Niels Richard Anderson

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December 20, 1936 to February 1, 2015
Wellington, Utah- Niels Richard Anderson returned home to his Heavenly Father and many loving family members on Feb. 1, 2015 in Price, Utah. He was born on Dec. 20, 1936 to Ralph Peter Anderson and Effie Branch Anderson. He married the love of his life, Mildred (Millie) Ann Goates on May 24, 1959 and was later sealed to her for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple. They have two children, Richard (Rick) Frank Anderson and Michele Dawn Barker.
Richard was a veteran of the United States Army and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved teaching Sunday School, cooking for ward parties and serving his fellow man. A vivacious and animated extrovert, Richard loved life, genealogy and good conversation. He had a special knack for discovering his exact relationship (3rd cousin twice removed!) with all who crossed his path. Always on the lookout for new friends and old acquaintances, Richard could talk for hours. His genuine interest in each person he met guaranteed that if they weren’t his friend when he started talking to them, they were when he was finished.
In Richard’s younger years he rode buckin’ broncs and bulls and broke many bones while doing it. He loved to ride horses and chase cattle with his step father, Frank Liddell. An entrepreneur at heart, he started many different businesses throughout his life, authored a book, invented a game and created his own line of spices from scratch. A member of the International Dutch Oven Society, he loved cooking, especially outdoors. Family and friends were willing and eager guinea pigs for his many original recipes. An expert on Butch Cassidy, other local outlaws and his many ancestors whose histories are interwoven with that of Carbon County, Richard would tell stories for hours.
Richard loved his family and was arguably the greatest grandfather to ever walk the planet. Whenever he teased his grandkids and great grandkids, he would get a special gleam in his eye. As his memory began to fail him, he became even more loving and attached to his young great grandchildren who were always welcome on his lap and frequently passed candy from great grandpa’s personal stash when the moms weren’t looking. He loved to steal those little noses and “lose them” before finding them and returning them to their rightful owner. Richard’s family was his pride and joy and his absence is felt deeply.
Richard leaves behind his wife Millie and son Rick (& Lori) Anderson of Wellington, daughter Michele (& Dorrell) Barker of Price, brother Deloy (& Betty) Anderson of Wellington, sisters Arlene (& Bob) Conger of Orem, Velora Anderson of Salt Lake City and sister-in-law LaVerl Anderson of Tremonton. Richard is survived by his 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren as well as many other family and friends.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, step father, brother and sister-in-law Merlyn & Dee Anderson, sister Carol Paige, brother Clifford Anderson, brother-in-law Hal Anderson, and father-in-law and mother-in-law Lindell & Leola Wise.
Friends may call for a visitation at the Fausett Mortuary in Price on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015 from 6-8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the Wellington Stake Center on Monday, Feb. 9, 2015 at 11 a.m. with a viewing at the church an hour prior to services. Interment will follow in the Wellington City Cemetery. Services are in the care of Fausett Mortuary. Family and friends may sign the guest book and share memories of Richard at www.fausettmortuary.com.