Joseph Loren Richards

Joseph Loren Richards, 92, of Sundance, Wyoming, died on November 27, 2022 at St. Vincent's Healthcare in Billings, Montana. 

Joe was born on December 10, 1930, to Ernest "Ernie" and Marie (Roth) Richards in Houston County, Minnesota. He married Nancy Steele on April 23, 1948, in New Albin, Iowa. They were married for 71 years, Nancy passed away on January 18, 2020, in Sundance. They were blessed with three children, Alan, Loren and Tracy. 

Joe and Nancy made their home in New Albin and Decorah, Iowa and Sundance. Joe was employed by Emil Weymiller in New Albin; Standard Battery, Decorah Legion, Weis Buick and Sieg's in Decorah; Garmin Machinery, Sundance; Lewis and Nichols, Lovell; and operated Joe's Repair, selling Arctic Cat snowmobiles and Silverline boats in Sundance.

After retirement, Joe had to stay busy and started Joe's Oak, building custom oak furniture with Nancy. Once age made that too difficult, he continued his love of building by helping Nancy put puzzles together and building frames for them.

Many of their pieces have made it to many different states, either through sales, benefits or giveaways, and he made hundreds of step stools for children that he gave away.

Joe and Nancy loved to hunt, which is how they discovered Sundance, vowing one day that it would become "home". They also loved to fish, making 14 trips to Alaska where they spent much of their time fishing in Ketchikan.

Joe is survived by his children: son, Alan (Linda) Richards of Sundance and their children, Travis of Laramie, Wyoming and Amber of Aurora, Colorado; son, Loren (Chris) Richards of Laramie and their children, Dustin of Laramie and Brittany (Alex) Board of Broomfield, Colorado; and daughter, Tracy (Leland) Treichel of Roscoe, South Dakota and their children Jeremy "Jake" (Shoshana) Treichel, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired, of Mobile, Alabama and Christel (Brian) Kellar of Chandler, Arizona; eight great-grandchildren, Drake Richards, Tairyn Piasecki and Kayhle Richards, Charles "Charlie" and Dawsyn Board, and Micayla, Leo and Lincoln Kellar; sister, Ruby Schoh, of Waukon, Iowa; and sister-in-law Edwina Steele of New Albin, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; his parents; brothers, Robert, Bernet, James; sister, Harriet Peske; and brother-in-law, Dave Steele. 

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at the United Methodist Church in Sundance at 1 p.m. with Pastor Daniel Holt officiating, inurnment will take place at Green Mountain Cemetery. 

Memorials will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance.

Online condolences may be written at http://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.