Richard John Stocker, age 79, passed away January 11, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah after a short illness with his beloved wife and family at his side. Richard passed away 72 years to the day of the death of his father due to an accident when Richard was 7 years old. Richard was born October 5, 1938 at home in Paris, Idaho to Henry Carl (Ted) Stocker and Jennie Thompson Bateman. He was later joined by a brother Henry Robert (Bob) Stocker. Upon the death of his father his mother married Hugh Rich, who raised the boys as his own and whom he always referred to as Dad. Richard attended schools in Paris graduating from Fielding High School in 1956. He then served a mission for the LDS Church in New Zealand. On August 23, 1963 he married the love of his life Eva Kathleen Stucki in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. At about this time Richard was drafted into the US Army serving in Korea. After his service in the army Richard and Kathy moved to Salt Lake City for a short time and then returned home to run the family dairy farm upon the death of his stepfather. In 1969 they bought a home and farm in Bloomington and settled down to raise their family that grew to include eight children. Richard worked hard his whole life to provide for his family and doing what he loved to do: running an award winning grade A dairy, farming and spending time with his sweetheart Kathy. The milk cows were not sold until he was 70 years old and he was still actively farming at the time of his death. Most importantly he was still spending time with his sweetheart with her right by his side in the truck. During all of this he found time to serve on three bishoprics as a counselor, on the stake high council and 5 years as bishop of the Bloomington Ward.

Richard is survived by his wife, Kathy, of Bloomington: eight children: Ted (Heather)of Bloomington, Don of Sacramento, CA, Wade (Kristen) of Eden, UT, Rebecca (Ryan Osterhout) of West Haven, UT, Richelle of Bloomington, Heather (Casey George) of Eagle Mountain, UT, Stephani (Joshua Dugan)of Fairview, WY, April (Scott Fredrickson) of Nibley, UT: 23 grandchildren and his brother H. Robert (Moneice) of Logan, UT.

He is preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, baby brother and grandparents.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 in the Paris Id Stake Center at 12:00 p.m. Friends may call 1 hour prior to the service as well as a viewing Monday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Schwab-Matthews Mortuary, 702 Clay Street, Montpelier, ID.

The family would like to express their appreciation for the many acts of service and expressions of kindness to them and especially to their mother during this time.