Deseret Morning News, 08/11/05


Beth Richards Rich, age 89, passed away on Monday, August 8, 2005, in Orem, Utah. She was born on August 25, 1915 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the second of five children to Arthur Sylvester Richards and Grace Macdonald Richards. She grew up in Montpelier, Idaho, where she attended public schools, graduating from Montpelier High School in 1932 as valedictorian. She attended Brigham Young University from 1932 until graduation in 1936 and then taught in the Idaho High School system for four years. Beth married Edward Hunter Rich on July 3, 1941 in the Logan Temple. They first moved to Washington, D.C., where her husband attended law school and was employed by the federal government. In 1946 his work took him west, and they moved to the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, where they lived for 30 years. An active member of the LDS church, Beth held positions of leadership in many auxiliaries, serving twice as Relief Society president and teaching in Primary, Sunday School, and Relief Society. Her favorite assignments were as literature teacher in Relief Society, ward organist, and editor of the ward newsletter. She especially enjoyed singing in church musical groups and preparing original material for church road shows and similar type programs and was especially known for her sense of humor and creativity in all that she did. She and Edward had been residents of Provo since 1976 until moving to one of the Beehive Homes of Orem earlier this year. She is survived by her husband and three children: David E. (Marleen) Rich, Bellevue, Washington; Alan M. (Linda) Rich, Falls Church, Virginia; Kenneth A. (Vicki) Rich, Herndon, Virginia; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters, Grace Norman, Caldwell, Idaho; and Norma Spencer, Bountiful, Utah. She was preceded in death by one sister, Lois Hauck, Renton, Washington; and one brother, Arthur Winston Richards, La Jolla, California. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday August 13, 2005, at 2 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 Highland Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah. Interment will follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.