Michael Cheney:  

SCHOOL - Last Updated - 8/2013 I have never been back to a Parkrose High School Reunion, so I am totally out of the loop with what has happened to the Class of "64". I did speak to the student body a number of years ago (1994). I have also seen the new high school and have had a chance to work with some of the troubled kids in a workshop. I have done training with the district, faculty and staff in 1989 and 1990. That was enjoyable. However, that's about it. I am enjoying reading the various history that some of you have given. I can tell we have all been granted some wonderful gifts in this life. I may be able to attend the next reunion. HISTORY - Last updated - 8/2013 Some history. I left for collage at the end of the summer of 64. The only school that would except me (1.4 GPA) was Ricks College, in Rexburg, Idaho. Today it is name BYU - Idaho. I had $72.53 to my name, so I had to hitchhike to get there. Met some very interesting folks on the trip. I had never prepared for going to college, as evidenced by my GPA so I was totally unprepared as to what was expected of me when I arrived. Surprise; it turned out that you had to have more than $72.53 to register for classes. It looked as if college was a bust. While hitchhiking out of town to return home, I was picked up by a potato farmer. He asked me why I was not going to school. I told him I did not have enough money. He asked if I really wanted to go and I said yes. He turned around and drove to the financial office and paid my tuition for the entire year. This man had me work my debit off by working on his farm each summer and fall. He paid for my entire education 1964 - 1969. I will never forget Nelton Ricks and what he did for me. When my oldest son Jason and my oldest daughter Heather went to college at BYU-Idaho, I took them by Nelton Ricks home so they could meet the man and his family who had shaped my life. I was very disappointed to find he had passed away. However, his oldest son had taken over the farm and he told my children a story I had not heard before. He asked if they knew why his father had stopped to pickup your father. They indicated they did not. Whereupon, he then related to them what his father had told them. He said his dad drove past a young buy who was hitchhiking and without any thought of picking him up, when he heard a voice that said "you need to help this boy get an education. You need to do it now". So he turned around and the rest is history. I am blessed to have had a heavenly Father watching out for me. I had never realized he had even known who I was. CHURCH SERVICE - Last Updated - 8/2013 I went to Texas in 1965 - 1967 to serve a 2 year mission for the LDS church. That service taught me more about who I was, why I was here and were I would go. I also learned how to work, teach, and place the needs of others before my own. It was wonderful seeing others except Jesus Christ and His teachings while finding purpose for themselves and their family's. I am currently serving as a High Councilor in our Stake & Sh...Expand for more