Richard Frank Reeder

Richard Frank Reeder, aged 89, died peacefully on the morning of Thanksgiving, November 28th, 2024. Richard was born in Cache Valley to Emma and Frank Reeder on July 26, 1935. Growing up during WWII, he had a natural fascination and admiration for the military and decided he wanted a career in the Army. Richard attended Utah State University and received his degree in Business Administration and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army in June 1959.

 Richard met his wife Helen at a multi-stake dance in Beaver Dam, a small hamlet between Logan and Garland. He was immediately smitten, but it took him two years to convince Helen that they were meant for each other. They were sealed in the Logan Temple in November 1959 and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They began their married life in Logan where Helen finished college at Utah State and Richard commuted to work each day at the Defense Depot Ogden while he waited for orders to report to Ft. Knox, KY, for active duty. The next year, they took an overseas deployment to Germany, where their first two children were born.

After serving several years in the Army, Richard resigned from active duty. He moved back to Utah, where he was the manager of programming and computer operations for the Utah State Office of Education. He continued his military activities in the Army Reserve, moved to Virginia for a year in 1986 to attend the National War College, and served as Chief of Staff, Deputy Commander then Commander of the 96th ARCOM, (later named the 96th Regional Support Command), stationed at Fort Douglas, Utah. He retired in 1997 at the rank of Major General.

 In retirement, Richard furthered his lifelong love of trains and joined a model railroading club. Much to the delight of his grandchildren, he built a large G-scale layout in his backyard that could run several trains at once. The train around his Christmas tree always included a boxcar full of candy. 

 Richard was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in Texas in his youth. He and Helen served a full-time mission in Peoria, Illinois, two service missions at the Palmyra Pageant, were ordinance workers in the Nauvoo Temple and served in the Bountiful Temple. 

Richard is the beloved father of six children: Robert Reeder (Shauna), Rolf Reeder, David Reeder (Kimberly), Carol Boyle, Becca Miner (Paul), and Deborah Hauck (Chris). He has 16 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. He taught his family the value of togetherness and that joy is found in shared moments with loved ones. He encouraged respect, service, and gratitude for the freedoms enjoyed in America. His steady trust in God guided his life and blessed those around him. He will be greatly missed. 

 Graveside services will be held Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 12 noon at the Bountiful City Cemetery, 2224 S. 200 W. Friends and family may visit prior to the graveside services, from 10:30 – 11:30 am at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E. Bountiful, Utah. 

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