Richard served in the armed forces. We honor that service here.
Life story
Richard Parsons was a wonderfully kind and gentle man. A hard worker in the tile marble mason business, taught to him by his father, Rex.
Rick ran his own successful business for over 50 years .
He also spent a couple years in the Army before marrying Penney King. Together they had one child, Wendy. Later he was a favorite grandfather to four grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
He was a very loyal son, brother and a favorite uncle to his nephews and nieces too.
Rick always stayed busy and loved the outdoors, cross country skiing, riding the hills on his Polaris or just tinkering in his garage. Always helping his mother or at the family ranch fixing or maintaining whatever was needed.
Rick was an amazing man with an amazing soul and smile, he was adored loved very much and will truly be missed!
Grandpa Ritchie was a kind and gentle guy who I wish I’d been able to know better. We came into each other’s lives when I was 4 or 5 and I distinctly remember pulling up to his house for the first time when he came out and greeted us. For a child, you might think that I would be confused or nervous to meet someone new, but the moment he hugged me, I felt comfortable. Grandpa and I didn’t talk often, but from that first moment, I always felt loved by him.
As I got older, I started to see that he was someone I’d like to know better. We would spend time together looking for firewood, he taught me how to make a big, strong fire to fuel the sauna on our property, how to carefully move the rocks from the fire to the sauna so that we could splash them with water when we got in. He even taught me how to drive his truck when I was a bit too young, but I never felt unsafe.
When he first passed away, I didn’t get to say goodbye in the way that I would’ve liked, but a few nights after grandpa passed, he came to me in a dream. The dream was a mirror image of the first time we met, 4 year old me on the dry grass in front of his house, but when I entered the house, I was an adult. I told him that I miss him and he reassured me that he would be here for a long time. In the dream, he told me that he was proud of me and that he thought of me often. He told me to say hello to my siblings and asked me to tell them that he loves them. I woke up from that dream a little misty eyed, but I felt like I had my goodbye. Now, I burn Idaho sage regularly, fill my nose with the scent that reminds me of the days at the sauna, and say hello to grandpa.
Richard Adrian Parsons lived his life with love, patience and compasion. His qualities were obtained from real experiences of a life well lived. To have him as a Grandfather was a true blessing and I'll never forget his sparkling blue eyes and comforting smile. Even in times of distress he could disarm your fears with his gentle voice and look of reassurance.
I can still hear the sound of his old pick up truck, he lovingly called Big Brown. Rumbling, squeaking and flapping through the wind, on our way to the airport.
The road trip was a long three hours to Salt Lake. We looked out at the ever-expanding views of the high desert. He pointed to the top of a mountain and said, you see that? I used to climb that mountain as a kid and hunt for flint rocks. That's how I learned how to make camp fires. He finished his story with, there's no more flint at the top of the mountain anymore. I imagand my Grandpa as a young boy, hunting and cooking his own food. I looked over at him and I could see his youthful smile coming through.
We spent the rest of the trip in comfertable silence. I thought of how our ancestors traveled these same roads as pioneers in covered wagons. I wonder if they too also used the flint on the top of the same mountain to keep warm and cook food. Maybe that's how my grandpa learned of that spot? The gentle rumble and squeaks luled me into a deep sleep.
I woke up to the sound of Big Brown's engine turning off. Ok sweetheart, we're here! I opened my eyes to see the roundabout of S.L.C airport. Cars were whizzing past us, Grandpa looked over at me. His sparkling blue eyes turned slightly sulen as he smiled his signature toothy smile. He sighed and jumped out of the truck to grab my suitcases. I jumped out too, the airport police were asking all travelers to hurry it up in the loading zone. Grandpa Rick gave me one last hug and said, you stay safe ok and know you always have a home in Idaho. As I type this now I'm getting a little misty eyed. Before I left I pulled out a parting gift for my grandpa. I got him a little black velvet cap. He really liked it and put it on immediately. I turned away and started walking towards the TSA. I looked back at him one last time. Taking in his image, he wore a Canadian tuxedo. A jean shirt, jean pants with his new velvet cap and his little rat tail.
Grandpa was a remarkable human being. He was such a gentle spark of light. Years later after he passed I went to his house to help pack it up. There on his shelf was the little velvet hat on display. I can still feel him sometimes when a certain song comes on. There are no words to express just how special Grandpa Richie was, he made the world a little brighter.
