Son of Richard Gay Amidon and Genevieve M. "Jennie" Grassmuck. He was listed in records as Richard G. Amidon or Richard Amidon, Jr. so his middle name may have been Gay as well but it could not be verified.

In the 1920 census the Amidon family was recorded in the North Park precinct of Seattle, Washington. Their home was on Phinney Avenue. Richard, Sr. was a mining engineer at a gold mine. Richard, Jr., age 3, had a little sister, Hope, who was one and a half years old.

Sadly, the next census reveals that Hope had passed away. Her full name was Helen Hope Amidon and she died on March 20, 1923. Her home address was 502 N 110th Street, Seattle. In 1930 the Amidons still resided on 110th Street. Richard, Jr, 14, had an eight-month-old brother, James. Richard, Sr. was still at the gold mine.

The family, two parents and two sons, had an address of 402 N 110th Street, Seattle in 1940. Richard G. Amidon, Jr., 24, earned a paycheck at the time as an aircraft inspector. He had completed four years of college.

Interestingly, on Richard, Sr.'s WWII draft card of 1942 he stated his mailing address after May 25, 1942 would be at Valdez, Alaska. He was employed by the Sun Ray Mining company and was headed to work at the Granite Mine, Port Wells, Alaska.

[There are two infant Amidon children buried with Richard Amidon, Sr. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Baker City, Oregaon. They are Gordon Loche Amidon (d. 1917) and Mary Louise Amidon (d. 1924). It is presumed they are the children of Richard and Genevieve. Gordon's middle name was probably a tribute to his paternal grandmother who was a Loche or Locke. It's curious that a memorial for Helen Hope Amidon was not listed at the same cemetery. Actually their whole cemetery plot reportedly lacks any gravestone or marker. Genevieve Amidon could be buried there as well.]