Foster Lloyd Rappleye

Foster Lloyd Rappleye passed peacefully at home with his family around him, October 17th, 2026. He valiantly fought an eighteen-year battle against Parkinson’s, with fortitude and a healthy dose of humor.

He was born in Idaho Falls in December of 1948, but his parents felt it was far too cold and raised him in Orem, Utah. He was soon followed by two brothers and four sisters. They were raised and taught with love, laughter, music, and an abiding testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After Lloyd graduated from Orem High School, he prepared for a mission.

He was called to South Korea and soon discovered he had a gift for languages, learning Korean on his own and retaining it throughout his life. Family trips to Disneyland or National Parks often put Koreans in his path who were shocked but excited to talk to him. He returned home in 1970 to a new house with a strong conviction to not “go the way of all RM’s” and marry immediately. He planned to spend a few years living life and returned in August that year to do just that. But everything changed when he met an enchanting young lady named Kathleen Simons in April of 1971. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity in September. He transferred to BYU and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts.

They then felt it was far too cold in Utah and moved to the exact opposite climate—Arizona. There, they had four children and raised them. Many a Sunday, he would pull out his big Singing Machine and have a jam session with his kids, using 8-track karaoke cassettes. Occasional campouts were a must. Sitting down with each child to set goals and keep track of them was also required. He taught us to go after our dreams, work hard, but play hard as well.

Most every summer he’d get us up at 2 A.M. (to beat the traffic), hustle us out to the car, and turn on Kool 94.5, the oldies station, and hope we’d all fall back asleep. (That rarely happened.) We would make the long trek to Utah to visit extended family. Every other year, we’d attend the Rappleye Family Reunion for fun, great food, and a talent show. Our family would perform skits to songs like, “Bill Grogan’s Goat”, or “Who Put the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder”. And usually, his ukulele was involved. These trips fostered a love of Neil Diamond, Abba, and Elvis because that’s all he played once we were out of range of our local radio stations. Growing up, when we’d get in trouble, we’d hear it from him. But there were many more times when he was there to pick up the pieces, impart wisdom or encouragement, and watch with pride as we stood on our feet again and flew.

After working a potato-chip delivery route, he started Rappleye and Associates, designing and drafting beautiful homes by hand, and later by computer. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to other ventures, including Desert Book, which later became Seagull Book and Tape, and a Kara Chocolate store. Through it all, he continued pursuing his love of home design. Once those pursuits were fulfilled, he became his own boss at last and was highly sought after for his impeccable skill and work ethic. Every morning he would wake early to get work done before the calls came in. If one of us couldn’t sleep and just needed him, we would find our way up the stairs and down the hall to his drafting table to talk. His son Drew and grandson Derek Chapman later joined him in the business.

Inevitably, we entered our “teenage senility” years as he put it. He weathered our storms, probably missing the little sons and daughters that believed he could do anything, but never letting on that he loved this new us any less now than he did then. He taught us Gospel truths but encouraged us to grow our testimony and learn for ourselves. Loving God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, was the most important thing he would ever teach us. And he led by example, especially through his 18 devoted years of Temple work with Kathy by his side.

In 2018, Lloyd was prompted by the Spirit that he and Kathy needed to serve a mission together. They requested an assignment at the temple in South Korea. When their call arrived, The Lord clearly had other plans in mind. They were called as member and leader support missionaries in the West Virginia Charleston Mission. Along the way, they formed cherished friendships with Sandy Pinkard (Coca-Cola Cowboy), and many others. They worked with young adults at the Morgantown institute, and helped God’s sons and daughters draw closer to Him. Six months into their service, the COVID-19 pandemic brought them home. They expected to return shortly, but 15 months passed before they were called back. They were assigned to serve in eastern Kentucky, where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They were deeply loved and appreciated by those whose lives they touched.

Lloyd spent the rest of his years afterwards, loving and being loved by his beautiful eternal companion Kathy, his children and their spouses, his grand-children, and his great grand-children. He was the best at jigging babies to sleep, sneaking grand-children chocolate raisins, and making them and adults alike laugh with his dry and occasionally goofy humor. Before he passed, Lloyd and Kathy celebrated their 55th anniversary.

He was caring. He was giving. He was loving.

He was loved.

Mosiah 16: 7-8

And if Christ had not risen from the dead or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.

But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

Preceded in death by his father Foster Drew Rappleye, his mother Avonell Rappleye, his older sister Carrie Christine Rappleye, and his stillborn son David Clyde Rappleye.

Survived by his beloved wife Kathleen Rappleye, his children Clarissa and Aaron Chapman, Drew and Kristy (Kosta) Rappleye, Benjamin and Kellie (Andes) Rappleye, Laura and Justin Rhodes, thirteen grand-children, and four great grand-children. His siblings, John and Denise Rappleye, Charles and Cathy Rappleye, Betty Ann and Steve Curtis, Patricia and Michael Terry, Kathy Sue and Allen Barrett, and Jeanie and Rick Davis.