Ireta Harris Becraft History
By Eunice Polly Stewart Harris (her mother)
Ireta was born in Colonia Dublan, Mexico Feb 23, 1897. All babies were welcomed in our home-Ireta was exceptionally so. She had nine brothers to welcome her, but not a living sister, her two sisters having died several years before. You can probably imagine a happy family under these circumstances. A number of the boys gave expression to their joy by saying, “Mother, she is lots sweeter than if she were a boy, isn’t she”. There had been a dearth of dolls, little dishes and play dinners in the house for so many years that her mother was happy to have the home cluttered with them once more. She was a rather delicate nervous temperment. (sic) and subject to attacks of tonsilitis (sic) in her early childhood. When she was five years old, she had a severe attack of tonsilitis followed by a stroke which caused her eyes to go crossed, and they had a very peculiar expression. After suffering for a month with this affliction, it was cured by the administration of the Elders, by the Priesthood.
She was mild and gentle in disposition and very easily controlled. She had a sister a year younger who was her constant companion. When she was six she started to school in the primary department of the Juarez Stake Academy. She was of a friendly nature and was very happy with her school friends.
June 24, 1904 when she was seven years old, the family moved to Canada where several months before her father had bought a large farm. She, her mother and two of her brothers stopped off at Payson, Utah for two months to visit with relatives. This was the first time she had even seen the American Flag-the stars and stripes. The Mexican flag was red, white, and green. The leaders in the colonies in Mexico did not think it wisdom to display the stars and stripes. During the fifteen years the family lived in Mexico, they never heard the Star Spangled Banner as America sung.
In Cardston where the family lived the first winter, Ireta found a host of friends with whom she was very intimate during the eight years she lived in Canada.
On April 2, 1905 Ireta was baptized in Lees Creek. Early in April of 1905 she moved with the family to the farm which was located about nine miles east of Cardston. A farm is always an interesting place in summer for children, and the Harris farm being a large one was exceptionally so. Her brothers all came home for the summer from school. Her friends from Cardston used to frequently come and stay with her a week at a time when both the girls and the boys would have a gay time. She became quite an expert horse woman both in driving and in riding. Two years she went to school in Woolford, a distance of three miles. Sometimes she would walk. Five years she went to school in Cardston. In this way for eight years her childhood and young girlhood passed until July 24, 1912 when her father died. She was not fifteen years of age, just budding into young woman hood (sic).
Oct. 12, 1912 her family moved to Utah and settled in Provo. She had finished the public school in Canada, and she now entered the Brigham Young University Nigh (sic) School. Ireta inherited the gift of making friends from her father, and she was soon surrounded by a group of find (sic) friends. She lived in an apartment house, and the Ollerton family, consisting of boys and girls who were attending the B.Y.U. lived in an adjoining apartment. Our two families of boys and girls mingled together almost as one family for four years. This intimacy was ended by the Harris family moving to Logan June 1, 1917, but the ties of friendship are still bright.
At the beginning of the school year, Ireta entered the Stake Agricultural College as a Sophmore. The rushing season at the college is a gay and an active time. She soon was rushed by all three of the sororaties (sic) and received bids from all of them. She accepted the bid from the Sarrasis Sorority, and she is now an active Sarasis Alumnus member.
1919 when Ireta was twenty-two years old found her in her senior year majoring in Home Economics. She had just finished her course of training at the Home Economics cottage when she suddenly announced that she was going to be married within a week, so the household was thrown into bustle and confusion making the necessary preparations. December 24, 1919 she and Raymond J. Becraft were married in the Logan Temple. Her brothers all expressed themselves as being very pleased with her choice. She continued here studies at the U.A.C. after her marriage until the end of the school year and through the summer school when she received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She had completed her cource (sic) t the critic training school and was prepared to teach if she desired. She received many compliments on her work at the critic training school.
When a woman maried (sic) her public work usually ceases. Nov. 25, 1920 her first child, a son, was born. They named him Raymond Harris Becraft. April 3, 1922 she became a mother again when Marian, a daughter was born. In June of that year she went to the hospital where a very serious operation was performed-her gall bladder and appendix were removed. In July her husband went to Ames to take a course of study at the State Agricultural College. In Sept. she and the children joined him, and they remained there during the school year. In June 1923 her husband received his Masters Degree, and they returned home, and he received his work at the U.A.C. In 1925 her husband went to Chicago to study under Dr. Cowles preparatory to getting his degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Later Ireta and the children joined him and remained in Chicago during the school year.
July 27, 1928 Helen, another daughter was born. In disposition Ireta is generous, sympathetic, charitable, unselfish and hospitable. Her latch string is always on the outside. Anything that adds to the comfort or happiness of others is never a trouble to her, but service to others is a real pleasure to her. She has the reputation of being a wonderful friend. She gives friendship and friendship rebounds back to her like a boomerang. For a year she was councelor (sic) to the President of the Y.L.M.M.I.A.