Beehive Community Spotlight

r By Dennis McGrawrEvery community has people in it that make it great. I’m talking about salt-of-the-earth kinda people. Join us as each month as we highlight one of our longtime members in the community.rDelbert Harvey was born in Farmersville, Calif., in 1931. He was adopted by Tom and Annie Harvey. The Harveys would pick Del up from the hospital the day after he was born and would be the only parents Del would ever know. The Harveys were never able to have children. Tom was a dairy farmer and milked a couple dozen head of cattle twice a day. When Del was 9 years old, he and his parents would leave Farmersville and move to Idaho. They wouldn’t stay long and soon moved to Helper where Tom worked for the railroad. Tom worked for the railroad just a few years before he died.rDel was raised mostly by his mother Annie Harvey. It was just the two of them. Annie provided for them as best she could as a single mother. At age 14, Del broke his femur and was sent to a hospital in Price. He spent the next year rehabilitating while living in the hospital. Annie would visit occasionally but was trying her best to put down roots for her and Del. By the time he was released from the hospital, Annie had started renting an apartment in Pleasant Grove.rDel began working for the Leland Mill Company in Leland. At age 16, he purchased a distressed property in Leland. “I went into the bank of Spanish Fork (on Main Street) with my mom, the banker looked at me and spoke to me the whole time — he knew I was providing for my family and I was determined to buy the home for me and my mother,” Del said. The bank would transfer the loan into Del’s name and lent him enough money to buy out the previous owner.rDel did a lot for his mother Annie, who was well into her 60s and her health was fragile. “I remember one time I was driving my 1931 Model A down to the local market in Spanish Fork, I parked about a block away and walked to the market. The police chief and his deputies would spend most of their time on Main Street and I did not have my license to drive, I was just 15 at the time. I was on my way back to the car with my groceries, and the police chief stopped me and said, ‘Del, I know you don’t have a license — as long as you keep your nose clean, I’ll not stop you.’ I was pretty happy about that.” Del said. At that time, Spanish Fork only had about 5,200 people living in the city, and knowing the police chief knew Del personally gave him some satisfaction (and scared him a little ).rDel work various different jobs in order to provide for his family and keep their home. “I worked for the Deseret newspaper for five years delivering papers. I was the main delivery driver for Utah County. My route included Hanksville, Goshen, West Mountain and Leland, in all about 78 miles a day. Mr. Whitehead was my boss and we did not get along very well. We had a disagreement one day and I said, ‘Mr. Whitehead, I give you my 30 days’ notice.’ He pretended not to hear me, and about 28 days later begged me to show his son the route so he could take over the deliveries.”rAnnie Harvey passed away at age 76 and Del was alone. He would stay in the Leland home for a few more years, and at age 35 Del met Edna Fullmer. She and Del were set up on a blind date at the local bowling alley, Dukes Lane in Spanish Fork. They dated for six months and were married. They moved into Edna’s home in Payson and lived there for more than 30 years. They enjoyed life together; Del loved to fish and took Edna with him as often as possible. Edna’s aged mother lived with them and they both cared for her until she passed away. Del worked as an auto mechanic for Paige’s Auto in Spanish Fork. His sweet Edna passed away in 2010. She and Del would never have children but enjoyed their life together very much.rToday Del lives in Beehive Homes of Spanish Fork. He is enjoying the quiet life: reminiscing about the old days, laughing about good times and crying about the hard times. “I love this home I really do,” he said.

r By Dennis McGrawrEvery community has people in it that make it great. I’m talking about salt-of-the-earth kinda people. Join us as each month as we highlight one of our longtime members in the community.rDelbert Harvey was born in Farmersville, Calif., in 1931. He was adopted by Tom and Annie Harvey. The Harveys would pick Del up from the hospital the day after he was born and would be the only parents Del would ever know. The Harveys were never able to have children. Tom was a dairy farmer and milked a couple dozen head of cattle twice a day. When Del was 9 years old, he and his parents would leave Farmersville and move to Idaho. They wouldn’t stay long and soon moved to Helper where Tom worked for the railroad. Tom worked for the railroad just a few years before he died.rDel was raised mostly by his mother Annie Harvey. It was just the two of them. Annie provided for them as best she could as a single mother. At age 14, Del broke his femur and was sent to a hospital in Price. He spent the next year rehabilitating while living in the hospital. Annie would visit occasionally but was trying her best to put down roots for her and Del. By the time he was released from the hospital, Annie had started renting an apartment in Pleasant Grove.rDel began working for the Leland Mill Company in Leland. At age 16, he purchased a distressed property in Leland. “I went into the bank of Spanish Fork (on Main Street) with my mom, the banker looked at me and spoke to me the whole time — he knew I was providing for my family and I was determined to buy the home for me and my mother,” Del said. The bank would transfer the loan into Del’s name and lent him enough money to buy out the previous owner.rDel did a lot for his mother Annie, who was well into her 60s and her health was fragile. “I remember one time I was driving my 1931 Model A down to the local market in Spanish Fork, I parked about a block away and walked to the market. The police chief and his deputies would spend most of their time on Main Street and I did not have my license to drive, I was just 15 at the time. I was on my way back to the car with my groceries, and the police chief stopped me and said, ‘Del, I know you don’t have a license — as long as you keep your nose clean, I’ll not stop you.’ I was pretty happy about that.” Del said. At that time, Spanish Fork only had about 5,200 people living in the city, and knowing the police chief knew Del personally gave him some satisfaction (and scared him a little ).rDel work various different jobs in order to provide for his family and keep their home. “I worked for the Deseret newspaper for five years delivering papers. I was the main delivery driver for Utah County. My route included Hanksville, Goshen, West Mountain and Leland, in all about 78 miles a day. Mr. Whitehead was my boss and we did not get along very well. We had a disagreement one day and I said, ‘Mr. Whitehead, I give you my 30 days’ notice.’ He pretended not to hear me, and about 28 days later begged me to show his son the route so he could take over the deliveries.”rAnnie Harvey passed away at age 76 and Del was alone. He would stay in the Leland home for a few more years, and at age 35 Del met Edna Fullmer. She and Del were set up on a blind date at the local bowling alley, Dukes Lane in Spanish Fork. They dated for six months and were married. They moved into Edna’s home in Payson and lived there for more than 30 years. They enjoyed life together; Del loved to fish and took Edna with him as often as possible. Edna’s aged mother lived with them and they both cared for her until she passed away. Del worked as an auto mechanic for Paige’s Auto in Spanish Fork. His sweet Edna passed away in 2010. She and Del would never have children but enjoyed their life together very much.rToday Del lives in Beehive Homes of Spanish Fork. He is enjoying the quiet life: reminiscing about the old days, laughing about good times and crying about the hard times. “I love this home I really do,” he said.