Lt. Col. Ricky Steven Brown

Lt. Col. Ricky Steven Brown, 67, died September 27, 2020 peacefully, and with family by his side in his home in West Jordan, Utah.

Rick was born July 23, 1953 in Winston-Salem North Carolina. He was raised there by his loving adoptive parents Ray and Mildred. When he was 7 his mother passed away and his father Ray married Margie a year later who was one of his previous foster mothers, and moved to Summerfield, Florida where they eventually had two sons and a daughter of whom he was the eldest.

After graduating high school, Rick enlisted in the Air Force at 17. At the age of 22, he honorably served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arcadia, California. After he was released from his missionary service, he attended Brigham Young University where he met his sweetheart Diana who became his wife of 40 years. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Cardston, Alberta, Canada temple. Upon receiving his bachelor's degree in business management and minors in English and Statics, he re-enlisted in the Army where he lived his dream of flying Blackhawk and Huey helicopters. In 1992 he and his wife moved to Utah and purchased the home where he lived until he passed. Rick retired from the reserves in 2013 and worked for the Utah State Penitentiary until his diagnosis of cancer in August of 2019, officially retiring from the state in January of 2020. He gave his family a beautiful and secure life, with many wonderful memories to be cherished.

Rick was a southern Baptist until the day he was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When asking his Father for permission to join a different church he was told, "If you're old enough to serve and die for your country, then you are old enough to decide what church you want to go to." He actively served God with much fervor from that day, refusing to deny what he had come to know, even when his life was threatened if he would not deny his beliefs. He shared his knowledge and love of God with everyone he encountered, bringing happiness, joy, and laughter to many. He truly hungered and feasted upon the words of Christ daily. His Christ like love, example, and happy demeanor was contagious to everyone around him. He loved serving his family, friends, and neighbors, and would jump to help every chance he could get because he knew by doing so, he was also serving our Heavenly Father.

Rick is survived by his loving wife Diana, his 5 children: Michelle (Mike) Cox, Spencer, Steven, Nicole and Kalynn, including 5 grandchildren. After diligently fighting pancreatic cancer for a year Rick is now back with his Heavenly Father without pain and can rest in peace.

The family will be holding a celebration of life for Rick on October 17, 2020. The day he was diagnosed with cancer he had a meeting with his family and said, "No pity parties." And we wish to honor him and his life with a celebration. There will be an open house at his home from 5:30P-7:00P. We will have hot dogs and hamburgers, and a memorial of his life set up that you can look at. If you aren't able to attend but still would like to express memories or condolences, please email dnicolebrown4@gmail.com . If you need the address to his home, please contact Nicole 801-694-7331.