Harold Ray Rigby

and Lida Elnora Wadsworth Rigby in Hooper, Utah.

Soon after Harold's birth, the family moved from Sublett, Idaho, to Grace, Idaho, where he grew

up learning the family farming business alongside his dad and siblings. One of his proudest

moments was winning a tractor skill contest his father had coached him on.

Harold shared many fond memories of his mother and sisters performing music and theatrics in

their home just outside of Grace. He always said his mother was a "lark" and loved to make

even the toughest times fun with family picnics, music, and laughter. Harold loved playing guitar

and singing in local bands. He even performed with his band on TV for the Muscular Dystrophy

Telethon.

Harold graduated from high school and ROTC in 1955 and attended Utah State Agricultural

College, now Utah State University, then Brigham Young University before marrying and being

sealed to Geniel Rindlisbaker in the Logan Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints on November 6th, 1959.

Upon his father's death, Harold continued working the family farm with his brother Max. He and

Geniel lived on the family farm where their first daughter Rhonda was born. Feeling the squeeze

of their tiny home, they moved to their home in Burton's Canyon in the mountains just east of

Grace, where their second daughter Colette and their first son Travis were born.

Soon after Travis' birth, they moved to the family farmhouse in Thatcher, Idaho, where their third

daughter Darcy was born.

Using proceeds from the sale of the Ray Rigby family Thatcher home, they purchased a farm

near Niter, just south of Grace, and named it Mountain View Farms.

While times were never easy farming in Southeastern Idaho, Harold picked up on his mother's

love of life. He relished his time with his family and loved to show off his boat, airplane, and

beloved quarter horses, which he raced in cutter races and horse races across the West.

In 1978, the family moved to Logan, Utah, where Harold's second son Michael was born.

Harold's mother died shortly after that, and at the same time, it became increasingly difficult to

earn a living as a farmer. Instead of giving up, Harold took a brave step to support his family and

became an agricultural advisor for the Libyan government. Harold, a farmer from Idaho, faced

one of the most difficult times of his life, leaving his family behind. He was challenged by some

of the harshest terrain in the world amidst some of the most frightening political circumstances.

He often felt his life was at risk and told many harrowing stories from his experiences in the deserts of Libya.

That risk later paid off for the family, leading to a job as an International Project Manager for Jetway Systems. Harold traveled throughout Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, often with Geniel and their son Mike installing passenger bridges at airports.

Although these experiences dramatically changed his life, he never left behind the lessons his mother taught him about compassion and fun in the most challenging of times. He delighted in bringing a smile to anyone's face. While working on the airport project in Mandalay, he recognized the harshness of the back-breaking work of the women building the airport road by hand. Every morning he would purchase a bag of candy to bring them on the way to work. They would run to his car, grinning full of joy and gratefulness when they saw him. Harold's generosity and ability to show compassion to those less fortunate was core to his nature.

Harold's zeal for adventure even extended to sneaking Mike and Geniel into Kuwait on a DHL

air cargo plane from where they lived in Bahrain immediately after the first Gulf War. When

Harold saw the spectacle of Iraqi's oil wells set ablaze in what the world called Iraq's

"Damnation Alley" he had to share it. Photos of Geniel taken like a tourist in front of burning oil

wells and Mike with bullets wrapped around his shoulders became the stuff of family lore.

During their time overseas, they also maintained a home in Ogden and Mountain Green, Utah.

After retiring from Jetway, Harold and Geniel moved to Texas, where they worked for their

son-in-law's business Quick Strike Resources and later for their son’s business PosterGarden.

Later in life, Harold and Geniel enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends. They always

took back roads, when possible, to find historical sites and out-of-the-way towns.

They were involved in their church and community and loved being a part of their

grandchildren's lives.

Harold loved making people happy and loved to see them excel in what makes them happy. He

had his mother's smile and sparkle of mischief that he loved to carry with him. The stories are as

many as the people he knew.

Harold passed away at home from complications of cancer on May 1, 2021.

He is survived by his wife Geniel, their five children: Rhonda (Rex) Griffin, Colette (Jeff) Proffit,

Travis (Glenn Splieth) Rigby, Darcy (Richard) Slansky, and Michael (Crystal Dewi Kriswandi)

Rigby. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. His only surviving

sibling: Maurine (Richard) Myer, brother-in-law Terry (MarJean) Rindlisbaker, sister-in-laws

Candy and Ginger Rindlisbaker and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous dear

friends, as well as his beloved cat Sheba.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Max (Faye) Rigby, Donna (William)

Cottle (Richard) Penrod, Norma (Gene) Arave, June (Jay) Turner, Blaine Rigby and

brother-in-laws, Russell and Leon Rindlisbaker.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at 2:30 pm at the LDS Chapel,

Spring, Texas. The family will be available to meet with friends on Saturday from 2 pm prior to

the service.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Discovery Creek Building)

3591 Discovery Creek Boulevard

Spring, TX 77386

He was loved and will be missed by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations

may be made in Harold’s name to support the animals he loved so much:

Montgomery County Animal Services - Where he adopted his beloved cat “Sheba.”

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance - Supporting the retired racehorses he loved.

Link to view the Memorial Services on May 8, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. CST

http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/Events/springtexasstake