Mina Louise Broadhead Richins

Mina Louise Broadhead Richins passed away on Thursday, October 10, 2024 after a series of strokes, surrounded by family. She was born September 1, 1939, by cesarean section at the Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her parents were 40-year-old Olive Johnson and 52-year-old William Broadhead. They were thrilled to receive this beautiful gift of a child in their home after waiting for so many years. Mina was named after each of her grandmothers and cherished her heritage. She had seven aunts on the Broadhead side that she was especially close to, as well as her many cousins on both sides.

After her mother recovered from what was then a major surgical procedure, Mina was taken to her first home on the Broadhead Ranch, about seven miles south of Nephi. Her first home had no electricity, running water nor any modern conveniences. Mina still owns the property that the house stood on. The little family joyfully welcomed a son, Lester William, about four years later. When Mina was six, and ready to start school, the family decided they should move to Nephi. The family home there had electricity and running water but no bathroom nor central heating. It did have one bedroom, a living room, and a kitchen where a coal burning cooking stove made for a cozy little home. 

Mina loved school, her teachers, and especially reading. Lassie and Little Women were some of her favorite books. She excelled at school, made numerous lifelong friends and participated in many activities. Mina’s mom was great at giving readings and taught her the art of giving them. The highlight at many community events and school assemblies were Mina’s humorous and dramatic readings. In High School, she was the editor of the school newspaper and also loved writing. She wrote a children’s book later in life titled, “A Swedish Girl Named Mina” about her Swedish grandmother.

When Mina was 14, her father passed away. Her mother did not drive and only had an eighth-grade education, which made providing for her family very hard. Mina had already started making money at an early age by babysitting the neighbors’ children. As time passed, she developed a relationship with several families that lasted her lifetime. She loved those children as if they were her own. She was named Miss Juab County Fair and participated in the Miss Utah Pageant. During high school, she worked as a waitress at the Snak Shak Café and was very frugal with her money. She had a way of making things work out. Without financial help nor a scholarship, she was able to put herself through college, earning a bachelor’s degree at BYU in four years. Somehow, she was also able to loan her brother some money to buy a car during this time. She obtained a teaching job at Nephi Elementary in 1961. Again, she loved her elementary students as if they were her own.

Mina developed a strong testimony of the Gospel at a very young age. She was an amazing example to her little brother and to her friends and family. In 1962, she decided to serve a mission and was called to serve a two year mission in Sweden, the home of her maternal grandparents. The work was hard, but she tackled it with the same determination and enthusiasm as all the other challenges in her life and was very successful. She loved the people and dedicated herself to the work. She was called to serve in the mission home for the last several months of her mission. The president and his wife became almost like parents to her. Mina remained a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days and served in numerous callings throughout her life.

She continued teaching school after her mission and was always a champion for the underdog, downtrodden, or those who had struggles in life. She taught for several years at the Provo Canyon Boys School, a school for troubled youth. Many foster children lived in her home. She ended her career teaching special education at Orem Junior High School. 

Mina met Kenneth Ray Richins through mutual friends at BYU before her mission and dated him after her mission. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 2, 1966. They made their first home in Lovell, Wyoming where they both taught school. While in Lovell, Mina completed her Master of Science degree in Education. During their marriage Mina & Ray had several business adventures. They managed rentals and owned two toy stores, ran a preschool and a dry cleaning business. She was a dedicated and loving wife and patiently cared for Ray always, especially through the health challenges he went through at the end of his life. Mina was blessed with four children and ten grandchildren. She cherished and adored her family and they likewise adore and cherish her. Her posterity will be forever blessed by her faithful loving example as a disciple of Christ. 

Mina was always serving and put others’ needs ahead of her own. She spent many years caring for her aged mother. She took a special interest in everyone she met and even served those who cared for her by praying for and loving them. Mina had a deep respect and love for her Father in Heaven and her Savior, Jesus Christ. She emulated the Savior’s life in the way she lived hers. Her reverence for sacred things was felt by all who knew her. She filled her life with uplifting and wholesome things.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Kenneth Ray, and her son-in-law Morgan Reid. She is survived by her children all of Utah County: Kenneth Richins, Esther Reid, Cheryl (Ben) Bikman, and Rachelle (Brandon) Chesnut, Ten grandchildren: Sariah, William and Joseph Reid; Samara, Lizzie and Asher Bikman; James, Kaylie, Celeste, and Carter Chesnut, and a brother, Lester (Diane) Broadhead and six nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Friday, October 25th from 6:00-8:00 PM at the Edgemont South Stake Center located at 350 East 2950 North in Provo, Utah and Saturday, October 26th from 9:30-10:30 AM. 

Memorial Services will follow at the same location at 11:00 AM. Services will be broadcast at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/92846798237

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the missionary or humanitarian fund for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.