Richard Richardson

Richard Dean Richardson, Husband, Brother, Uncle Dick, “Good Friend” great cook and master painter, especially sailing ships. If you needed help, he was there!

I like to think of one of my favorite gospel Apostles, Paul, who spent his life after he was converted as a missionary to the gentiles. Close to the end of his life he stated in 2 Timothy 4:6-7  “For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”  Dick has kept the Faith.

Dick was born on May 25, 1932 in Omaha, Nebraska to Fossie De Forest Richardson and Ethel Bertha Ballard. This was the height of the depression and life was hard. Sometimes you needed to check parked vehicles for any gas in the gas tank. At age 4, Dick was a curious child, so one Monday morning, he went to check a vehicle parked in front of his home. The opened the gas tank and lit a match. The resulting explosion prompted a neighbor to jump the fence, grab Dick and put out the fire. Dick sustained burns to his head, face and hands.  The Omaha Pre-News, Tuesday 28, 1936 reported the incident “Cruiser car ride brings thrill” He promised his mother in a picture of his bandaged face, head and hands “no more matches”. He survived. During World War II they moved to San Francisco so his father, a master machinist, could work at Todd Shipyard. The family bought a wringer washing machine. Curious to know how the clothes went through the wringer he put those same hands into them.

After contact with the missionaries while still in Omaha, the family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints. Dick, at the age of 8, was baptized.

After the war they moved to Compton, California. Dick attended Compton High School but became bored and quit after the 10th grade.

When the Korean war broke out Dick joined the Air Force. After being stationed in various places, he was finally sent to North Africa to a SAC base in Morocco. Frequently he traveled by ship (a ship that had been built at Todd Shipyard.)

After serving 4 years in the Air Force, 1952 – 1956, he received an Honorable Discharge. With the intention of going to college on the GI Bill, he lived at home to save money. He was working at a steel company in Los Angles when they went on strike. Not wanting to walk the picket line, he packed up and flew to Honolulu. While there he worked as doorman at the Nappua Hotel. The hotel was owned by the Honishiro family from Okinawa. The Grandmother especially likes  Dick and called him “boy son” They adopted him as their own. He also worked for the Acme Mattress Co., as a bouncer for Arthur Lyman’s Bar and Grill and cooked hamburgers at the International Market Place. He was there when Hawaii became “50”. The owners of Acme Mattress Co. were opening a plant on the Big Isle and wanted to send him as a manager. He received word that his Father had become ill, so he returned home to Compton.

After returning home he went to work for the Jorgenson Steel co. setting up slitting machines.

Then life changed for the better when he met Colleen Norseth at the East Los Angeles Stake Dance in 1960. They were engaged for 2 years. They had 3 common interests, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, conservatism and classical music.

They were married in the Los Angeles LDS Temple on September 14, 1962. Shortly after marriage they purchased a home in East Whittier California. They also purchased a shepherd/collie puppy named Nikkie. She grew to be 90 pounds.

Dick continued to work at Jorgenson Steel while going full time to Cevcitos, CA. JC and Rio Hondo JC. from 1964 – 1967. In 1968 he wanted to attend the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. They sold their home and moved permanently to Utah. While going to the “U” he was hired as a patrolman with the University Police Dept. (they were State Police) on December 2, 1968.

All new officers have to attend the Peace Officers Standard and Training class Which was then at Weber State College in Ogden, Ut. He was chosen “Super Trooper” of that graduating class.

In 1971 they purchased a home in the Canyon Rim area of Salt Lake City.  He continued  working for the University Police until retiring as a Lt. on June 1, 1972 after 23 years of service. During their life in SLC they were season ticket holders to the Utah Symphony.

He was made a High Priest in the LDS Church in August 22nd 1993.

In October 1993 they moved to Seattle. WA. For 5 months. It was there that Dick began caring for his mother. She was with them for 14 years until her death in October 2006 at the age of 100 years 6 months. After Seattle they lived in Beaver Ut. for 10 years and in St. George since October 2006.

He left this earthly existence on Sept.24th after a ten and half year battle with liver cancer.

He is survived by his wife Colleen, one brother David (Gloria) Sister Anita Joyce Yancey and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Gene and Monty, Sister Lora Lee and one niece Kim Yancey.

The Family wishes to thank Canyon Hospice and St. George Care and Rehab for their kind care.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 2:00pm at Mountain View Cemetery in Beaver, UT under the direction of McMillan Mortuary, St. George.