Richard Matheson Rands

Richard Matheson Rands Jr. passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026, at the Adventist Hospital in Glendale, CA. Born October 9, 1942, to Richard Matheson Rands Sr. and Pearl Marjorie Peckham Rands in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the first of four children. He is survived by his siblings Marge Rands Humes, Robert Rands, Steven Douglas Rands as well as his second wife, Ruth Anson Sowby.

He attended Highland High School, earning a merit scholarship (1960) and meeting the love of his life Linda Kay Herbert (1943 - 2011). Richard served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southwest British Mission 1961-1963 and was sealed to Linda Kay Herbert, on June 18, 1965 in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Richard and family moved to LaCrescenta, CA in 1980. He is predeceased by Linda and his oldest son Richard Elmo Rands (1968-2002), but is survived by Rick's four children, Katherine LaVee Rands, Richard Elmo Rands Jr., with great grandson Rowan Richard Rands, William Edward Rands, and Robert Matheson Rands. He is also survived by his three living children, David Charles Rands, with his wife Akiko Kimura Rands, and children: Ashley Rands and Serena Rands, Suzette Rands VanSleeuweun, with child: Erika VanSleeuweun, and Bruce Matheson Rands with wife Teri Lynette Rands, and children: Bryan Alexander Rands, Matheson James Rands, Paige Lynette Rands, and Corinne Campbell Rands.

Richard graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in Electrical Engineering (1967). He developed and marketed a light organ with three college friends while in school.

He worked as a Product Manager for IBM and later CEO Retail Innovations Inc., where he was a pioneer in Electronic Point of Sale development and a Marketing Manager at IBM for the first electronic transfer and debit card payment system for grocery stores. This work led to foundational work in an online retail audit system for IBM.

Richard was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving as a High Councilor in the LaCrescenta Stake and Bishop of the La Crescenta Ward. He also served as a senior missionary in the Chesapeake, Virginia Mission with his second wife Ruth (Married April 19, 2014).

Memorial Services will be held on April 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in the LaCrescenta Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4550 Raymond Ave., LaCrescenta, CA, 91214. Interment will be on April 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 Highland Drive, Millcreek, UT, 84106. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, humanitarian fund (donations.churchofjesuschrist.org)