Richard Lynn Williams

Richard Lynn Williams, 79, passed away peacefully at his home in Ammon, Idaho, following a long battle with heart failure. In his final weeks of life, he was attended to by his loving wife, DayOnna, Hospice of Eastern Idaho, and frequently visited by his children and grandchildren.

Richard was born October 16, 1943, to Kenneth Marlin and Eris (Sorenson) Williams. He spent his early years living with his family on several acres near Little Cotton Wood Creek in Sandy, Utah. When Richard was 15, his dad moved the family to a 300-acre horse farm in Woodland, Utah. Richard loved the Woodland Valley and it is the home of his heart. He valued his Woodland friendships that lasted a lifetime. The horse ranch was his playground. He loved riding and training the horses and doing farm work, both passions he shared with his father. Horse riding and training remained a passion of Richard’s throughout his life. He was a very skilled horse trainer and loved to ride and compete with his horses.

He attended South Summit High School in Kamas, Utah. He was a popular honor student and participated in FFA, sports, and student government. Richard was a really good dancer which made him very popular at the high school dances. He graduated high school in 1961 and then attended BYU. He did not go off to college alone, he took his horse with him! After a year at BYU, he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Great Lakes Mission. Richard was well versed in the scriptures and a very successful teacher of Gospel Essentials and Gospel Doctrine. His other church callings included Scouting, Bishopric Counselor, and a member of the Seventy.

After completing his mission, he returned to his beloved horse ranch in Woodland and commuted to Salt Lake to work in the family lumber yard. It was then he joined the Utah National Guard serving for six years with distinction.

Richard met his best friend and wife, DayOnna Bowen, at church in Salt Lake City. They were married on April 17, 1970. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in September 1974. They are the parents of five children and 17 grandchildren. Richard’s work took the family to several different states including Utah, Oregon, California, and Idaho, always with a horse in tow. Many life-long friends were made along the way.

Richard spent the last 27 years of his life with a failing heart. Friends and family that knew him often commented that unlike a cat with nine lives, Richard had survived at least 30+ lives. Richard demonstrated great optimism and strength during his many health trials; always bouncing back with determination to live life and get back to training and riding his horses.

Richard is survived by his wife, DayOnna of Ammon, ID; sons, Tyler (Brenda) Williams of Rigby, ID, Roger (Jonna) Williams of Peoria, AZ, Zane (Mary) Williams of Lake Orion, MI; daughters, Da’Lynne (Chad) McIntyre of Beaverton, OR, Laura (Chad) Leetham of Tooele, UT; brother, Glade of Murray, UT; sister, Merlene (Kelly) Nelson of Ogden, UT; and 17 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Eris and three brothers, David, Glen and Blain.

Services will be held at 12 Noon Saturday, March 25, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 400 North 200 West, Malad City, Idaho. A visitation will be at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will be held at the same location following the funeral service. The funeral will be live streamed and accessed with this link.

A second service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 27, 2023, in Richard’s home ward at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building located at 4030 John Adams Parkway, Ammon, Idaho. A visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon will be provided following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Champ’s Heart Rehabilitation Riding Center at this link.