Richard C. Rhees

Richard Carl Rhees died peacefully and surrounded by his family on November 13, 2018. He fought a long and courageous battle with Type 1 diabetes complications.
He was born on October 13, 1950 to Carl (Pete) Rhees and Mary Lou Nebeker.
He is survived by his wife Diane P. Rhees; his son, Jeff Rhees; his daughters, Kelli Rhees (Corey Morris) and Megan Chapman (Ian); his sister Nancy Miconi (Gene); his brother Ron Rhees (Valerie); and two grandchildren.
Richard was a devoted father and husband. For him, family came first and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his children and grandkids. He also had special place in his heart for all his nieces and nephews. At family gatherings he was always surrounded by a group of kids demanding he toss them high into the air or swing them around like airplanes. He always obliged.
Richard was an exceptional example of dedication and hard work. He attended Weber State University and majored in electronics. After working with computers and programming for nearly 20 years he returned to Weber State and earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Artificial Intelligence.
From a young age Richard was interested in radios and one of his greatest memories was receiving a radio for Christmas as a young teen. He promptly took it apart and rebuilt it many times. Richard owned many radios throughout his life and was known for the plethora of antennas that adorned his roof. Amateur Radio was a favorite hobby.
Camping and hiking with family was something he looked forward to every year. Tony Grove Lake, Mirror Lake, and Lost Lake were some of his cherished vacation spots. Even when camping wasn’t possible he always found a way to get to the mountains for a drive as often as he could.
Richard was a dedicated indoor soccer player for many years. He also coached his son’s teams every year. And because that just wasn’t enough soccer he then became a fully accredited referee and traveled all over the state officiating games.
He was an avid reader and especially loved science fiction books. Star Trek held a special place in our home and he loved it from the first episode in September, 1966 through the most current variations. We especially enjoyed speaking Klingon in crowded restaurants. (Sorry, Mom.)
Richard had a sharp, sarcastic sense of humor and enjoyed a spirited conversation wherever he could find one. He also had a huge heart filled with compassion for those around him. All you had to do was ask and he would be there. He will be missed.
Services will be held on Monday, November 19, 2018 at Memorial Redwood Mortuary (6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan). A celebration of life will be held at 12pm followed by a graveside service at 2pm. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Service Information
Viewing November 19, 2018 at 12:00 PM - 1:45 PM


Graveside Service
November 19, 2018 at 2:00 PM
Memorial Redwood Cemetery 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah