Richard LeRoy (Dick) Clark, 73, passed away Wednesday, November 13, in St. Anthony, Idaho, where he had been saying farewell to friends and family.

Dick was born July 1, 1940, in St. Anthony, Idaho, son of Vern and Damaris Clark. He attended South Fremont High School, participating in team sports, and editing his senior yearbook. He majored in biology at Utah State University, during which time he married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Taylor, also of St. Anthony.

He began his lifelong career in education in 1965, teaching biology at Madison High School. After achieving a master's degree from the University of Oregon, he returned to Rexburg to teach at Ricks College. He eventually was awarded a doctoral degree based on years of research documenting the single-celled plants in the rivers and water bodies of Island Park, Idaho.

Dr. Clark, as he became known, wanted his students to see, touch and experience the concepts in his lectures. He joined other college faculty to form an intensive outdoor biology program known as "Discovery." This, in turn, led to his work building the college's outdoor education program, where he was instrumental in advocating creation of the college's Badger Creek outdoor education center near Tetonia, Idaho.

In 1994 Dr. Clark retired from Ricks College to dedicate himself to the business of outfitting and guiding through Yellowstone and the Tetons. Owner and operator of the Fox Creek Pack Station, Richard served as a contract instructor for the Yellowstone Association Institute, teaching minimal impact, environmentally friendly backcountry use and enjoyment. He formed the Professional Guides Institute at the University of Montana Western in Dillon. There he merged his love of teaching with his deep reverence for the outdoors, teaching courses in outdoor recreation and ethics until incapacitated by the onset of the cancer that eventually took his life.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Warren, and beloved sister, Dorothy Neiderer of Boise. He is survived by brothers: Ken and Marilyn Clark (of Alpine, Utah) and Vaughn and Kathy Clark of Cortez, Colorado, and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his first wife, Carolyn, and their children: Trent and Rebecca Clark (Soda Springs, ID), Marianne Cook (Rigby, ID), Cory and Jodi Clark (Victor, ID), Nathan Clark (LeGrand, OR), and Jennifer and Jeremy Leavitt (Sugar City, ID); 18 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Saturday, November 23, 2013, at 11:00 am in the Sugar City 7th Ward LDS Chapel (6 N. Teton Ave.,Sugar City). The family will receive friends Friday, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at the Bert Flamm Mortuary (581 E. 1st N., St. Anthony,) and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 10;45 a.m. at the church. Grave-side services will be at 3:30 pm at the Lima Cemetery in Lima, MT (or at the Lima LDS Branch Building in case of inclement weather).

The family suggests memorials to Richard in the form of donations to the Lima, Montana, Boy Scout Troop.