William Richard (Rick) Hereth Sr's Obituary
Rick Hereth, 81, passed away at his home in Salem, Utah, on May 11, 2026. He was born December 28, 1944, in Salina, Kansas, to Edward William Hereth and Sestia May Kalb. His father, a master sergeant in the army, was declared missing in action in Korea when Rick was five. His mother later married Franklin Burch, and the family moved to Frank’s wheat farm in Assaria, Kansas, where Rick developed lifelong practical skills. At Assaria High School, Rick played the French horn, sang lead roles in musicals, and participated in basketball, baseball, and football—earning the nickname “Crazy Legs” for his many touchdowns.
A faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rick served a mission at age 19 in the Central British Mission, where he sang high tenor in a quartet called the Mission-Aires, including a TV appearance on Opportunity Knocks in 1966.* He performed throughout his life at many funerals and church services. “O Holy Night” was a favorite Christmas selection. Rick loved entertaining on the stage with his brother, Ray, in the barbershop quartet, The Spare Parts.
While at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, he met Susan Marie Johnston of Portland, Oregon. They were married September 5, 1968, and sealed for time and all eternity in the Idaho Falls Temple. They settled in Salina, Kansas, where Rick worked as a policeman before becoming a printer and co-owner of Heritage Printing. He also coached his daughters’ softball teams and printed shirts for them. A skilled problem-solver, Rick could fix or build nearly anything. He remodeled his homes, repaired cars, and worked tirelessly to provide for his family.
Moving to Dallas, Texas for a short time in 1985, then to Utah in 1989, Rick and Susan raised six daughters and two sons and created a home centered on faith, service, and hospitality. They welcomed missionaries, neighbors, and friends into their home and cared for Rick’s mother in her final years. Rick had a gift for connecting with others and was known for his amazing humor and kindness—he considered everyone a friend. He and Susan loved road trips and drove all over the country, visiting family and friends.
Genealogy was a lifelong passion, and later in life he and Susan served an 18-month service mission in the Ohio Cincinnati Mission, helping preserve historical records at the Allen County Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Even as he faced dementia in his later years, his love for his wife, his faith, and his sense of humor endured. He will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Susan; his children: Amy (Bryce Sellers), Holly (James Kelly), Lisa (Scott Argyle), Robin (Jeremy Fossum), Becky (Norman Garcia), Bill (Stephanie), Natalie (John Billings), and Tim (Katherine); twenty-eight grandchildren: Jordan, Lindsay, Erin, Adam, Ryan (Sellers); Jay, Maran, Alyssa, Liam, Zac, Joseph (Kelly); Carson, Dylan (Argyle); Alec,Tristan (Barber); Nathan, Kami, Jason, Brianna (Garcia); Liz, Teddy (Hereth); Maverick, Corban (Billings); and Lydia, Sadie, Claire, Daxton, Adeline (Hereth); and a first great-grandchild, Sophie, born on Rick’s birthday this past December. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Sestia, his brothers, Bob and Ray Sherwood, and his sisters, Dodie Johnson and Deanna O’Brien.
Friends and family are respectfully invited to attend a visitation for Rick Hereth on Saturday, May 23rd from 9:30am to 10:45am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 60 S. Main St, Salem, Utah. Funeral services will immediately follow at 11:00am.
A private internment will take place at a later date at the Salem City Cemetery.
*Mission-Aire Performance British Cities: Auer; Bedford; Birmingham University; Burton-on-Trent; Corby; Dudley College; Erdington; Hereford; Kettering; Leicester; Lincoln; Nottingham University; Peterborough; Ponty-pool; Shrewsbury; Stoke-on-Trent; Walsall; and Rhyl, North Wales. Singing “Ride the Chariot,” the Mission-Aires’ Opportunity Knocks performance aired in Great Britain on August 20, 1966, placing second in that episode.
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