Richard O’Brien Kidman was born on June 22, 1944 in Logan, Utah to LaVere and Leah Kidman. Richard fought a brave fight against pancreatic cancer starting in January 2021 and passed away in his home June 15, 2024 surrounded by his family. He was one week shy of his 80th birthday.
Richard was the second of four boys. The family moved to Hyrum, Utah and then to Salt Lake City. Growing up, Richard was an excellent baseball player, sang in the advanced School Choirs, and by the age of 13 he was a shift manager at the family business “The Freezer” (hamburgers and shakes). He loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing with his dad, brothers, and friends. One of the most unique experiences he had was capturing mountain lions with hounds to be taken alive and relocated out of harm’s way with his father.
Richard attended Southern Utah University, took care of the family business when his father hurt his back, and then served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Eastern States Mission in New York, New York during the World’s Fair. While serving in the mission home he met Sister Shauna Workman. The two worked to organize mission activities and often sang together. After Richard and Shauna were home for several months, they were re-connected and were married December 16, 1966 in the Salt Lake Temple.
In 1968, after finishing a Business Degree at University of Utah and welcoming their first child, Steven, Richard and Shauna moved to Tucson, AZ. Richard worked as a salesman for Xerox and their second child, Tamara, was born. Xerox moved him to Flagstaff, AZ in 1969 to take over the Northern Arizona territory where he became one of Xerox’s top sellers and received many awards for his accomplishments. In Flagstaff, two more children, Dawnell and Michelle, joined the family. Richard served in the church in the young men’s program, as a high councilman and as a member of the bishopric.
While in Flagstaff, the entrepreneur in Richard came alive. He had partnerships in a convenience store, a car wash and eventually the original RD’s Drive In. While traveling for work he found the Pink Sans Drive-In in Page, AZ and purchased the business on a handshake. After a remodel of the building, RD’s Drive-In moved to Page along with the family in 1978. For 45 years, RD’s has provided the tradition of family work ethic not only with his own children, but many of his grandchildren.
In Page, the Kidman family would grow by three more girls, Jennifer, Lynda and Lynette. As an entrepreneur in Page, he was involved in construction, real estate, a clothing store, Chester Fried Chicken/Exxon, log home building and employee leasing companies, among others. When he and his son opened RD’s in Orem, Utah, Richard became a pilot and began commuting between businesses by air.
Richard’s greatest joy was his family and was always extremely proud of his children and grandchildren. He supported them in all of their sports and music activities. He spent many hours going to Chess tournaments with Steven, coached his girls in softball, supported Shauna in all that she did to provide music to the community, sang in countless church choirs and facilitated many projects including “Page Pioneer Days” and publishing CDs of his favorite Trio singers, The Kidmans. He never tired of sitting and listening to his children play the piano and sing. He rarely missed a performance. Richard was the biggest cheerleader for it all.
Much of his life was spent in serving in the church. He was High Counselor to the outlying branches on the Navajo reservation, Executive Secretary and his favorite -the Gospel Doctrine Teacher. He served as Bishop of Page 2nd ward and, finally, Richard and Shauna were service missionaries for 15 years to people of the Echo Cliffs branch on the Navajo reservation. While there, he was instrumental to the building of a chapel. He loved the people he served. He was in charge of the Garden projects for the Bitter Springs area teaching many people how to grow their own food.
In his later years, Richard was blessed with beautiful white hair and a full white beard. Playing Santa every year for local parties and family events became a treasured tradition. It was not unheard of for children to tell him what they wanted for Christmas year round.
He leaves us with his testimony of Jesus Christ which has been evident in how he lived his life. He extended a helping hand to those in need. He was an example of hard work and generosity. He gave his heart and soul to his family, his church and his community. He will be missed.
He is preceded in death by his parents- LaVere and Leah, his brother- Gary, and four grandchildren, Meagan, Tyler, Kyle, and Mikaela Walker. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Shauna, his 2 brothers, Dennis and Brent, his 7 children, Steven (Sandra), Tamara (Brandon), Dawnell (Tony), Michelle (Jerry), Jennifer (Matt), Lynda (Seth) and Lynette (Jose), 31 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
A viewing will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1301 N Navajo Dr. Page, Arizona, 86040 on Sunday, June 23 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. (AZ time).
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 24 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1301 N Navajo Dr. in Page, Arizona. A viewing will be held 9:00-10:30 a.m. followed by the funeral at 11:00 (AZ time).
Graveside service will be June 25 at 1:00 PM at the South Jordan City Cemetery in South Jordan, Utah.