Mearl Richard

Mearl E. Richard 1923 – 2014
Mearl Edwin Richard, age 91, of Benkelman passed away December 20, 2014 in Imperial, NE.
He was born June 4, 1923 in Dundy County, Nebraska to Jasper Finis Richard and Nellie Mariah (Penn) Richard. He grew up on a farm north of Parks and attended country school.
He married Fern Letha Haines on October 1, 1945 in St. Francis, Kansas. They lived their entire married life in Dundy County, where they raised four children--Alan, Sharlene, Eldon and Larry.
Mearl was a member of the Pleasant Valley Friends Church and later was a charter member of the Benkelman Friends Church. He faithfully attended services and taught his children to trust in God.
Mearl entered the Army on May 1, 1945 at Fort Logan, Colorado and was assigned to the 1776 Engineers General Services Company. He went overseas on November 27, 1945 and spent 12 months in Naples, Italy as a port guard and military police officer transporting ammunition. He was awarded the Army of Occupation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and World War II Victory Medal. He returned to the States on November 18, 1946 and received his discharge on December 28, 1946.
For several years he worked for his in-laws, Rolly and Maude Haines. After moving to Benkelman in 1955, he worked at Youngson’s Oil Company before going to work at Miller’s Gas & Electric. In 1964, Mearl and Fern purchased the Millers’ business and opened Richard’s Gas and Electric. They operated the plumbing and electrical business for 21 years before retiring.
After retirement, Mearl traveled to Mexico several times with the Fellowship of Christian Farmers helping to build churches.
Mearl enjoyed going to auctions and garage sales looking for treasures that didn’t cost much. Part of the adventure was buying things that needed work and getting them in working order. Mearl generously shared the treasures with family members especially his daughter, daughters-in-law and granddaughters.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Fern, in 1988; brothers, Vearl and Lawrence; sisters, Ivagean Vernon and Louise Billington.
He is survived by his children, Alan and wife Alyce of Omaha, NE, Sharlene Maris and husband Vern of Penrose, CO, Eldon and wife Leslie of Torrington, WY, and Larry and wife Patty of Glendale, AZ; grandchildren, Allyson Campbell of Papillion, NE, Angela Gulizia and fiancé Tom Loker of Omaha, NE, Sara Muirheid and husband Mike of Elbert, CO, and Stacy Coleman and husband Mike of Wylie, TX; great grandchildren, Katie Nebuda and Jackson Campbell, Timothy, Jason and Joseph Gulizia, Katelynn Muirheid, and Bruce and David Coleman; great great grandson Elliot Nebuda; brother, Leonard and wife Joan of St. Francis, KS; sister, Phyllis Whitmore and husband Don of St. Francis, KS; sister-in-law, Adele Richard of Benkelman; brother-in-law Hubert Haines of Benkelman; sister-in-law Esther Schrader and husband Vern of Benkelman; sister-in-law Mary Ola Haines of Caldwell, Idaho; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
Funeral Services will be held Monday morning, December 29th, 2014, 10:30 A.M. (MT) at the United Methodist Church of Benkelman, with Pastor Sheila Taylor officiating. Interment will follow at the Benkelman Cemetery, Benkelman with full military honors.
Visitation will be held the morning of the service beginning at 8:30 A.M. (MT).
A Memorial has been established to the Benkelman Senior Center.
Online condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com
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