Farmers suffered severe damage to their crops and lands. Many homes were damaged. In addition to the flooding, Peterson experienced a severe windstorm. Roofs of homes were blown off. A frame barn on the Donald Whitear farm was moved a foot to the west, but stayed in one piece. Large trees were felled. A tall stand of cottonwoods that lined the road to the Peterson church were blown down across the road, some snapping in two with the force of the wind. The members of the ward hiked through the fields to the church until the road could be cleared. Ward members, however, turned out to help each other and homes were saved. Some roofs that were threatening to go were cabled down by neighbors. The power was off for three days, and it took cooperation and the help of everyone to get necessary work done. In one instance, through the ingenuity of some ofthe dairymen, the air vacuum on the windshield of a car was used to run the milkers until power could be restored 63 President Rich Dies That spring, President Rich became very ill. His health had begun to fail several months before. By spring, it was apparent that the illness was life threatening. In June, the auxiliaries in the stake presented him with a lounge chair which made it easier for him to rest. Sister Rich recorded in her journal on 15 June, "Clarence's lounge chair is simply a blessing because he can sleep in it without being propped up. . . .We bring it in each night andthen take it outside in the morning and our Daddy spends most of the day out of doors."64 On 1 July, President and Sister Rich visited a clinic in Salt Lake City and then went to the Church office building where Elder Harold B. Lee gave President Rich a blessing which brought him and Sister Rich much comfort65 However, President Rich's health continued to decline, and on 29 July he passed away. The stake mourned his loss and reached out with love to his widow and three young children. President Rich was only 41 at the time of his death. The Morgan County News editorial printed the feelings of many who loved him, "Truly a churchman, President Rich had a sympathetic understanding and a gracious heart. His thoughtfulness of others was only surpassed by his love of God, Church, Family and Country."66 The crowd who gathered for the funeral on 1 August was so large there were as many seated outside the tabernacle as inside. Elder Harold B. Lee, of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke at length at the funeral. Following are some excerpts from his address: "This morning, I met President David O. McKay. He wanted me to say to you Sister Rich, and to your family that you have the affectionate regards ofthe First Presidency and their prayers foryour comfort and foryour peace; and to you, members ofthe Morgan Stake, he wanted me to say that the church is mourning the loss of your splendid leader."67 178