Dessa Brough Richins

Dessa La Von Brough Richins was born in Lyman, Wyoming on 1 January 1913. She loved the out-of-doors and was happy to be her father’s “son” till brothers came along. As a young girl she worked with the teams, hauling logs, plowing, mowing and harvesting crops. She had an opportunity to go on the train with her legislative father to Cheyenne, Wyoming to meet the governor. Father had to fix her curls; difficult for her father.

She went to Salt Lake City after high school to attend Stevens Heneger Business School. She earned a Normal School teaching certificate. She met Edward M., "Ted", Richins at a dance and they were married 17 May 1935 in the Salt Lake Temple. Six children were born to them, Roger, Alan, Barry, Frances, Cynthia, and Hal.

She was a hard worker and enjoyed learning many things – calligraphy, flower arranging, sewing, crocheting, porcelain lace draping - ceramics and embroidery. She took piano lessons in her 80's. Unfulfilled was learning to wood carve. She climbed a tall ladder to paint the outside of their two-story home and wall-papered the inside at Ogden, Utah. What a brave lady!

It was customary for her to get up very early, work in her garden and flowers before going to her 8 hour a day job. She was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions over the years. In her 90’s she answered the phone Friday afternoons for the Maricopa County Sheriff's department, sewed quilt blocks for the Humanitarian Service and with the “Knit-Wits”, crocheted items for the New-born's and VA patients in the hospital. She was loving and non-judgmental, a dear friend and a choice daughter of God.