Richard Dale Anderson was loved and will be missed.
He was born in Roosevelt, Utah, to Walter D. Anderson and Dorothy Lundberg. He was the oldest of four children.
He attended college at Brigham Young University and served in the Southern States Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After serving his mission, he met his “sweet love,” Beverly Pincock, and they were married five months later in the Los Angeles Temple. They moved to El Toro, California, (now Lake Forest) and lived there for 50 years. They adopted and raised four children — Errin, Eric, Keri and Jason. They were married for 60 years before she died in 2021.
Richard worked in computer programming, and then his job changed over time to involve more graphic design. His position allowed him to be very creative: He designed and built convention booths that were lightweight, portable and professional. He coordinated conventions, flyers, binders and information for salespeople. And he designed logos, created advertising materials and much more. He was the person everyone reached out to when they had a problem that needed solving.
Sports were always a part of his life. Whether it was running cross country, riding a bike, playing softball or refereeing a soccer game, he did it with gusto. As a parent, he was a great cheering section, chauffeur and snack distributor. He attended almost every single sporting event his children participated in.
As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he had the opportunity to hold many callings. To list a few, he was a young branch president, a bishopric member, a high councilman and an enthusiastic Boy Scout leader.
He served in the Boy Scouts for years. He loved working and supporting the young men involved. Each month he had an overnight campout, and each year he took a week of his vacation time and spent it hiking and camping with his scouts. The boys spent a lot of time at his home learning how to tie ropes, build monkey bridges, and ultimately how to become men to be proud of.
Richard and Beverly served weekly in the temple for 15 years. They started in the San Diego Temple and moved to the Newport Beach Temple when it opened. They were dedicated to this and served faithfully.
Three days after Richard retired, he and his wife left to serve a mission in Kirtland, Ohio, with friends. Richard and Bev served joyfully at the visitor center there. They made great friends with the younger missionaries as well as the senior missionaries. They loved their mission. While serving there full-time, they also managed to help edit a book on the history of Kirtland.
He lived a life of service to others. His life was an example to follow. He picked people up from the airport driving through Los Angeles traffic. Often, he got calls for help in the middle of the night and he willingly went. If he was needed, he was there. For his children, he drove to multiple events on the same day to make sure they could attend them all…from band events to track meets, from an ACT test to a choir concert. He always did it with a smile and a laugh on the way.
There were no strangers in Richard’s life. Everywhere he went he made friends and talked with others. If he did not know anyone when walking into a store, he someone when he left. He was very social and loved to meet new people and learn about their lives.
For the last two years, Richard made new friends at the ceramics class at the St. George Active Life Center. Going each week was very important to him. He loved creating things with clay, painting statuary and talking with his friends.
Richard is survived by his four children Errin Anderson Topolovec, Eric Dale Anderson, Keri Anderson Holmgren and Jason Fredrick Anderson, his 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by his two siblings Bill Anderson and Lynda Sherman.
Richard loved living the last seven years of his life in St. George, Utah, near many family members and friends.
He will be remembered and missed by those who loved him.
The family would like to thank all who knew and loved him for their friendship and kind thoughts at this time.
Services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 200 W. Brigham Road, St. George.
Family and friends are invited to share tributes online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.