Richard Glen Sumsion, of Millcreek, Utah, passed away at home on January 1, 2025, five days shy of his 94th birthday. Richard was born on January 6, 1931, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Glen Willis and Clara Johnson Sumsion. He grew up in Springville, Utah. He was a hard worker and spent his summers working on his Uncle Howard’s ranch in Hobble Creek Canyon alongside his brothers and cousins. He attended Springville High School where he participated in basketball, track, music, and studies.

While attending Brigham Young University, he was paired with (Edna) LaPrele Olsen at an Exchange Dance (blind date). The connection was instant. They dated for over a year, and on June 17, 1955, they married in the Manti Temple. Two weeks prior to their marriage, both Richard and LaPrele graduated Phi Kappa Phi from BYU, Richard earning a bachelor's degree in accounting. He was a cadet in the ROTC at BYU and joined the U.S. Air Force in September 1955 which took them across the country over the next few years.

Upon discharge from the Air Force, they moved back to Salt Lake City, where Richard attended the University of Utah Law School from which he graduated in 1961. He worked for local law firms for a few years, then accepted employment with the State of Utah Labor Commission, where he worked for nearly 19 years as an administrative law judge. In 1988, he began working for the Workers Compensation Fund of Utah, from which he retired as the Vice President and Legal Counsel in 1996. He was remembered by many for his professionalism, integrity, and kindness with which he interacted with people, including showing respect and true empathy for those whose cases he judged.

Richard was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He emulated Christ as much as any person we know and devoted his life to serving others. He always had a smile on his face and was patient, kind, generous, and helpful. He never raised his voice or spoke harshly of others. He was willing to accept and fulfill any calling given to him, from Bishop to Cub Scout Leader. Richard served 5 missions for the Church, the first to the Eastern States Mission when he was 20 years old and the remaining four with LaPrele as follows: Singapore/Malaysia with a later transfer to Hong Kong (1998-99), Nauvoo Temple (2002-03), Connecticut Hartford (2005-06), and Washington D.C. Temple (2012-13). Richard and LaPrele served as workers in the Salt Lake and Jordan River Temples from 2001 through 2021.

Richard kept himself in excellent health and was always willing to participate in any activity presented to him. He began snow skiing later in life and continued skiing well into his 70’s. While in his 70’s & 80’s, he arose at 5:30 every morning and walked a 4.5-mile trek with several neighborhood friends up Millcreek Canyon and back. He continued the daily walks until the age of 88 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which zapped his energy too much to continue the long walks.

Richard loved to travel. He traveled the world and was willing to go anywhere, and everywhere he was invited, often tagging along as Grandpa to a group of rambunctious kids. He also traveled the country for many BYU football games, as he and LaPrele were avid supporters—holding season tickets until just this past Fall.

Richard is survived by his wife LaPrele; 5 children: Diane Aston, Linda (Dennis) Siebenhaar, Daniel Glen (Kristi) Sumsion, Marcie (Stuart) Clark, Mark Richard (Stacy) Sumsion; 16 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers—Robert and Owen, and his son-in-law Tom Aston.

A viewing will be held Friday, January 10, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 S. 2300 E., Millcreek, Utah. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 11:00 am. at the LDS Canyon Rim 1st Ward, 3000 S. 3100 E. (Grace St.), Millcreek, Utah, with a viewing preceding from 10:00 to 10:45 am. Interment will take place in the Springville City Cemetery, 400 S. 200 W., Springville, Utah.

A live stream of the services can be accessed at https://www.canyonrimfirstward.org/