1 Apr 1889 – 16 Jan 1974
Wife of Theodore Cardon Merrill
Brief Life History of Anna Wettstein
Contributed By Mary Ann Bakke
Anna Wettstein was born 1 April 1889, in Ostermundigen, Bern, Switzerland. to Daniel Wettstein Sr. and Anna Pauli. She came to America in 1898 with her sister, Rose, who were both brought by Lewis Cardon, a mission president at the time. Incidentally, he was the brother of her future mother-in-law, Martha Mary Cardon. She sailed into Boston, eventually making her way to Utah and settled in Benson, Utah.
Anna went to school for four or five years, then her stepmother took her to Providence, Utah, where she went to work, thus ending her schooling. She worked at a variety or places, including for Martha Mary Cardon Merrill.
She married Theodore Cardon Merrill 3 April 1912, in the Logan Temple. Their honeymoon was in Rush Valley, Utah, where Theo homesteaded. Their children were: Dean Wettstein, born in Richmond, Ut, on 19 May, 1913; Roswell, born in Richmond, Ut, 28 March 1916, and lived only a week and a half, passing on 8 April, 1916; Cleve Wettstein was born in Richmond 13 November, 1918; Theodore Cardon was born in Preston, ID, 16 May 1921, and died 13 May 1941, from appendicitis; Wayne Wettstein was born in Preston 26 August, 1922; DeMar Wettstein was born in Preston 3 Sept, 1928.
After Cardon died, Anna kept saying to herself, “Oh, if I could only see him again!” Then one-night Cardon appeared to her, staying for only a second, saying “Mother!” He was wearing different clothing than the ones in which he was buried. After this appearance she felt sad and cried a lot but was able to complete his temple work. Anna got her patriarchal blessing on 4 March 1934, by James T. Williams.
Anna lived in many different houses in Preston during her lifetime. including one in the third ward. During the depression she and her family were quite poor as was everyone else. The house they lived in was extremely cold in the winter, so they kept fires going all night long.
She used to visit her mother-in-law, fondly referred to as ‘Little Grandma’ because of her slight statue. While there she would brush Mary’s long, long hair.
Anna enjoyed getting together with her family and grandchildren for family dinners and Christmas celebrations with Santa Clause. She had a fake, silver Christmas tree that was lit from a rotating multi-colored lamp that shone onto it from the floor. The tree was covered with some round ornaments, not exactly kid-friendly! Some grandchildren remember eating with her and were always served noodles with parmesan cheese. After Theo died, occasionally grandchildren would stop by after school and play ‘Rook’ with her. A favorite activity was to play her old, tall phonograph and sing along to the silly songs.
Anna and Theo lived in a comfortable two-bedroom home. Their room was complete with twin beds, connected with the heads together. Otherwise, there was an aisle between the two for ease of making the beds up each morning. Their bathroom had a wide, deep tub which the grandchildren loved to use. Visitors needing the restroom went either through their room or through a long closet just off the living room. The spare bedroom was also off the living room and was accessed through double doors. From this room one could access the upstairs via a curved wooden staircase, which created a feeling of wonder and hours of exploration for the grandchildren. It was fascinating to visit the small apartment upstairs, complete with old beds, roll-top desk, wood-burning stove no longer useable, and the most unique was the old lavatory with a cistern attached to the wall complete with a chain to pull! This room was not useable either, but the hardware made for imaginations gone wild!
Anna’s family enjoyed sitting on her front lawn to watch the Preston parade pass directly in front during the annual, three-day rodeo celebration. The best seats were sitting with feet in the gutter or on her flower bed on the front lawn built up about 2 feet with bricks.
She was happily married to Theodore, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1962, and was shocked at his passing two years later. To keep herself busy she began quilting and was able to finish any quilt in just a week’s time, working from morning until she went to bed. Her fingers became calloused from being pricked so much with the needles she used. She had an opportunity to go to Hawaii but refused because she had heard stories about the rats and cockroaches. Even offers for help from her daughters-in-law couldn’t persuade her to go. Afterwards she bemoaned the fact that she had not taken advantage of that opportunity.
Grandma was quite reserved and not openly affectionate with her family, but they knew she loved them. She seemed embarrassed at times to receive a kiss on her cheek. Because she didn’t show emotions it was a challenge, after Theo passed, to see her break down and cry.
She celebrated her 80th birthday at her home in Preston on 30 March 1969, surrounded by family and friends. She was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of her life and at that time was serving as a visiting teacher.
Anna died 16 Jan 1974. at the age of 85 and was buried in Richmond, Utah, beside her husband Theodore Cardon Merrill.
Anna W. Merrill
PRESTON – Anna Wettstein Merrill, 84, died Wednesday at Preston Hospital of natural causes.
She was born April 1, 1889, in Berne, Switzerland, a daughter of Daniel and Anna Paul Wettstein. She married Theodore Cardon Merrill April 3, 1912, in Logan, Utah. He died Feb. 28, 1964.
She was a member of the LDS Church.
Survivors include three sons, Cleve W. of San Pedro, Calif. and Wayne W. and Demar W. both of Preston; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Three sons, Dean W. Cardon W, and Roswell W., preceded her in death. Also surviving are one brother, Ern Wettstein of Palm Springs, Calif.; four half-brothers, Lyman Wettstein of Logan, Ray and Glen Wettstein of Bountiful, Utah and Lewis Wettstein of Ontario, Ore.; four half-sisters, Mrs. Glen (Mina) Finnlayson, Mrs. Carl (Lilly) Wahler, Mrs. Monty (Hazel) Eschier, and Mrs. Tony (Alice) Bond, all of Salt Lake City.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in the Preston Seventh Ward LDS chapel with Bishop Wayne D. Bell officiating. Friends may call at Webb Mortuary from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and afternoon Saturday. Burial will be in the Richmond, Utah cemetery.
-Published in the Idaho State Journal (Pocatello, Idaho), Thursday, January 17, 1974, Page 2.
similar obituaries:
-Published in the Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT), Thursday, January 17, 1974, Page 30.
-Published in The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT), Friday, January 18, 1974, Page 10 B (34).
-Published in The Herald-Journal (Logan, UT), Thursday, January 17-18, 1974, Page 4.
Richmond City Cemetery, Richmond, Cache County, Utah
