Gene Munns Rich

Gene Rich (Rowena Gene Munns Rich) passed away September 30, 2023 due to “too many birthdays”. 

Gene Rich (Rowena Gene Munns Rich) was born September 8, 1926, in Brigham City Utah to Charles Arthur and Rowena Reese Munns, as the second of three children.

She served as a student body officer throughout both Junior High and High School and as the Peach Queen for Brigham City.

Her family spent every summer at her uncle’s place in Yellowstone called “Pond’s Lodge” and have their family reunion.

In 1947, Gene graduated from USU with a degree in Elementary Education, married Wayne Redd Rich on June 18 and moved to Tooele, UT to teach 1^st grade.

The following year, they moved to Logan, UT and she taught 1^st grade in Smithfield, UT before staying home to raise her family of four children.  The family lived one year in San Antonio, TX while Wayne was on Sabbatical and one year in Hawaii when Wayne taught math at BYU Hawaii. She helped the ward there with many lunches and luaus.

After returning from Hawaii, they built a new home in Logan near the golf course where they stayed until her death. In the summertime, her young family went to Yellowstone for camping, fishing, and sightseeing. As they got older, they enjoyed their time at Lake Powell. Later they spent time in Newport Beach, CA visiting her brother.

Gene enjoyed traveling and toured throughout the Pacific Northwest and Europe with friends. They took their children the last time they visited Europe.

She served in most every calling in Young Women and Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as well as a missionary in the Oklahoma City Mission, and 13 years as a Temple Worker in Logan. Gene was a skilled seamstress and a magnificent cook. She loved taking care of her family and serving all those around her. She was a gracious host, always putting others before herself and was “service personified” In her later years, she enjoyed staying at home and having friends and family drop in to see her. She loved family gatherings where she hosted, cooked, and served her large family.

She often commented that there were two things that had a significant effect on her and shaped her life: the Great Depression and WWII. During the great depression, they didn’t have a lot of money but they never went hungry, and they were happy. It shaped her way of thinking and acting for the rest of her life. As World War II began, each month the town would have a large dance for all the men being drafted into the war. The following morning, the young men would ship off to SLC to begin serving. Many of them, close friends, never returned. 

She is preceded in death by her husband Wayne and her daughter Leeann Munson. She is survived by Jeff & Miriam Rich (son), Julie & Tim Hagan (daughter), and Robert & Michelle Rich (son). She has 13 grandchildren & 16 great-grandchildren and one 2G-Grandchild.

Funeral arrangements are made with Allen-Hall Mortuary. The services will be Saturday Oct 7, 2023, at the LDS Lundstrom Park Ward building (1260 N. 1600 E. Logan) with the viewing from 10:30 – 11:30, and the funeral following at noon. The family would like to thank Blacksmith Fork Assisted Living for their loving care and friendship and extend a warm thank you to Intermountain Hospice for their wonderful care, deep concern, and valued friendship. Interment will take place in the Brigham City Cemetery.

www.allenmortuaries.com.

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