He's reluctant to indicate how many patriarchal blessings he's given in his lifetime, but as one of the Church's oldest patriarchs, W. Leigh Fullmer will say that he's given more blessings than he has spoken at funerals. And he's spoken at more than 1,000 funerals.

Brother Fullmer, 91, and his wife, Addie Belle Harris Fullmer, 89, are popular people in this little town nestled at the base of the Teton Mountains. That may explain why he's such a frequent speaker at funerals. He knows and deeply loves this valley and the people who live here. The love is returned, of course. That is evident by the many who flock to the Fullmer home to hear stories of the valley's early days and to learn from the Fullmers' rich life experiences."People do come here quite a bit to visit," acknowledged Brother Fullmer, showing off a book his wife keeps for all visitors to sign. "Addie has four of these," he continued. "People from seven foreign countries and 11 different states have signed in here." Then, letting his sense of humor show through, he added in a whisper, "Personally, I don't know what she's ever going to do with them."

Born and raised in Teton Valley, located just a few miles from the Wyoming border, Brother Fullmer is almost as old as the Church here. His father and mother, with a few other Fullmer families, left Utah in 1898 to homestead in this largely unsettled land. At the time, two small branches were established in an area that now comprises almost an entire stake.

"There were a few people up here before we got here," explained Brother Fullmer, the first male baby born in the valley. "One of the most sobering thoughts I've ever had is thinking of my mother, with four little children and pregnant with me, leaving all she had and coming up here. Everything my parents owned was in the wagon that brought them here. I'm sure it wasn't easy."

But it certainly was worth it, listening to the memories Brother Fullmer shares. One of his favorite stories is the one about his trip into town to sell a load of grain. It was 1918 and he needed the money so he could afford to enlist and fight in World War I. He was driving the wagon and he saw two young women walking down the road in the opposite direction. He stopped and asked them if they wanted a ride into town. One was his future bride.

"You know, in all the years we've been married, we've only had one real bone of contention," Brother Fullmer noted, laughing. "We can't agree which direction I was driving and which direction she was walking."

After 67 years of marriage, the point is probably moot, but the pair still gets a chuckle out of telling each side of the story. The day after young Leigh gave the young women a ride into town, he left to go into the Army, and he wrote to both young women. Although the other young woman returned more letters, it was Addie who won his heart; they were married in 1923.

The Fullmers spent most of their married life running a local store that sold "just about anything anyone needed." The store was often a gathering place for town residents and the Fullmers have always been deeply involved in the community and the Church.

The Fullmer family's commitment to the gospel started early and has grown stronger through years of service. "I remember when we were just married," recalled Brother Fullmer. "I was a grocery clerk and counselor in the bishopric. We had a baby girl (the first of four children) and lived in a one-room house with cold water."

Stake leaders asked Brother Fullmer if a Church leader coming into town for a conference could stay with the family. He went home to ask his young wife. "Her reply was wonderful," he related. "She said, `If we are volunteering, I don't know how we possibly can. If they are asking us, I don't know how we possibly can refuse.' "

That was only the first of many personal visits from Church leaders. President David O. McKay and President Spencer W. Kimball, as well as several other General Authorities, have spent time in the Fullmer home.

"President McKay loved going fishing," noted Brother Fullmer, who shared some of his favorite fishing holes with the prophet.

"And President Kimball truly cared about people. Once he came here for dinner and as he left, my daughter came in with her husband. He met and talked to them briefly. Two weeks later, I got a personal letter from him, thanking him for our hospitality. In the letter he mentioned my daughter and her husband by name, saying how much he'd enjoyed meeting them. He really cared about them."

Caring for others is something Brother Fullmer knows about. As a patriarch in the Driggs Idaho Stake, he is deeply concerned about the people who come to him for a blessing. "I'm not perfect," he pointed out, "but knowing what a sacred calling I have, I certainly strive to be worthy of the Spirit."

Being a patriarch has been a demanding but fulfilling Church calling for Brother Fullmer. Called and set apart in 1962 by Elder Mark E. Petersen of the Council of the Twelve, he still gets a bit choked up talking about the position. "It's so sacred, it's difficult to talk about sometimes," he explained. "It's been a humbling experience."

It also takes a lot of time. Brother Fullmer likes to get to know the people who are seeking blessings. He will talk to them and pray with them prior to giving blessings, to help them feel at ease and to get acquainted with them. He also visits with whoever accompanies the candidate, asking them a bit about the person.

His wife has been involved in most of the blessings he has given, as well. "She sits by the tape recorder, watching it closely to make sure nothing goes wrong," he pointed out. "I couldn't do it without her.

"We've really been richly blessed," he continued. "The Lord is aware of His children and loves us."