- Date Of Birth: July 20, 1939
- Date Of Death: September 22, 2019
- State: Idaho
Dr. Richard Rulon Smith departed our world peacefully in his sleep with his family by his side on in late September 2019 at the age of 80 years old. Those who knew Richard well know that he must have been excited about finally getting started on his next Big Adventure, this time with his beloved Lord and Savior riding by his side. During his final 6 months Richard resided at the Touchmark Owyhee Memory Care Center in Meridian ID, where he received much attentive loving care from Touchmark and Keystone Hospice staff. Richard will forever be remembered as a wonderful husband, loving father, generous provider, exceptional dentist, skillful horseman, avid outdoorsman, and inviting friend to all those who knew him.
Richard was born in July 1939 in Pasadena California to Dr. Rulon and Marion Smith. He grew up in Santa Monica and Malibu California, graduating from Santa Monica High School in 1957. Even while growing up in southern California the mountains were in his heart from an early age. While in high school Richard spent the summer on a working cattle ranch in Prescott, AZ at the invitation of one of his teachers. After high school Richard attended Santa Monica Community College for 2 years where his father was a professor. Richard earned his DDS doctorate degree with high marks from the University of Southern California Dental School, where he had the honor of being one of the few who were admitted without earning a bachelor’s degree beforehand.
In 1959 Richard met his future wife Jennie Howard on a blind date in Santa Monica. They married on April 14, 1962 and subsequently shared 57 adventure filled years together. In 1964 Richard graduated with honors from the USC School of Dentistry, after which he and Jennie moved to the farming community of Oxnard California where Richard practiced dentistry for 5 years. Richard and Jennie brought two children into the world while there; Roger Rulon in November of 1964 and Laurel Lee in February of 1967.
Then Richard experienced an unexpected turning point in his life. During an elk hunt to Salmon Idaho in 1968 he sought medical care for a bad bout of the flu at the local hospital, where he made the fortuitous acquaintance of Dr. Walter Blackadar. Sharing similar appetites for outdoor adventure, they quickly became friends and Walt invited Richard to hunt with him the next year. Their burgeoning friendship inspired Walt to suggest adding a suite onto his medical building where Richard could practice dentistry. The offer was readily accepted, Richard was excited to make the move, and he quickly got Jennie onboard with the idea as well – and the rest was history. What came to be known as The Salmon Dental Center was established in 1969. He practiced in that suite for 38 years, until his retirement in 2007.
In his earlier years in the Salmon area Richard’s other hunting passions included hunting bear and lion with his well-known Plott hounds, as well as the time spent with friends on these adventures. He maintained a large kennel in which he raised many generations of Plott hound pups, along with the German Shorthair pups he so much enjoyed hunting upland game birds with. Of special fondness for Richard was looking forward to his yearly elk hunt with his son Roger for over 25 years, and deer hunting with his daughter Laurel. They provided the family all those years with delicious elk meat and venison.
Always passionate about the wild lands he loved to roam, Richard was involved in many organizations and committees over the years.
Exploring the Idaho mountains and backcountry on horseback was one of Richard’s favorite pastimes. He thoroughly enjoyed his many horses and mules and was well-known for his proficiency at handling and packing them, as well as his intuitive knack for finding his way through Idaho’s remote wilderness while taking trips through various mountain ranges with his family and friends. One of Richard’s proudest accomplishments was being a founding member of the Salmon River Back Country Horsemen 40 years ago. The Back Country Horsemen organization originally operated in Montana with 3 chapters and the Salmon Chapter was the 4th chapter formed, and the first in Idaho. Later the organization grew further, and the Back Country Horsemen of Idaho and Back Country Horsemen of America were subsequently formed. During his decades living and riding in Lemhi County Richard enjoyed clearing literally hundreds of miles of trail and led many SRBCH chapter rides.
When not out and about exploring the countryside Richard enjoyed irrigating his small ranch pastures for 48 years and feeding the hay to his horses and mules. He also was proficient with his mandolins and enjoyed playing bluegrass music with his friends.
Richard is survived by his best friend and wife of 57 years, Jennie of Salmon, son Roger Smith (Anita) and daughter Laurel Smith of Boise, sister Mariahn Smith (Baker Stocking) of Bainbridge Island, WA, brother Robert E. Smith (Andy Garcia) of Wilton, CA, grandchildren Jacob Smith (April) of Kuna, Mariah and Sophia Smith of Boise, and great-grandchildren Caige and Valon Smith of Kuna, ID.
