Carlos E (Rusty) Rife, age 78, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died peacefully on February 25, 1998 at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center of complications following heart bypass surgery.
Rusty was born September 21, 1919 in American Fork, Utah to Corliss Elliott and Millie Robinson Rife. He married his eternal sweetheart, Gloria Gear, on May 12, 1950, in the Salt Lake Temple. He had two sons, Richard and Roger, who, along with his wife, were the light and love of his life.Rusty was raised in Eureka, Utah. He loved Eureka and always considered it to be his home town. After graduating from Tintic High School, Rusty proudly served his country as a non-commissioned officer in the Army during World War II. Upon returning from the war, he worked briefly in the mines near Eureka. However, he ultimately followed in the footsteps of his father, whom he idolized, and became a master printer, working for most of his life at the Art City Publishing Company in Springville and at BYU Printing Services in Provo.
He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he loved the gospel. He served in various capacities in the Church including ward executive secretary, high priests group leader, and in the young men's organization. He especially enjoyed serving with his wife as a ward missionary and performing his home teaching. He loved the brethren of his high priest group.
Like his father before him, Rusty was a lifetime member of the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge in Eureka, Utah. To know Rusty was to love him. He had a tremendous personality and sense of humor. He was friendly, delightful, charming and inherently loveable. He made everyone who came in contact with him feel better. He was a devoted husband who loved his wife Gloria with all his heart and spent all his time and effort to support her. Theirs was the perfect marriage, with love, mutual respect, and concern flowing both ways. He was also a great father who supported his sons in all their activities, never missing a sporting event or any other activity in which they engaged. In his later years, Rusty became a loving "papa" to 11 adoring grandchildren who will miss him dearly.
Like his wife Gloria, Rusty had the gift of gab and the knack for making friends. He could strike up a conversation with anyone and, within a few minutes, you felt as if you had known him all your life. He loved people from all walks of life; he was non-judgmental; and he treated everyone with the same love and concern. He spent much of his free time visiting the sick and comforting the lonely. He was generous in spirit and with his resources. He was a Christian in the truest sense of the word.
Rusty was restless and moving all the time. He could fix anything, and he loved to work with his hands. He especially loved to work on cars. He enjoyed nothing more than having a project. He was always busy, always happy, and frequently whistling.
Farewell, "Papa." Thank you for your example, for your love, and for all you have done for us. We love you and will ever hold your memory dear to our hearts. There will never be another one like you.
We express our appreciation to Dr. Mary Wollmering and the staff at UVRMC for their heroic and compassionate efforts to save our husband and father.
Rusty is survived by his wife, Gloria of Springville, Utah; two sons: Richard Rife, Orem Utah; and Roger Rife, Spokane, Washington; two daughters-in-law whom he considered to be his daughters: Janet Parsons Rife, Orem, Utah; and Sheri Walker Rife, Spokane, Washington; 11 grandchildren: Laura, Mary, Brian, Todd, Jenny and Michael Rife, Orem, Utah; and Reginald, Adam, Macarthur, August, and Samuel E Rife, Spokane, Washington; three sisters: Alene Rife Fowers, Roy, Utah; Mildred Rife Bigler, Springville, Utah; and Joyce Rife McDonnell, Long Beach, California; and many loving nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 28, 1998 at 11 a.m. at the Hobble Creek Stake Center, 555 South 600 East, Springville, Utah. A viewing will be held at the Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South, Springville, Utah, on Friday evening, February 27, 1998, from 6 to 8 p.m. and at the chapel one hour prior to the funeral services. Interment will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.
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