Richard Melvin Lainson
Murietta, CA – Richard Melvin Lainson died after a long illness on January 30, 2026, at 89 years of age in Murrieta, California. He was born on February 27, 1936, in York, Nebraska, to Clarence Ray Lainson (a WWI veteran) and Dorthy Alice (Sherman) Lainson. “Dick” was the youngest of three sons and a direct descendant of the Founding Father, Roger Sherman, “The Signer.”
After growing up in the rural Midwest, Dick attended Emmanuel Missionary College where he met and married Donna Jean Furman in1957. He graduated from EMC with a BS in Medical Technology in 1959.
Work took the young couple to central Michigan where Dick was a medical technologist at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. Desiring further education, he attended Dental School at the University of Illinois graduating in 1965. Two children joined the family: Debra in 1960 and Douglas in 1965. After practicing dentistry in Lansing for two years, he had an opportunity to purchase a practice in Ironwood, Michigan, where the “4-D” family lived for several years. In 1969, wanting to be closer to extended family, Dick purchased a dental practice in St. Joseph, Michigan. After decades of private practice, Richard took the opportunity to work as a dentist for the State of Michigan, a position he maintained until his retirement 1998.
In 1988, after meeting Julia “Judy” O’Neil in square dancing class, he remarried and became stepfather to her three adult children and relocated back the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They had a wonderful life together, traveling extensively after they both retired. Years later, they moved to Arizona and then California to escape the cold winters of the UP, but Negaunee was always “home.”
Dick loved to work with his hands and did a major refurbishment of their home in Negaunee, Michigan, even replacing the foundation joists. He was always tinkering and building creative things throughout his life, even when he was going blind from macular degeneration. He also loved music, having learned the violin as a child, but focused on voice in his later life. He joked often and laughed freely. He also loved to do magic tricks and often put on amateur “magic” shows for folks in his retirement communities. But the most important “hobby” of his was the study of the Bible. He fell in love with Jesus and was passionate about defending God’s reputation and the reputation of other Christian believers. His last words were, “Tell everybody I love them,” then “I can’t wait to see Jesus.”
He is survived by his two children, Debra Dee Lainson Stottlemyer and Douglas Lee Lainson, as well as his three step-children: Thomas Hugh Allen O’Neil, Jr., Judy Marie (O’Neil) Di Georgio and James Raymond O’Neil. He has five grandchildren: Elizabeth Ann Stottlemyer, Thomas Craig Stottlemyer, Nathaniel Richard Lainson, Marisa Nicole Lainson and Cassidy Renée Lainson Williams. He also has two step-grandchildren Juliana Marie (Di Georgio) Ksenzakovic and Antoni Saverio Di Georgio.
Richard was predeceased by both of his parents, his two brothers Robert James Lainson and Donn Arlie Lainson, and his wife, Julia O’Neil Lainson.
A graveside service for Richard and Julia will be held on July 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery with Rev. Larry VanDamme officiating. All are invited to attend.
Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral & Cremation Services is serving the family where condolences may be expressed at fassbenderswansonhansen.com