Vicki Richards

A Memorial Service for Vicki A. Richards will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Murray Jones officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Surrounded by her loved ones, Virginia Ann "Vicki" Richards, 76, of Holdrege, was called home to be with her Heavenly Father, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Vicki was born on January 20, 1949, in Denver Colorado to Gwen (Rhoades) Denning and was adopted at 18 months to Harold and Berniece (Eckels) Hough.  She attended Quinter Consolidated Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1967.

On June 17, 1967, she was united in marriage to Lyle "Dean" Richards in Studley, Kansas and to this union three daughters were born: twin daughters, Gail and Dale and Carrie. They also adopted a daughter of their heart, Christie.  They resided on the family farm until 1984, when they moved to Brewster, Kansas. In 1987, the family moved to Holdrege. Throughout the years, Vicki was employed at Gove County Advocate and at 7-Eleven, Pizza Hut, the Phelps County Probation Office, the Phelps County Library and Priced Right Auto. But being a homemaker and a devoted wife and mother were her most important callings. Vicki selflessly cared for Dean when his health began to fail and on April 24, 2012, he preceded her in death.

Vicki's pride and joy were her daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was an avid reader, and loved doing various arts and crafts, and coloring. She also enjoyed playing the piano, singing, playing the accordion, and playing BINGO with her fellow friends and residents at Christian Homes Care Community.

She was a faithful member of the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege for many years, participated in many Bible studies and the Junior Bible Quiz at North Park Assembly of God Church. She was active at the BPO of Elk's Club, where she served as past secretary. Vicki was also an advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness and the Alzheimer's Association.

She will be remembered for her generous, loving heart, her contagious smile, and her love for Jesus. Above all, Vicki left a tremendous legacy of love to her family, friends, and animals.

She was preceded by her husband, Lyle Dean Richards in 2012; her biological mother, Gwen Denning; her parents, Harold and Berniece Hough; three sisters: Leila Harrell in infancy; Gayle Hough; and RoxAnna Burkhart; brother, Robert Harrell, Sr. and wife, Karen; a nephew, Bobby Harrell, Jr.; two brothers-in-law, Harold Richards; and John Pierson; two sisters-in-law: Alta Gaede and her husband, Gordon; and  Dorothy Richards; and two grandsons: Andrew Jordan Michael; and Patrick Harvey.

Vicki leaves to celebrate her life; her three daughters: Gail Michael and her husband, Barry of Kearney, Nebraska; Dale DuBois and her husband, John of Junction City, Kansas; and Carrie Urbom and her husband, Deron of Holdrege, adopted daughter of the heart; Christie Walker and her husband, LeMario of Topeka, Kansas; 13 grandchildren: April Tate and her husband, Michael of Clay Center, Kansas; Ashley Hoard of Manhattan, Kansas; Crystal Smelser and husband, Sam of Miltonvale, Kansas; Joshua DuBois and his wife, Melissa of Fort Lewis, Washington; Jesse DuBois and his wife, Jennifer of Junction City, Kansas; Joshua Johnston of Holdrege; Mikell Johnston and his fiancée, Kaylee of Kearney; Blake Johnston and wife, Riquella of Holdrege; Beka Michael and fiancé, Tyler of Kearney; Christina Adkinson of Grand Island, Nebraska; Taner Nixon and her husband, Justin of Gibbon, Nebraska; Jake Urbom of Palmyra, Wisconsin; and Tanesha Harvey of Topeka, Kansas; great-grandchildren: Reika and Stevie Grace Tate; Hadley Smelser; Max, Hunter and Avery DuBois; Jamison and Julian DuBois; Hope and Noveyleigh Johnston; Swayzee Johnston; Addison Easterday; Christopher Adkinson; Joseph and Gracelyn Nixon; and DaVaughn Harvey; a sister-in-law, Ila Pierson of Hoxie, Kansas; a 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 Friday, April 25, 2025 from 5:00 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.

Memorial's in Vicki's memory are kindly suggested to Alzheimer's Association or the Breast Cancer Association.

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.