Richard B. Miskin

1929 - 2013

Richard Belnap Miskin, 84, of Idaho Falls, passed away Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, in Palm Bay, Fla.

He was born April 8, 1929, in Idaho Falls to Arthur Richard Miskin and Luvina Vilate Belnap Miskin, in a family of 14 children. He grew up and attended schools in Ucon, graduating from Ucon High School. He continued his education by attending Ricks College in Rexburg and received a bachelor's degree from General Motors Institute in Flint, Mich.

On Sept. 13, 1951, he married Rebecca Parrish in the Logan, Utah, Temple. They recently celebrated 62 years together. They have eight children and have lived in Ucon, Dearborn, Mich., and Ammon. During their retirement, they enjoyed spending winters in Florida and traveling.

He was owner and general manager of Miskin Scraper Works, where he actively managed all operations until his retirement in 1995. The favorite of his many duties there was inventing and engineering land leveling machines, where his ideas would literally shape the earth. His designs received numerous awards, including one from the Society of Agricultural Engineers for the most significant contribution to worldwide agriculture that year. He secured 17 patents for his work. His most rewarding experiences were in the field with satisfied customers who could understand and appreciate just how well his machines worked.

Richard was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in numerous callings, including bishop of the Ucon Ward from 1958 to 1963. As a young man, he served a full-time mission to the Great Lakes Mission and later served with his wife in the Peoria Illinois Mission from 1995 to 1997. Among his hobbies and interests were astronomy, geology, traveling, photography, spending time with his family and fishing.

Survivors are his wife, Rebecca Miskin of Idaho Falls; daughters, DeAnn (Dave) Mower of Germantown, Tenn., Gail (Larry) Manion of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Jane (Ken) Brown of Idaho Falls, Mary Lou (David) Reynolds of Logan, Utah, Michelle (Scott) Chase of Valdez, Alaska, and Gina (Lew) Harper of Liberty, Utah; sons, Mark (Selena) Miskin of Alta, Wyo., and David (Lori) Miskin of Rockland; 35 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Gilbert Miskin of Auburn, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 12 siblings, including his sister, Wanda Parker, who passed away this week.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at the Ammon LDS Foothills Stake Center, 3934 E. 49th South, with Bishop Reece Christensen officiating. The family will visit with friends from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Ave. in Idaho Falls, and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Ucon Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.