THE WORLDS OLDEST PAPER BOY LIVES IN UTAH

A few weeks ago, I was reading in a DANISH newspaper that the oldest paper boy – 79 years old -  was living in Denmark.

I feel compelled to correct that, because I am sure that my husband Bent Lindhardt is the oldest paper boy in the world. He is 83.

Bent is DANISH – born in Copenhagen, but he does NOT live in Denmark. He lives in Toquerville. Utah, United

Bent had an International moving business when he lived in Denmark and was often in the United States. His moves were mostly for people who was immigrating.

Bent travelled through 35 of the 50 United States and decided that he liked the way of life in USA and in 1992 decided to follow in his customer’s path - to immigrate.

Being a member of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” (Mormons) where approx. 60% of the population are members of the church he decided to settle in Washington county of Utah.

Bent got a job as “Driver and Tourist Guide” of the tourist buses in the Zion National Park.

At that time when he was driving the Zion tourist buses, it was the driver that verbally introduced the Park to the tourists on the bus.  It has later been replaced with a recording.

When Bent introduced himself to the tourists he would say: “Welcome to the Zion National Park.  My name is BENT.  I have been “bent” all my life”.

Bent would introduce the tourists to “Weeping Rock”, “The Patriarchs” - “Angels Landing”, “The Narrows”  and all the other amazing places in the park.

Bent got to know the park in and out. He was impressed with the beauty of the park and felt it a privilege to work in such an amazing place. He did this job for 11 years. He met thousands of tourists from all over the world.  He got to know the park well and he loved his job.

(Bent – who is a writer and song writer/composer wrote a song called ZION. He recorded it in 2012 with John Houston’s recording studio) see encl.

In 1998 Bent bought himself a home in Toquerville Heights, Utah, with a view towards Toquerville city towards north and Smith Meza to the east.

To pay off his new home - as soon as possible - Bent felt he needed a little extra income and got a job as a paperboy with the “Spectrum News” which has their main office in St. George.

Initially Bent thought he would just take that job until the house was paid for. Nevertheless, he found out he liked throwing newspapers out of the car  and decided to continue being a paper boy  - even after the house was paid for.

Not only did he like it but he said that was told that all millionaires had started as “paper boys”, so he thought this might still have a chance for that million.

In the beginning, Bent’s newspaper route was in Hurricane, but about 12 years ago, he got an opportunity to get “the route of his dream”.  The 75-mile round trip to “Zion National Park”.

Bent gets up 3: a.m. every morning – seven days a week.  He never uses an alarm clock and never misses getting up in time and never complains about having to do his “job”.

Bent picks his papers up in LaVerkin then starts his route in Virgin, goes on to Rockville and then to the extremely popular tourist town: “Springdale”. In Springdale Bent drops of both Spectrum and “USA TODAY” to several hotels.  He then drives in through the park itself where he delivers papers to the most popular hotel “Zion Lodge”, (which is usually booked one year ahead.)

Zion National Park has become so popular with tourists that last year -2016 – there were about 4.5 million visitors.

the PATRIARCHS in the Zion National Park

The views in Zion National Park are simply spectacular and Bent enjoys them every day.

As Bent says: “Other people pays a lot of money as tourists to come and see what I enjoy every day; and I get paid for it”

One of Bent’s favorite experiences on his morning route is all the different kind of animals he encounters.  He regularly sees racoons, deer, fox, skunks, turkeys and off and on a mountain lion.

He will slow down his car and “talk to them”.

Bent does not want anybody to feel sorry for him, because He LOVES his newspaper route.  It keeps him alive, he says and he wants to keep going “Until I am Old” he says.

Vibeke Lindhardt

23 April 2017

Bent's SONG ZION is on this CD:

ZION

With the Virgin River running through the Canyon.

With the deer’s and other animals around.

Where the flowers, trees and birds are our companions.

We love the smells, the beauty and the sounds.

You are an international attraction.

The entire world they bring to you’re their heart.

An awe of the park is their reaction.

The language barrier always falls apart.

Zion, Zion. Beautiful Zion. 

Zion The National Park

You are a jewel in the West

You are loved by every guest.

With the red majestic mountains.  You’r the best.

There are trails for all the people. Old and younger.

And the backcountry for those who want some more.

“Angels Landing” not for those who are fear mongers.

“Weeping Rock” for those who really fear to soar.

The “Narrows” are for those who are the brave ones,

who likes to walk in water all day long.

But “Emerald Pool’s” a favorite in Zion

A choice   where families never can go wrong.

Zion, Zion. Beautiful Zion. 

Zion The National Park

You are a jewel in the West

You are loved by every guest.

With the red majestic mountains.  You’r the best.

There are switchbacks and tunnels in the east side.

Where the “Bighorns” are mating there in spring.

The mountains there are really, really different.

With “Checker Board” as being mighty King.

Adventure, beauty, peace and natures power,

is what Zion Park it always gives its guests.

God’s masterwork  we’re watching every hour.

We leave the park and feeling very blessed.

Zion, Zion. Beautiful Zion. 

Zion The National Park

You are a jewel in the West

You are loved by every guest.

With the red majestic mountains.  You’r the best.