Larry Richman’s Missionary Companions
Elder Bradley Hixson teaching in the fields in Comalapa
Pictures of my companions and other missionaries, including preparation day trips. (We really didn’t dress like that all the time!)
Chronology
Mission Home
Horald Scott Hess from Ozark, Alabama
Language Training Mission (LTM)
Dan McClurg from Hopkinsville, Kentucky
El Salvador
- Mathew Greer (from Orem, UT) in Ahuachapán from 10-5-74 to 12-27-74 (Calchuapa-Ahuachapán district; district leader Elder Greer)
Guatemala
- Val Dean Bell (from Vernal, UT) in Retalhuleu from 12-27-74 to 1-16-75 (Coatepeque-Retalhuleu district; district leader Elder Bell)
- Matthew Fenn Hilton (from Walnut Creek, CA) in Retalhuleu from 1-16-75 to 2-4-75 (Coatepeque-Retalhuleu district; district leader Elder Hilton)
- David Frischknecht (from Ogden, UT) in Patzicía from 2-4-75 to 5-29-75 (Tecpán-Patzún-Patzicía district; district leader Elder García)
- Samuel Schmutz (from St. George, UT) in Patzicía from 5-29-75 to 9-3-75 (Tecpán-Patzún-Patzicía district; district leader Elder Call)
- James Aaron Nelson (from Snowflake, AZ) in Patzicía from 9-3-75 to 10-22-75 (Tecpán-Patzún-Patzicía district; district leader Elder Warnock)
- Daniel Choc Xicay (from Patzicía, Guatemala) in Comalapa from 10-22-75 to 12-3-75 (Comalapa district; district leader Elder Frischknecht)
- Gary W. Larson (from Richfield, UT) in Comalapa from 12-3-75 to 2-4-76 (Comalapa district; district leader Elder Richman)
- Luis Manuel Argueta in Patzicía earthquake camp from 2-4-76 to 3-31-76
- Bradley Wayne Hixson (from Merced, CA) in Comalapa from 3-31-76 to 5-26-76 (Comalapa district; district leader Elder Richman)
- Greg Sansom (Salt Lake City, UT) in Sololá from 5-26-76 to 7-7-76 (Atitlán district; district leader Elder Richman)
- David Frischknecht (from Ogden, UT) in Patzicía translation office from 7-8-76 to 8-3-76
See various missionary assignment sheets.
Mathew Greer
Elder Mathew Greer
Mathew Greer and his wife Terri in May 2014
Mathew Greer and his wife Terri in December 2017
Terry Dalton
Elder Gordon R. Billings
Van Dean Bell
Val Dean Bell, January 1975
David Frischknecht
Elder David Lee Frischknecht, of Ogden, Utah
Elder Frischknecht’s nicknames were “Mellow Frischknecht” and “Frishmar” (because the people couldn’t say “Frischknecht” and they confused “Frischknecht” and “Richman”). His favorite line was “Keep Smiling.”
Elder David Frischknecht vaccinating chickens in the marketplace in Patzicía, Guatemala, on Wednesday, February 19, 1975
Elders Richman, Frischknecht, and Argueta
Elder David Frischknecht in the apartment in Patzicia
Elder David Frischknecht practicing the harmonica in the apartment in Patzicía
Elder David Frischknecht playing the harmonica in Patzicía
Elder Frischknecht and Elder Richman preparing for a meeting in Itzapa
David Frischknecht with a typical coat
Austin Choc, Elder David Frischknecht, and Cesar at the Calvario in Patzicía
Elder David Frischknecht with Magdelena, Florinda, and Rolando Choc
Elder David Frischknecht’s Birthday, October 1975
Telegram from David Frischknecht on my birthday. He was working in Tecpán at the time.
Telegram from Elder Frischknecht and Elder Choc (Chonecht) to the “chumps” Elders Richman and Argueta. The word “Phone” in the signature was code to phone them to confirm.
Telegram from Elder Frischknecht and Elder Martin on my “hump day” (one year mark).
