1923 ~ 2004
SALT LAKE CITY, UT<! >
- Margaret F. Richards, 81, passed away May 13, 2004, from complications due to an embolism to her leg.
She was born March 17, 1923, to Burton Kent and Mabel Pearce Farnsworth in Brigham City, Utah, the third of six children. From her parents she learned faithfulness, resourcefulness, and a love of education.
Margaret attended East High School in Salt Lake City and the University of Utah, where she was involved in many theatrical productions. She graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in English. She married her best friend and eternal sweetheart, C. Elliott Richards, on February 20, 1943, in the Salt Lake Temple. They were blessed with 12 wonderful children.
Margaret filled her life with service to her family and others. She was a cheerful mother, an excellent seamstress, and an energetic homemaker. Her family was her joy. She encouraged her children to work and study hard, to develop their talents and their faith in God, and to love good literature. She was their greatest supporter and helper, and she organized many occasions for family recreation and travel. She was an admirable speaker and writer and a gracious hostess. She left a legacy of love, faith and enthusiasm for life.
Margaret willingly gave of her time and talents in Church service. She enjoyed many years as a guide at the Beehive House, served three times as a Ward Relief Society president, and was a member of the Young Women General Board and the General Church Writing Committee. For the last seventeen years, she has served alongside her husband as they fulfilled callings in the Philippines as Cebu Mission President and Executive Secretary to the Area Presidency, and as President and Matron of the Jordan River Temple. They also served together as Inner-city Welfare missionaries and were serving as Coordinators for newly-called Temple missionaries at the time of her passing.
She is loved by her family: husband Elliott; her brothers: Dean (Grace) Farnsworth of Orem, UT; Robert (Loene) Farnsworth of Los Angeles, CA; and Richard (Wilma) Farnsworth of McClean, VA; her sisters Lucile (Vern) Hales of Orem, UT; and Patty Linn (Garth) Tolley of Salt Lake, UT; her children: Marilee (Dennis) Bonny of St. George, UT; Kent (Marsha) Richards of No. Salt Lake, UT; Dianne (Duane) Powell of Las Vegas, NV; Janice (Larry) Colton of Salt Lake, UT; Joan (Kumen) Davis of Draper, UT; Robert (Sue) Richards of Idaho Falls, ID; Douglas (Linda) Richards of Gainesville, FL; Boyd (Carolyn) Richards of Houston, TX; Holly (Roger) Young of Salt Lake, UT; Steven (Shelley) Richards of Spokane, WA; Michael (Becky) Richards of Salt Lake, UT; and Jeffrey (Christy) Richards of Indianapolis, IN; 69 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Mon., May 17, 2004, at 12 noon at the Federal Heights Ward, 1300 E. Fairfax Road. Friends may call Sun., May 16, from 6-8:30 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, and Mon. from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the church. Interment: Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to
Margaret_memorial@juno.com