Richard Darlis Newlin

1954 - 2023

January 11, 1954 - October 3, 2023

Richard Darlis Newlin (Rick) 69 years old, passed away on October 3, 2023 after a brief illness at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello Idaho surrounded by his family and friends. Rick was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to parents, Donald and June Newlin. At age one, the family moved to Yakima, Washington and at age six, Rick and his family moved to Pocatello, Idaho where he would spend the rest of his life. He attended Jefferson Elementary, Irving Junior High and Pocatello High where he graduated in 1973. At 12 years of age Rick and his two brothers, David and Steven, worked together moving sprinkler pipe for local farmers. He worked at Tastee Treat in Pocatello as a cook when he was 16 and 17 years old. He was employed at Standard Plumbing in Pocatello when he was 18 years old, holding multiple positions, most recently Manager of the Pocatello facility. In all, Rick devoted 50 years of service to Standard Plumbing.

Rick was known as a kind, gentle soul to those who knew and loved him. He relished growing fruit trees, berries and a vegetable garden each year and enjoyed sharing his bounty with friends and family. He loved hunting and plumbing with his good friend Tal, fishing, collecting rocks, wood working and snowmobiling. Rick seemed happiest entertaining nieces and nephews and other children. Many asked why Rick referred to himself as "Rotten Rick", a name that he chose when he had to come up with a logon name when he first began using the internet. He seemed to enjoy telling people that he was commonly known as "Rotten Rick".

At age sixteen, Rick was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a disease that he struggled with for many years, and which eventually led him to developing chronic liver failure. When he was forty eight years old and near death, he was fortunate to be selected to receive a donor liver for implantation at LDS Medical Center in Salt Lake City UT. That donor liver allowed him to continue to live for another twenty one years, which were years that he truly cherished and worked diligently to maintain a healthy liver. Rick himself was a organ donor, and would encourage others to join him in helping others to continue to enjoy life through organ donor implantations.

One of Rick's greatest joys was being able to travel to the family cabin located across the Idaho /Utah state line not far from Naf, Idaho. He spent countless hours helping family and friends to develop and maintain the cabin that brought so much joy to all that were fortunate enough to visit the beautiful mountains and canyons, adjacent to the Sawtooth National Forest. Rick was always responsible for opening and closing the cabin at seasonal ends. He also would keep the snowmobiles, ATV's, and motor bikes in good working condition for family to utilize while visiting Rocky Road Canyon. Rick was able to visit all 50 states, concluding with a cruise to Alaska last year.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Don and June Newlin and a nephew, Kevin Grant. He is survived by his brothers, David (Jeanie) Newlin of Shelby, MI; Steven (Sang) Newlin of Willard, UT; and sister, Jeannie (Dallas) Grant of Clearwater, ID; nieces Krystal Grant of Arlington, WA; Brenda (Bill) Shepard of Huntington Woods, MI; Patricia Giltinan of Huntington Woods, MI; Kim (Sloane) Peterson of Ogden, UT; nephews Jeff Newlin of WI; Trent Newlin of Willard, UT; Mike (Erin) Newlin of Huntington Woods, MI; 5 great nieces and 7 great nephews all of whom thought Uncle Rick was the greatest.

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 4, 2023 at the Union Tap Room, 230 W. Bonneville, Pocatello, Idaho beginning at 3pm. The family requests memorials be made to: The Rotten Rick Newlin Scholarship ISU Foundation, Attention Dave Doran, 921 S. 8th Avenue Stop 8209, Pocatello, ID 83209 Your contributions will provide scholarship support for students in the Plumbing Apprenticeship Program at Idaho State University's College of Technology.