Ida Kay Richins

Ida Kay Ross Richins, 79, passed away after a courageous battle against cancer on Tuesday, February 04, 2014 in Idaho Falls.

Kay was born on June 7, 1934 in Rupert, Idaho to John Harold Ross and Lillian Gertrude Wheeler Ross.  She spent her early years in Rupert and Aberdeen.  After graduation she took a job in Jackson, Wyoming where she met her future husband, Dean Keith Richins.  On one of their dates he took her to sit in front of the Idaho Falls Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he planned to be married.  She investigated and joined this same church.  On December 30, 1952 they were married in the Idaho Falls Temple.

They started their family while Keith was in the service in North Carolina and continued building onto their family in the Shelley area. During these years she lost her husband to an industrial accident but continued raising the children with pride.  After the children left home Kay moved to the Idaho Falls area.  She filled her life with family and others. She served in various ward and stake positions in her church which includes missions to Peru, Texas, Ireland, and Jamaica. When cancer struck again she was forced to stop working in the elementary school with children as a foster grandmother.  She was well loved by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children, son, Dean (Sharon) Richins of Orem Utah, daughters, Debbie (Terry) Rieth of Idaho Falls Idaho, Tammy Richins of Idaho Falls Idaho, Deanna (David) Fried of Shelley Idaho, Linda (Albert) DeLaGarza of Idaho Falls Idaho, and Karen (Gary) Davis of Idaho Falls Idaho; one brother, John Ross of Los Altos, CA, two sisters, Shirley (Jay) Beck of Aberdeen, Idaho, Jenny (Mike) Mahoney of Meridian, Idaho; 22 grandchildren; 39+ great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Lillian Ross; daughter, Shirley Louise Richins and grandsons, Jeff Lynn and Merlin Dean Dial.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 8, 2014 at the Shelley 1

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Ward Building (184 North Park Ave.) The family will meet with friends Saturday from 10:00 a.m. till 10:45 a.m. at the church.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Nalder Funeral home in Shelley.  Burial will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Shelley.