Previous Broadcasts

Brad and his wife moved to Chico 43 years ago.  He is a native of southern Utah, growing up as part of a “multi-generational family” and has a great love of family history.  He has taught classes at various family history events, including the Family Search Library in Salt Lake City.  Brad and his wife are the parents of 5 children and 12 grandchildren, some of whom represent the 5th generation in our Chico Stake. 

Nancy Gagon was born in Japan on a military base where she lived the first several years of her life before moving to Chico 44+ years ago.  She celebrates 30 years of marriage to Scott this fall and has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.  Nancy has been a Registered Nurse for 27 years working for Enloe Medical Center and is the Director of the Mother Baby Care Center and Pediatrics.  She was baptized when she was 16 years old in part, due to friends that were good examples to her.   

Susan Leitner is a Chico native and recently celebrated her 80th birthday. Susan and Mike Leitner have been married for 52 years and have three daughters and one son. She’s a BYU graduate and taught Business Education classes full time at Butte College for 39 years. Susan has enjoyed developing her musical talents and served as a pianist, organist, and choir director for many years. She has a fondness for Big Al's vanilla ice cream cones. 

Terry and Mary Baggs are currently serving as President and Matron of the Sacramento Temple.  President Baggs served a mission in France and grew up in Southern California. His career was in the insurance industry. Sister Baggs was raised in a military family and moved often growing up.  They met at the Institute of Religion at UC Riverside.  They were married in the Los Angeles Temple and have 5 children and 17 grandchildren.  They feel fortunate that all of their family members live nearby.

Roger and Helen Ekins lived in Paradise for some 32 years where Roger retired from teaching and administering at Butte College and Helen and he co-authored a best-selling hiking guide of the area. After the fire they relocated just outside of Jacksonville, in Southern Oregon, where they continue to hike several times a week when not visiting their three children and six Grands. The photo is from their second mission together, with the California Living History Mission.

Darlene Olson (Rhoades) was born in Hanna Utah, to A. Foster and Myrtle Rhodes.  She was raised in the church, and the youngest of four children.  She grew up on a large ranch, and was the apple of her daddy's eye.  Darlene moved to Provo Utah in the early 1950s  where she met the love of her life, Fred Olson. Together they raised 12 children in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Fred and Darlene have lived in Orland for over 50 years.

Shelby Baird was Born in San Jose, and raised in Chico. She considers herself a Chico local. Most of her childhood was spent dancing, hoping to achieve a professional career. Chronic pain and injury have put a pause on that. However, this has given Shelby more time to pursue her passions of teaching, cake decorating, hiking, cooking, weight lifting, and serving in the temple. Shelby loves spending time with her dog Ellie, and her neighbor and boyfriend Michael D’Epiro. 

Luis Lugo, born in Chico California to Guillermo and Guadalupe Lugo. Raised in the church and the oldest of three boys. Luis served a mission in Lima, Peru from 1999-2001. Luis married and is sealed for time and all eternity to Annette Young in the Oakland temple. They have four children that they strive to raise in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Luis works at Enloe Hospital as a software analyst and coach of the Pleasant Valley varsity soccer team. 

Betty Dimmitt was raised on a farm in SE Iowa. Attended Iowa State Teachers’ College (now University of Northern Iowa). Came to California following a very cold Iowa winter of 1957-58. Joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1964. Was married to Jim nearly 45 years when he succumbed to ALS in 2003. 5 children, 24 grandchildren, soon to have 36 great grandchildren. Enjoys reading and sewing.Tim Olson was born in Chico to Dusty and Val Olson. He grew up in Forest Ranch. His mom had a stroke at age 39 that left her paralyzed with six children. Tim discusses his early life, his family, and the love of God. He also loves mountain biking and won the California State Championship 5 times!

Stephanie Madsen was raised in Peachtree City, Georgia with her amazing parents and 3 younger sisters. Stephanie enjoyed singing in all state choirs, talent shows and pageants growing up. After her dad passed from cancer, she felt inspired to attend BYU-Idaho. She found gold when she met her husband in one of her college classes. Her passion for music has led her to write and self produce 4 albums.  Her focus in life now is homeschooling her older boys and enjoying her two little babies.

