Elvin Loy (Al) Riggs

Kim's father, Al Riggs, died of post operative pneumonia on January 26, 2010. He lived 85 years, almost all of it a healthy and vigorous man, enjoying elk hunting and long walks into his 80's. His funeral and a wake were held on Saturday, January 30th.

His obituary, as printed in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune newspapers on January 28th, read as follows:

Elvin L. "Al" Riggs 1924 ~ 2010 Elvin L. "Al" Riggs returned to his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, January 26, 2010. Born to Garnett Lewis and Chloe Mae Jaggers Riggs on April 26, 1924 in Weiser, Idaho, Al was the second youngest of 13 children. He grew up in the midst of the Great Depression and learned at an early age the value of hard work and independence. He left home at the age of 14 to work and earn money for him and his family. At age 19 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served honorably in World War II, including participation in the Battle of the Bulge. He was honorably discharged to Fort Douglas, Utah and decided to stay in Salt Lake City to obtain more education. He briefly attended the University of Utah and LDS Business College where he met his sweetheart Cleo Judd of Kanab, Utah. He and Cleo were married on May 9, 1948. They had five children, Randy, Shellie, Robin, Kimberlie, and Valerie. Al worked at several jobs before he settled on his life's profession -used car sales. He worked for others at first and then eventually started his own company in South Salt Lake, Riggs' Bout Nu Kars. Either alone or with an occasional partner Al owned and operated that company for 40 years. He retired in 1991 but came out of retirement in 1992, brought his son Randy in as a partner, and changed the name of the company to Riggs' Car Co. After Randy's untimely death he re-retired and spent the rest of his time with Cleo traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Besides his family Al's great passion was hunting. He was an avid elk and deer hunter in both Idaho and Utah. In recent years he spent most of his hunting time in Central Utah with friends from Salt Lake, Manti, and Mayfield. As recently as 2007, at age 83, Al got lost on a hunting trip but survived alone all night in sub-freezing temperatures. Rescuers were astounded at his outdoors skills and resilience. Al was preceded in death by his beloved Cleo, his son Randy Riggs, his daughter Valerie Abramyan, his parents, and all but one of his 12 siblings. He is survived by his daughter Shellie Riggs, son Robin Riggs (Patricia), and daughter Kimberlie Hess (Cameron), 22 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren, and his brother Wilbur (Elizabeth). Al, Dad, Grandpa, we will miss you but we are comforted, knowing that you are having a wonderful reunion in the loving arms of Cleo and Randy and Val. You will be in our hearts forever! Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful 17th Ward, 2150 S. 650 E. in Bountiful, UT. Friends may call prior to the service from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. A viewing will also be held on Friday night from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 N. Main St. in Bountiful. Online guest book available at www.russonmortuary.com

Funeral service program:


An audio recording of the funeral will be shared with family members as soon as it can be made available for distribution.

The following comments were posted in the Legacy.com online Obituary Guest Book and are included here because the guest book may not be accessible after the end of the February.
(http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookID=1421773183074)

February 06, 2010
Hello my dear cousins,

I am so sorry for your loss, and understand how difficult this time will be, but I hope that the memories and lessons learned from your dad/grandfather will live on and give strength and direction to our lives. I loved his wonderful sense of humor and how well he treated Cleo. Their love for each other radiated from them and extended to each of you and to all around them. May God bless you with peace and comfort in knowing we will see them again.

Love,
Renae (Orullian) Ferrin


February 01, 2010
DEAR RIGGS FAMILY:I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY AL DIED LAST WEEK . I AM SO SORRY I DIDNT SEE THE OBITUARY LAST WEEK ABOUT THE FUNERAL SATURDAY AND MISSED IT. AL WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND AND AUTO SALES ASSOCIATE. GOLFING AND FUN FRIEND TO BE AROUND & WITH . WE HAD SOME VERY GOOD TIMES FOR OVER 30 YEARS. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS HE WAS A GREAT MAN. RICK MCMICHAEL (DRIFTY)
January 31, 2010
Dear Riggs Family

Our Dad was one of Al's first business partners in the car business. We all have fun memories of the two of them and all the hard work they did for their families. We were able to visit with Al at our Dad's funeral in April and laugh about all the fun times. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. May you always remember the wonderful memories of your Dad and may they bring you comfort.

Warm Regards
Cheryl Roberts Done, Brent, Nell Roberts and Family.


January 30, 2010
My Dear cousins, I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your father Al, I thought very much of him, and considered him to be a good friend. I remember buying my second car from him as a youngster especially remembering my first pickup a 1954 Ford that he sold me. I bought several cars from him up untill the last one that I bought from Randy, I will always remember my cousin Cleo, Al and Randy and hope to meet you all again sometime.


January 29, 2010
Dear Robin,

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your loss. I lost my own Dad last March and can empathize with your feelings now. May your happy memories bring your comfort at this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Campbell
Salt Lake City, Utah


January 29, 2010
My dearest Brit.. I love you so much and I know how much you cared for your grandfather and how much you did. You are such a selfless and wonderful person and you know he loved you dearly.My prayers are with you all..Shellie, Amanda, Jess,and Dawn I love you. Sheila


January 28, 2010
We are very saddened ,by the passing of Al ...as one of the youngest "Platts boys "I can remember ,like it was yesterday , being so impressed , by Al letting me match the car keys with the cars on the lot !! 40 yrs ago ! He was one of my dads best freinds ,, and after dads passing ,, being one of moms Fun and Great Freinds ... May God bless you and yours ,with much love ,, Vi and the entire Platts family ...


January 28, 2010
Dear Riggs family

I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Al. What a great guy. We have been acquainted & friends for many years through the car business. Even after his retirement, he would stop in occasionally and visit. It was always nice to see him.
I am glad for him that he is reunited with his beloved Cleo, he talked quite often of how he missed her.

I hope fond memories will help you through this difficult time.

Sincere Sympathy,

Barb Belman
LHM Silent Auction


January 28, 2010
I am Connie Ericksen, Alvin Briggs's daughter. Al was a wonderful and kind man. My Dad moved nine months ago and everytime I would go to my Dad's house to do some cleaning Al would come over and talk to me. He will be missed very much.
January 28, 2010
My thoughts are with his family. Al was an amazing person and he will be missed.
~
Casey Wardell,
Woods cross, Utah


January 28, 2010
Dear Robin and Patricia,
So Sorry to hear of the passing of your father. We are thinking of you and your family, and pray for peace and comfort during this difficult time.
Love,
Aaron and Dawn Hall
~
Dawn Hall,
Draper, Utah


Click on the following URL hyperlink to access an online album of photos and videos from our trip to Utah for the funeral.
http://picasaweb.google.com/CameronHess/Jan2010TripToUtahForAlRiggsFuneral#