Richard "Dick" Orval Manley

EDEN - Richard “Dick” Orval Manley was born on March 28, 1943, in Council, Idaho to Orval Richard Manley and Helen Noreen Foutz. Dick was married for time and all eternity to Dolores Lopez on February 14, 1981, in the Oakland, California Temple. He remained madly in love with Dolores to his last breath on July 27, 2024, still considering her the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Together, Dick and Dolores, had four children: Robert G. Olson (Fransico C. Perruzzo), Rodney G. Olson, Heather L. Peterson (Chad), and Zena E. Manley. Dick is survived by his seven grandchildren: Chloé Peck (Jake), Christopher Olson, Julian Olson, Alexandra Olson, Saige Peterson, R. Brooks Peterson, and Siena Peterson; his brother, David L. Manley; and his niece, Alisha Stevens (Jeff). Dick also leaves behind a community of unofficially adopted sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and lifelong friends that he gathered from all over the world through his genuine love for all and his devoted service to his God as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dick and his brother were raised in the idyllic mountain valley of New Meadows, Idaho. Dick’s youth was filled with small town adventures that followed him throughout his life in endless stories he loved to share with his family and friends. He had a quick quiet chuckle that would make his whole body shake for a few seconds and his eyes would sparkle with merriment as he told stories, jokes, and shared time with the people he loved.

He loved the outdoors, believing firmly that a landscape could never have enough trees or tall enough mountains or too few people.

As a youth he was an avid hunter, with a good aim and a charitable heart. He helped feed many elderly and widowed members of his beloved hometown with his hunting skills. He worked for the Forest Service on trail crews and lookouts, building several, including War Eagle Lookout.

Upon graduation from high school, Dick learned he had earned a scholarship because of his honesty. Years earlier he had found he had been given too much cash from the grocery store (which also doubled as the bank) and immediately went back to return the extra bill. The grocery store owner was so impressed that he created the scholarship specifically for Dick.

Because of this unexpected scholarship, Dick changed his plans to stay home and enrolled in college because “they couldn’t afford not to use the scholarship.” He attended Idaho State University and “managed to cram four years of college into six years.” He was a founding member of the Outdoors Club. He graduated as a Math major then immediately joined the Air Force. He was sent directly to Vietnam after graduating from flight school.

Dick served for 20 years as a cargo pilot (C-130 Hercules), flight instructor, and flight school director until his retirement as a Major. He could have achieved a higher ranking, but routinely turned down assignments in order to spend more time with his family. Upon retirement he chose his family once again over his career, opting out of becoming an airline pilot and instead chose real estate so that he could be home with his wife and daughters.

A devoted man of faith, Dick served as a Bishop in Zweibrücken, Germany, Rijeka, Croatia, and Osijek, Croatia, as an executive secretary for nearly a dozen bishoprics, a teacher, and, with his wife, served six missions in the: Ogden, Utah Mission; Slovenia Croatia Mission; Logan, Utah Mission and Huntsville Stake Mission (Ogden Valley, Utah).

His legacy of goodness, his love of a great story, his awe of the outdoors, his loyalty, patriotism, faith, wit, wisdom, patience, and overall generosity has left an indelible impression on all who were fortunate to be in his sphere. While not famous beyond the framework of his life, Dick, nevertheless, changed the world around him for the better and inspired others to try to do the same in theirs.

He will be greatly missed. Yet there is endless hope in the knowledge that he will be reunited with his family through the divine grace and perfection of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

His family wishes to thank their friends (particularly those in Ogden Valley) for their unending service and boundless kindness to Dick and Dolores throughout his years long illnesses; as well as for the skilled medical personnel of McKay Dee Hospital, Bristol Hospice, Home Helpers, Applegate, and Maple Springs for helping Dick return to his Heavenly Father and his Savior Jesus Christ in peace. 

In lieu of flowers, Dick’s family asks that you plant a tree, or two, or three… or a whole forest.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024

10 AM Viewing

11 AM Funeral

12 PM Celebration of Life

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 4279 North 3300 East, Liberty, Utah 84310

Services will also be streamed on Zoom. Meeting ID: 875 7941 2682 Passcode: Manley