James Rickard
March 20, 1924 ~ June 13, 2021
The service will be livestreamed below starting at 9:45 AM.
James Rickard, 97, died June 13, 2021 at Bethany on University, Fargo, ND. Jim was born in Hope, ND, March 20, 1924 to parents Lottie Augusta (Wood) Rickard and Elmer Rickard. Most of his young life was spent helping his dad during spring planting and taking off the crops in the fall. His first job was at Thompson’s Filling Station in Hope for $1.00 a day, good wages in those days. He attended school in Hope, but when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, he took a train out to Seattle, WA. and worked as an electrician (on the job training) at the shipyards.
Jim enlisted in the Marine Corp in 1944 was stationed in California where he met his wife, Mildred Evans. He drove every weekend to see her. They loved to roller skate and go bowling . When he returned from overseas duty in 1946, they were married.
He farmed for 24 years, raising 2 children. He also worked as a carpenter in the Hope area. In 1972, they moved to Grand Forks and took a job in the Dakota Hotel doing maintenance and his carpenter work came in handy when it was renovated from rooms to apartments for senior citizens.
After retiring, they spent winters in Arizona. He loved his large family and made wooden puzzles and had fun showing the younger kids how to work them.
He is survived by his wife, Millie, of nearly 75 years, daughter, Betty Jean Pederson, son, Dennis (Iva) Rickard, 5 granddaughters, Jennifer (Keith) Koenig, Heather (Shawn) Erickson, Carrie (Lance) Morgan, Katie (Erik) Lebak, Sarah (Christian) Creech, and 14 great grandchildren, Madison (John) Storebo, Mackenzie Koenig, Mikayla Koenig, Landon, Koenig, Rachel Erickson, Rebecca (John) Aubart, Timothy Erickson, Thomas Erickson, Zachary Smith, Isaac Smith, Philip Peterson, Henry Lebak, Ethan Creech, and Gavin Creech, sisters Winifred Hughes and Bessie Hohnadel, and brothers, Tom Rickard and David Rickard, and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Pamela, grandson Joshua, son-in-law Richard Pederson, siblings, Nettie Dills, Dorothy Moerike, Charlotte Storlie and Elmer Rickard.
The family requests any memorials go to Hospice of the Red River Valley or Bethany Retirement Homes on behalf of James Rickard.
You will be truly missed. Such a wonderful man. Rest in peace.
Thoughts and prayers to you all during these difficult days. I always enjoyed my visits with Jim and Mildred.
I was fortunate enough to get to know Jim and Millie when I was the van driver for Riverview Place. As a Veteran myself, Jim and I shared many stories of our time in service…his time as a Marine and mine in the Army. He was proud of his service to our country, proud of his family, and deeply in love with Millie. In the short, few years that I knew Jim, I grew to love and appreciate him…a true hero, a true family man, and, to me, a true friend. Millie, my heart and prayers go out to you! And Jim, I will miss you, old friend, go with God and Semper Fi Marine!
Dear dear cousin Millie and family,
Chuck and I are so saddened to hear of your family’s heartache in losing your dear Jim. Heaven is so happy though to gain such a great one I’m certain! Many reunions going on up there!
Millie, we have held you and Jim so dear to our hearts and will always cherish our special time when you stayed with us on one of your ‘warner’ temps trips! Chuck still talks about your Oldsmobile, how it was bigger than ours, but got better gas mileage, haha!
We love you dearly, and will keep you in our prayers… may you feel God’s arms holding you close. What a beautiful, blessed, full life you had together…
Until Heaven… with much love,
Sheri and Chuck Cox
Jim was my uncle. He was truly a fine man with a wonderful sense of humor. I loved seeing Millie and Jim together. They set an example of a what a good marriage looks like. I am sorry that due my family living in California and they living in ND we did not get to see them on a regular basis but when they visited it was always a special time for me. My mom is Millie’ sister and she told stories of her visits to Millie and Jim that were so fun to listen to. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH
Sorry to hear of your loss. My parents Andrew and Margaret Tretter told wonderful stories of Jim and meli when I was young. Thinking of you and yours Jerry
One of my most memorable moments was with Uncle Jimmy who I got tricked by my Grandpa (David Rickard) into calling him Bill for like two minutes. Jimmy obviously didn’t respond. Grandpa Rickard started laughing really hard and I looked at him and he said that his name is Jimmy and ever since I still mess up and call him Bill because of that. I love Jimmy, my Favorite great uncle.
Jim was truly a one-of-a-kind man. He and his family were wonderful neighbors to our family, living on adjacent farms. Jim was my best ‘Early Boss’ as I assisted on projects. He was creative, kind, and encouraging. He always had the sparkle of life in his eyes.
Millie, Betty, Dennis: our hearts are with your hearts. We will celebrate Jim’s life, and will be thankful we could share in some of it.
Brent and Nancy Stewart
Jim was a man to look up to and wonderful to listen to,,,,He will be greatly missed………
I have so many great memories of my Uncle Jim. He will be missed but never forgotten.
A great and beautiful person. He was such a good playmate to Philip Peterson, our Grandson. God Bless all of the Rickard Families.
my condolences to Aunt Millie and the whole family remember the good times we had growing up with the Rickard family One I will never forget the time we were having a family picnic and we were all at Jimmy and Millie”s farm adjoining the Brooks farm. Well everyone was putting their food side by side – potatoes here and chicken there and so forth But that is not what Uncle Jimmy was doing. He was piling his food on top of each other burger. potatoes on top gravy on top peas on top or whatever he was eating. I asked him why he put his food that way on his plate and his remark was “Well it all goes down the same hole anyway” i do not remember what we were having to eat but do remember that GOD bless you Uncle Jim and all the family and friends of Uncle Jim even though miles separate us I do think of you often all my love lottie may
Many wonderful memories of you and Millie while growing up. So much fun withBetty and Dennis . Remembering the bottle feed lambs we had from you. Good times many happy memories
Jim, you and Millie hold a special place in my heart. You will be missed!