Richard 'Rich' E. Richins

Richard "Rich" E. Richins, longtime Moses Lake resident, passed away on Monday, June 16, 2008, at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Kayser's Chapel of Memories with Bishop Don Tucker of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Moses Lake 1st Ward, conducting. Interment will follow in Pioneer Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake. You may sign the guest book or leave a note for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Rich was born on Jan. 1, 1927, in Labelle, Idaho, the eldest son of AlmaJohn and Estella Lundquist Richins. He attended grade school at a one-room schoolhouse to which he rode 5 miles one way by horseback. The schoolhouse was between Mud Lake and Monteview, Idaho. He later transferred to Idaho Falls to attend high school in which he lived with his extended family James V. Armstrong. Rich loved sports; he won the Golden Glove Boxing Champion in the ninth grade, and set a state record in the shot put. He graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1945.

After graduation he returned to Monteview and farmed with his father and brothers.

In 1950, he married the love of his life, Phronia Rae Garton; they were married in Idaho Falls, in the home of James V. Armstrong. They returned to Monteview where they made their home and started their family. They had four sons and two daughters.

In 1964, a fire destroyed the dairy barn, hay and livestock. Rich decided to move the family to Washington, where he felt that they found paradise in the Columbia Basin area. He purchased a 100-acre farm on 6 Southeast in Moses Lake and raised beans, alfalfa, red potatoes, sweet corn and apples.

When Rich was not farming he was fishing. Rich loved to fish, some of his favorite spots were on the Salmon River, Potholes Reservoir, and when he really felt brave enough he would go salmon fishing on the Washington coast. He would hardly ever come home empty-handed.

Rich was very devoted to his mother and father, and would travel to eastern Idaho twice a year to visit. Because of the demands of the farm life, this was considered the family vacation.

In 1965, Rich began working for American Potato where he continued to work until his retirement in 1989.

In 1989, Rich sold the farm and moved to town. Rich and Phronia loved to travel the backroads of the Northwest and would often take small trips just to get out and see the sights. They made several trips to Branson, Mo., and Glacier Park, as well as trips to visit their extended families in Idaho.

On May 24, 2000, Rich and Phronia were sealed as a couple in the Idaho Falls Temple.

Rich is preceded in death by his father Alma John Richins; mother Estella Lundquist Richins; infant son Wayne Richins; brothers Robert John, Allen, and his sister Irene.

Rich is survived by his wife Phronia, sons Dennis (Kerrie) Richins; Jay (Sharon) Richins; Ji'm (Dori) Richins; daughters Susan (Stan) Allan; and Kathy (Terry) Mitchell; sister Lois Adams and brothers Dave (Beverly) Richins and Jack Richins.

Rich has 11 grandchildren. He was blessed with 17 great grandchildren, along with many wonderful nieces and nephews.