Dean Richards

Memorial Services for Lyle "Dean" Richards will be conducted from the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Friday, April 27, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. with Pastor Murray Jones. Inurnment will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Quinter, Kansas Cemetery.

Lyle "Dean" Richards, 72 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Dean was born February 17, 1940 at the family homestead near Studley, Kansas, the youngest child of Harry and Hazel (Mace) Richards. He received his primary education in a one-room country school called, "The Square Top". He then attended Sheridan County High School in Hoxie, Kansas where he graduated with the class of 1958.

Dean was involved in 4-H and FFA and was on the wrestling and track team where he received many awards and medals. In FFA he took a steer to the American Royal in Kansas City, Kansas where he received a Reserved Champion ribbon. This attested to the fact that he was an excellent cattleman. Dean was also a 4-H leader for many years after "graduating" out of 4-H , mostly for livestock of all kinds.

After high school, Dean became interested in auctioneering so he attended and graduated in 1961 from the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa. He then worked at several livestock sale barns including Hoxie, Quinter and Hill City Livestock Sales, all in Kansas. He also worked for the Don Legere Auction and Realty Co. for 13 years and the Farmland Auction and Realty Co., both in Hays, Kansas for several years and assisted other auctioneers in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. He also had his own auctioneering firm.

On June 17, 1967 he was united in marriage to Vicki Hough of Quinter and to this union three daughters were born: twin daughters Gail DeAnn and Dale Darlene and Carrie Lynn. They resided on the family farm until 1984 when they moved to Brewster, Kansas where Dean worked for Allen Quenzer who owned and operated a ranch and feedlot. While there he also served as Deacon of the Pleasant Home Church. In 1987 the family moved to Holdrege, Nebraska where he worked for the Lloyd Waller Feedlot for 11 years. He also worked for Bosselman's Pump and Pantry in Elm Creek, Nebraska. While employed there he was recognized for employee of the month and was honored to receive the award for employee of the year. He also was employed at Sun Mart, Fairbanks International, East Side/West Side Plaza and Lee Janssen Motor Co. in Holdrege.

In 2006 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He was able to stay at home until November 2011 when he entered the Gibbon Nursing Home in Gibbon, Nebraska and then in February of 2012 was transferred to Mt. Carmel Nursing Home in Kearney, Nebraska.

Dean's pride and joy were his daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and his pets. He always took time to play with them and attend their sporting events. He was always telling them funny stories of his youth. Dean shared his wisdom with them and taught them the qualities of God by the way he lived. Dean was a man of great integrity and huge compassion and always put others first.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Harold; one sister, Alta Gaede and her husband, Gordon; brother-in-law: John Pierson and sister-in-law, Gayle Hough.

Dean is survived by his wife, Vicki of Holdrege; three daughters: Gail Guyton and her husband, Lonnie of Kempner, Texas, Dale DuBois and her husband, John of Junction City, Kansas, Carrie Urbom and her husband, Deron of Holdrege, adopted daughter, Christie Harvey and her husband Delbert of Quinter, Kansas; one sister, Ila Pierson of Hoxie, Kansas; one brother-in-law, Robert Harrell and his wife, Karen of Wichita, Kansas,; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Richards of Hoxie, Kansas; 11 grandchildren: April Tate and her husband, Michael of Clay Center, Kansas, Ashley Hoard of Junction City, Crystal Hoard of Randolph, Kansas, Joshua DuBois and his wife, Melissa of Clarksville, Tenessee, Jesse DuBois and his wife, Jennifer of Oceanside, California, Joshua Johnston and his fiancé, Amanda Wheeler, Mikell Johnston, Blake Johnston all of Holdrege and Christina Adkinson of Kempner, Texas and Taner Watson of Holdrege, and Jake Urbom of Milford, Nebraska; six great-grandchildren: Reika Tate, Max, Hunter and Avery DuBois, Hope Johnston, Christopher Adkinson,; special adopted sister, Patty Wilson and her husband, Garry of Holdrege; several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

A Memorial Book Signing will be held on Thursday, April 26, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established and can be designated to the family.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.