This formidable man who held many titles, Dick, Dad, Grampita, loyal friend, respected teacher, passed away in Spokane at the age of 93.

Dick had an amazing life and along with his beloved wife Lenneta they had many great adventures.

After graduating in Geology from Washington State University, Dick worked a gold mine in Idaho for several years. They moved to Panama where he worked for the Panama Canal. This exposure to the Latino culture caused them to look for more of the same. Dick accepted a job in Columbia, South America, as the Industrial Relations Manager for Texas Petroleum, where his diplomatic efforts as a union negotiator in labor and governmental contracts put him in direct contact with the country’s leaders. In 1952 the returned to the U.S. where he took the same position at the Hanford Project in Richland, Washington.

He and Lenneta soon realized that they missed the lifestyle they had grown accustomed to in South America so they returned to Columbia in 1955 where they lived until 1962. They moved back to the U.S., and Dick went back to college and received a Master’s degree in Spanish at Eastern Washington University. He taught there for the next eighteen years. Dick retired from EWU in 1982 and felt that he had completed a full cycle of occupations, so he returned to his love of gold mining.

They located a placer claim on a mountaintop near Elk City, Idaho, and injected an authentic meaning to the summertime activity of their “golden” years. They spent almost every summer of their lives there and were joined by family members who loved to listen to Dick tell tall stories, and sing “Oh Susana” while strumming on his guitar and playing the harmonica. He taught all of us the true meaning of life, as well as how to pick huckleberries the correct way, how to fish the American River, how to pan for gold, and roast marshmallows.

Near the end of their lives Lenneta craved warmth from the long winters of Spokane, so the couple spent a few winters relaxing in Yuma, Arizona.

Dick is survived by his very loving family that includes daughter Marta Reyes (with husband Eric Anderson), son Gary (with wife Sharon) Boyd, along with his granddaughters; Heidi, Julie, Adriana, Cristina, & Carolina, great grandchildren, Steven, Koal, Rebecca, & Dahlia, nephew Bill (wife Deana) Boyd, niece Sharon (husband Jim) Gill, and their children. And a host of other relatives and friends.

Richard M Boyd