Garry Bowen

(Nada December 1955)

When I was a senior in high school, I kept seeing a beautiful red and white 1950 Chevy that would pass my corner every day on the way to school. After Christmas, I saw it parked at our neighbor's that lived around the corner from us. My curiosity was growing ever so much!

It was a Sunday afternoon on February 26th, 1956, when my best friend, Kay Fullmer, came and woke me up to say, "You know that red chevy you have been drooling over? Garry Bowen is the one who owns it, and he is sitting out there wanting to meet you." When I went to the door and looked out, I just about fainted! There was the red and white car! Wow! I was excited! He took us for a spin, and we all went to a Stake Fireside that night. I was on Cloud #9! That day began our life time of love and courtship. 

(Nada and Garry)

After the Fireside, there were many more dates and trips to Driggs to meet his folks! Even rides on the big sleigh, as I rode on hay bales while Garry fed the cattle along the snow banks and across the snow covered fields out in Bates. 

(Nada and Garry: First Formal Dance 1956)

I graduated from Madison High School in May 1956. After graduation, I escorted two younger girls back to Arizona. My friend, Maureen Romney, had been in our home each summer for two years studying music at Ricks College, so as my graduation present my folks gave me the week long trip to Tucson, Arizona, where Maureen and I had a great time. 

(Nada's High School Yearbook Picture)

I sure was glad to get back to Idaho, as my good looking Driggs man was there to greet me. Garry was very busy up at Ricks College. He was on the tumbling team and President of the Alpha Delta Club.

(Garry Bowen)

There was a contest to choose a name for the Ricks College Marching Team, and Garry won $5 for naming them "The Vikadettes" (which they still go by after 60+ years).

(Nada 1956)

I entered Ricks College in June 1956 and was historian of the Omega Club my first year, and Pledging Vice President the second year. I also had a summer job on the painting crew. We painted many classrooms and the girls dorm on College Avenue. What fun we had!

(Nada and Garry)

(Nada and Garry 1956)

(Garry and Nada with Ruth and Laurn 1956)

Garry and I were engaged on December 25, 1956 and decided to get married in March, as a mission wasn't stressed like it is now. So I had my engagement picture and announcement in the paper, and bought my material for my wedding dress.

Our parents were very unhappy when Garry decided not to go on a mission, but they said, "If you will seek the counsel of Patriarch Larson, we'll accept what he advises." So we went over and brought him to our home (as he was blind, and our parents wanted to be present), and he told us to GET MARRIED! We thought he would say, "Mission first!"

But as the wedding got closer, we didn't feel like the time was right. The spirit said, "Mission first." Garry then told me, before his mom died when he was nine, she had asked him to promise her he would go on a mission. Plus, a friend of his got married without going, and had regretted it. He said, "Garry, I'm sure Nada will wait for you. Then you will have both your mission and marriage."

We took our endowments out the same day on October 30, 1957 in the Idaho Falls Temple.

(Nada and Garry on their endowment day: October 30, 1957)

Then Garry left on his mission to the Central States in November. What choice experiences he shared with me!

(Garry Bowen 1957)