I was born October 14, 1903 in Provo, Utah, to Henry John William Goddard and Betsy Ann Kay Goddard. I was their 6th and last child. The other children were Ernest Henry, Esther Jeanette (Etta), John William (Bill), Elvin Kay, and Hugh Kay. Both Ernest and Elvin died in infancy, but the others all lived to maturity. On October 22, 1903 I was blessed by Hugh Clayton, an uncle, and given the name, Estella Jane. When I was eight years old I was baptized by D. L. Wan Wagenen on October 15, 1911 and confirmed a member of the church the same day by Ralph Poulton.

I lived in Provo all my childhood, being educated in Provo City schools. I started out in the old Franklin School, then to the Central School for eighth grade and then I went to the new Provo High School. It was special to be in the first graduationg class from the newest school.

My Father was a farmer and was also in public office as long as I can remember. We used to help on the farms - we had one we called the Fort Field (where the old Provo fort was in the early days); another we called the south field, just south of town; and another down by the Provo River. We loved to ride on the old hayrack through town to get to the fields. My early life was very happy. We lived right in town, close to stores and church. Etta and Bill were both married when I was nine years old, so there were just Hugh, myself and Mother and Dad at home. I spent summers with my sister in Payson helping her with her children.

When I was sixteen years old Mother died (1921), so I became housekeeper for the family. When I was old enough, I worked at Startup's Candy Factory in the summer, (it was just a block from our home), and went to school in the winter. After graduating from high school, I stayed at home to take care of Father and Hugh until I was married to Roland Lars Olson on March 25, 1925. Roland and I had been going together since before Mother died.

As we were in our teen yers, there was quite a bunch of us who went around together - parties, dances, etc. - and it is surprising how many of us married within that group. One of our favorite places to go in the summer was to Saratoga to swim and dance. We'd get a wagon, all pile in and away we'd go.

When Roland and I were married (in the Salt Lake Temple) we moved to Spring Canyon, Utah, where Roland had been working as a payroll clerk for a year. That move took some getting used to. Spring Canyon was the typical mining camp and was much different from what I was used to. I'll never forget the first time I tried to cook beans, They boiled all day, then all the next day, and still weren't soft enough to eat. That was the only time I tried to cook anything like that. The altitude was just too high.

We started our family with a beautiful baby daughter, born on January 5, 1926. We named her Enid. In 1927 we moved to Eureka, Utah when Roland was offered a contract to teach at Tinic High School. Our second baby, Roland Dean, was born there. He had a habit of climbing on everything as soon as he started walking. Twice he fell and almost bit his tongue off. We wondered if he'd be able to speak when he got older with all that scar tissue. He also developed a large abscess on his neck which made him very sick for a couple of weeks. We carried him around on a pillow or put him in a big chair with Enid in another chair facing him so I could get something done around the house. The doctor came to the house to lance the abscess and when he finished, he hadn't even gotten out the door, when Dean was off the table and climbing on the piano. It didn't take him long to get back to his mischievous self.

We lived in Eureka until 1931 and them moved to Salt Lake when Roland was offered a contract to teach there. Roland taught at Roosevelt Jr. High and then at South High when it was built. We bought a home in East Mill Creek and the next spring moved "half way to Provo" as our friends said. It was really only 3500 South and just east of 2300 East. Eldon Lee and Diane were born while we lived there, Eldon on March 9, 1934 and Diane on August 10 1937. We had a lot of happy times in that home and in our ward there.

In the fall of 1940 we sold that house and bought a forty acre farm on the Creek Road in Union. The house had to have a lot of remodeling done before I'd move into it, so we worked after school and on Saturdays untill December, when we moved just a few days after Christmas. Now our friends and relatives really thought we were crazy and had moved almost to Provo. They really liked coming to the farm to ride horses, get vegetables and fruit, and just generally have a good time after they got used to the drive.

On March 17, 1943 Alan Kay was born to us and on January 4, 1945 Richard Neal completed our family. Enid and Dean married, Eldon graduated from Jordan High School (as had Enid and Dean) and then in 1953 we made a three way trade, got rid of the farm, and got a house and eight apartments in St. George. We made another trade so we aren't in the same place. Roland can't stand to be in one home too long, but we are in the same town.

I have worked in the church in some organization or another ever since I was fourteen years of age, mostly in Primary. I've been teacher, couselor, president and on the stake board. In 1955 we were set apart as officiators in the St. George Temple and are still serving there. My husband is Bishop of the 7th ward, St. George East Stake. All our children are active in the church. Dean filled a mission to Norway, Eldon, to the Northwestern States, and Kay is now serving in the Sweedish Mission. Enid is Relief Society President in Sandy, Dean is on the High Council of Santa Ana Stake, Eldon is working in the priesthood quorums, Diane is couselor in the ward Primay and is a Sunday School teacher, and Richard is active in the Priesthood. We have eleven living grandchildren: Enid's - Linda, Claudia, David, Kent, and Sydni Ann; Dean's - LeAnne; Eldon's - Kim and Scot; and Diane has Douglas, Sheri, and Koni Kae.
(written in 1962)