Noel Richard “Dick” Potter, 81, of Bountiful, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Born on January 20, 1943, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Milton Harrison and Elda Gene (Allen) Potter. His mother stayed in the hospital for 9 days, customary at the time, and the bill came to $50 plus $2 for one phone call.
When Dick was 4 years old, he started kindergarten and could already read. Every day they would take a nap and then after the nap he would help his teacher tie the other kids’ shoes because he and his teacher were the only ones that could tie a shoe. Some of his favorite childhood memories include hiking every summer around the hills of Aunt Elsie’s cabin in Alpine with his brothers, Bobby and Jim, flying model airplanes, fishing with his brothers, playing mumbly peg with his cousin Carl, going on scout camps with his childhood friend, Mel Brock, his 1950’s blue Chevy with leaded hood and shaved door handles, his 1942 Ford coupe that he bought for $20, and a 1957 Chev that he bought after the Ford caught fire and the junkyard paid him $20 for the Ford.
One summer Dan’s Foods had a pie-eating contest for all the scout troops in the area. Dick’s troop sent him to the contest. He handily won, earning his scout troop $200 worth of groceries. As soon as he got home, he threw up the pie. He could never again think of boysenberry pie without getting slightly nauseous.
When Dick was young, he was fascinated by electronics. He built radios and tore things apart to see how they worked. He wired the door leading to the basem*nt so that we would know whenever his mother was coming down the stairs.
A member of the second graduating class of Highland High, Dick graduated from high school in 1960. In his Junior year at Highland High, a teacher recognized his gift for math. The teacher had all of his students take a national math exam and Dick got the highest score possible, helping set his course towards engineering in college.
Dick attended the University of Utah, working throughout college and paying his own way at $65 per quarter. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965 and a Master's in Engineering Business Administration in 1969.
Dick and his childhood friend, Mel Brock, wanted to be pilots in the Air Force. Dick took Air Force ROTC for his first two years at university. Just before his Junior year, the Air Force sent him to Mountain Home Air Force base in Idaho to be tested. He sat 2 inches too tall to be a pilot. They said he could stay in the ROTC, but would only be a navigator when he graduated. He declined.
On January 6th, 1962, Dick’s friend Kim Buchholdt called him up and said a cute girl would be coming to his house. It turned out to be his future wife, Mary Jolene Young. When Dick picked her up, she mentioned that she did not kiss on the first date. He said that was fine by him. Still on their first date, she said she would like to introduce him to her friend, but would like to change her clothes first. After changing, she came out and sat down beside him and said, “Now this is our second date, isn’t it?”
On their actual second date, Dick sucked up some soda into his straw and pointed it at Jolene. She said “You wouldn’t dare!” That turned out to be the wrong thing to say. After spraying her with his drink, she planted her ice cream cone right into his forehead. It had to be love. He asked Jolene to marry him on April 6, 1963, Jolene’s birthday. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 21, 1963, just after his Junior year of college. Having grown up in homes where the L word was rarely if ever used, he and Jolene promised they would tell their children that they loved them as often as they could.
Dick’s family was his pride and joy, and he always made time for them, whether it was family vacations, holiday traditions, home projects, or simply being a constant source of support and wisdom. He spent 46 wonderful years with Jolene. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and adventure. Dick was a devoted father to his five children. Dick is survived by Sandi Lee of Goodyear, AZ; Dave (Marianne) Potter of Canton, GA; Shelly (Steve) Wenzbauer of North Salt Lake, UT; Jim (Ann) Potter of Woods Cross, UT; and Mari (Mike) West of Draper, UT, along with 17 cherished grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert, and his dear wife, Jolene, who passed away in March 2009 from breast cancer.
Dick had a distinguished career as an engineer and later Vice President of Mountain Fuel, eventually becoming president of Questar Radio. He was respected by his colleagues for his dedication, innovative thinking, and mentorship. His contributions to his field earned him numerous accolades and the admiration of many colleagues.
Dick retired in 1998. In his retirement, he was busy thinking and pondering many questions with one of those questions leading to a pursuit of aerodynamics and engineering wind turbines, spending many cherished hours alongside his younger brother, Jim, as they worked together on the wind turbine.
A man of deep faith, Dick was a longtime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he found comfort and strength in his faith in Jesus Christ and his loving Heavenly Father. His faith guided him through life's challenges and was a source of inspiration to those around him.
Dick's giant spirit, unwavering moral compass, and generous heart touched the lives of many. He was a friend to all, always ready with a warm smile and a helping hand. He was grateful for lifelong friendships, including his friendships with Mel Brock, Craig Burningham, and Lynn Stewart. His legacy of love, hard work, and dedication to his friends and family will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. He was a pillar of strength, kindness, and integrity throughout his life.
The Potter family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the medical staff at Legacy House of Bountiful for their compassionate care during Dick's final days.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary located at 295 N. Main Street, Bountiful, UT 84010.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 24, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2064 South 800 West, Woods Cross, UT 84087. Prior to the service on Friday, a family viewing will be held at the church from 10:15-10:45 a.m.
Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to the services and will be posted below.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Good360.org.
Noel Richard Potter will be dearly missed, but we celebrate knowing he is with his sweetheart once again and reunited with his brother and loving parents.
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