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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LW/+B0aonG0KVuP1m4JNekRenaoYf+f2/bkuZrE3vuLXYqJC1PSl8B70uGovQrKA
 vuuWjgVwPN4MAUkhcBrdNw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-018408.txt : 20081023
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-018408.hdr.sgml : 20081023
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081023092844
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-018408
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081021
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081023
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081023

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Knechtel Brad R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001374822

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-12906
		FILM NUMBER:		081136363

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		630-208-2371

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40W267 KESLINGER ROAD
		CITY:			LAFOX
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60147

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS LTD/DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000355948
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-ELECTRONIC PARTS & EQUIPMENT, NEC [5065]
		IRS NUMBER:				362096643
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0602

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40W267 KESLINGER RD
		CITY:			LAFOX
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60147
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7082082200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40W267 KESLINGER ROAD
		CITY:			LAFOX
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60147
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-10-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000355948</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS LTD/DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RELL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001374822</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Knechtel Brad R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>40W267 KESLINGER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAFOX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60147</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP of Supply Chain Management</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.03</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-10-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-10-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock $.05 pv ps</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option vests 20% per year, beginning 10/21/2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option grant price of $5.03 which is the close price on the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa Currie, attorney-in-fact for Brad Knechtel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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