5 Jan 1912 – 25 Apr 1988
Husband of Margaret Roundy Cardon
Russell Rogers Rich 76, a retired member of the Brigham Young University religion faculty, died at his home April 25, 1988, of a heart attack.
He was born January 5, 1912 in Chicago, Illinois, to Jesse Pomeroy and Louise Rogers Rich. He married Margaret Roundy Cardon on June 3, 1936 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
He attended Utah State University where he was student body president in 1935-36 and was active in sports as a football player and a long-distance runner.
He served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Swiss-Austrian Mission from 1931-34. He began teaching in the Seminary system of the LDS Church at Driggs, Idaho where he also coached the football team. He taught seminary in Preston, Idaho; Logan, Utah; and later at the Institutes of Religion in Mesa, Arizona and Laramie, Wyoming. He came to Brigham Young University in 1953 where he served as chairman of the Church History Department and professor of Church History and Religious Education.
He retired in 1977. He received the Seventh Annual Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1986.
He was active in the LDS Church and served as Stake Mutual President, Stake Mission President, President of the Seventies Quorum, Scoutmaster, and as ordinance worker in the Provo Temple. He served on the High Council of the BYU 6th Stake and later was bishop of the BYU 5th Ward. He taught Sunday School, MIA and Priesthood meetings. He served as a member of the Priesthood Correlation committee for the Church.
He was a member of the Kiwanis Club, and Sons of the Utah Pioneers, serving as president of the Utah Pioneers in 1985-86.
He and his wife served a mission at the Visitors Center in Independence, MO from 1981-83.
He conducted many Church History tours and spent several summers in the East doing research in early Church History. He authored a book used regularly in classes at BYU. He also authored numerous articles on various aspects of Church history and was considered a leading authority on the apostolic groups of the LDS Church.
He is survived by his wife of Orem, 3 sons and 4 daughters; Mrs. William (Merilynne) E. Smith of Oxford Mississippi; Mrs. gene (Suzanne) Sadler of Arlington, Texas; Mrs. Paul (Renee) Mounteer of Springville, Utah; Stephan Richard Cardon Rich of San Antonio, Texas; David Cardon Rich of Park City, Utah; Barbara Rich of Orem, Utah and Charles Cardon Rich of Rancho Cucamonga, California; 30 grandchildren, one brother, Sterling Rich of Salt Lake City, twin sister Rhea Garr of Logan, Utah; LaRelle Donnelly of Upland, California; Mrs. Don (Yvonne) Quayle of Bethesda, Maryland; Mrs. LeGrande (Elda) Baer of Salt Lake City, Utah; Elna LaFranier of West Valley City, Utah.
Funeral services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Orem 16th Ward Chapel, 641 S. 400 E., Orem. Friends may call at the Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 S. State, Orem on Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. or at the Chapel one hour prior to services.
Burial at the Orem City Cemetery.
Orem City Cemetery, Orem, Utah
