The Jim and Joanne Rich Family
It’s been two years since Jim passed away and we all seem to be moving ‘forward with faith’! Jim was such an amazing presence in our lives and we have had many experiences where we feel him close and watching over us. Our testimonies are all strong that he continues to live and work and prepare for us to all join him someday. Still, we miss him like crazy and wish with all our hearts he could be physically with us to enjoy more of life!
The Jim and Joanne Rich Family (click to enlarge)
I continue to be busy (busier every year it seems)! As we prepare for our 17th grandchild, it appears that it’s ‘life in the ‘fast-lane’ like never before. My Mother always said ‘If you rest you rust’ so I just keep on ‘moving’! Besides ‘grand-mothering’ (my grands call me ‘Honey’) I still perform two programs with my singing group ‘Songkeepers’, do a little writing now and then for the online magazine ‘Meridian’, work in the Draper Temple baptistery once a week, stay active with ward callings, manage two homes and enjoy traveling and playing with friends when time permits. I never forget, despite life’s challenges, how very blessed I have been and, because of Jim’s great example, how ‘grateful’ I am for a wonderful life.
CHILDREN:
Coby and Tiffany live in South Jordan. They lost their second son to an accidental drowning in 2008 but have endured that difficult challenge with great poise and faith. Recently they were thrilled to add a darling new daughter Stella to their family after four sons. Interestingly, they are the same age Jim and I were when we had our daughter after our four sons. Coby is director of marketing for a company called Property Solutions that create software for managing properties. He has really found his niche and loves his work. Tiffany is a joy and the children (ages 2 months to 10) are all doing well.
Ben and Whitney live in Sandy with their four children (two girls and two boys ranging from 4-10). Ben works for Browning Insurance Co. which sale Medicare supplements. (If any of you are finding yourselves ‘there’, he is wonderful to work with and will get you the very best plan). He and Whitney are both constantly doing home projects. I don’t know how she finds time, but Whitney acquires old furniture and is an expert at refinishing it and Ben is a jack of all trades. Their children are lively and happy and doing well.
Patrick and Anna-Lisa live in Sandy and have two darling daughters ages 2 and 4. Pat works for IHC as their videographer and Anna-Lisa teaches palates now and then. All the boys remind me of Jim in one way or the other, but Pat really shares his ‘technical’ prowess and love of anything mechanical. He recently went on an adventure with Dan Rich and his boys with their four wheel drive vehicles and loved every minute. They are probably our ‘campers’ in the family, as our other children all lean more towards the ‘clamp-ing’ style.
Bob and Sara live in Boise (yes, we have some Idaho kids). Bob has completed his Prosthetics and Orthotics training and is practicing there. This is something he has wanted to pursue since high school. They have two darling boys ages 3-5 and are expecting a daughter the end of November (it’s been our year for girls). Sara is our little homemaker supreme loves the joys and challenges of it all. They seem to be adept at living away since they have only lived in SLC about 6 months of their eight years.
Marianne and Lance Welch have been living with me since April but recently bought a lovely new home in Riverton. Lance is an adjuster for Progressive Insurance and (also being an Idaho boy) is a dream son in law. They just had a darling new daughter Ava, adding one more girl to the family. Their oldest Olivia is 5 and Tyson is 3. It’s been wonderful having them here but I know they are excited to move on. Marianne is a darling mother and seems to handle life with great patience and fortitude. She keeps us all happily busy and has a deep love and dedication to ‘family’.
Last January I took all our family on a Disney Cruise which is something Jim and I hoped to be able to do often after retirement. There is nothing better than playing with family and I feel blessed to have the health and means to be able to do so. I am in the process of adding another building (with more bedrooms) to our Bear Lake place. I have an inbred love for this area since my family heritage is strong their and the Riches settled the valley. It is truly my ‘happy place’ and I’m preparing for future posterity to enjoy it as much as we all do now. I have plans to travel next year to the British Isles with my siblings and besides playing, doing some exploring of ancestral homes there. I am truly grateful for my great ancestry and for the Rich and Pocock families as well.
Sending my love and best wishes your way,
Joanne
