James Halvor Richards
December 8, 1927 - January 13, 2014
Obituary
Husband, Father…..Friend
James Halvor Richards, age 86, returned to his eternal home on July 13, 2014. He was born on December 8, 1927 in Walkerville, Montana to Martyn and Pearl (Kelseth) Richards. He was the second born of a family consisting of seven sons and one daughter. In 1943 he moved with his family to Corvallis, Montana. Growing up he worked on the family farm. He graduated in 1946 from Corvallis High School. He married the love of his life, Lois Swanson, in 1951. Shortly after his marriage he was called to serve in the Korean Conflict. He served honorably from 1951 to 1953. In
1955 he and Lois and their infant daughter moved to Seattle to begin his lifelong career in the construction industry. He was an excellent carpenter and spent many years as a superintendent of commercial construction. He ended his career in 1993 having worked the last several years as the Safety Coordinator for Baugh Construction.
James had a wonderful love of life and people and lived every moment caring for his family and enjoying the many hobbies and activities he pursued. He followed in the Richards family streak of creativity and was a wonderful woodworker. He loved to fashion beautiful wooden objects of his own creation and give them as gifts to his lucky family and friends. He also wrote heart-touching poetry and short stories, most of which were about his love for his family and his great gratitude to God for His many blessings. These were also often framed and gifted to his family. Digital photography was another of his many hobbies. He created beautiful videos of cherished family photos which he set to music. These will be wonderful memories for his family for years to come. He and Lois loved to travel around the United States as well as abroad. Among their travels were trips to Portugal, Spain, Italy, Tahiti and Hawaii. Photos that Jim took made great subjects for his videos. He loved the outdoors and his family has precious memories of family camping trips to the beach and mountains. He and Lois were members of Cascade Treasure Club and they spent countless weekends with their club friends in treasure hunting activities.
Jim was the most courageous man that his children have ever known. He was never known to shy away from difficult situations or decisions. He would step up and
do what had to be done, whether that required a gentle hand or a firm word. He lived his life as an example to those around him. He raised his children to seek the same qualities that he had shown all of his life, and for that they are forever grateful to him. He was a wonderful friend and if you were counted among his many friends you were a very
lucky person indeed. Always helpful, always comforting and always very concerned
that all was right in your world!
Called to the Lord before him were his parents, three brothers (Martyn, William and Clifford), his sister Jennie Huls Read and two precious infant sons, James and Larry. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lois, and his four children…..Shari (Roger) Running, Sandy Tordillos, Steven, and Susan Brock. His survivors also include his three brothers, Phillip, Thomas and Stephen all of Montana. He had six grandchildren; Jennifer (Steven) Thompson, Justin Running, Anthony and Gabrielle Tordillos, and Marcus and Becca Richards. He also had two great-grandchildren, James and Mason Thompson.
As a husband, father and friend, Jim will be missed by all those who knew him but we are comforted to know that he has passed on to the reward he much deserves.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of your choice.
Jim was the most loving and affectionate man I knew. When my grandma (Barbara Bennett) was having health issues he was an immense help. She always felt loved and safe with him. My fondest memory of Jim is when we had several family members come from out of town and he met them at the hotel parking lot. He lovingly hugged every person only to find out that two strangers were waiting to get to their car. They didn’t seem to mind and it’s so lovely that Jim was comfortable hugging total strangers to welcome them. What a sweet and wonderful man!
So sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. He was such a dear friend. The family will miss him dreadfully.
Jim was a very special cousin and one of my Mother’s most special people. Jim was the best listener and so warm and caring. I had the privilege of spending three hours at Jen’s last summer with Jim and Lois. He held my hand the whole time he talked to me. I am so blessed to have so many recent memories with him. He will be missed by all of us for sure. Blessings for all of the family.
As the youngest among my Salusso siblings, I did not have opportunity to get to know Jim until we all met to attend Barbara Bennett’s memorial. He did indeed great us all with hugs and spent much quality time with us at the service and out to a long and memorable dinner with oh 25 relatives and Jim and Lois as our hearthstone. He so reminds me of Uncle Mart and Aunt Pearl, some of each actually! We are indeed fortunate God shared Jim with all of us at various times across his 8 decades of fruitful living. May God keep him in our hearts so we too can share those hugs with others.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your father ,Steve. May you only remember the good times with your father and the important values he taught your family. God Bless.
Dad – I miss you so much already! I am so glad I had the opportunity to spend so much more time with you your last week. I remember a time, about 2 years ago when you were downstairs at your computer working on yet another project. You started one of your many slide shows, this one set to Frank Sinatra, a love we shared. You motioned for me to join you and I sat on your lap like I was a little girl again, listening to Frank croon and looking at the most beautiful flowers from your garden that you had captured thru your camera lens. We sat, looked, listened and smiled. I remember thinking that this is a moment I will remember forever and hold deep in my heart. I treasure that moment along with so many others. I will miss your smile, your voice, your hugs, your loving ways, your poems and stories, your many creative projects, your beautiful garden, camping and our Thursday visits. Thank you so much for raising me to be the strong, tough, compassionate and loving person I am today. Thank you for the creativity you displayed so eloquently and allowed me to share. I am feeling so very inspired to continue that creativity in poetry, stories and photography. I pray I made you proud and continue to do so as you watch over me. I know you will be waiting for me and all of your loved ones still here on earth and that the time, to you, will be but an instance. Today, that “single drop of water” is many and they are all tears. I LOVE YOU!! Until we meet again…
Your “Little Angel” Susan
Lois and family,
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. We pray for God’s peace that passes understanding, and extra portions of His amazing grace.
When I think of Jim, the first word that comes to my mind is kindness. Jim treated me as if I were one of his nephews, and I am treasuring the wonderful conversations we had over the years, especially last year, when Jen went home.
I am imagining the wonderful reunion, taking place in The Kingdom this week.
God bless you all,
Chris & Ginny Hoffman and family
Sue and entire Richards family, I am very sorry for your loss, you have been, and will continue to be in my prayers for peace, comfort and faith that one day, you will all meet again. Love to you Sue and family.
Aunt Lois & family,
It is hard to believe that you and Uncle Jim were here just a short year ago to say goodbye to Jen! She enjoyed that time so very much! It strikes me that their birthdays were a few days apart on different years and their home-going is a few days apart just one year’s difference. We will always be great-full to you both for your wonderful hospitality when we had to bring Aaron to the Children’s Hospital for surgery when he was just a baby. May the Lord wrap all of you in His loving arms and give you His Peace.
My heart aches to know our precious cousin’s services will be tomorrow and I will not be there to honor him and to share wonderful stories with his famly and friends. Our Mother and Aunt Barbara adored him. Even time I went to visit Aunt Barbara, Jim and Lois would come and join in our family gatherings. Suzzane told of the fond memory of out of town relatives that Jim met in a parking lot to guide us into Seattle and accidentally hugged two strangers that happened to be parked next to our vehicle. My brother Steve and his family and I were those relatives. We have told that joyful story many times. Jim is in our heart forever!