Author Archives: Rich

Death, Am I Calloused?

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Today we had to put Max (our dog) down.  This dog lived for seventeen years, far beyond the lifespan of most dogs.  He had a good life, not having to do much during those 17 years, but chew up a few good shoes, go on a walks or hikes and just lay around being a friend.  Lately though, he was having a hard time laying down, he was deaf and his eyesight was failing.  He recently had cancer surgery in his mouth and it was hard for him to eat.  The last few days he had stopped eating and so we knew it was time.  Continue reading →

Denning Grocery

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This story begins thirty-five years before the marriage of Dick and Leann Denning.   In fact, it starts prior to their births, back in 1919.   My Grandpa Denning, George W. Denning, had returned from World War I in late 1918 and was married to Grandma Denning, Zoie Telford, on January 8, 1919.  While enlisted in the war, my Grandpa was not able to pay for the farm that he owned and so on his return, he lost most of his land to the bank.  That meant that he, like most other soldiers returning from the war, was looking for work.

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Near Misses

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Have you ever had a near miss?   One of those situations in life where you are just happy to have made it through.  I have read stories about people going to war and making it home, not understanding why they made it and the person next to them did not.  Rachel told me a story about pulling into a gas station to get gas and as she stepped out of her car, she realized there was a gun fight happening and she was right in the middle of it.  So many possible outcomes in a situation like this, and yet she was able to drive away unharmed.  Not all circumstances turn out in a favorable way, but if we are here to talk about it, then those near misses have had a positive outcome. Continue reading →

Love and Tragedy

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Since most of those reading this story know and love Leann Rigby Denning, it will come as no surprise when I tell you that she is a model when it comes to showing kindness and love.  There have been very few times in my life, where I have witnessed any anger from my mother.  Continue reading →

Lost Candy

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Growing up in Iona there was no public transportation, which means that our only way of going anywhere, was walking, biking or by car.  Oh, there were horses, but since we didn’t own one, that was not an option for us.  Giving that none of us kids were old enough to drive, that meant we did a lot of walking and biking.  Continue reading →

Mountain Hike, Highs and Lows

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As I have mentioned previously, every year we would do a Rigby Family campout, where all my mother’s siblings and their families would gather at a designated place and spend the week camping.  These weeks would consist of water sports, campfires, food, hiking and anything else we could think of doing.  This post is about a hike we did while camping at Redfish Lake, located in the Sawtooth mountains in central Idaho.

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Teenage Confidence

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As teenages, we all feel that we can do anything and in some sense of the word, have no fear.   The act of stopping and trying to understand all the consequences of a choice does not necessarily happen, only that it would be a lot of fun.   The following story is about a decision that I made as a 15 year old that taught me how little I knew at that time in my life.

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Dick Denning, Who was He?

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Back in 2021, I received an email from a man, Joe Storer, who grew up in Iona, Idaho.   He was 4 or 5 years older than me and lived across the street from our first house in Iona.  At the time mentioned in this email, I would have been quite young and Dad would have been very busy helping his father with the Iona Grocery Store.   I know we sometimes talk about Dad’s temper and some of his funny ways, but this story tells you about the type of man he was.  He was caring, loving and was always thinking of others in the best possible way.  I know that most of you have already read this story, but I wanted to put it out here for all to read again, so that we don’t forget how great this man was. Continue reading →

Bus Tour

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On December 17th, my family will be starting a Cruise aboard the Carnival Panorama Ship, down the Mexican Riviera for 7 days of fun and sun.  Three years ago, Rachel said,  “let’s plan a family vacation.”  So I started thinking about what would be a good trip for the family, and after Tonya and I did a Christmas cruise last December and I was watching all the kids enjoying themselves on the ship, I thought this would be a great family vacation.  So I proposed it and they all thought it a good idea.  So we started planning in January, booked it in February and paid for it in September.   The group is made up of 33 individuals; all my girls (Rachel, Rebeca, Maegen, and Michelle) and their families; two of Tonya’s boys (Eric and Kyle) and their families; Tonya, myself and grandma.  Since the cruise is around Christmas, it is considered a Holiday Cruise, so the ship will be decorated for Christmas.  As a Grandfather, having my children and their children on this trip is very exciting, as all my children can attest to, having had to listen to me talk about it all year.   It takes me back some 28 years ago, when my Dad did a similar type vacation, not a cruise, but a Bus Tour.

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