Norman Dee Riggs, Age 86, passed away on Sunday afternoon, November 24, 2013. Born March 30, 1927 in Willowbrook, California to Hiram Joseph and Irene Barrett Riggs. Married Fay Marie Simmons February 14, 1948 in Monrovia, California; marriage solemnized September 30, 1948 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Norm was preceded in death by spouse, Fay; two children, Daryl and Valrie, his parents; Brother, Don; Sister, Lois and survived by sons Victor Craig (and wife Karen) from Beaverton, Oregon; Martin Glynn (and wife Becky) from Yucaipa, California; daughter Noray Turney (and husband Jim) from Murray, Utah; eleven grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and sister Sandra Kinser (and husband Harley) from Taylorsville, Utah; and many nieces and nephews.
Norm served in the U.S. Navy in World War II, March 1945 to January 1948 obtaining the rank HM2 and in the Korean War from March 1952 to July, 1955 obtaining the rank of Lt.jg. Norm earned his BS in 1951, MS in 1960 and PhD in 1968 from the University of Utah. He taught speech and drama at Jordan and Granite High Schools and was Assistant Professor of Speech and Track at The Church College of Hawaii. He served as Vice Principal of Kearns High School, Principal of Central Junior High School, Principal of Piute High School in Junction, Utah, Principal of Delta High School, Delta, Utah and Principal of Lake Oswego High School in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He was Superintendent of Schools for Blaine County, Idaho and Union County, Oregon.
Norm was the AARP State Liaison and President of the Utah Retired School Employees Association and a respected lobbyist at the Utah State Legislature. He served in many capacities in the Salt Lake County and Utah State Republican Party. Other civic contributions were Committeeman, Granite, Utah; Town Councilman, Laie, Hawaii; Chairman of the West Jordan Planning Commission; Served on the West Jordan Recreation Committee where he was instrumental in the development and building of the pool facility at the Salt Lake County Gene Fullmer Recreation Center; member of the Utah Legislative Task Force on Spousal Abuse; State Board of Aging; Foundation Board, Salt Lake Community College; Grand Theater Board at Salt Lake Community College; and Vice Chairman of the Salt Lake Community College Board of Trustees.
Norm's many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints included ordinance worker at the Oquirrh Mountain and Jordan River Temples, Church Service Missionary, High Counselor, Ward Clerk, Executive Secretary, High Priest Group Leader, Young Men's President, Sunday School Superintendent, Scoutmaster, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Stake Employment Specialist and Home Teacher. He wrote and directed award roadshows that won both Stake and Regional Honors; directed and performed at a Mutual performance at the Salt Lake Tabernacle.
Norm participated in many sports in high school, college and in life; track in high school; 2 year letterman at University of Utah; football (Pasadena Junior College); Loved swimming, softball, skiing both water and snow; golf, hunting, fishing. He coached the Granite, Utah Ward Junior fast pitch softball team to the 1967 All Church Semi-Finals.
Norm also enjoyed watching and participating with his children and grandchildren in their various activities and shared his resources with all of his extended family. He was an avid gardener and orchardist who willingly shared his expertise and harvests with family, friends and neighbors.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday December 7th, at the Jordan Oaks 4th Ward House, 3760 West 9380 South, West Jordan, Utah. A viewing will be held from 9:00-9:45 a.m. prior to services at the ward.
Interment will be at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) Sandy, Utah.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donation to the Fay and Norm Riggs Scholarship Fund at the Salt Lake Community College.
