Feb. 11, 1934 - Jul. 9, 2026
Date of Service: Jul. 14, 2026
Richard Walker Goodfellow, 92, of Burley, Idaho, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2026 in the comfort of his home, surrounded by family.
Richard was born February 11, 1934, in Burley, Idaho to Ray and Winona Goodfellow. He was the fourth child and the first son in his family of six children. As a young boy, Richard learned the value of hard work, self-reliance, and the value of a hard-earned dollar. Whether working in his parents’ half acre garden, caring for chickens, helping relatives with crops, or spending summers on his grandparents’ farm in Burley, Richard discovered early that he loved the land and the life of a farmer.
He was raised and educated in Bountiful, Utah, but his heart was always drawn back to the Idaho farm where, as a boy he spent summers with his grandparents, John and Etta Vera Walker. He learned to drive trucks in the fields, work with horses, and take on the responsibilities of farm life. Those early experiences shaped the steady, capable man he became and deepened his lifelong connection to the outdoors.
In the summer of 1951, Richard met Kathryn Frost at church. Though he was shy, he was immediately taken with the “good-looking gal” who would soon steal his heart. Richard and Kathryn were married June 3, 1953, in the Idaho Falls Temple. Together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work. They began their married life humbly, living near his grandparents and working the land, eventually buying and raising their own herd of cattle and purchasing their own farmland.
Richard was a lifelong farmer and an ol’ cowboy at heart. He raised cattle and farmed hay, grain, and sugar beets; and for a short time, potatoes. He loved horses from the time he was young and bought his first horse, Dusty, for $50. He loved frequent horse trail rides with his kids and friends. And enjoyed his annual weeklong hunting horse pack trips with his buddies. He went mainly for the camaraderie and being in the mountains. And sometimes deer or elk meat was actually brought home.
Before their Nauvoo mission, in the 1990’s Richard and Kathryn went on several wagon trains, celebrating the opening of the west. They went on 5 wagon train rides for 5 years in a row. Then they participated in the Sesquicentennial Mormon Trail Reenactment of 1847: It was probably the epic, once-in-a-lifetime adventure of their lives, a 3-month- long wagon train from Winters Quarters, Nebraska to Salt Lake City in 1997. Their wagon was on national television news when it tumbled down the mountainside just outside of Salt Lake. You can still today go on YouTube, search, “WAGON TRAIN ACCIDENT CAUGHT ON TAPE” with 10k views. Richard truly enjoyed the wagon train life and was in his element there; horses, wagons, sitting around the campfire with new and old friends, singing songs and telling stories. He loved being part of the team building the wagon, the wagon wheels, and handcarts just like they did in the pioneer days.
Dad was involved in many cowboy ventures over the years: cutter horse racing, team roping, formation riding with the Posse, the Pony Express Race in Oakley, serving on the Burley Fair for several years, and he had us kids involved in 4H where we showed horses and steers. But his best cowboying was when he and three partners bought an 800 acre ranch south of Oakley on Goose Creek that they aptly named the 4G. It was a pretty ranch with some beautiful creek bottom meadows, a cow/calf operation with forest and BLM grazing rights, which made for some fun cattle drives and some awesome Fall roundups. The ranch probably didn’t make any money, but everyone had fun.
Richard was known for his remarkable ability to “jimmy rig” just about anything. If something broke—or even if it didn’t—he could usually find a way to make it work with a little creativity and determination. His family will long remember his clever inventions: his old tricycle fixed just the way he wanted, and the many ways he used farm equipment to solve problems in his own unique style.
He worked hard, but he also loved to play. Richard and Kathryn took many memorable trips with family and friends, including visits to Yellowstone, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Marine Land, Alaska, Canada and many other places across the country. He enjoyed boating, waterskiing, motorcycles, and family gatherings. The farm was a place of work, but also a place of adventure and lasting memories for his children and grandchildren.
Richard was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his faith was a steady influence throughout his life. Richard and Kathryn served a mission in Nauvoo in 2001, where they made many dear friends. Richard worked as a blacksmith, with carriages, in the brickyard, and at the Visitors Center. A highlight for him was driving a team of horses providing wagon rides to visitors. They especially cherished being in Nauvoo during the construction of the Nauvoo Temple and sharing that special time with visiting family and friends.
Though Richard was not a man of many words, his love was shown through his actions. His steady presence, work ethic, humor, and quiet devotion left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
Richard was blessed recently with loving caregivers, and his family expresses deep gratitude to all who cared for him. They are especially grateful to Shane, who spent the last year with Richard in his home, caring for him with great devotion.
Richard was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathryn Frost Goodfellow, and his daughter, Vickie Stumpe. He was also the final surviving sibling of both his own and Kathryn’s families.
His legacy lives on through his children: Reg Stumpe of Texas; Richard (Roseanna) Goodfellow of California; Guy (LaDonn) Goodfellow of Burley; Shelly (Jeff) Struchen of Idaho Falls; Gwen (Randy) Cracroft of Washington; and Shane Goodfellow of Burley. He also leaves behind a generation of 24 beautiful grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at the Pella Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints, 160 West 400 South in Burley. Burial will follow in the Pella Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Tuesday morning at the church prior to the funeral. Services are under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home in Rupert.
Richard’s legacy lives on in the fields he worked, the family he loved, the stories he told, the things he fixed, and the generations who learned from his example. Happy trails, Richard. You are loved, and you will be deeply missed.
