Richard Joseph Clark

Richard Joseph Clark
Richard was 92 yrs old when he passed peacefully at home on May 24, 2025.
Richard was born January 5, 1933 in Pocatello, ID during the Great Depression. He was preceded in death by his parents Albert David Clark and Ida May Harmison and his Step-Mother Ester Clark. He was the youngest of six children with siblings Ida, Dorthy, Herschel, Harold, Marjorie all preceding him in death. While growing up, his family lived in Pocatello, ID; El Paso, TX; and Denver, CO, where he graduated from East High School. During high school he played the sousaphone. A lifetime interest and joy in carpentry, cabinet making and woodworking began with an accident. He cut off parts of his index and middle fingers on his left hand while helping build an LDS chapel. The loss of his fingers was never a handicap, rather he used them in jokes to the amusement of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Richard or "Dick" as he was known most of his life, received BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Utah State University and a Degree in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University all while working and raising a family. He went on to have a successful career doing new product development for 36 yrs with Hewlett-Packard in Palo Alto, CA; Colorado Springs, Loveland and FT Collin's, CO. He received several patents for his engineering developments. He was an electrical engineer by profession and a carpenter by trade. He designed and helped build several houses using his design and carpentry skills. He built fine quality furniture for his family that is still enjoyed today.
Richard was a faithful and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was a man of great faith had a firm testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served in many capacities in the church his whole life. He served as a Cub and Boy Scout leader, a Young Men's Leader, in the Elders and High Priest Quorums, in several Bishoprics and as a Bishop. He served as a senior missionary in the Ogden Utah mission. And he served faithfully for many years as a temple worker.
He married the late Donna May Atack in Cheyenne, WY on May 15, 1953. They were sealed in the LDS Salt Lake temple the following March 1,1954 and were married for 45 yrs before she succumbed to cancer in 1998. Their union produced eight children: Rick (Mickie), Debbie Allred, Don (Robin), Bruce, Lynette Durrant (Sean), Lorin (Michelle), Jenelle Call (David) and Tami Sherwood (Don) and 36 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.
In 1999 Richard met Grace MacKenzie Slocombe and was later married and sealed to her on March 3, 2000 in the Denver, CO temple adding Lisa, David, Monica, Matthew, Dara and 2 additional grandchildren to the family. They were married for 25 yrs at the time of his passing.
Richard enjoyed listening to music including Glenn Miller, Herb Alpert, Peter, Paul & Mary and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. His "direction" of Rossini's William Tell Overture is a classic and hysterical to watch. One of his favorite TV shows was the Lawrence Welk Show which he was still watching in his 90's. He knew the words and lyrics to many songs and would sing them. He was a jack of all trades and could build just about anything out of anything. He was a great counselor. He could be approached at any time on any subject looking for counsel and advice and he readily made available his time and counsel.
Richard was an outdoorsman. He enjoyed camping, backpacking, fishing and hunting with family. There were epic hikes and adventures to Yellowstone NP, the Grand Canyon and various wilderness areas in Wyoming, Utah and Colorado. His Tarzan yell was his trademark wake-up call. He enjoyed gardening and his roses. Richard enjoyed trains and model railroading.
He loved to travel. There were many family vacations, all of us crowded in the station wagon, to local and distant destinations. He and Donna visited most of the states in the US. Over the course of his life, he traveled to Mexico, Italy, France, the British Isles, Austria, Germany, Japan, Canada, Ecuador, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand with Donna, Grace and his children.
Richard was very generous and with his time and resources. There were many service projects and acts of kindness.
He was a devoted husband to both Donna and Grace. He dearly loved his children. He sacrificed significantly for all the members of family continually, as exemplified by his years of constant caregiving when Donna was ill with cancer. He was also graceful in receiving constant caregiving from Grace as his health declined over the last several of years.
He was a great storyteller, particularly Old Ephraim, Little Bo Peep and Uncle Lewisand. He created some very unique words and sayings that became part of our family lexicon: aunstafaucstank, icklybodiddyskehaw, the dihiccagibees of the ucatras. He would ask, "Do you feel more like you do now than you did?" or when hungry, "My big ones are eating my little ones"? He had a great sense of humor and was very funny. A favorite game of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren was belly- back. He was a great jokester. Even when in pain or suffering, he managed to find humor in the situation and provide a little cheer to those around him. And as he aged, he liked to remind everyone that from his view of the world, the grass was still green.
He was blessed with a powerful intellect and a wonderful memory that never failed him, even in old age. He left a living legacy via his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Though he is and will be greatly missed we know that he has been called home to a better place free of pain and suffering. We love you Richard, Dick, Dad, Grandpa and Great Grandpa!