Telegram from Elders Frischknecht and Choc in Sumpango to Elders Taz Evans, Larry Richman, and Manuel Argueta in Comalapa
Telegram to Elder Richman about preparing acts for the fair in Tecpán
Christmas card from Elder Frischknecht, December 1975
Elder Frischknecht’s wedding announcement.
Elder Frischknecht’s wedding announcement.
Samuel Schmutz
Elder Samuel Schmutz
Elder Samuel Schmutz.
Daniel Choc
Elder Daniel Choc
Daniel Choc Xicay
Elder Choc studying
Elder Daniel Choc Xicay was the first full-time LDS missionary from the town of Patzicía and the Church’s first native Cakchiquel-speaking missionary. Elder Choc died serving his people. Read a tribute to Elder Choc.
Christmas card in 1975 from Elder Choc to Elder Richman.
Gary W. Larson
Elder Gary W. Larson
Elder Larson’s wedding announcement
Luis Manuel Argueta
Elder Luis Manuel Argueta
Elder Argueta, “El Manín”
Elder Argueta went by “Manuel.” His nicknames were “El Manín” and “El Peli.”
Telegram from Elder Argueta (Manin Peli Argueta) to me (Dance Manin Richman)
On September 27, 1976, Elder Luis Manuel “Manin” Argueta sent me a letter from Patzún telling me what was happening in the mission. He also said [translated from Spanish] “You will always be my best friend. When you were here, I gave you a hard time and I probably did not show it, but you are my best friend. I have confided in you things that I have never told anyone else. I really miss your example and your help. It’s messed up to have such a good friend so far away and not be able to talk with you whenever I want. It is hard to develop a sincere friendship or find a true friend, but I feel that I’ve done it with you, and I hope that never changes.”
I received a Christmas card from him in 1979. And that was the last letter I got from him. I have tried to contact him since, but without success.
Bradley Wayne Hixson
Elder Bradley Wayne Hixon
Greg Sansom
Elder Greg Sansom
Greg Sansom wedding announcement
Elder Garth Howard, photo March 18, 1975
Elder Howard studying
Elder Howard and Elder Warnock
Elder Howard’s wedding announcement
Elder Howard’s wedding announcement
Elder Howard and men on a bus in Tecpán, Guatemala
Elder D Warnock, March 19, 1975. His nickname was “D over-the-ball Warnock.”
Elder Warnock
Typical study hour in Patzicía. Elder Warnock, Elder Howard, Elder Frischknecht
Elder Frischknecht: “I remember Larry and I sharing a room with Elders Warnock and Howard at a panadería in Patzicía. Larry’s bed was to the left of mine (if I was lying on my back); Elder Howard’s was to the right of mine and Elder Warnock’s to the right of his. We divided the words from Alma 38:12 into four parts and placed a phrase over each bed. Elder Warnock: Use boldness but not overbearing. Elder Howard: See that ye bridle all your passions. Mine: That ye may be filled with love (still working on that). Larry’s: See that ye refrain from idleness (That’s not been a problem for him).”
Elder Richman in the room in Patzicía writing a letter home. My mother said she received a letter faithfully every week of my mission, except for a few that were delayed because of the earthquake in 1976.
Elder Warnock and Elder Frischknecht
Elder Larry Richman’s passport photo. My nicknames were “Dance,” “Dancing Larry,” and “Beyon Achin.”
Elder Larry Richman. Photo taken in El Salvador at the beginning of my mission.
Elder Larry Richman’s missionary ID card
The back of my missionary ID card listed the gamma globulin shots I received.
My missionary business card
A picture my companions had made to say that my girlfiend KaLee Neal was always on my mind.
Elder Greg Martin
Elder Martin’s wedding announcement
Sister Cathy Hyer
Sister Martha Johnson
Elder Steven Schmolinger
Terri (Teresa Kay) Turvaville served in Patzún.
On March 31, 1975, 16 elders, 2 sisters, and a guide climbed to the summit of the volcano Agua, which is 12,336 feet high.
