Obituary: Willson, Richard Allen
Age 79
A potluck gathering for family and friends will be Saturday, November 14th at 11:30 in the St. John Community Building.
Richard will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at the St. John Cemetery.
He was born February 21, 1936 between Colfax and Steptoe at the family farm at Green Hollow.
Richard was the youngest of eight children born to William and Mary Kate (Hall) Willson.
He grew up on the farm and attended school in Steptoe through the eighth grade and graduated from Colfax High School in 1955.
Richard learned a strong work ethic early in life and always kept busy helping his family or his neighbors on their farms.
Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country for two years before being honorably discharged and returning to the farm.
He was introduced to Karen Reid of Pullman by a mutual friend and the couple married a short time later on April 19, 1958.
They made their home northwest of St. John on a farm and spent their lifetime working the land together.
Richard loved to always be working outside and Karen drove truck or cooked meals for the crew right alongside.
Richard was a 50+ year member of the Steptoe Grange; he had served on the St. John School Board and the Board of the St. John Grain Growers and was a member of the Cougar Club.
In younger years he liked to bowl or shoot trap and he was a good golfer too.
Richard liked to hunt on occasion and he rarely missed an auction sale.
Karen and Richard spent nearly twenty years traveling to Phoenix in the winter months.
Richard is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Karen, at their St. John home; four sons, Mike of St. John, Gary and his wife Erica also of St. John, Daniel of Edmonds, WA, and Tim and wife Casey of St. John; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his sister, LaVonne Mader of Hermiston, OR; and brother, Norman Willson of Colfax.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald in 1967 and by siblings Mary Jane Woodruff, Bill Willson, Nana Lou Harwood, Beverly Hale and Barbara Weaver.
The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the St. John EMTs or to the Community Club.
On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com BRUNING FUNERAL HOME of COLFAX is caring for the family.