Richard Magleby

Richard Sterling Magleby passed away on October 1, 2023 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. He was surrounded by his loving family at the time he passed. He is survived by his wife, Donna Magleby, three of his four children, Christy Shifflett, David Magleby and his wife Keri, and Sherry Sampson and her husband Russell, as well as his brother, John Magleby, and his beloved 11 grandchildren. He has now been reunited with his oldest son, Mark Magleby, and his sister, Mary Lords, as well as with his parents, Sterling and Erma Magleby, and many beloved friends and family.

Richard was born on June 21, 1934, in Idaho Falls, Idaho and was raised in the nearby farming community of Archer. He was the oldest of three children, including one brother and a sister. He grew up on a farm and helped settle a cattle ranch just outside of Yellowstone. He often spoke fondly of working alongside his family and of the lessons learned that come only with hard work. Richard will forever be a cowboy in his heart.

Upon graduation from high school, Richard attended Utah State University before serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico where he labored to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through this experience, he came to love the people he served.

Returning from his mission, he attended Brigham Young University where he earned a bachelor’s degree and where he met and married the love of his life Donna Mortensen. They then together returned to Utah State University where he earned a Masters degree in Agricultural Economics. It was while completing studies at Utah State that his oldest son, Mark, was born in 1960.

Together with his young family, they traveled across the country in their old VW Beetle to Penn State University where Richard earned a PhD in Agricultural Economics. While working on his studies, he accepted a calling as Branch President of the small branch of fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Having completed his doctoral degree, he was hired on by the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, and moved his young family to northern Virginia. It was here where the farm boy from Idaho raised his family and where he served others for the rest of his life. He raised two sons (Mark and David) and two daughters (Christy and Sherry). Tragically, his oldest son Mark died in accident at the age of 12 while the family was living in Asuncion Paraguay while on assignment for the Department of Agriculture.

Richard accepted many calls to service including volunteering in the Temple, as Scoutmaster for Troop 1147, many bishopric assignments, as President of the Spanish speaking branch for the LDS Church, and serving as the congregation liaison to the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA).

When he was not busy serving, you could find him on the ski slopes, camping and road trips with his family, on the lake water skiing, or enjoying the rapids while whitewater rafting.

Richard was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many whom he touched through a lifetime of service. He has left a legacy that will continue to bless his descendants for many years.