Aarus Warren—My Great Great Grandfather
Aarus Elmer Warren was born December 22, 1895 in Moreland, Utah to Amos Warren and Caroline Lucy Fullmer Warren. He was the tenth of thirteen children, and his family was among the first to settle the town of Mapleton, Utah. His father died when he was only seven years old, leaving him to help run the family and the farm. Twenty years later, his mother died and was buried next to her husband on May 29, 1924.
Aarus was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on June 5, 1904 in Mapleton and was ordained a Deacon on May 31, 1908. He was very active in the church even as a young teenager and fulfilled many of the duties required of him.
One of Aarus’ brothers moved to Groveland, Idaho and bought a farm; he encouraged his mother and siblings to sell the family farm in Utah and move to Idaho. The farm was finally sold and the family moved to Idaho on May 30, 1913. However, after buying a portion of land and building a home, Aarus’ brother died in October of that year from acute appendicitis, leaving Aarus in charge of things once again. The man who had purchased their farm in Utah could no longer keep it; so Aarus’ family had to give up their farm in Groveland. Their Utah farm was finally sold again and they bought another farm in Groveland from a man who happened to be the father of Aarus’ future wife.
Aarus was ordained a Priest on February 2, 1914 and then an Elder on December 19, 1915. He was a Sunday School teacher and a Scoutmaster in Groveland for five years. He was a fantastic baseball and basketball player. He and his brother even joined a professional baseball league in Blackfoot and then the Utah-Idaho League. In 1916, Aarus married his sweetheart Stella Fern Bergerson on the Salt Lake Temple. They had nine children and Aarus continued his role as Scoutmaster, even setting up one of the first troops in Blackfoot. Aarus died of pneumonia on November 21, 1936.
Amos Warren was the oldest son of Aarus Warren. He worked a lot with his father, learning many skills and caring for the dairy farm and cattle. When his dad became Scoutmaster in Tyhee, Amos became Senior Patrol Leader and then Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. They organized the first Vanguard Scouts known as the Explorers. After his father died on 1936, he became Scoutmaster of a group that went to the very first World Jamboree in Washington D.C
Amos was called as a Seventy of the Church and was then called to the Fort Hall Mission Presidency to open up the mission there and teach the youth. He started a scout troop of young Indian boys. In 1955, he and his family moved to Moses Lake, Washington where he went into the missionary program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Seven years later they moved to Richland, Washington where most of the children attended school.
Amos spent a majority of his life devoted to Scouting and to the Church. He raised his sons well, leaving an inspiring example which helped his sons and his grandsons earn their Eagle Scout Awards and many other Scouting awards as well. But he also made sure the family had plenty of play time for sports and activities. Amos made a softball diamond and a swimming pool, which most of the kids in the neighborhood would enjoy as well. He also built tables and a large slab of cement for BBQ’s and other Branch activities held at their home. Amos loved to take his children fishing at many of the lakes near their home. Amos’ wife Verdant also participated heavily in Scouting and the Church, always supporting him in his callings, running the home and raising the children. Amos and Verdant were very family oriented, teaching their children that there was a time of planting, a time of growing, a time of harvest and a time of fun mixed throughout it all. They were big gardeners, growing vegetables, fruit trees and many different kinds of flowers. Amos died on July 2, 1989 in Richland, Washington leaving behind a wonderful legacy in Scouting and many generations who followed after him.
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