George Duane Ricks

George Duane Ricks

March 14, 1924 ~ June 13, 2014

George Duane Ricks passed away on June 13, 2014, at the age of 90.

He was born on March 14, 1924, in Logan, Utah, to Annie Dickinson and Wallace Ricks. He grew up on a farm in Benson, Utah, the eighth of ten children. He graduated from North Cache High School in 1941.

Despite having a farm deferment, he enlisted in the Navy in 1943. He served as a signalman on the Tappahannock, an oil refueling tanker in the Pacific Fleet.

After the war, he married Nadine Checketts in Logan. They lived for a few years in Providence, then moved Richland, Washington, where dad worked on the Hanford Nuclear Reactor. Dad and mom eventually moved to Roy where his girls were raised. In 1969, they moved to Las Vegas, living there for 35 years, until they returned to Ogden to be near family.

George was a master electrician and a loyal 65-year member of the IBEW. He served as foreman on many large structures in Northern Utah and Southern Nevada. He was proud of helping build the Library at USU, the Science building at WSU, and the Thomas and Mack center at UNLV. These buildings have served a great purpose in many lives just as our dad has served a great purpose in our lives. He taught his girls the value of education, and to have a strong work ethic and positive outlook on life.

George enjoyed building and remodeling homes for our family. He also created jewelry, cutting stones and casting rings that were proudly worn by Nadine. He and mom were avid bridge players and had a large circle of bridge buddies.

For the last two years, dad has lived at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home. The family would like to thank the kind and skilled folks who cared for our dad. They were caregivers and friends to us all.

George is survived by daughters Linda (Greg) Schmidt, Paula Carr, and Connie (Will) Jolley, and his sister Betty (Jay) Goodsell. He has eight grandchildren (Colleen Smith, Mike Schmidt, Annie Carr, Doriann Christensen, Ryan Jolley, Bryce Jolley, Marion Tidwell, and Alyce Seeley) and 21 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Nadine, and eight siblings: Margaret, Blanche, Harold, Leo, Desmond, Jessie, Geneva, and LaVern.

Graveside services will be held at Providence Cemetery on Wednesday, June 18th at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a veterans or hospice organization in George's name.

Arrangements entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.