This is a visual story of our family homestead and the effects of the Teton Dam Disaster on June 5, 1976. This is the view of the house from the northwest looking toward the south east with Sugar City in the background. The flood came from the left. It caved in the east side of Dad’s shed and took out the doors on the west as the waters went down. This is the back side of the house showing all the fence posts laid flat. Water was still running by, which proved to be a great help in cleaning up. 
This is the view a little more down the same road to the south, looking toward the northeast where the flood came from. It shows Dad’s shed.
This is the view of the house from the corner, showing approximately where the flood victim’s body was discovered.
The waves in the water were either the current, or the waves caused from the wind.
This is another view moving around the corner to the east. Again, this is the general area where the deceased victim was found.
The ditch and the bushes created a gathering place for many mailboxes. Dad found a rocking chair high in a tree in Wilford and retrieved it. He gave it to me (Scott) and I still have it.
This shows Dad and several of the family after they had shoveled the mud out of the house and hung the carpets out to dry.
This is Dad cleaning out his house. The carpet was from the front room. While many people stood in front of their homes crying, Dad was busy working.
This is the view from the helicopter as the family carried out the deceased victim. It says, “A family in Sugar City, Idaho, cleans up the home and yard as volunteers remove a flood victim’s body from the water. The Teton Dam which broke Saturday, flooding several Idaho towns, caused damage in the millions of dollars.” It should be noted the family was the volunteer group. 
This picture was taken a bit further to the east, showing the leaning power poles on the west side of the house. 
The trees on the east side of the house did much to protect the home from the big push of water, which was about five feet deep. They also collected a huge amount of additional debris.
Perhaps these trees kept the house from being flattened, who knows? This is another view of the east side of the house.
This is a bit further to the east of the house looking back to the northwest.
Still further to the east, looking back at the house and metal building.
Someone’s combine was deposited a little to the west of the house. It may have been Dalling’s. The field to the east of the house was full of water for several days.
The house was soon cleaned up. A bus full of Mennonites from Canada stopped by to ask if Dad wanted help. He put them to work. We were told from our Stake President not to turn volunteers away. We were told, “You will be held accountable for blessings others would have received, had they been allowed to help.” Later, it was determined the house could not be saved. Dad's name was painted on the front for the demolition team. There were too many structural problems. All the effort was not wasted, it only brought us closer together.
A H.U.D. hut was moved in just behind the house. Notice how everything was cleaned up and hauled away. We saw many truckloads of dead horses and cows being trucked away. Neal and Dad salvaged a lot of the brick, windows, and other building materials from the condemned house. After so many wonderful years of service, the day came for the home to be demolished. A home is more than bricks, mortar, and boards. It is the sum total of the people who lived and loved inside. Home is where the heart is. Our home is forever.
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