Richard M. Winn

Richard Marion Winn was born on June 4, 1952, in Sacramento, California, to parents, Winona Alberta Johnson Winn and Orson John Winn. He passed away July 4, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.

On his birth, Rich joined his brothers, Les and Kenneth, and sisters, Jean and JoAnn. Years later, another boy, Melvin, joined the family.

Growing up in California had its advantages with fruits of all kinds growing over into the alleyway next to his house. When food was sometimes scarce in the house, he said the Lord provided for him to not go hungry. They moved often, but he loved just being in the pine-covered mountains. His father took the boys hunting for food for the family. Even as a young boy, he was up before dawn walking up steep hills with his dad and brothers. It was a newsworthy article in the Sacramento paper with a picture of Rich and his first deer at the age of 11 years. He honed his skills at hunting and sharp shooting, and often he would fill the tags of other members of the family. He was a true hunter, and if he was born in the early pioneer days, he would have been a skilled mountain man. Rich also had a love of many outdoor recreational activities such as archery, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, waterskiing, snorkeling, boating, and motorcycling (dirt and road bikes).

One of his favorite jobs was working at the El Dorado Forest Service. His years of climbing the mountains gave him the lead in clearing trees for backfires and his expert driving skills helped get fire equipment out of close encounters with wildfires.

The greatest honor of his youth was when he became a father to Christinna and Ryan. His deep regret was not being able to participate full time with their upbringing. Imagine the joy when Christinna and then Ryan came to live with him in Idaho. They had many fun times being together.

In the summer of 2003, he met Paula Hoffman and invited her to take a ride on his bullet bike. She has been hanging on tight from that time on. They married in the winter of 2003, then solemnized their marriage on June 1, 2013, in the Salt Lake Temple, and Rich was sealed to another son, Jeramie.

Rich and Paula had a lifetime of beautiful experiences together as they hiked and camped to fabulous places and saw amazing scenery. He taught her to kayak, fly fish, and she joined him in all his sporting activities. She said being with him is like an Adventure XL.

Rich was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held the office of a High Priest. He had various church callings, but valued his time as a Temple Ordinance Worker most. Using Family Search, he scanned the world looking for family ancestors. He bore his testimony of the truth of the gospel and his love for the scriptures on LDS Facebook that also touched many people who had ears to listen.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Melvin; sister, Jean Silva; brother, Les; and son, Jeramie Mitchell.

Rich is survived by his sister, JoAnn Upton of Single Springs, CA; brother, Ken Winn of Pocatello, ID; daughter, Christinna (John) Williams of Las Vegas, NV; son, Ryan (Krystal) of South Weber, UT; six wonderful grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces.

Too many thanks to be given, but there are so many to mention; however, Rich wanted to mention Huntsman’s Cancer Hospital for making it possible for him to live over three years with a fatal diagnosis. This time was spent for him to complete his mission on earth.

Graveside services will be held at 12 Noon Friday, July 11, 2025, at the Shelley-Hillcrest Cemetery. The family will visit with friends from 10-11 a.m. prior to services at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road.