Norma Eakle Richardson

Norma Eakle Richardson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 14, 1939, to Alma Dorus and Mary Alice Rodgers Eakle.  She was born breach and suffered major birthing complications.  Though she was paralyzed and broken; through faith, hard work, and a powerful priesthood blessing she was able to live and be made “normal” (as promised in the blessing).  Normal for Norma involved excelling at dancing, singing, and playing the piano.  The doctors said Norma wouldn’t live, but if she did, she would never walk or talk.  Norma was far from normal.

Growing up on a dairy farm in Woods Cross, Utah, Norma enjoyed playing in the hay barn with her brother Alma Dorus Jr. and sisters Mary Alice (Crouch) and Betty (Beachler).  She enjoyed the fresh vegetables from the family garden and learned to work hard.  A pull-up bar was installed at the farm for Norma to exercise her right arm that had been handicapped at birth.  In time she was able to improve its usefulness, however she learned to do everything with her left hand.

Music played a big role in her life.  Norma sang in small singing groups as early as 5 years old.  She performed in ward and stake meetings and even General Conference at the age of 12.  She sang in a trio with Barbara Heaton and Gloria Dennison at church, schools, weddings, and special events for years.  The trio didn’t stop singing together until they each got married.  Many visitors who came to see Norma in her old age were asked to sing a song.

When Norma was 8 years old, she began taking dance lessons.  With hard practice and determination, she became a good dancer and used this talent to perform in many church functions.

When she was 18 Norma met Max Byron Richardson at a missionary going away party.  Bishop Hatch Howard introduced the two and told them to “go dance”.  A year and a half later, on September 11, 1958, they were married in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They briefly moved in with Max’s mother, Belva Chase Richardson in Ogden, before building a home for Max, Norma, and Belva in Woods Cross.

Norma graduated from Davis High School and later earned a Nursing Degree from Weber State College.  After college Norma worked as a Registered Nurse at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden.  When she and Max moved to Woods Cross, Norma worked at South Davis Medical Clinic in Bountiful for a few years until she was able to become a full-time mother and homemaker (another job she really did well).  Max and Norma have 6 children: Paula Ann (Barnhill), Larry Dee Richardson, Doris Richardson, Lin Byron Richardson, Julie Louise (Dove), and Amy Norma (Bullock).

Norma’s mother, Mary Alice Rodgers Eakle, was a very accomplished piano and organ player.  She taught her daughters to play and passed on the talent.  Norma likewise taught many children to play the piano.

Along with raising the children and frugally bottling fruit, making Jam, sewing costumes and dance outfits, cooking amazing food, keeping the house, Norma was active in church service.  She held a wide range of callings from working with the scouts and primary children to directing the ward choir.  She was always serving someone.  Apart from her many callings, Norma was the primary care giver of someone most of her adult life.  She cared for her mother-in-law, her mother, her sisters, and her husband as each faced the unavoidable complications of aging and illness.  When one of her children would have a new baby, Norma would spend several days helping take care of the family so the mother could rest and recover.  She was like a ray of sunshine lighting up dark places.

In 2015 Norma had a major stroke that caused difficulty walking and talking.  Through a new medical procedure and with intensive therapy she regained some mobility and with concentration could communicate.  Now the roles were reversed, and Norma had to get used to being helped rather than carrying others.  This was more challenging and difficult, but to the end Norma had a smile and love that would lift spirits.

On July 5, 2022, surrounded by family, Norma graduated from her Earthly trials and was welcomed home by loved ones who had passed before her.  She is preceded in death by her parents Alma Dorus and Mary Alice Rodgers Eakle, brother Alma Dorus Eakle, Jr., sisters Mary Alice (Crouch) and Betty Catherine (Beachler), brother Rodger Eakle (stillborn) and infant daughter Doris Richardson.  She is survived by daughter Paula Ann (husband Bob Barnhill), sons Larry Dee Richardson (wife Diane) and Lin Richardson (wife Anne), daughters Julie Louise (husband Bobby Dove) and Amy Norma (husband Kenneth Bullock), sister-in-law Arlene Eakle, brother-in-law Roger Beachler, 17 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the Apple Chapel, 790 West 1500 South, Woods Cross, Utah.  A viewing will be held Tuesday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 North Main, Bountiful, Utah and Wednesday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment- Bountiful City Cemetery.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page.  The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.