Mike Wiltermood grew up in nearby Lincoln, CA, and  served a church mission in Mexico. He received his Masters in Healthcare Administration in 1986. He came to Chico as Enloe Medical Center’s Chief Operating Officer in 2007 and named President and CEO in 2009.  He currently serves on the California Hospital Association’s Board of Directors which represents California’s four hundred forty hospitals.  

Brother Brown is a former missionary in the Arkansas Little Rock, Elders Quorum President, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Scoutmaster, Bishop,  Stake President and Executive Secretary to Elder Paul Watkins of the Seventy. Sister Brown served as Young Women President, Primary President, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, and CES Service Missionary. 

Currently, the Browns are the Young Service Mission Leaders for the Roseville California Service Mission and FSY Session Directors. 

Robin Cook was born and raised in Gridley, CA. She worked as a congressional staffer to Wally Herger and currently works for Supervisor Kimmelshue and the the Seminary and Institute Program. 

Community service is a big part of her life. She comes from a long legacy of church members going back to Nauvoo. 

Mom of 5 kids, 3 son-in-laws, and 5 grandkids.She loves to travel, play, and serve with her family.

Donna Hawkley was born in Pocatello Idaho. She was Cheer Queen in high school and me her future husband in 1945 when he returned from the war. They ran a Drug Store and raised then later at Artic Air where she retired at age 72. 

She has loved serving and volunteering at church. Helping with road shows and stake plays. 

Donna has 13 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren and 1 great, great granddaughter!

Jack is a Latter-day Saint and joined the church after his participation in the Olympics.

Vic Werlhof was born in Richmond, Calfornia in 1947. He grew up in Woodland and then Sacramento. He attended UC Davis where he met his wife-to-be, Peggy. After completing medical school, he completed a residency in anesthesiology. Upon completion of training, he and Peggy moved to Chico in 1976. He practiced anesthesiology for 37 years After retirement, he and Peggy have served full-time missions and in other capacities. They are the parents of 5 children and have 8 grandchildren.

Laurie Bowles, originally from Red Bluff, spent her formative years as the spirited mascot for RBUHS. Along the way, she also resided in Washington, Utah, and Colorado.

Her academic pursuits led her through the corridors of BYU, Chico State, and WGU, culminating in her current role as a nursing instructor at Butte College, a path she believes to be her genuine calling.

Laurie finds profound fulfillment in her role as a mother to 4 children, with 4 cherished in-laws, and 6 delightful grandchildren.

David Woods is a lifelong member of The Church. Together with his wife Alison, they have raised four children and achieved milestones such as completing medical school and residency training in ophthalmology. Brother Woods has actively served in various roles within the ward and Stake, including as a seminary teacher, in Elder's Quorum, and in the Bishopric. His greatest sources of joy in life include loving his family, serving his patients, hiking, photography, and having valuable friendships.

Tomas Loarca, a California native, grew up in a small family with a professional artist and stay at home mother.  After high school, Tomas served a 2 year mission in the Utah/Nevada area.  His education brought him into the social work world where he worked with families trying to keep them together. In contrast to his childhood with a small family, he now has a large family that he is always learning how to navigate. He loves to spend time with them. 

Judy Halladay, born in St. Anthony Idaho in 1946, began developing her testimony at the tender age of 4 when she first attended primary. With a large and loving family of 7 children, 26 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren, she has dedicated her life to serving, most recently as an ordinance worker at the Feather River California temple. Her family is a source of warmth and connection in her life.

Gretchen was born in Lexington, KY and she and her twin sister were adopted by her parents a few days later. At the age of 5, they moved to Gridley, where she and her siblings grew up surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. After high school, Gretchen attended BYU, studying elementary education. She later transferred to Chico State when she married Rob Harrison and she graduated with a BA in Liberal Studies. Gretchen and Rob just celebrated their 32nd anniversary. 

Amanda Melanchuk was born in Sacramento, CA.  Her family moved to Folsom, CA when she was 16, a move that seemed traumatic at the time.  Since then, she has lived many places including Provo, UT for BYU, Romania for her mission; Zibo, Shandong, China; Kyiv, Ukraine; Seattle, WA; El Dorado Hills, CA; St. Cloud, FL; and finally, Chico, CA for the past 4.5 years.  She has 5 children that keep growing up, and a patient and smart husband.