Richard Vernal Anderson, age 100 and 362 days, died peacefully of natural causes due to age, Monday October 17, 2022 at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born October 20, 1921 to Vernal and Jane Anderson in Franklin, Arizona, the oldest of their 5 children. At age 5 they moved to Manassa, Colorado where he was raised in the San Luis Valley. He graduated high school early at age 16, and then attended Adams State College. He enlisted in the US Army in 1942, serving in WWII. Richard quickly became an officer, passing the exam with high scores, and served in General Patton’s Third Army in Europe. He attained the office of Major by the end of the War, and earned a Silver Star for bravery behind enemy lines as an Intelligence officer, directing the location of the firing of 8” Howitzer artillery.
After WWII, Richard attended Adams State College, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree and then later continued on to law school at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He then practiced law in the San Luis Valley from 1949-1956. During his last year of practicing law he also completed his Masters of Education at Adams State and then a Doctorate of Education at the University of Colorado leaving law to become an educator. During his lifetime he enjoyed teaching High School, Seminary and later Institute classes for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Boise State and the University of Utah. He loved to learn and continued his own education in many ways throughout his life.
He met and married his sweet wife Lenore, in 1951, after a swift, love filled courtship of 6 weeks. Lenore was sister to his brother Norris’s wife, Verna, and they met while Lenore was visiting her sister in Colorado. They went to Canada for the wedding and to meet the rest of her family. They returned to live in Manassa, Colorado where Richard practiced law as Conejos County Attorney. From that loving union they were blessed with 5 children over the next 17 years, Eva White(Doug), Ric Anderson(Inga), Susan Duersch(Kim), Matt Anderson(Kelly) and Sarah Mack(Kalani). Their home was always open, welcoming many others as “adopted” family members.
Richard was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving during his lifetime in many ward and stake callings. He and Lenore also served many years in the Salt Lake Temple. Temple work was very important to him and up until the last few months had been doing online family indexing genealogy research, his family lovingly joked he was in the million+ name club.
Having never had the opportunity to serve a mission as a young man because of WWII, he and Lenore served 3 missions after retiring in 1985. They served an education service mission at BYU-Hawaii in 1986, a seminary and member support mission in Zimbabwe, Africa in 1990, and their last mission as member support and proselyting missionaries in Des Moines, Iowa in 1999. They truly immersed themselves and loved all of their experiences serving the people they encountered in these areas.
Life was always an adventure for Richard – he never stopped reading, learning and exploring. After marriage, and while their family expanded, summers included many trips to Canada, camping and fishing, visiting all 50 states, and all the Canadian provinces. Dad was known for stopping at every historical marker and speed reading the text to the family. During their marriage Richard and Lenore visited many countries in the Middle East, Mediterranean, South America, Europe and Africa. They instilled the love of travel and of this beautiful world in their family.
Richard has outlived his siblings and most of his contemporaries. He stopped driving at 95 which changed his life adventures. His love of Lenore and family has kept him here on earth, but his strength finally came to an end. He loved the Savior and His Gospel and truly lived an exemplary life. We will miss his wisdom, his knowledge, and his love.
He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Lenore, his 5 children, 27 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren. His family was the center and purpose of his life. Please celebrate him by continuing to learn, having adventures, loving others, and serving the Lord.
Services will be at the Parleys Stake Center, 1870 Parleys Canyon Blvd, Salt Lake City. The viewing is at 10:00 am, and the funeral to follow at 11:00 am, Saturday October 29, 2022. Interment at Elysian Gardens, 1075 E. 4580 S. Millcreek, Utah.
