Richard J. Clark, 90, of Ashton, died Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at Parkwood Assisted Living in Idaho Falls. He was born December 13, 1927 on a wintery night in Ashton, Idaho to Jess and Ortella Atkinson Clark.

He grew up in Ashton receiving his schooling there and graduated from Ashton High School in 1945. He enjoyed music and played trumpet in the school band and for dances in the area. He loved scouting and camping at Treasure Mountain Scout Camp. He loved to hike Table Rock and enjoyed the Teton Mountain Range.

He loved sports and was on the ski team and the high school boxing team. He then attended Utah State for one year where he became the AAU Intermountain Boxing Champ in his weight. He played trumpet in the college dance band and with the ROTC band.

During that year at USAC he met the love of his life, LaVonne Bailey from Hyrum, Utah.
He spent the summer months working for the Forest Service building roads between Driggs and Swan Valley until Fall when he enlisted in the Army.

A four year long distance courtship with LaVonne ensued while he served in the Army in Korea and Southern Japan with the Eighth Army Signal Corps School, and then while he attended the Salt Lake Area Vocational School. Richard and LaVonne were married on June 13, 1949 in the Logan LDS Temple and made their home in Ashton. They have been grateful for 69 years of married life during which time they raised four children; Bruce, Carolyn, Janice and LuAnne.

He enjoyed his time at the vocational school where he learned the skill of Barbering, which was his love and vocation for 56 years while he worked with his father in the Clark Barber Shop. He was invited to run the new barber shop in the Manwaring Center at Ricks College and he truly enjoyed the experience of working with those college young men. After a time he returned to Ashton when his father became seriously ill and ran the shop there until his retirement.


As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he has expressed his love and testimony for the gospel of Jesus Christ as he served in many different leadership capacities. He served as bishop, counselor in the Stake Presidency, Stake Patriarch and director of the Ashton Family History Center.

He is survived by his wife, LaVonne and children: Bruce (Glenys) Clark of South Jordan, Utah; Carolyn (Robert) Christesen of Riverton, Utah; Janice Walker of Boise, Idaho and LuAnne (Monty) Fowler of Shelley, Idaho. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral service will be held 11:00 Monday, July 16, 2018 at the Sandcreek 1st Ward Chapel, 885 South Blvd, Idaho Falls. The family will receive friends Sunday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Baxter Funeral Home, 717 Main Street, in Ashton, Idaho and then from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in the Ashton Pineview Cemetery with military rites.

The family expresses their appreciation to the staff at Parkwood Assisted Living and Encompass Hospice for the wonderful care they provided.