Richard LaVere Miner

Richard LaVere Miner was born on November 27, 1946 in Portland, Oregon, to his parents, Richard Keith & Helen Clegg Miner. He would become the oldest of 6 children: Richard, Alan, Jane, Mary, Ann, and Gary. Richard grew up in Springville, Utah, running around with his best friend, Gordon Wilson, enjoying the scouting program and excelling at every sport he could play. After graduating from Springville High, he attended BYU and was soon called to serve as a missionary in Brazil, a country that would become dear to his heart for the rest of his life. He chose to follow in his dad’s footsteps to become a dentist, moving to Portland to complete Dental School. This proved to be a good move, because it was there that he met his sweetheart, Rhea Roberts, who was teaching school. They fell in love and were married for time and all eternity on March 20, 1971, in the Manti, Utah temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Richard and Rhea moved to Las Vegas, Nevada with their firstborn, Steven Richard, to begin a successful dental practice that would last 46 years. Over the years, they welcomed 8 children into their family: Steven, Stephanie, Susan, Sara, Sam, Scott, Shelena, and Sandi. Richard was a very present father, passing on his love for sports to his children and attending, & often coaching, their ball games. But if you were to ask Richard what his all time favorite class was, he would tell you to join a choir. Richard was blessed with a beautiful voice. He loved to sing and harmonize and attended his children’s choir concerts as readily as their ball games. As a family, we feel a special unity and joy when we sing together. His favorite hobbies included: keeping desert tortoises, beekeeping, golf ball hunting, working in his yard, Free Cell (he claims he completed all but 2 games, which were unsolvable), watching movies--especially musicals, Sudoku, and going on walks with his sweetheart.

Richard was very active in the Scouting community and church. He had many callings and responsibilities, but some of his favorites were serving as Cubmaster, Scout master, Choir Director, Bishop, and eventually the Las Vegas East Stake Patriarch and Sealer in the Las Vegas Temple. He loved to be in the temple. Richard and Rhea also returned to his beloved Brazil as missionaries, 3 more times, teaching music and serving in the temples there.

There are 2 philosophies that guided their parenting.

1. “Rings and jewels are not gifts, but only apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of thyself.”

2. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 1:4)

All our lives, whenever we asked Mom or Dad what they wanted for Christmas, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc, the answer was always the same: “Good Kids.” That’s all they’ve ever wanted.

On February 1, 2020, Richard & Rhea were in a severe car accident, but thankfully, their lives were spared. Coming so close to losing them, gave us a sweeter sense of appreciation and gratitude for our parents. It brought our family closer as we fasted and prayed and cared for them during their recovery. But Dad continued to decline. Now we realized that these last 9 months were preparing us for something only the Lord knew: Dad's time was drawing short. He was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. The end came fast and surprised us all, but his suffering was short. He passed away, surrounded by family, and holding his sweetheart’s hand on November 16, 2020.

Richard & Rhea’s legacy now includes 8 children, 2 daughters in law, 3 sons in laws, and 30 grandkids--all trying hard to be good kids. “Children are an heritage of the Lord...happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.” (Psalms 127:3,5)

There will be a graveside service at the Evergreen Springville Cemetery on Monday, November 23, 2020, at 11 am.