Three years ago, Elder Joseph Richey had just been admitted to a Fresno, Calif., hospital where he was told by his doctor that he was dying of leukemia. He was told that 85 percent of the people with this condition died within a very short time. "I've never considered myself as part of the 85 percent," Elder Richey said. "I'm in the top 15 percent. Tell me what happens to them."
The doctor replied, "Some live for three, even five years and some longer.""That's what I'll do," he said.
Joe Richey, a paving contractor who had been operating his paving equipment up to the day he was hospitalized, had reason to believe he really was in the top 15 percent. He attended BYU in the 1950s where he played basketball and was selected for All-American honors. He was a member of the 1951 BYU team that won the National Invitational Tournament championship.
The visit with the doctor began what was the hardest 40 days of Elder Richey's life. He was treated first with chemotherapy and then fought the resulting yeast infections with equally strong and painful medications. "When the pain and misery became unbearable," Elder Richey said, "I remember telling my Father in Heaven that I was ready to go if that is what He wanted, but I really wanted to stay."
Elder Richey proved he was indeed among the top 15 percent. He recovered, and a year later, he and his wife, Sharon, were called to the England Birmingham Mission as proselyting and leadership missionaries. They were instrumental in the establishment of the March Branch and had one baptism before Elder Richey again became seriously ill and returned to Fresno for treatment.
Three months later, after fighting his way back, he and his wife again returned to the mission field - but not before they had committed a Fresno family of five to baptism. Within two weeks of returning to the mission, they baptized a mother and a 16-year-old daughter. Elder Richey, however, had been seriously weakened by his recent illness. This ultimately caused a return of his leukemia. He continued to serve right up until 12 days before his death on April 4, 1995.
Elder Richey truly was in the top 15 percent. He and his wife were part of an elect group of 1,800 senior missionary couples who serve throughout the world. They do it because they love the Lord and want to bring the happiness of the gospel into the lives of others.