Neilson were sealed in the Logan Temple in 1992. They have four children, two girls and two boys. She has loved being a stay-at-home Mom, with a side hobby business!
Heather joined Daughters of Utah Pioneers in 20089 and is a member of Camp Evergreen in Weber North Company. She has served as a Camp Captain, vice-captain, historian, and on the Company board as a vice-captain and social media expert. She feels that there is a new younger generation interested in pioneer history and is excited about the future of DUP!
Heather volunteered on the Weber County Holiday Festival planning committee for the entire 5 years that it ran and has wonderful memories from serving as their photographer. She is the legal guardian for her brother who has autism and assists her autistic nephew.
Heather has been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life. She has served in various positions in the Primary, Relief Society and Young Women's organizations. She has also served as a Cub Scout leader and loved supporting her four children who worked summers at Scout Camp.
James Henry Rollins, Heather's pioneer ancestor, was born in Lima, New York in 1816. When James was a boy, his father, John Porter Rollins, died in a shipwreck on Lake Erie while transporting cattle. His mother, Keziah Van Benthusysen Rollins, took James and his two sisters to Ohio to live with her brother and his wife. Her brother, Sydney Gilbert, was the co-owner of the Whitney store. James began working at the store at an early age and was asked to be a clerk as a teen. He was always willing to serve when needed and learned new skills, such as stonecutting for the Nauvoo Temple. His first wife was Eveline Chrissy Walker and they had 10 children. His second wife was Hannah Hulme and they had 13 children. In 1847 James was asked to stay in Council Bluffs and raise crops for pioneers leaving the next seasons. He came to the Salt Lake Valley in 1848 with the Willard Richards Company. James was appointed to settle in San Bernardino and served as the District Attorney. He later returned to Utah, settling in Minersville in Southern Utah, where he was called to be the Bishop of the Lower Beaver Ward. James was elected to the Utah Territorial House of Representatives in 1867. Later in his life he moved to Lyman, Wyoming to be close to family and died there in 1899.
Joyce Schmitt, President of the Weber North East Company, announces their queen:
Catherine Joan Eskelsen Anderson
Catherine Eskelsen Anderson was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1958, the daughter of Virginia Elizabeth Bird and Richard Morrison Eskelsen. Three other children - sister Kim and brothers Todd and Dan - were also born into the family.
Catherine graduated from Box Elder High School in Brigham City. She then went on to graduate from Utah State University with a degree in Home Economics and Consumer Education. Catherine taught in Utah schools in the Wayne, Uintah, Box Elder, Weber, and Ogden City School Districts. She taught Home Economics, Special Education, and English as a Second Language, retiring from Ogden High School in 2013. She then went on to teach another year at the Utah Military Academy.
Catherine married Vic Harold Anderson in Ogden, Utah. They are the parents of Emily Catherine, Sarah Vee, and Kyle. Vic passed away in 2018. The family shared summers at Lake Powell, skiing, camping, and snowmobiling at Yellowstone National Park. Catherine saw 44 states in the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico, riding on the back of Vic's motorcycle! Two sons-in-law and four granddaughters have been added to the family. Family continues to be the most important part of Catherine's life.
Catherine is a member of Camp Segio Lily, Weber Noerth East Company, in Daughters of Utah Pioneers. She has been the 2nd Vice President, historian, lesson leader, and outreach coordinator in her Camp.
Catherine volunteers as a Weber Master Gardener and a blood platelet donor.
Catherine has served as the Relief Society President of her ward for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was also a Sunday school teacher, in the Young Women's Presidency, and a Temple Work and Family History Specialist.
Annora Coleman Boden, Catherine's ancestor, was born at Pontypool, South Wales in 1828. She was the daughter of James and Mary Coleman. When her father died, leaving her mother with five small children, and living in poor circumstances, Annora went to work early in her life. As a young girl, she worked in a confectionary store, where people made their own candy. Annora learned to make candy as she worked. Annora married James Boden, eventually becoming the mother of eleven children. James and Annora came to Utah in 1868, traveling by ox teams and wagons. A baby boy was born while crossing the plains. He lived for twelve days and was buried on the plains. Husband James became ill as they crossed the plains, becoming worse as they traveled. He died the day after they reached Salt Lake City. Annora joined other family members already living in Brigham City, earning money for her children by making candy and doing any other work that she could get. When her daughters got old enough to help, Anora operated a hotel in Brigham City. Well-known for her hospitality, Annora died in 1899.
Linda Fulmer, President of the Weber West Company, announces their queen:
LaDee Everton Eastland Jensen
Gwen (Winnifred) Lloyd Roberts Evans, LaDee’s ancestor, was born in 1823 in LLanbrothanshire, North Wales to John Lloyd and Catherine Evans Lloyd. She came to the United States with her 1st husband- Daniel Roberts and 4 small children in 1850. Her husband and 1 child died of cholera and were buried on the bank of the Mississippi River. Gwen did not know the language or anyone, but with her remaining 3 children she traveled to and spent the winter of 1851 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Going from there to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in the spring Gwen fitted out an ox team and wagon and crossed the plains to the Utah Territory. As they came into the valley, they were met by some Welsh friends with melons and other supplies. When Gwen got to Salt Lake City, a man asked her to marry him. When she refused, he made her pay for the supplies he had given her. In 1853 she married Captain David R. Evans at Brigham City, Utah. He died in 1861 leaving Gwen with a family of 8 children. Four years later the two youngest children died and were buried in the same grave. Gwen moved to Malad, Idaho in 1871 and lived there the rest of her life. Gwen died in 1909 in Malad, Idaho at age 86 and was buried in Brigham City, Utah.
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