Mike Spindle, BHS '67 (1949-2022)

 

 

We just learned that Michael James Spindle, born February 12, 1949, recently passed away on February 25, 2022.. 

He lived in Laguna Beach California.

Madelaine Zelenay Whiteman gave us the sad news. They had worked together in real estate. 

RIP Mike.

 

FIND A GRAVE Link

June 10, 2022 UPDATE

Today I received Mike's obituary from his daughter, Shikera. Thank you, Shikera and we send our heartfelt condolences to you and your family. Mike was a great guy and I only have good memories of him from high school. 

In April, dad died too soon at the age of 73. Michael James Spindle is survived by his daughter Shikera, son-in-law Daniel, granddaughter, grandson, son Nathan, brother Steve, and in the memories of the friends and family who he had such happy times with. 

When Dad turned 18, he served our country in Korea as a military policeman. When he returned, he earned a bachelor's degree from Cal State Fullerton. Dad loved cars and he started buying and flipping everything from Porsches to a De Tomaso Mangusta. He then worked in real estate in Laguna Beach for over 40 years and enjoyed mentoring many. 

Dad was selfless, calm, positive, ethical, the greatest example of unconditional love to those he loved, and the best best friend and dad ever: my hero and a role model for many. We are so grateful for the time that we had with him. 

Be at peace dad. We love you so much and will miss you forever.

Tell Us Your Story: Linda Willson Nelson

Life started out rough. Dad was hospitalized for several years with tuberculosis and mom and I moved often. I can remember at least 15 different places I lived before age 16, including in a single car garage that leaked like crazy when it rained. 

Schooling was very important in my family so I only changed schools once. After BHS I was able to go to college at Cal State Los Angeles and graduated in 1970 with a BS degree in psychology. During that time, I was also baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, largely because of the example of my still very best friend, Margie Lee Smith (also BHS ’67). That has made all the difference in my life. 

After Cal State, I immediately went to Brigham Young University and two years later graduated with a master’s degree in school psychology. I then worked for a year as a school psychologist covering 5 rural school districts near Blackfoot, Idaho. Coming from Burbank, that was culture shock. 

On a Friday the 13th I married a good guy from Idaho, Blaine Nelson, in an LDS temple. We are headed to our 49th anniversary this year. We have raised 5 children and 2 of our 7 grandchildren. The older kids have spread out from Portland, Oregon to Albuquerque to Las Vegas, but we still have 2 grandkids living at home with us. We have been raising kids for 46 years straight now. Idaho was our home for a few years, but mostly it has been northern Utah. I have worked as a school psychologist for 38 years, generally part time so I could also focus on my own kids. Tried retirement a few years back, but that only stuck for a few months. I missed helping the kids who struggle to learn, so am back working in a field I love. 

For fun, we enjoy being outdoors and in nature. “Nature is cheaper than therapy” is one of my mottos. I enjoy bird watching, yard work, pets, reading, kayaking, hiking, jet skiing and camping. We spend time every summer camping next to lakes in Utah. Several times, while Blaine was working, I’ve taken along a couple daughters or one grandchild and camped in Zion’s or near Arches or Yellowstone National Parks or in the Redwoods and along the Oregon coast, and in the occasional parking lot when no site could be found. 

It has been a good life, definitely also some huge challenges at multiple points along the way, but that is just how life is. If we can learn and grow from the hard times, it can help us become better, kinder, and more compassionate and empathetic people. That is just my two cents of wisdom to share with classmates.

Tell Us Your Story: Margie Lee Smith

April 4, 2022,
Margie Lee Smith,
In the yearbook, it says I wanted to be an airline stewardess. I think I was allured with the idea of glamor and travel. Gratefully, I never pursued it. After high school, I went to LA Valley College. Between my first and second year, my older brother married in England. My parents decided this was a great opportunity to take an extended 6-week vacation to Europe. This I considered the first big adventure in my life. My second year in college, I went to school full time and went to work for the phone company. My first real job and benefits were good. They helped to pay for college. I saved enough money to transfer to Brigham Young University after graduating from junior college.
 
One night at a dance shortly after I arrived, I met newly returned missionary, Martin Smith. Ten months later we were married in the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints Los Angeles Temple. (That was 51 years ago!) We both continued going to college in LA, both too poor to return to BYU. We did end up going back to BYU a few years later and graduating.
 
Shortly after we were married, we faced a huge disappointment, doctors told us we would never have children. Roe versus Wade had passed, and adoption became extremely difficult. Fortunately, our church had opened a new social service in LA. We were very blessed to adopt our first son before our 3^rd anniversary. In the years that followed, we adopted 8 more children. Each one came as a miracle! And each one has an amazing story. Our family is white, Asian, and Black, 4 boys and 5 girls. They range in age from 48 to almost 28, and we have 21 beautiful grandchildren and one great grandson. They have been a joy and blessing in our life.
 
Of course, for many years my major career has been being a mom. Yet I still felt a need to help others with adoption. I volunteered for 20 years working with unwed mothers, couples trying to adopt, and foster parents and children. I taught parenting classes for 5 years and held many positions in our church teaching children and youth.
 
When my youngest was 12, I became a special education preschool teacher in the Farmington, New Mexico School District. I had my degree but had to go back to college for a year nights and weekends to get my teaching credential. I loved teaching special little ones, but I did not like endless meetings and reports. After 11 years, I retired. Shortly after retiring, I accepted a local Church calling to plan and assist missionaries in finding group and individual service projects. I served for 3 years. Until Covid, I did some substitute teaching. Mostly enjoyed being a grandma.
 
My family has lived in Farmington, NM in the four corners area for 35 years. My husband, Marty, became a chiropractor. He also loved his work and after 31 years he was finally able to sell his practice and retire on November 20, 2021. It has been our desire to serve a mission together for our Church. We were called to serve in Everitt, Washington. We have been here in this beautiful area for almost 2 months and will be here for the next 16 months. Our calling is to help the members, give love and support to the younger missionaries, and help in our new community. We have had a blessed life and look forward to a future serving the Lord.
 

Memory Lane Photo from Jay Peterson... BHS June 20 2009

Let's see if I can get the names right...

Standing L-R: Deanna Lloyd Jennings, Dona Foy Bruckner, Elisa Dibble Weekly, Linda Peterson Everett, Al Thuotte, Jay Christopher Peterson, Don Ray, Linda Mustion, John Johnson, Mary Flavin Durrer and Vicki Peters-Stigile.

Kneeling: Marilyn Williams Peterson, Cathy Palmer, Cathy Nicholls Coyle and Flora Angel Ferrens.