Dale S. Richards

Dale S. Richards

Washington

Dale S. Richards, age 94, of Washington, Iowa, died Monday, April 10, 2023, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington.

Celebration of life services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 14, 2023, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home with Chaplain Andrew Zuehlke officiating. Calling hours will begin 9:00 a.m. Friday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for Hospice Compassus or Hawkeye Cans for Cancer. Online condolences may be sent for Dale’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com

Dale was a lifelong outdoorsman and adventurer. He was born on a farm south of Ainsworth, Iowa, on July 26, 1928, to William and Nellie (Smith) Richards. As a boy he created his own adventures which included hunting and fishing near his home and later learning to fly his own plane. At 18, he joined his father in working the family farm in Washington county where he became a careful steward of the land, a top area hog producer and an award-winning feed salesman.

On May 26, 1950, he married the love of his life, Louise Wilcox, also of Washington, and they spent the next 71 years working side by side on the farm and raising their three daughters. Together they enjoyed feed company award trips to vacation spots near and far, making new friends wherever they went. Family summer vacations were often spent camping, fishing and water skiing with their daughters. Later years found them teaching their grandchildren and great grandchildren to fish and to play cards. For many years, every fall, Dale and Louise would load up the pickup and travel to Wyoming to hunt deer and elk. During his lifetime Dale was proud to have tracked and shot 62 deer and seven elk.

When Dale retired from farming, they bought a house in Pinedale, Wyoming, and he began a new career as an outfitter and hunting guide. He rode his horse miles over the mountains for another 10 years before retiring a second time back to the farm in Iowa. A notable gunsmith for many years, in his second retirement Dale would also learn to hand forge hunting knives, customizing them for the individual user.

Dale is survived by his daughters, Diane Havens and husband Randy of Montrose, Colorado; Linda Bennett of Washington, Iowa; Kathryn Jones and husband Steve of Iowa City, Iowa; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Louise in 2021; granddaughter, Lisa Jones; great-grandson, Noah Novotny; son-in-law, Ron Bennett; brother, Robert Richards; sister, Mary Wagamon and her husband William; and sister-in-law, Helen Reschly and husband Jim.