Richard West Jacobs

Richard West Jacobs returned home to his Heavenly Father on March 1, 2018, surrounded by his family.  He was born on August 16, 1940 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada to Lyman and Ethel Jacobs.  He married his sweetheart, Diane Gibson, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on June 16, 1967.
Rich completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brigham Young University and his doctorate from Arizona State University.  He spent much of his career as the Director of Budgets for Utah State University.  He belonged to a number of professional organizations, including the Rocky Mountain Association for Institutional Research (RMAIR), where he served as president. With a lifelong love of math, he taught math classes at Brigham Young University, Arizona State University, the University of Utah, Utah State University, and at the Utah State Prison.  He also wrote the state math exam for Arizona.
A faithful servant of the Lord, Rich served in many callings in the LDS Church. From 1960-62, he served as a missionary in the Canadian Mission under President Thomas S. Monson, where, during his service, he was asked to be the first missionary to begin the French work in Eastern Canada. He also served missions as the director of the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center and in the Layton LDS Employment Service Center. Other callings include bishop, executive secretary to the regional representative, stake high council, stake mission president, stake family history director, and gospel doctrine instructor.  A gospel scholar and scriptorian, his testimony was always close to the surface and evident to all with whom he came into contact.
Despite his other successes in life, Rich’s greatest focus and love was for his family and his Savior Jesus Christ.  He leaves behind his wife of 50 years, Diane, and their eight children — David (Alisa) of Fruit Heights; Robert of West Jordan; Darin (Valarie) of Kaysville; Jeffrey (Natalyn) of Draper; Julie (Scott) Young of Coppell, Texas; Brian (Ralphie) of Round Rock, Texas; Jason (Jeniel) of Salt Lake City; and Shawn (Elle) of Salt Lake City; as well as 28 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Margaret (Bruce) Shumway of Blanding. Excited to welcome him to heaven were his parents, brother, sister, and twin granddaughters. Our husband, dad, grandpa, brother, and uncle will be deeply missed, but we know we will see him again.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 10, at the Fruit Heights 7th Ward LDS Chapel, 24 South Country Lane, Fruit Heights. Viewings will be held on Friday, March 9, from 6-8 p.m., at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 North Main, Farmington; or Saturday, March 10, from 9:45-10:45 a.m., at the church.
We give special thanks to the staff at the North Canyon Care Center in Bountiful for all of the love and care. We will forever be grateful.