Sarah Amanda Shurtliff was born January 22, 1865 in Harrisvile, Utah. Her father, Luman Andrew Shurtliff accepted the Gospel after hearing Joseph Smith speak; he was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by David Witmer on August 21, 1836. He had four wives and 33 children and was called on often to serve missions and colonize new areas. Sarah’s mother passed away when she was eight years old, and she had to live with other families.

She married Silas Benjamin Harper on April 2, 1885 and bore him two daughters while they lived in Payson, Utah: Mary Blanche and Elsa Vinetta. Silas was killed in an accident while riding a load of hay, leaving Sarah alone to care for her two small girls. Her sister, Lovina Wilson, was living in the LDS Colonies in Mexico and invited her to join her there. She accepted the invitation, joining other families enroute to the Colonies. She helped "Aunt Fanny" Harper with her boarding house.

While she was in Mexico, she met and married Orson Oriel Richins, becoming his third wife. Life in Mexico was good, even if somewhat difficult, but that changed in 1912 when they had to flee to the United States for refuge from the Mexican Revolution. Sarah took her family to El Paso, Texas where she labored as a midwife. She was very good at this and was in high demand to attend to the sick. Her children also worked to support the family.

The members of the Church were advised to buy farms and colonize Red Rock, New Mexico, and Orson Oriel complied. Sarah, with her two youngest children moved there and lived in the house Orson built her. Two of Sarah’s children joined her in Red Rock with their families. The venture proved unsuccessful and the Saints were released from their colonizing efforts. Many of them, including Sarah and her children, moved to Virden, New Mexico. She passed away on October 25, 1947 in Virden, New Mexico, where she is buried.