Richard Hansen

1944 - 2025

Richard Clive Hansen

1944 - 2025

After a long and happy life, Richard passed away peacefully at home on 13 August 2025.

Richard was born to Leland Clive and Mabel Brown Hansen in Springville, Utah at his paternal grandparents' home during World War II on 4 August 1944. With the various army postings of his father, he and his mother lived in several different states until his father was sent to China, then they came to Salt Lake City until the war ended, settling in the Sugarhouse area.

During the historic snowstorm of 1948, Richard remembers digging tunnels in the snowbanks and his dad making snow ice cream.

At age eight, Richard was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which began his life-long devotion and service to his Savior, Jesus Christ.

Richard attended Dilworth and Beacon Heights Elementaries, Hillside Junior High, and Highland High School. He played soccer in high school and enjoyed ward basketball and softball where he was the pitcher. During high school, he worked at the Sugarhouse Woolworth's stocking shelves and making keys.

He graduated in 1962 at age seventeen and joined an artillery unit at Fort Douglas in the Army Reserves for an eight-year obligation. He did basic training that summer at Fort Ord, California. He served until his discharge in March 1970.

After basic training, Richard enrolled at the University of Utah and was involved with LDSSA, Pi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Chi. During this time, he worked at ZCMI in the stock room. He received a mission call to North Germany and served from October 1963 to March 1966. Following his mission, he returned to the U of U and worked nights at a book bindery.

Richard met his wife at the East Institute of Religion on the U of U campus in the spring of 1972. They married in November in the Salt Lake Temple and moved to Murray.

Richard graduated with a B.A., majoring in English and double-minoring in psychology and German. He continued his education evenings and summers and obtained a M.Ed., then an Ed.S. He began his teaching career at Olympus Junior High where he taught 8th grade English, Drama, and oversaw the stage crew. After eleven years, he transferred to Taylorsville High School where he taught American Literature and Effective Writing to 11th graders. He also was the advisor for the Talisman yearbook.

Richard and Becky were blessed with seven children. Together they were actively involved with their children in school, church, music, sports, scouting, and dance activities, and many part-time jobs. They wanted their children to be well-rounded and know how to work.

Richard served in many church callings including Gospel Doctrine teacher, Bishop, high councilor, service missionary at the Church History Library, 1940 census indexing, and a service mission at the Salt Lake County jail with his wife.

Richard's favorite pastime was reading and he had an extensive collection of books. He especially loved reading books about the Second Coming of Christ. He also enjoyed reading the Deseret News and studying German and Hebrew. He composed short, simple piano melodies. He kept a detailed journal for 47 years and worked on several family history projects.

In October 2020, Richard contracted Covid-19 and spent two weeks in the hospital. He never fully recovered his health and strength.

Richard is survived by his wife Becky, children Josh, Jon (Stacy), Sam, Tom (Jill), Skye, Tim (Jaycee), and Beth (David); twenty-three grandchildren; sister Kathy, brother Curt. Preceded in death by his parents and brother Dave.

Funeral services will be held on 23 August 2025 at 11:00am at the Jenkins-Soffe South Valley Mortuary, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway in South Jordan. The viewing will be held from 9:30-10:45am prior to the funeral. Burial at the Murray City Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com.