Richard L Alkire

Obituary of Richard L. Alkire

            Richard Lavern Alkire, the son of Roy Alkire and Teresa (Hartgrave) Alkire was born October 21, 1929 in Haddam, KS and passed away on August 20, 2019 at Republic County Hospital, Belleville, KS at the age of 89 years, 9 months, and 29 days.

            Richard grew up in the Haddam area, graduating from Haddam High School.

Following his schooling, he worked for Boeing Mfg. in San Diego, CA and then served with the U. S. Army from 1954 until 1956. He later also served in the U. S. Army Reserves from 1954 until 1994.

            In 1956, he began work with Nixon Engineering as a telephone engineer in South Dakota and later in the St. Charles, Louisiana area.   He returned to Belleville, KS and was a policeman for 5 years before moving to Eagle Valley, Colorado where he was a telephone engineer for Eagle Valley Telephone.

In January of 1974, he returned to Belleville and worked and traveled for Associated Engineers of Billings, Montana until his retirement in 1994.

            On September 18, 1954, he was united in marriage to Dorothy G. Tallent and to this union was born, Mike, Randy and Brenda.

            Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Dorothy in 2017, and two brothers, Gerald and Edwin Alkire.

            He is survived by two sons, Mike (Colleen) Alkire of Belleville, KS, and Randy Alkire of Augusta, GA; one daughter, Brenda Alkire of Belleville, KS; nine grandchildren; Jeremy (Ericka) Alkire of Lindsborg, KS, Nick (Janeane) Alkire of Hutchinson, KS, Ashley Murphy of Hutchinson, KS, Vanessa (Rene) Villarreal of Sutton , NE, Joshua (Tara) Higby of Sutton, NE, Jonathon (Rochelle) Higby, of Sutton, NE, Jacob  (Sarah) Higby of Hastings, NE, Haley Higby of Geneva, NE and Tyler Alkire of Greeley, CO; seven great grandchildren: Grant Lysell Alkire, Sawyer Lysell Alkire, Jarrett Alkire, Nolan Alkire, Davin Higby, Remi Higby, and Grayson Villarreal; one sister, Arlene (Claire) Bergstrom of Rupert, Idaho; nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

            Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Friday, August 23, 2019 at the Bachelor-Surber Memorial Chapel, with Pastor Kathy Aeillo, officiating.

            Interment will be at the Belleville Cemetery, Belleville, KS with Military Graveside Rites by the Ft. Riley Honor Guard.

            Friends may call from 1 PM until 8 PM on Thursday at the funeral home.

            Memorials are suggested to Meadowlark Hospice.

            Online condolences at www.bachelor-surber.com

            Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS is in charge of the arrangements.

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