Richard “Dick” Mouritsen

Richard “Dick” Carl Mouritsen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully with his wife and daughter by his side on September 1, 2021, after a short battle with Covid-19.

Dad was born on July 11, 1949, to Glendale and Jean Mouritsen in Salt Lake City, UT. Dad grew up in Lewiston, UT, the fifth of ten children. He spent his younger years swimming in the canal, playing softball at the church, and milking cows. Farm life taught him hard work and also that he didn’t want to milk cows for the rest of his life.

Dad attended Sky View High School where he was a cheerleader through his junior year, but graduated from Skyline High School in 1967 after his family moved to Salt Lake City. He attended Brigham Young University for a year and continued as a cheerleader on the BYU cheer squad before leaving to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Franco Belgium mission from 1968-1970. Upon returning home he resumed his education at BYU where he met the love of his life, Katherine Nalder. Dad and Mom were married August 17, 1973, in the Salt Lake Temple. After they each finished their education at BYU, they eventually planted their roots in Grantsville, UT, where they lived for the last 38 years of Dad’s life.

Dad was a faithful life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many capacities, including home teacher, elder’s quorum president, bishop, high councilor, and stake mission president. He loved the gospel, the scriptures, and missionary work. A natural missionary, Dad shared the gospel in many capacities and loved to invite people to come unto Christ. He loved to make jokes and make people laugh. He would always greet people by saying, “Nice to see me,” and it was. He served in the Salt Lake Temple for 12 years and later in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple and  loved every minute of it.

Other than serving in the church, some of Dad’s favorite activities revolved around sports, including the Grantsville Cowboys, the Utah Jazz, the San Francisco Giants, and BYU football and basketball. From 1993 until 2005, Dad had a son starting varsity on the Grantsville High School football team. Home or away, Dad was there, often with a quick stop at Wendy’s after away games. He loved seeing his children accomplish their goals, and was able to see all seven children graduate from college and enjoy professional success. He also loved to have a nice yard and was willing to do the work to make it so. And he could never turn down an ice cream shake, extra thick.

Dad and Mom were able to fulfill one of their life goals by serving a senior mission together in the Massachusetts Boston Mission. They spent their entire mission in Hamden, CT, and absolutely loved serving in the Woodbridge ward and the New Haven YSA branch. They were adored by the church members, and made a huge impact on the people they taught, served, and loved.

Mom was his ultimate joy in life. All the good his children did he attributed to her. When he would encourage his kids to get good grades, he would insist they look at Mom’s grades for inspiration. He believed she was perfect, and treated her like his queen.

Dad will be greatly missed by those he has left behind. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathy, of 48 years, along with their seven children: Richard (Jeanell) Mouritsen; Scott (Shannon) Mouritsen; Alan (Meghan) Mouritsen; Carl (Rachel) Mouritsen; Kevin (Natalie) Mouritsen; Brent (Hannah) Mouritsen; McKell (Alex) Barber; as well as 24 grandkids who adore him, and eight siblings. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Maureen, and his granddaughter Margot Katherine.

His family would like to express sincere appreciation to the medical and auxiliary staff at Mountain West Medical Center and the University of Utah Hospital MICU, especially Dr. Megan Pierce, for their care of Dad in his final days.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and again on Wednesday, September 8, from 10:00 - 11:30 am at the Grantsville Stake Center located at 550 E. Durfee Street. The funeral will follow at 12:00 pm and can be streamed here: https://grantsville.live/deseretpeak . The grave dedication will take place immediately afterwards at the Grantsville City North Cemetery.

******* Click on this link to watch the recorded services ********

https://youtu.be/qViNL0x4-a0