Elders Richman, Martin, and Frischknecht in Antigua, Guatemala in 1974 before the hike up the volcano Agua.
Elder Richman wearing typical Guatemalan coat, tie, and pants
Elder Luis Manuel Argueta and Elder Larry Richman at Alfoto in Guatemala City on Christmas eve 1975
Elder Richman lip syncing “Eres Tú” at the missionary New Year’s get-together, January 1976
On February 2, 1976, the Monday before the earthquake, Elders Robbins, Howard, Argueta, and I took a trip to Zaculeu, a Mayan archaeological site about 4 kilometres outside of Huehuetenango. The site was occupied by Mayans from 250–600AD. Zaculeu was the capital of the Postclassic Mam kingdom and was conquered by the K’iche’ Kingdom of Q’umarkaj.
At Zaculeu, February 2, 1976. Elders Robbins, Howard, Richman, and Argueta
At Zaculeu, February 2, 1976. Elders Howard, Richman, Argueta, and Robbins
Elder Howard at Zaculeu, February 2, 1976.
At Zaculeu, February 2, 1976. Elders Robbins, Argueta, and Howard. Elder Argueta is displaying the embroidered butterfly on the back of his shirt (made by his mom).
At Zaculeu, February 2, 1976. Elders Argueta, Richman, and Robbins in the museum.
At Huehuetenango, February 2, 1976. Elders Robbins, Howard, and Richman.
At Huehuetenango, February 2, 1976. Elders Robbins, Howard, and Argueta.
Elder Richman at Zaculeu
Elder Richman in Patzicía, Guatemala, wearing a shirt that Elder Argueta’s mom embroidered.
Posing in front of our tent, trying to look like José hippie
Elders Richman and Argueta in Patzicía, Guatemala
Elder Luis Manuel “El Manin” Argueta. We had some great late-night talks while we were tent mates at Camp Patzicía. He taught me a lot about Latin culture and the Latin way of seeing the world. Some nights it took tape to get us both to stop talking and go to sleep.
Elder Richman in Comalapa, May 1976
Missionaries on a bus: Elders Larson, Schmollinger, Bernhardt, Richman, Argueta
Elder Argueta at Lake Atitlan
Elder Larson next to a man in Chichicastenango
Elder Larson and Victor at his baptism in Rio Pixcayá on May 8, 1976
Elder Argueta in the field
Elders Evans, Frischknecht, and Martin at Lake Atitlan
Elder Argueta at Lake Atitlan
Elder Warnock at Lake Atitlán
Elders Argueta and Howard at Lake Atitlán
Elders Richman and Argueta at Lake Atitlan, Christmas Day 1975
Elder Richman at Lake Atitlán, Christmas Day 1975
Elders Richman and Argueta
Elder Argueta
Elders Argueta, Frischknecht, and Richman
Elders Evans, Howard, and Richman
Elder Argueta on the highway waiting for a bus to Guatemala City
Elder Argueta writing letters
Elder Frischnecht, Elder Argueta, and Sister Hyer at the Hardees in Guatemala City
Elder Bleak Powell and Sister Gladys Powell in a native blouse and skirt in 1975 by the church in Patzicía, Guatemala before the earthquake.
Missionaries who conducted a survey of Latter-day Saint members with Brother and Sister Lyons
See the Christmas card from the mission December 1977-78. It has pictures of missionaries who were starting their mission when I finished mine. It also has some people from the Guatemalan wards I served in who had by then begun serving as missionaries. See the Christmas card from the mission December 1979. It has pictures of missionaries I met in Guatemala the summers following my mission and also some people from the Guatemalan wards I served in who had by then begun serving as missionaries.
Elder Julio Salazar of Guatemala City. His nickname was “Ma Julio.”
Julio Salazar
Julio Salazar
In this video, Julio Salazar recounts his efforts over the years to help the people in Guatemala.
Julio Salazar and David Frischknecht in 2009