St. George, Utah - Rick passed away August 12, 2016 in his sleep, in St. George, Utah. He suffered two strokes within one week with many complications. He was born in Karlstad, Minn. the second child of Olga, Noble Urdahl. Rick was a true renaissance man. He grew up on a farm rising up at 5 a.m. to milk the cows, riding to school on a horse returning to finish his chores and delivering newspapers. He loved to talk about his young life, swinging on a rope and landing on a hay mow. At a young age of 12 he could handle a team of work horses hauling shocks of grain and delivering them to a conveyer belt on the thrashing machine. He was taught a strong work ethic that benefitted him throughout life, always holding down 2 or 3 jobs at a time. In 1945 his family left Minnesota and settled in Snoqualmie Valley, Washington. Under age, Rick talked himself into a dishwashing job at Snoqualmie Falls Lodge., also delivering Seattle Times newspaper. He attended Mount Si High where he played football and was on a golf team. He was a member of "Order of De Moley", went to 'Boys State'. Always seeking fun and adventure he loved to ski play tennis and racquetball. Graduating in 1950 he wanted to enlist in the Air Force. His Mother encourage him to attend college first. That summer his Father took Rick to Alaska, to apprentice under him as a carpenter, a trade he used all his life. He worked his way through college from this tutelage, never borrowing or owing anyone money. He graduated debt free. His second job was Dorm Supervisor. He was Vice President of the Student Body in 1952 and 1953 at Central Washington University. Preparing himself for the Air Force he enrolled in the ROTC Program, his dream to be a pilot. He joined the Air Force in 1956 after a 1 year of teaching school. He was promoted to Major on three different lists, Air Force, Air Force Reserve and the California Air National Guard traveling to the Far East and Europe. In 1963, Rick was hired by Western Airlines later merging with Delta, loving every minute of this job, he had a 29 year career as a pilot. Living and being based in the Bay area he started the Richard Urdahl Construction Co. as a side business, building homes, apartments and a movie theater. In 1987 the fortuitous fate of Delta Airlines reassigning his base to Salt Lake and his friend Royce introducing them to each other, he met Carol his true soul mate and life companion. Rick was a family man. In 1958 he married Sandy and they had three children: Mark, Jennifer and Scot. He spent countless hours with his children at swim meets, tennis tournaments and gymnastic competitions. One last one, this May watching Mark in a Polo match. He embraced his extended family with love, participation and caring, Cindy, Bret and Patti, they cherished their time with him. He was a strong Patriarch and his grandkids loved and adored him. He always was interested in each one individually and gave them sound advice, they listened to him and usually followed his advice. The big deal was to sit in his oversized easy chair while Grandpa sat at his desk and just talk for hours about their lives or family. Rick retired in 1992, learning how to sit back and smell the roses. His favorite day was to golf 18 holes (sometimes 27 or 36 rounds) sip a vodka tonic and play a game of Gin Rummy with the Brown Group at Hidden Valley CC. Rick is survived by his wife Carol, Children: Mark (Jocelyn), Jeniffer (Randy deceased), Scott (Marlo), Cindy (Michael), Bret , Patricia. Eleven Grandchildren Lindsay (Mark), Hilary, Taylor, Chaz, Dylan, Alexis (Ty), Alex, Isabella, Dyllin, Leon, Lucy. One Great Grandchild Porter. Brother Charles, preceded in death by sisters Pat and Bev.

Graveside Service will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 10600 S 1700 E at the Mausoleum at 3 p.m. on Sept. 24, 2016. A Celebration of Life will follow 4-6 p.m. at Hidden Valley CC, 11820 South Highland Dr., where his spirit soared.