Richins exemplifies ‘Older Americans’; Her trick? Staying very active

Posted 5/18/18

Celebrating Older Americans Month

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Richins exemplifies ‘Older Americans’; Her trick? Staying very active

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EVANSTON — Glenna Richins was born in Denver, on Feb. 15, 1932. She moved to Evanston when she was just two weeks old — her parents came to Evanston with the telephone company.

She graduated Evanston High School in 1950, in a class of 49 students. After high school, she went to work for Blyth and Fargo in downtown Evanston and then went to work in the administrative offices of Uinta County Memorial Hospital. This is where she met Dr. Donald R. Daines, who treated many of the children and adults of Evanston for four decades.

Glenna and Dr. Daines married in 1955, and three children soon arrived: Julie, Robert and Don. Glenna was then a housewife and mother.

“Being married to a doctor was like parenting alone,” she said. “The phone rang constantly and Dr. Daines made house calls at that time.” 

After many years, they divorced. 

Glenna married Dean Richins on April 11, 1982. Richins was a railroad engineer with Union Pacific Railroad. Glenna and Dean enjoyed many years together as snowbirds, spending winters in Arizona and California. Dean passed away in February of 2001. 

Since Dean’s passing, Glenna has remained very active — she volunteers, she belongs to many clubs and organizations and she is a natural caretaker. 

When asked how she remains so active, she said, “The senior center! The center keeps me active.”

Glenna is very involved with Uinta Senior Citizens and its patrons. She does a great deal of volunteering in the center, she takes care of the library and Coffee Hour, she delivers meals, organizes donations for the seniors to take home, organizes the greeting cards and many other duties as needed.

Those who know her say she is a delightful daily presence at the senior center in Evanston.

Glenna also remains close to friends while enjoying bunko and pinochle games on occasion. She enjoys traveling, and she credits “cruising” with keeping her active, as well. She recently enjoyed a cruise to the Caribbean and last year embarked on a Hawaiian cruise.

Senior center officials said Glenna exemplifies the concept of “older Americans” — she has aged, but she is still very much alive and living to the fullest.