'Golden friend' receives visit from President and Sister Monson
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President Thomas S. Monson has said that he likes the quotation, "New friends are silver, but old friends are gold."
On April 8, he met with one of his golden friends, Thelma Wooley Fetzer, who turned 100 on that day.
President Monson and his wife, Sister Frances Johnson Monson, walked into Sister Fetzer's living room that afternoon, bringing with them not only smiles and heartfelt birthday wishes but also warm memories gathered during their long friendship that goes back more than 60 years.
Their association began even before the time President Monson was bishop of Sixth-Seventh Ward in Salt Lake City's Temple View Stake from 1950-55. Sister Fetzer's husband, Percy K. Fetzer, was a counselor in the stake presidency. When Brother Fetzer became stake president, he called President Monson to serve as one of his counselors. Brother Fetzer passed away in 1982.
Sister Fetzer was born April 8, 1910, in Salt Lake City to George Edwin and Elizabeth Anderson Woolley. She and Percy Fetzer were married on June 24, 1936, in the Salt Lake Temple. They are parents of five children: Richard, Ruth F. Carr, Judy F. Edwards, Robert and Clark.
On their visit, President and Sister Monson conversed with Sister Fetzer, recalling shared events. Sister Monson and Sister Fetzer seemed especially to enjoy the visit as they talked about earlier years. Sister Monson recalled how Sister Fetzer had sat beside her in the Tabernacle when Elder Monson was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve on Oct. 4, 1963. She noted that Sister Fetzer had been very kind and supportive that day and has been a close and treasured friend.
President Monson told Sister Fetzer he was confident that, on her having reached the milestone birthday of 100, the Lord "has let Percy know" about the events of the day.
"Since I was his counselor and friend, I'll say for Percy, 'Happy birthday, sweetheart.' " President Monson then placed a kiss on Sister Fetzer's forehead.
Sister Fetzer said, "Thank you for this beautiful honor, for your presence. … This will be a glorious remembrance. It will cap all other times."
As they were leaving, President Monson sat at the piano in Sister Fetzer's living room and played, "Here We Go to a Birthday Party."
Sister Fetzer spent part of her birthday in the Salt Lake Temple with her family, performing sealings for her grandmother's Swedish ancestors. That afternoon, many of the family gathered at her home for the hour-long visit from her friends, President and Sister Monson.
"It is an elegant feeling," Sister Fetzer said as she tried to describe the events of the day.
