Richard Spillett

Richard was born in Pocatello, Idaho, on April 9, 1931, to Frank and Erma Spillett. He was the only child and loved to spend summers with his grandparents, George and Elizabeth Garrard, in Rockland, Idaho. His grandpa "Pop" owned the town's auto garage, and he would help out there. He was very close to his grandparents.
Richard attended school in Pocatello and joined the Navy as soon as he was able, working as a radarman, responsible for operating and maintaining radar and electronic warfare equipment on a destroyer-class ship, the Erben DD 631. He graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business.
He met Bonnie, his wife of nearly 70 years, on a blind date. She didn't think too much of him at first, but he won her over quickly, and they were married August 18, 1955, in the Idaho Falls Temple. They honeymooned in Coeur d'Alene and McCall on a fun road trip.
Raising a family was Richard and Bonnie's ultimate goal, and they adopted four children, something most people were not able to do at that time. Their first was a daughter, Julie, and the first grandchild for all the grandparents. Life was good, fixing up their first little house and working hard. A few years later, Richard's job took him to Las Vegas, where their son, Eric, was adopted. That was a very different climate from Idaho! Not long after, their daughter, Lisa, was adopted, and they moved back home to Idaho. A few years later, their son, David, was adopted, and the family was complete. They always considered their children a blessing and the circumstances surrounding the adoptions to be miracles.
They moved to Meridian on a 3/4-acre plot, then even further into the country to 5 acres several years later. They raised a huge garden, a small orchard, alfalfa, chickens, and children. Richard was a hard worker, at his job and at home on the "farm." There were always dogs-large and small. They felt every home needed at least one dog. The family loved camping in McCall and went each year, beginning in the 60s. They loved boating and playing in the water and eventually waterskiing. Many times they would load up the boat and have a cookout and boating outing at Lucky Peak after Richard got home from work.
Richard worked over 30 years at State Farm Insurance and retired as a claims superintendent. He also worked at the Idaho Legislature near the end of his career. After retiring, Richard took up major woodworking. He built a shop and filled it with all the woodworking tools he could, making benches, shelves, special holders, and cabinets to store everything. He made beautiful fine furniture and high-quality household items: tables, benches, many decorative shelves, jewelry boxes, and even their bed frame.
Richard and Bonnie were happy to volunteer at the Bishop's Storehouse and also the Garden City Cannery for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They also began snowbirding to Yuma, Arizona, each winter. They loved the warm weather and good friends they met there.
Richard is survived by his wife, Bonnie, four children, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A family service will be held Tuesday, March 11, at the Overland Building in Meridian. Interment will follow at Dry Creek Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff at Spring Gardens Meridian and the Keystone Hospice team for their kind and attentive care for Richard and Bonnie.