Randy Landon

Randy Kay Landon (75)—one of the best of us—passed suddenly from a heart attack on August 2nd with his beloved companion Susan, by his side. Randy was born on May 11, 1951 in Idaho Falls, Idaho— the youngest child of Ira Ellry (Ike) and Terese Richards Landon. His siblings, Forrest and Nan were 8 and 9 when he was born and always took great care of him. The family moved to Missoula, Montana when Randy was 8 years old. He attended Sentinel High School where he played baseball. After high school, he moved into college housing in Rexburg owned by Dean and Carma Ricks to attend Ricks College; this was a fortunate move because he met their daughter Susan who became his best friend and lifelong companion. He was called to serve an LDS mission in the Albuquerque New Mexico mission. Susan waited for him while he served and they were married in the Salt Lake City LDS temple on March 30, 1973, soon after he returned home.

Randy and Susan made their home in Rexburg and built a wonderful life together. A self taught contractor by trade, Randy built homes, apartment buildings, storage units, and laundromats. He was an extremely hard worker and mentored many others in each of these endeavors. He was equally devoted to living a rich life outside of work. He was creative and talented at woodworking, painting, cooking and gardening. An avid skier and snowboarder, he was active his whole life, bike riding with Susan just the day before he passed. Randy had an adventurous spirit—he was brave and there was nothing he couldn’t do if he decided to pursue it. He and Susan loved traveling and traveled the world together, visiting Mexico often, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Russia, New Zealand, Antarctica, Australia, and most recently, Iceland on a two week trip with Susan and their three daughters this June.

Randy was a devoted father and grandfather. His family was always his top priority. There’s not a home where his children lived where he hadn’t visited them and helped them tile, paint, build, or improve. He was there for every move, often lifting more boxes than others combined. He was deeply interested in their lives and success and made sure they always had his support. He and Susan raised their four children in a home completely filled with love, laughter, and deep joy. Lovingly called “Handy Randy” because there wasn’t a thing he couldn’t figure out how to fix, he was a quiet and strong presence, sometimes intimidating people when they first met him and then disarming them with his quiet humor. Equally tough and tender, he always had a soft side. You’d find him in the kitchen doing dishes at every family celebration, making toys for children, collecting Beanie Babies, pencils, frogs and llamas—forever cursed by mentioning he loved frogs, and then getting a million frogs for every gift after.

A lifelong member of the LDS church, Randy served willingly wherever he was called, and he touched countless lives as Bishop, Young Men’s Leader, Stake Executive Secretary, and most recently, Activity Days Leader with Susan. In 2024, Randy and Susan served in the SLC Temple Square Mission. They loved their service and were loving mentors to the sister missionaries there.

He was generous to others and served graciously. He regularly built toys in his woodshop that he would donate to the Crisis Center, made bread for his neighbors, 3D printed small toys and temples for all the missionaries he served with. He often bought bus tickets or food for people he came across in the laundromat who were in need. He was involved in the community, speaking regularly at City Council meetings even though he didn’t love public speaking, advocating for his community.

Everything Randy touched, he made better. His legacy of love, laughter, joy, hard work, honesty, integrity, and dedication will not be forgotten and lives on through his beloved wife Susan (Ricks) Landon; his four children, Melanie Landon-Hays (Ben), Jaxon Landon (Raquel), Hillary Barney (Caleb), and Ashley Landon; his siblings, Forrest Landon and Nanette Preszler; his in-laws who he had great social and work relationships with, and many nieces and nephews who also adored him. He has nine beloved grandchildren: Kinsley (Sean), Oliver, Holden, Keagan, Henry, Lily, June, Adleigh, and Harlow. Randy was preceded in death by Ike and Terese Landon and Carma and Dean Ricks.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026 at 11:00 am at the Rexburg South Stake Center, with a viewing the night before Thursday, August 6 from 5:30-7:00 pm at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg (61 North 1st East) as well as prior to the service from 10:00 am till 10:45 am at the church.