Richard Birt Northrup

Richard Northrup
Monroe, Utah

Our strong and loving husband, father, and grandfather Richard Birt Northrup passed peacefully on a wintry day, January 4, 2025, at age 86, surrounded by loved ones at his home in Monroe, Utah. 

Richard was born April 25, 1938, in Salt Lake City, to Alwilde Elizabeth Arnesen Northrup & Birtie Withrow Northrup. The second of four children, Richard grew up enjoying time spent outdoors with his family, in nature and on his uncle’s nearby farm. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, games and playing outside with neighborhood friends - they even caught and raised their own pigeons! 

A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Richard was baptized at age 8 in 1946.

Though he contracted tetanus, scarlet fever and rheumatic fever as a child, Richard was excited to be healthy enough to play sports by junior high; playing football, baseball, basketball and pitching on the softball team before graduating from West High School.

Richard would go on to struggle with medical issues and complications throughout his life, including a heart attack in his early 30s, stomach ulcers, two bouts of cancer, and open heart surgery. He remained stoic while facing these issues with grace and determination, never complaining and working hard to excel in each of his jobs, provide for his family and improve each of the homes they would inhabit with his labor and construction skills.

Among these was an upstairs unit in a small rock house, the first place he felt ‘settled’ as an adult after living largely out of motels and trailers near work sites. He moved into this home as a newlywed in 1960 with his first wife, Irma Jane Barbour. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in 1962 and would have two daughters, Lynette and Kayleen, before they were later divorced. 

Throughout his late teens and 20s, Richard worked on a Christmas tree lot, in construction and renovation, and as a surveyor, eventually earning a 4-year engineering certificate in 1972. He worked on sites like the Kennecott Copper Mine, rail lines, the Salt Lake Temple grounds, and the gravel pits that would provide materials for the construction of Interstate-15, and for Salt Lake County and the Utah Department of Transportation engineering division.

Always interested in the opportunity to learn a new skill or trade, both on the job or off, Richard tried a variety of pastimes as an adult. He loved skiing, bowling, and, especially when the time came to date again in the early 70s - dancing! 

At one of these dances, he met his second wife, Carol Petersen. They married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1971. Richard became a stepfather to Carol’s three children, and he and Carol had two sons, David and Kevin, before divorcing in 1987.

During this period, dad began working for Utah Light & Power’s coal mining subsidiary (1977), where he would continue to learn, experiencing growth, camaraderie, and hardship - including the Wilberg mining disaster in 1984 - and from which he would eventually retire in 1998. 

After retiring, Richard eventually settled in Monroe, Utah with his wife Vivien, where his love of working with his hands extended to beautifying and maintaining his home and large yard and helping Vivien’s children on the family farm.

He first met Vivien Parker at a church dance in March 1988. He would later wonder aloud if this was love at first sight, and they would celebrate the anniversary of their first date throughout their more than 36-year marriage. 

During his courtship with Vivien, Richard said he became ‘a happy man’ again. They married in the Salt Lake Temple that same year on November 18, 1988, and he became a dad to Vivien’s four children.

A lifelong resident of Utah, Richard had a latent sense of adventure apparent in his reminiscences about his opportunities to travel, including road trips and camping with his children and later trips across the U.S. and abroad with his wife and her sister, Patricia & her husband Carl - but his greatest travel adventure would be the church mission he and Vivien felt privileged to serve in Cincinnati, Ohio, (where they resided in Kentucky) Mission from 2001-2003. 

Devoted to his faith as well as to his family, Dad was honored to serve God and his local church community as a member of the High Priest’s group, and especially with his wife serving in the Manti, Utah temple. He believed strongly in the power of prayer and priesthood blessings, turning toward the Lord in times of both physical and emotional hardship and in times of gratitude and joy. 

Grandpa’s greatest joy was his family, and he could always be counted on to remember and support his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in their milestone achievements and special moments with a camera at the ready. He delighted in reading and playing with his grandchildren, meeting new little ones as they joined the family, and in sharing time and reflection with his adult children and stepchildren later in life.

Dad hated to ask for directions while driving, but was always willing to offer direction in life, thoughtfully and earnestly lending a hand, or an ear, to his family, friends, and neighbors. He was calm and incredibly patient - once painstakingly separating his young daughter’s peas and carrots after she refused to eat them all mixed together. (Don’t tell him - she mixed them on purpose to try to get out of finishing her veggies!)

Richard was smart and resourceful, but had an innate sense of humility; It seems he aced every exam, test, or interview he came up against, which always seemed to surprise him. When circumstances changed his work or living situation, he wouldn’t miss a beat in seeking to fix, change or improve conditions for himself and his family. Richard’s selflessness was absolute; taking every opportunity to serve and help those around him without a second thought. Richard’s convictions, sacrifices, and outlook allowed him to be a great husband to Vivien, and for all of us to look up to Richard as an honorable man with a life well-lived.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; sister Sylvia Wells and her husband Herman. He is survived by his wife, Vivien; brother Don (Maria) Northrup and sister Beverly (Chris) Mergell; daughters Lynette (Paul) Hofer and Kaye (Gregg) Gensel; sons David Kent (Angel) and Kevin R. Northrup; stepchildren Kendall (Jill) Heaps, Tammy Ottley, and Bryan (Collette) Heaps; Mitzi (Randy) Bodily, Michael (Robyn) Mills, Mathew Mills, and Lance (Tracie) Mills; 24 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. 

Richard’s children would like to thank Jasmin and the Hospice team for their help this past week, and especially thanks Mathew Mills, who cared for and supported Dad and Vivien throughout their numerous health challenges and in his final weeks.

Richard will be laid to rest in the Monroe, Utah Cemetery. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Magleby Mortuary, 50 W. 100 S., Richfield, Utah. Thursday, January 9 preceding the funeral, there will be a viewing from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Monroe 5th Ward chapel, 140 S. Main. The funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. Flowers may be delivered to Magleby Mortuary in Richfield.

The family appreciates the compassionate service provided by Monroe 5th Ward Relief Society.

Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook www.maglebymortuary.com