Every one of my siblings blesses my life. You can't live in a family for 50 plus years and not be touched by the other people that you've lived with, shared joys and sorrows with, fought with, made up with, and made memories with. Each member in a family contributes to make up the whole. He can either enhance the family body or he can work to destroy the family body. But his influence is felt nonetheless.
My brother Bret has definitely enhanced my life. My memories of this great brother and friend are many. He was the middle of seven children... but he did NOT act like a middle child. He was my teddy bear of a brother. Mom said he would fall asleep in his high chair waiting for his food than to make a fuss in order to get it. He was a little bigger and taller than the rest, and so would have been a perfect candidate for playing football. However, he did not have the aggressive mentality of a progressive football player. One or two seasons was all he wanted. He preferred photography and animals. These were what captured his interest into high school.
Bret was surrounded by his older brother, Curt and his younger brother, Bruce. So he was the peacemaker for all. He was a gentle young man, and stalwart in his beliefs. We all looked up to him in more ways than one.
I think he was the only sibling in our family who actually converted a friend to the gospel. Actually, his friend, Dave Hadley, saw the light in Bret's eyes, and quizzed him every day at school. When Dave asked Bret questions he didn't know the answer to, Bret would come home and quiz our Dad. Then when Dad gave him the answer, he would relay the answer back to Dave. This went on for some time, and Dave was finally baptized. Unfortunately, it was not Bret who baptized him but Curt. Bret had already left for a mission.
Bret continued to convert. However, not all of his converts were converted by him. While serving his mission in Paraguay, he served in an area where he had a convert approach him. "Are you Elder Bassett? Do you know a "Jann Bassett"?"
Bret replied that Jann was his sister... the story came out...
Jann and I had added our testimonies to copies of the Book of Mormon that would then be sent out throughout the world. Little did we know that one of the copies would end up in Bret's mission, and that copy would convert someone, and Bret would find them. Small world!!
My teddy bear brother, Bret, has grown up to be a great man that I love and admire. He has married his lovely wife Wendy; a pre-mission sweetheart. His family is almost grown and gone, but they are a pillar of the strength he and Wendy have taught them. His knowledge of things temporal and things spiritual has grown. His strength in the gospel has grown, his testimony has grown, his love for those around him has grown, and others' respect for him has grown by leaps and bounds. He has shared his wisdom and love for the gospel with so many others as he has served in many various callings, including bishop and now stake president.
But in the end, Bret, you are still my teddy bear brother...my exemplar...my friend. May you always stay that way!!
