Richard Merrill Oveson

1930 - 2024

Richard Merrill Oveson

1930 ~ 2024

Provo, Utah - Our beloved father, Richard (Dick) Merrill Oveson, passed away the morning of June 10th, 2024 surrounded by his children. He was 94 years old.

Dick was born January 5th, 1930 to Merrill Mahonri Oveson and Mal Berg Oveson in Corvallis, Oregon. He grew up in Moro, Oregon on a wheat experiment station, the oldest of four siblings - Joan, Steve and Mary. He spent 19 years in Moro going to school in the same building from Kindergarten to 12th grade. He spent time hunting with friends in the hills around Moro. Dick said that his mother always cooked what he brought home. In that marvelous little town he rode horses, worked on the farm, raised calves and pigs for 4H, lettered in 4 sports and, most of all, learned to love the gospel of Jesus Christ at the feet of his parents when the war prevented travel to church.

Dick had several medical challenges in his youth including Polio, which meant that for an entire school year his father carried him up the stairs to his school classroom and back down again at the end of the day. In another incident, he was kicked in the head which resulted in a detached retina. He had one of the first retinal surgeries in the country and spent the whole summer laying in bed with sandbags on either side of his head. His parents spent the summer reading to him and he attributes his great love of reading to them.

After graduating from Moro High in a class of nine, where he always mentioned he was not valedictorian, he attended Oregon State. He ran track and wrote for the school paper. After Dick's freshman year he departed for a 2 1/2 year mission to France and Belgium. Elder Oveson learned to love the food, the language, the country and above all, the people. Our father was always happiest when he was serving others so he absolutely loved his mission - at one point serving as both the branch president and the Relief Society president.

Upon completing his mission, he decided to transfer to BYU. He wrote for the school paper, was head of his ROTC unit and graduated with a degree in Economics.

Dick went on the earn a masters and PhD in Economics from Harvard. He always said that two things saved him at Harvard - he had learned how to write from years of writing and editing for school newspapers and he stopped procrastinating.

The summer before Dick began his career in the Air Force he moved to L.A. to work for a bank. He met Alexandra Wells at church and they spent the summer together doing "free things" as Dick had practically no money. At the end of the summer Dick headed to Texas for pilot training and Alix became a flight attendant for Pan American. They wrote all during his training and in his words he thought of her "a lot". At the end of pilot training Dick was at the head of his group and could have his choice of any plane. He ended up choosing an airplane that took him to Oxnard AFB and closer to Alix in California.

They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on August 30, 1957. They had three children, Virginia who was born in Alaska, Merrill in Boston and Alice at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Dick lost his beloved wife Alix, after 61 years of marriage.

Dick's career in the Air Force lasted 21 years and included attending and teaching at the National War College in Washington D.C., teaching at the Air Force academy, a tour in Vietnam and ending as the United States Air Attache in Paris, France. Dick hadn't necessarily planned on a career in the Air Force but once he started flying planes he said it was the most fun he'd ever had.

Upon retiring from the Air Force, Dick taught Economics in the business school at BYU for 10 years. During this time he was a branch president at the MTC, a bishop on campus, and a counselor in a stake presidency. In July of 1992 he and Alix were mission presidents of the Bordeaux, France mission. Dick and Alix loved and spoke of their missionaries for the rest of their lives. Shortly after returning home from their mission they were called as counselors in the Provo Temple, and loved all the people they had the privilege of working with.

The years in Provo were spent snow skiing, golfing and boating at Lake Powell with family. Even into his nineties, he remained especially involved in his kids and grandkids lives, never losing his humor or wisdom. Our dad lived a long and happy life filled with adventure, learning, and service. He loved so many things - sports, traveling, reading, but mostly Dad spent his time following the Savior by loving those around him. He was the least judgmental, most patient person we know. We miss you

Dad, but look forward to seeing you again.

Dick is survived by his sister Joan Olsen, sister-in-law Dixie Oveson, children Ginnie Frye (Kevin), Merrill (Andrea), Alice Huber (Phil) and grandchildren Robert (Trish), Alix, Christine (Todd), Mark (Heidi), John (Brittany), Jens, Eric, Richard, Jensen, Sarah (John), Noah, Riley, Clayton, Lindsay, Maren, Jane, 17 great-grandchildren with many more to come, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Dick is preceded in death by his wife Alix, brother Stephen and sister Mary Stoddard.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 at 345 E. 4625 N. Provo, UT. There will be a viewing on Friday, June 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 N. University Avenue, Provo and on Saturday from 9:30 - 10:30 prior to services at the church. Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Hills, Provo.