Richard Creighton Giberson, 89, passed away on September 21, 2022, in Midvale, Utah. He was born on June 18, 1933, in Long Beach, California to Harry Hollis and Viola Grace Morgan Ollie. Shortly after his birth, his mother passed away and he was later adopted by James Earl and Gladys Ramona Ackley Giberson.
He lived many places while growing up, spending the most time on the west coast, notably the San Francisco Bay area and San Diego. He graduated from La Jolla High School and attended Brigham Young University where he graduated in chemistry in 1955. He received a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Idaho. While completing his undergraduate studies two significant events occurred: he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which became a guiding force in his life, and he met Eileen Jane Owen. They were married on September 14, 1954, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They had eight children: Judy, Todd, Mike, Robin, Valerie, Lynette, Rick, and Scott, and later “church” daughter, Denise. After Eileen’s death in 1995, he married Karla Buckmiller.
Richard spent his work life as a scientist, first at the Hanford plant in Richland, Washington, and then with Mason & Hanger at the Pantex plant outside of Amarillo, Texas, where he retired in 1995.
He was active in the church, serving in a variety of leadership and teaching callings. He especially enjoyed teaching the Gospel Doctrine class. He and Karla served in the Japan Sendai Mission, fulfilling a dream of his to be a full-time missionary. They served as temple workers in the Lubbock Texas and Jordan River Utah Temples.
Richard loved sports and games throughout his life. His children have many fond memories of him teaching and playing games with them. He has written for game-playing magazines. He also play-tested Avalon Hills’ “Battle of the Bulge” and beta-tested the computer game, “Trains.” In the latter years of his life, he focused on creating his own games, and along with his wife he launched a game company called “Giberiginals” in 2016. Richard enjoyed writing and the theatre. Over his adult life, he wrote and performed within the church and in the community. He also loved trains, traveling, computers, and reading.
Most of all he loved his family, and treasured the scripture found in Psalm 127, “…children are a heritage of the Lord…As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.” He was well-loved by his children and extended family.
Richard enjoyed becoming reacquainted with his biological mother’s family through Morgan family reunions. Later in life through Ancestry DNA, he was privileged to meet and connect with two half-brothers on his biological father’s side, Edward and Michael Tegland.
It was once said of Richard: “He was a man of few words, but when he spoke people listened.” He himself often quoted Mark Twain: “It is better for a man to remain silent and appear a fool than to open his mouth and remove all doubt.” Above his computer desk sat a plaque with these words: “When unsure, ponder. When in charge, delegate. When in doubt, mumble.”
Survived by his wife, Karla, his eight children, Judith (Gary) Hall, Todd (Lea), Michael (Andrea), Robin Giberson, Valerie Ipson, Lynette Giberson, Richard (Linda), Scott, and stepchildren Kim (Layne) Rasmussen, David (Dawn) Dodson, Dana (Gerald) Armentrout, and between the combined families 44 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his wife, Eileen, daughter-in-law, Joann Giberson, son-in-law, Lance Ipson, and stepson-in-law, Joe Bolin.
Please no flowers. Instead, consider a donation to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Humanitarian Aid or General Missionary funds.
(thanks to Valerie who wrote this and then changed it as we sent in our suggestions. It is (also) perfect.)
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