On Sunday August 21, 2016 Richard (Dick) Price Backman, beloved husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa, true friend to many, stranger to no one, departed this world while surrounded by his family. He left it a better place for having been here.
Born in Salt Lake City on November 4, 1926 to loving parents LeGrand and Edith Backman. His father was a Mission President in South Africa where he spent four years of his childhood and picked up the name Pook, which he has fondly been called to this day.
When he returned to Utah he was in the sixth grade. He had learned soccer in South Africa but they didn't have it in Utah back then. So being the natural leader he was, he taught all of his friends at Uintah Elementary School how to play. He was loved and admired by all and this was reflected in the fact that he was elected President of his Junior High and was President of every class that he was a part of all the way through high school ending up as the student body president of East High where he met his eternal sweetheart, Gloria Sorenson. He served as a radioman in the Coast Guard during WWII, and after returning back to Salt Lake City he attended the U of U, where he once again was the President of Beta Theta Pi. On December 23, 1950 Dick and Gloria were married. She taught second grade at Emerson Elementary School while awaiting Dick's return from the service.
He was a great conversationalist, so friendly and popular that everyone loved him. His greatest joy was his large family. He had a huge heart, a generous spirit and a zest for life as well as a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh. He was always an avid lover of all sports and a huge fan of the Utes football team, and he loved playing golf with his buddies, sons, and grandsons.
On May 15, 2004 Richard and Gloria were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. He is survived by his wife Gloria and their seven children: Andrea and (her husband) Marty, Claudia and Lowell, Richard and Kathy, Deborah and Clayton, Cynthia and Rob, Martha and Matt, Michael and Whitney; as well as his 37 Grandchildren and 55 Great Grandchildren. He is also survived by his dear brothers and sisters: Bob and (his wife) Janet, Mary Jean, Beverly and Bob, Jim and Lynn. He is reunited with his son Robert, his grandson David and his sweet parents.
A viewing will be held Thursday August 25, 2016 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Monument Park Stake House at 1320 Wasatch Drive. Funeral Services will be held Friday August 26th at 11:00 AM also at 1320 Wasatch Drive.
A special heartfelt "Thank You" goes out to Solstice Hospice for taking such loving care.
