Richard "Rich" Russell Smuin

Richard “Rich” Russell Smuin OGDEN - Richard Russell Smuin, 65, our beloved husband, father and grandfather returned to his Heavenly Father surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. Richard was born June 7, 1944, at the old Dee Hospital in Ogden to Russell J. and Evelyn Rampton Smuin. He passed away May 10, 2010, from complications following a stem cell transplant for leukemia. He was raised in Ogden – an Ogden boy through and through – and loved to recall the memorable places of his youth where he spent time with his three cousins, Charles, Grant, and Jim. Richard graduated from Ben Lomond High School in 1962. He served honorably in the Great Lakes Mission and attended both the University of Utah and BYU. While at BYU he met Linda Peirce. They married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on July 29, 1966, and have three daughters and five grandchildren. Working at Wangsgard’s Market, the family business, Richard learned a strong work ethic. For many years he worked for Smith’s as a manager and later became the candy buyer in the corporate office. He also worked in the mortgage industry and for Price Container as an account manager. Even though he suffered from leukemia, he considered himself the healthiest sick person in the world. He continued to hike, take long walks, and bike. He ate healthy food and enjoyed growing his own tomatoes. He had been a runner and ran in marathons. He was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with a steadfast testimony of his Savior and the promise of eternal life with his family. He served in many church callings, but he will best be remembered as the ward organist/accompanist for 53 years. Rich was an accomplished pianist. He loved to play his concert grand and to volunteer as a pianist at McKay Dee Hospital. He loved classical music and attended the Utah Symphony from the time he was 12. He was always the first to arrive and the last to leave in the service of others. He adopted and cleaned Old Post Road for several years and spent many early hours each winter with his snow blower cleaning the neighbors’ driveways. He enjoyed cooking and could always be counted on to do the dishes after family get-togethers. Rich loved life and enjoyed a variety of interests. He loved traveling to San Diego, Yellowstone, Disneyland, Europe, or any place that beckoned. His favorite activities included eating at The Oaks with his family, hiking the Indian Head Trail with his grandsons, and helping his grandkids feed carrots and sugar cubes to the horses. He devoted hours to family history, serving as an officer for the Henry Rampton Family Association. Rich looked forward to celebrating the 4th of July each year in Huntsville and cooking the eggs for the Breakfast in the Park. He never wavered in his faith and leaves a legacy of his love and testimony of Jesus Christ. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Linda; children, Terri (Blair) Kent, Heather Smuin, Amanda (Daniel) Peterson; grandchildren, Alex and Abigail Kent and Ethan, Tessa, and Pierce Peterson; sisters, Sidnie Garn and Jill Ortegon. He will be missed by many relatives and friends who loved him. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 15, 2010, at 1 p.m. at the Old Post Ward Chapel, 5191 Old Post Road, Ogden, UT. A viewing will be held Friday, May 14, 2010, at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd., from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday at the Ward Chapel from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Road. Special thanks to Dr. Shami at Huntsman Cancer Institute and the nurses and CNAs in the BMT unit at the University Hospital. Send condolences to the family at: www.lindquistmortuary.com