St. George, Utah - Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Miriam Christensen Schmutz passed away of cause's incident to age on September 9, 2015. Miriam was born in Delta, Utah, on December 20, 1925 to Lorenzo Henry and Leah Bennett Christensen, the 9th of 11 children. She graduated from Delta High School in 1944 and went to St George to further her education at Dixie College. She was elected D Queen in 1946. When her father passed away unexpectedly in 1947, her mother sold the farm in Delta for what she could get and moved to St. George to be near Miriam. In the spring of 1949, a handsome young fellow with dark wavy hair and a movie star smile returned to St. George from an LDS mission in Switzerland. Miriam was intrigued by what she saw and decided to ask the fellow, Richard Antone Schmutz, to teach her Sunday School class. Richard agreed, on one condition: that she go on a date with him. And thus commenced a loving courtship that has continued now for nearly 66 years. They were married in the St. George temple on October 29, 1949. Richard and Miriam spent most of their married years in Orem, Utah, and then St. George, Utah. They were blessed with five children: Linda Gay, Christen Lorenzo (Susan), Evan Antone (Cindy), Marilyn (Russell Owens), and Steven Wayne (Becky), 19 grandchildren and, at last count, 31 great-grandchildren. Miriam was unfailingly kind, generous, patient, unpretentious and loyal wait, there was one exception: when playing Rook or Mormon Bridge, she became quite competitive and crafty and loved trash talking, but always in her uniquely kind and loving manner. She experienced many health problems over the course of her life, but patiently endured them all without complaint. Rather than talking about her own problems, she would always just ask sincerely to know how you were doing. Miriam loved quiet conversation with family and friends. The best place to be at every gathering was wherever she was, thanks to her fun sense of humor and genuine interest in others. She loved the open road, exploring empty highways in Utah and Nevada, and she always wanted to see what was over the next hill. She loved her husband and every single one of her posterity with a simple, direct and heart-felt love that was irresistible. Most of all, she loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was unwavering in her devotion to it throughout her long life. She and Richard served in many capacities in the LDS Church, including a temple mission to Switzerland from 1994 to 1996. Surviving Miriam are her husband, Richard Antone Schmutz, and all of her posterity other than Linda Gay, who passed away in 1972. Her parents and all of her siblings, other than her younger sister Gay, have also gone before her. Special thanks to Jody Adams, who was Miriam's caregiver during the last years of her life and who took care of Miriam like her own mother. Special thanks also to the wonderful staff at Brookdale assisted living center and at The Seasons rest home, where she was treated like family. Miriam's funeral will take place on Saturday, September 12, 2015, commencing at 11:00 a.m., in the Bloomington 6th ward building at 3519 Manzanita Road, St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held Saturday, prior to services, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment to follow in the St. George City Cemetery