Our beloved Ammon Richard Lund, 72, was released from his tired, Alzheimer’s stricken body on February 23, 2022 with family by his side. He was born January 7, 1950 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Elmo and Carroll (Anderson) Lund. He married Kathleen Eccles in the Los Angeles Temple on May 12, 1973 and they were blessed with 6 children and a wonderful life together. He is the great-grandson of the Danish Apostle Anthon H. Lund.
Richard was a surprise twin - an unexpected bonus in the delivery room! He graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, Kansas in 1968, then attended Brigham Young University where he studied Microbiology. He was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Paris, France mission from 1969-1971. He loved the French people, their language and culture, and his great love for them influenced the rest of his life.
For 3 seasons Richard played rugby at BYU and had the injuries to prove it. A cute cheerleader from California caught his eye one day and he married Kathy the next year.
After graduation from BYU, Richard was commissioned as an officer into the United States Air Force. During his 20 years of service his duties included Explosive Ordnance Disposal, aircraft and munitions maintenance, NATO Inspector General Team in Europe, Exchange Officer with the French Air Force, and many other highly classified duties that he told his children he could “neither confirm nor deny.†He received many commendations for his exemplary service.
The military took Richard and his family to many lands, but most precious to them was the time spent living in Italy, Germany, France and Alaska.
Richard was always active and busy. He served as a bishop, Scoutmaster and Cubmaster, temple ordinance worker, PTA president, chaperone for his kids’ field trips, and a Red Cross volunteer. He loved woodworking, camping, racquetball, fishing, wrestling with his kids, making crepes, genealogy work, and listening to his wife play the piano. He adored Kathy and told everyone he met how beautiful and wonderful she was. His children were his life and he attended all their activities and sporting events. He called his siblings every week to say hello and share his love.
His hallmark was his devotion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He was a true disciple who cared for the widows in his community, showed compassion to everyone, shoveled others’ snowy sidewalks, checked up on people, listened to people, and lightened any load that he could. Richard always had a very sweet and calm disposition which he kept until the very end, even during his many years of dementia and Alzheimer’s. He was a noble and great man.
He is survived by his wife Kathy; his children, Richard “Rick†(Margo), Christopher (Alison), Kyndra (Doug) Peterson, Aaron (Caroline), Michael (Kyndra), Johnathan (Petra); his mother-in-law, Faye Eccles; his siblings, Barbara (Gary) Hess, John Robert “Bob†(Nancy) Lund, Jeanne (Lee) Flosi, his twin Anthon Paul (Melinda) Lund; nieces and nephews; and his 21 wonderful grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Elmo and Carroll Lund.
There will be a graveside service with military honors on Saturday, March 12, 2022, 11:00 am at the Santa Clara City Cemetery, Ancestor Way, Santa Clara, Utah.
A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, March 13, 2022, 7:00 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4355 W Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah 84062. Friends are welcome to attend.
Our family sends our deepest gratitude and admiration to the wonderful nurses and attendants who cared for Richard at the Southern Utah Veterans Home during his final stage of life. Thank you for being so good to him.
In leu of flowers, the family has asked that you send a donation to Alzheimer’s Research.
Arrangements are made under the direction of the Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St, St. George, Utah, (435) 673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Richard's online guestbook at
www.spilsburymortuary.com
and are also invited to leave a comment on Spilsbury Mortuary’s Facebook page.