Richard "Mike" Flinspach

Richard “Mike” Flinspach, age 86, passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2025, in St. George, Utah.

He was born on April 25, 1939, in Cedar City, Utah. His parents were Charles Flinspach and Teresa DelVecchio Flinspach.

He married Colleen Bradshaw on June 9, 1961, in the St. George Temple.

He spent the first 16 years of his life living with his parents, grandparents, and his Uncle Bill and Aunt Vera at the Flinspach ranch in the Modena canyon.

He attended school in Modena through the seventh grade. His parents even bought a house in town, across the street from the school, to use so they could minimize trips to and from the ranch, 5 miles away. The remaining grades he spent going to school in Enterprise, graduating high school in May 1957.

During his school years at Enterprise, he boarded with Horace and Marie Phelps and then later with the Moyles in Beryl during the week, returning to the ranch on weekends. This allowed him to participate in one of his favorite leisure pastimes, playing basketball. It was during this time that he developed a brotherly bond with Jackie and George Moyle that remained throughout his life.

After graduating high school, he joined the US Marine Corps and proudly served until July 1959. He was an excellent shot and won many awards at military shooting competitions. He spent most of his active duty as a range coach, teaching other marines to shoot.

After being honorably discharged from the USMC, he returned to the ranch. He got a job working for the Union Pacific Railroad where he worked for 17 years until his father passed away in 1976. While working full-time for the UPRR, he continued to work with his father and uncle at the ranch. Late nights and every weekend spent improving the range in an attempt to grow more feed so he could get more cattle. His great love was raising cattle. His lifelong pursuit revolved around getting and improving range, farming feed to supplement his ever-growing herd through the harsh winters.

He was an avid hunter. His cow dogs and cougar hounds were his constant companions. He loved birds of all kinds. He had ducks, turkeys, pheasants, chickens, and pigeons. He took great pleasure each year when Canadian geese would stay and raise a new group of chicks.

He is survived by his wife of 64 ½ years, son Michael William Flinspach, daughter Debra Temple, nine grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.