Rhoda Stowell Spencer (who was named after her mother Rhoda) was born October 21, 1911 in Colonia Juarez Mexico. She was the youngest of 9 children in her immediate family, and youngest of 25 children born to her father, who had 3 wives. (Yep, polygamy). When she was 9 mos. old her family fled the country because of the Mexican revolution. The women and children went first, on a train, in the middle of the night with the lights off in order to avoid revolutionaries. They made it safely to El Paso, Texas, and lived in a lumberyard set up by the city for the refugees until Rhoda's sister and husband, who were living in Utah, could come and get them. From then on Rhoda rarely saw her father as he chose to settle in Arizona with his first wife. But, Rhoda and her eight siblings stayed strong and connected, working together to help their mom support the family. Rhoda was a very beloved aunt to her many nieces and nephews.
Rhoda's home in Colonia Juarez
Rhoda's mother, whom she was named after, ran a boarding house and found other ways to support the family as well. Rhoda had a great love of music and especially loved playing the piano. Her mother, however, did not own a piano, so Rhoda did chores for a neighbor in exchange for time to play on their piano. After Rhoda graduated Pocatello High School, in Idaho, she and her mother moved to Provo, Utah, so that Rhoda could attend BYU. She majored in Nutrition and Business and English. Again, they took in boarders to support themselves.
Rhoda's mother lived long enough to see her graduate, but died 6 months before her wedding. Rhoda (jr.) was married on December 27th, 1935, to Lee Spencer in Washington DC.
Of all the places Rhoda lived, Salt Lake City was her dream. In 1946 this became a reality. She and Lee had three children and they remember that their home was always open to relatives. "We just never knew who would be moving in next". Rhoda was known for serving others, not waiting to be asked. One very special thing she did for many of her nieces was take care of them when they came to be married in the Salt Lake City temple, and their own mothers could not make the trip. My own mother, Ruth Stowell, was one of those nieces. Her mother could not travel from Idaho to Utah and so her Aunt Rhoda did all the things a mother does to help a bride on her special day.
One particular niece of Rhoda's wrote a special tribute in the form of memories of her most beloved aunt. She loved traveling from Idaho for vacations to Salt Lake City and Aunt Rhoda's house. She was also thrilled when Aunt Rhoda came to visit them. She said Rhoda was "an enthusiastic, energetic and unselfish person with a deep sense of caring for others." She was also known as being a hard worker, but found ways to make the jobs fun.
Throughout this niece's life she remembers boxes from Aunt Rhoda. Rhoda would save clothes and toys and other things she thought the kids might like after her own kids were grown and would bring them when she visited. Sometimes the boxes contained "magical things" like ice skates, paper dolls and even a girl's bike. Then, on one of the families' visits to Rhoda's house this niece found something very surprising. There was a storage room in the basement full of useful items like the things she had given to them: toys, clothes, etc. She said it looked like a store. It turned out she not only filled boxes for her nieces and nephews but gathered up things others were giving away and willing to donate, and filled boxes for families in her community. Equally important, Rhoda was a gracious receiver. This niece's family had a huge and successful garden in Idaho and would bring many fruits and vegetables to Rhoda which she was happy to receive.
Another "secret room" that this niece found in the basement was Rhoda's sewing room. Sewing was one of her hobbies and she had a room dedicated just to that - with a dress form, table, sewing machine, gadgets and lots of fabric. I love the thought that though Rhoda was so generous she thought of her self too in this special hobby.
Another hobby Rhoda was known for is making "ice box cookies" and cinnamon rolls. I don't know what ice box cookies are but I am going to look them up and make them this month. More significant to me however is that 19 years ago, when I was expecting our last baby, I had morning sickness, meaning all day nausea, for months. I remember reading about Aunt Rhoda and decided someday, when I felt better, I was going to make cinnamon rolls. I think it's about time I kept that promise to myself! Rhoda's niece wrote of one day, when Aunt Rhoda was visiting their house, she decided she was going to make enough cinnamon rolls to fill the family freezer. She invited the kids to help her and it took all day. They had so much fun and enjoyed eating the rolls for months afterwards.
Rhoda passed away November 28, 1968, from cancer. She was 57 years old. She was dearly loved. I am so glad that a few people took the time to write down their memories of her; now I am blessed to know her too, and inspired to try to take on some of her qualities.
Rhoda, Lee and their three children
