Richard "Dick" Hardin Young, 90, of Lincoln, was born to Herbert and Lela (Larkin) Young at Alliance, Nebraska on November 28, 1926, and passed away January 8, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He graduated from Alliance High School in 1944, attending Chadron State College that summer, and entering Nebraska Wesleyan in the fall. Drafted into the Army in January of 1945, Dick spent two and a half years as a musician in the Army band. Returning to Nebraska Wesleyan, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, he graduated with a degree in Music Education in May 1950.

On December 19, 1948, Dick was united in marriage to Evelyn Elaine Cunningham, daughter of Clarence and Pearle Cunningham at the Methodist church in Arnold, Nebraska. To this union five daughters were born.

Dick earned his Masters of Music Education Degree in 1963 from Colorado State College, now the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. He taught vocal and instrumental music in the public schools in Lincoln, Nebraska, Greeley, Ft. Lupton and Longmont, Colorado, and Lexington, Nebraska, where he spent summers as an announcer for KRVN radio.

In 1969 Dick and Evelyn moved to Lincoln and became members of Saint Paul Methodist Church and choir. Dick joined the University of Nebraska as a Media Specialist with a federal program for the deaf. In this capacity he traveled from coast to coast presenting and instructing teachers on multi-media productions. He retired from the Barkley Center in 1989. He also taught photo journalism at the University, sharing his knowledge and experience learned as both a professional and press photographer for the Lincoln Journal and Star, and KFOR/KOLN Television in the early 1950's. Following his retirement, he and Evelyn enjoyed traveling the United States and Ireland to do genealogical research, and were active in LLCGS/Lincoln Lancaster County Genealogical Society, and co-founders of NISIA/Nebraskans of Irish and Scotch-Irish Ancestry.

Dick played bass with symphonies in Omaha, Cheyenne, Casper, and Greeley, playing with the Lincoln Symphony for 25 years. He has played in dance bands from the time he was in High School until his final New Year's Eve dance with the Greg Spevac Orchestra in 2013. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and continued to play with the Shrine band in Lincoln until 2015.

He is survived by his daughters Kendra (Ken) Hartwig of Lincoln, Cynthia (Bruce) Fagot, of York, Janet (Tim) Sorensen, of Elmwood, Tara (Jeff) Gottula, and Paula (Steve) Kovar, both of Lincoln, sixteen grandchildren (Brendelyn Beck, Meghan Frickle, Erin Sandquist, Andrew Hartwig, Jeremy Fago, Rebecca Huls, Benjamin Fago, Rachel Chavanu, Scott Sorensen, Eric Sorensen, Kristin Matulka, Sara Vielhaber, Christian Gates, Kelly Day, Aubrey Young, and Ashley Martin) and thirty-four (+ two expected) great grandchildren. His sister Marjorie (Darrel) Schindler of Wilmington, Delaware, brother Ray Young of Estes Park, Colorado, brother-in-law Wayne (Marilyn) Cunningham of Longmont, Colorado, step-sister Nola Raymond of Chattsworth, California, Aunt, Thelma Armitage, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Lela, wife Evelyn on March 20, 2008, grandson Cory Mohler and great-grandson Jaxon Matulka.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday (1-21-17) Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 'M' Street with Rev. Dr. David Lux officiating.

Memorials to the family for future designation.

No Visitation/Cremation