WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
RICHARD ANTONE "DICK" SCHMUTZ
(farmer, historian, teacher, and commercial land developer)
BIOGRAPHY
Richard Antone "Dick" Schmutz was born in St. George in the old McGregor Hospital on October 13, 1925.Richard attended the Woodward School, St. George Elementary School, and then Dixie High School where he graduated in 1943. He was then drafted into the Army Air Corps where he served 19 months as an aircraft engineer. After the war ended, he served a two and a half year LDS mission in Switzerland, the homeland of his ancestors.
In 1949, Richard met and courted Miriam Christensen. She was born in Delta, Utah on December 20, 1925. They were married in the St. George Temple on October 29, 1949.
Richard graduated from Dixie Junior College in 1951 and attended BYU for two semesters before returning to St. George to manage the George Seegmiller Farm (later an LDS farm in the Washington Fields). After that, he managed the Dixie Feed Company in St. George for a few years.
The Schmutz family left St. George in 1957 and moved to southern California so that Richard could pursue his education. He worked his way through college, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in History from San Fernando Valley State College and in 1967 earning a PhD in Medieval European History from USC. He taught then taught history at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and at BYU.
In 1972, Richard left teaching for a career in business. He become a commercial land developer.
Richard & Miriam were devoted members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all their lives. Richard served as bishop of the BYU 128th Ward from 1980 to 1983. After retiring from business, Richard & Miriam served in the Swiss mission from 1994 to 1996. Richard was a member of the Swiss Temple presidency in 1995 and 1996. Back home, Richard served in three High Councils and was a sealer in the St. George Temple starting in 1996.
Miriam died in St. George on September 9, 2015. Her funeral was held on September 12, 2015 and she was buried in the St. George City Cemetery.
Richard died in St. George on January 24, 2017. His funeral was held on January 28, 2017 and he was buried in the St. George City Cemetery.
FAMILY
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Richard's Parents and Siblings:
Wilford Antone Schmutz Martha Foremaster Schmutz David Marshall Schmutz Donald Foremaster Schmutz Janice Schmutz Richard Antone Schmutz William Jay Schmutz Clare Andrew Schmutz |
(4/5/1894-1/20/1993) (married xx/xx/xxxx) (9/25/1897-10/8/1986) (10/27/1916-3/25/2002) (married Verna Burgess) (10/14/1918-12/25/2004) (married Merlene Lovell) (4/6/1921-7/2/2018) (married LeRoy N. Nisson) (10/13/1925-1/24/2017) (married Miriam Christensen) (5/24/1928-1/28/2018) (married Georgia Lou Heaton) (7/18/1930-6/23/2005) (married Georgia X. Xxxxxxxx) |
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Miriam's Parents and Siblings: Lorenzo Henry Christensen Leah Bennett Christensen Esmond Lorenzo Christensen Elma LaRiel Christensen [Baby Boy] Christensen Avle Bennett Christensen Florence Mildred Christensen Clem Homer Christensen Miriam Christensen |
(1/2/1887-3/19/1947) (married 12/17/1913) (11/27/1892-12/31/1991) (6/12/1914-6/12/1914) (6/12/1914-6/12/1914) (6/1/1915-6/1/1915) (5/31/1915-6/22/1920) (12/20/1916-11/24/1979) (married Ned Milne Church) (1/26/1924-1/31/2004) (married Grace Adams) (12/20/1925-9/9/2015) (married Richard Antone Schmutz) |
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Richard & Miriam's Family: Richard Antone Schmutz Miriam Christensen Schmutz Linda Gay Schmutz Christen Lorenzo "Chris" Schmutz Evan Antone Schmutz Marilyn Schmutz Steve Schmutz |
(10/13/1925-1/24/2017) (married 10/29/1949) (12/20/1925-9/9/2015) (9/14/1951-10/23/1972) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Susan Nef) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Cindy Sims) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Russell Lynn Owens) (xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx) (married Rebecca "Becky" Parsons) |
PHOTOS
 Young Richard |
 Older Richard |
 Young Miriam |
 Older Miriam |
PUBLICATIONS
All That Was Promised: The St. George Temple and the Unfolding of the RestorationBy Blaine M. Yorgason, Richard A. Schmutz, and Douglas D. Alder
Published by Deseret Book, March 1, 2013
See the information page.
REFERENCES
Obituary of Richard SchmutzFind-A-Grave entry for Richard Antone Schmutz
Obituary of Miriam Christensen Schmutz
Find-A-Grave entry for Miriam Christensen Schmutz
Richard "Dick" Schmutz - Biographical Sketch
Written by Richard Schmutz for the Holland Building room.
Richard Schmutz: My Personal History. Begun 2/26/06.
An unfinished autobiography covering his early years.