Jean Richard
Jean Ann Richard was born on May 23rd, 1931, in Gunnison, Colorado, and adopted at the age of four months by Wm. Douglas and Blanche (Morehouse) McDowell. As a young girl she grew up on the family farm in Kansas between Bird City and Benkelman, NE. She attended country grade school and graduated from Bird City High School in 1949. She was also the Football Homecoming Queen that year.
Jean married Leo John Richard at the United Methodist Church in Benkelman, NE. on April 29th, 1951. The couple briefly lived in Benkelman before settling on a farm southwest of town in Cheyenne County, KS. Jean and Leo remained on the farm for many years, raising six children, before moving to St. Francis because of health reasons.
As a young lady, Jean was employed, as a nurse’s aide, at the Morehouse Hospital and the Sarah Ann Hester Home in Benkelman. She was a member of the Rebekahs, the South Fork Circle and a 4-H cooking leader for many years. Jean enjoyed sewing, cooking and baking. She spent many years providing meals in the field for her family. She loved to garden and raise flowers. Jean’s greatest love, however, was her grandchildren.
Jean passed away Monday, October 26th, 2015, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center in St. Francis, KS. She was 84 years of age.
Survivors Include:
Son: Brent Richard of Tucson, AZ
Son: Brad Richard of St. Francis, KS
Daughter: Pam Moses and Husband, Boyce, of Hutchinson, KS
Son: Mark Richard and wife, Geneva, of Macon, MO.
Daughter: Pat Baalman and Husband, Dan, of Colby, KS
Son: Chris Richard and wife, Lisa, of Aurora, CO.
10 Grandchildren: Casey, Shane, Marie, Melissa, Nick, David, Rachel,
Michael, Chad, and Cole.
5 Great-Grandchildren
Sisters: Jackie Lutz of Benkelman, NE
Mary Jo Haack and Husband, Melvin, of Loveland, CO.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Leo, and a half –sister, Winona Neilan.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday morning, October 29th, 2015, 10:30 A.M. (MT) at the Benkelman Community Building, Benkelman, Nebraska, with Pastor Sheila Taylor officiating. Interment will follow at the Benkelman Cemetery, Benkelman, NE.
Private family visitation only.
A memorial has been established in Jean’s memory
Online condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com
BENKELMAN MEMORIAL CHAPEL ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS