Richard Carl Mihlfeith, our beloved husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew, and friend, peacefully passed away with his loving wife and devoted sister by his side at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah on August 29, 2023 after a lionhearted battle with cancer. Richard was born on April 13, 1976 in Ogden, Utah to Carl Max and Kathryn Ann Moesinger Mihlfeith. He was a delight all his life and a friend to all. Richard moved with his family from Ogden to Salt Lake City when he was four years old. He attended Highland High School, graduating in 1994, and then attended the University of Utah on a full-tuition scholarship where he studied music. Richard was a gifted and dedicated musician. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music education and then with a master’s degree in bass trombone performance. He also obtained a bachelor’s degree from the U in biology. He played trombone for several years in the University of Utah Marching Band. Richard was a natural teacher and thoroughly enjoyed teaching private lessons to trombone students. He later returned to school at Weber State University where he earned an RN degree, and then a BSN degree from the University of Utah. Richard was a talented and compassionate nurse and found great joy and deep satisfaction in caring for his patients. He also really enjoyed working with his fellow nurses and considered them great friends.

Richard was adept at so many things. He was industrious and very knowledgeable. He skillfully completed several remodeling projects; beautified his childhood home backyard by constructing large ponds and planting dozens of beautiful trees; and he enjoyed working on his Land Cruiser so that he could take it and those he loved on adventures in Moab, out in the Utah West Desert, or up in the mountains behind Bountiful and Farmington, Utah.

Of all of Richard’s incredible accomplishments, the one that was the most dear to us, his family, was his ability to love. He cared deeply for his family members and friends and was always quietly and unassumingly finding ways to serve and help them. Richard adored his mother and served her unceasingly until her unexpected passing in 2017. He loved and looked up to his big brother Mike who also passed away unexpectedly in 1985. He loved his niece and nephew and enjoyed taking them on “epic road trips” with his sister, their “Tante” Catherine. He was a totally devoted brother to his two sisters, Catherine and Kimberly, and he loved and helped care for his father, Max. He enjoyed every opportunity to be with his brother Kirk at a sporting event or in the mountains hiking and camping. He had a special bond with his “big sister”, Darcy Stallone, and loved her as her devoted “little brother.” Richard married his precious eternal companion, Deborah Hatch, on June 18, 2022 in the Provo Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved and cared for Deb in every way with kindness, tenderheartedness, and complete devotion. Their time together in this life was so short but was infinitely sweet with so many wonderful moments of conversation, travel, togetherness, and love.

Richard served in many callings in the wards he attended throughout his life as a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He savored these opportunities to love and serve others. He served a full-time mission for the Church in the Brazil Recife and Montana Billings missions. He loved and served his Savior, Jesus Christ, and had a deep and abiding testimony of His gospel. He lived the gospel in pure and profoundly simple ways throughout his life and his countenance reflected the love and light of the Savior. Richard was without guile; he was humble, teachable, fun-loving, active, cheerful, kind, and full of love. He loved to weight-lift with friends. He organized “shine and dine” nights with friends where they would enjoy good food and shoe-polishing together. Richard could see the value in things others might cast aside and revived many a used pair of dress shoes, boots, lamps, or cars.

Richard will be sorely missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Deb; his father Max Mihlfeith; his brother Kirk Wangsgard (Shelley); his sister Darcy Stallone; his sister Catherine Mihlfeith; his sister Kimberly Mihlfeith Breault and niece Elizabeth Breault and nephew Michael Breault. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as his in-laws, Harmon and Deborah Hatch; Nick and Amy Ames; Emily Hatch; Robert and Allison Rowe; Philip and Emily Hatch; and nieces Rachel, Hannah, Julia, and Lillian Rowe. He is preceded in death by his mother, Ann Mihlfeith, and his brother, Michael Wangsgard. Richard, we will love and think of you every day, and especially every time we see a beautiful forest, experience a summer rainstorm, or visit the places you loved. We love you forever!

Funeral services for Richard will be held Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM in the Highland Park Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2535 South Douglas Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, also at the Highland Park Ward building, on Friday, September 8, and from 9:30-10:30 AM on September 9, immediately preceding the funeral services. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn in Salt Lake City, Utah.