Richard Clay Erickson was born on May 2, 1963 in Bountiful, Utah, the fifth of eight children to Gladys Rea and William Erickson.
Richard enjoyed a very happy childhood in Bountiful with his many siblings. He told of many adventures there, such as the time he was on the living room couch, bouncing so high he went right through the window, or when he jumped off the roof into a snowbank, and needed stitches in his eyebrow.
His father, Bill, was an educator, and he passed that lifelong focus on education down to Richard and his siblings. His dad often taught as an adjunct professor at BYU or USU, and as a family they often stayed on BYU campus when he was a child. It is for this reason Richard called BYU campus his childhood playground, and remembers playing in and around the buildings, especially the science buildings.
After watching the 1969 Apollo Moon Landing on TV as a child, Richard developed an enduring passion for science, including space exploration, aerospace, and physics.
He attended Viewmont High School, class of ’81. He worked very hard in his math and science classes, with support from his brother Roy, who he said was the best math teacher he ever had.
A lover of music his whole life, Richard played the trumpet in junior high and high school, in jazz and marching band. He continued to find joy in playing trumpet with various community bands throughout his adult years, including the Buzztones and the Riverton Jazz Band. His love of music was infectious, and he shared it with his children; they grew up in a musical home, and they still play, perform, and teach music today. He loved watching his kids participate in marching and other bands, and he did his best never to miss one of their concerts. His trumpet and band teachers also had a lasting impact on him, and he spoke fondly of them throughout his life..
Richard was always proud of his Canadian heritage from his Canadian-born mother Rea, who was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada. He was then honored and excited to be called to serve in the Canada Halifax mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1982–1983, and the experiences he had there cemented Canada’s personal importance for him the rest of his life. Obtaining his certificate of Canadian Citizenship was a proud moment for him. He loved when he was able to visit Canada with his family, and made several trips there.
At the conclusion of his missionary service, Richard returned to the University of Utah, and then briefly the University of Maryland, eventually transferring to his preferred school of Brigham Young University, his old playground. He graduated from BYU in 1988 with a bachelor degree in applied physics and a math minor. Three years later in 1991, he completed his master degree in engineering management, with an equivalent bachelor’s in engineering.
After finishing his schooling in 1992, Richard met the love of his life on a crosswalk at BYU. He and Arlene Lynette Bown were married in Manti, Utah, on November 24, 1992. It was the beginning of a grand adventure of love and joy with his family and children, beginning with his twins Gwyn and Kresten born in 1996, and continuing with Marilysa in 2000 and Mikkel in 2004. His children were his pride and joy, and he tried to attend every event he could, taking and sharing pictures and videos of his talented children with everyone who would listen.
When Kresten and then Gwyn married, he loved his daughter-in-law and son-in-law as if they were his own children, and delighted in their accomplishments. The greatest joy of his life was when his little granddaughter was born. He said that holding her was like shock of electricity. They shared a special bond, and she always had a special smile just for him.
Professionally, Richard started as a network engineer for MCI and then AT&T in Las Vegas and Seattle. He then worked for the state of Utah in their Division of Technology Services for twenty years as a wide area network planner. He helped a variety of state agencies, from the Department of Health, to the State Parks, to expand and offer more accessible services to their customers. His coworkers and supervisors appreciated his teamwork and his genuine concern for them, and he counted many as his close friends.
Richard loved the outdoors, camping, and travel, especially with his family, and they shared many adventures together every year. He adored the state and national parks, especially Zion and Snow Canyon, which they visited many times. He was determined not to let his illness stop him from enjoying those things he loved, so he and Arlene continued to travel all around the western US, even in the thick of his treatments, visiting his beloved family to the very end.
Anyone who knew him knows Richard loved to talk, and was always interested in and concerned about anyone he met. That interest and concern alway left a lasting impression on family and new friends alike. He loved to ask where people were from, and would often remember a person’s origins even when he momentarily forgot a name. He genuinely wanted to know about others, and was always kind and considerate.
He loved getting to know his children’s friends, and he accepted and introduced them as part of the family. One such friend remembers him always regarding her as already capable and competent, saying “he just so clearly cared.” Another remembers talking about music together, saying, “It was always awesome to share a common passion with Richard.” And a third remembers, “He always made me feel appreciated and important.”
Richard cared deeply about social issues and dedicated a lot of his energy to advocating for the marginalized and less fortunate among us. He was never afraid to stand up for others and to stand up for what he believed in, be it religion, politics, or social issues, and you could often find him engaging in lively discussion online and one on one.
Richard served in various callings in the church, but his favorite was always Primary. He loved his Primary children, and they loved him in return. It brightened his day whenever they stopped by or dropped off a card or picture. He always appreciated and was touched by the support from his ward and neighbors, and several times was brought to the point of tears over their continued and consistent support for so long, in bringing him lunches and treats.
Richard passed away peacefully in his home in Eagle Mountain, Utah, on November 11, 2023, at 11:11am. He diligently fought his advanced colon cancer for the last four years, persistently holding on to hope, and rarely complaining about all the negative effects and pains from chemo and other treatments. He expressed sincere gratitude for the help and support of his medical team and caregivers, and showed the same concern and interest in their lives that he did with everyone. His hospice nurse once told him “You are the most grateful cancer patient I have ever had.”
He is survived by his wife, Arlene Lynette Bown, his children and their spouses: Kresten and Abigail, Gwyn and Jon, Marilysa, and Mikkel, his granddaughter Zoey Yukon, and his siblings: Danna Rongstad, Roy Erickson, Nola VanWagenen-Davis, Afton Monahan, Earlene Mugleston, Justin Erickson, Kristin Erickson, and September Erickson.
He was deeply loved and will be missed by so many.
