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Richard Dean Alcock, 89

Richard Dean Alcock was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on June 25, 1928, to parents Doris (Davis) and Ralph Alcock. He graduated from Ames High School in 1946 where he was a member of NROTC. He was also a member of Sigma Nu fraternity at Iowa State College in Ames, where he graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial economics.

Upon graduation, he married Patricia Anderson with whom he later had one daughter, Jennifer. The same year, he became an active-duty member of the U.S. Navy, in which he served as a Lt. JG communications/electronics officer during the Korean Conflict, and was honorably discharged in 1953.

He then went to work at Standard Oil in Des Moines, Iowa, followed by a career of 17 years at Boeing in Seattle, Wash., where he was a computer supervisor — when computers filled up entire rooms and punch-cards were used. Later in life, he worked for the Washington State DSHS, was a hotel manager and owned a gift shop in the town of Depoe Bay, Ore.

In 2001, he married his fishing and camping buddy, cribbage partner and best friend, Barbara Reitz. They spent many years living at Twin Lakes Village in Rathdrum, Idaho, where they enjoyed evening rounds of golf together and visiting neighbors, friends and family.

Richard was an avid fisherman in the numerous lakes and rivers of Idaho and Eastern Washington. He loved snow skiing, camping, boating and his collection of Louis L’Amour books.

He is missed by his wife, Barbara; his daughter, Jennifer and son-in-law John Baker; his sister and brother-in-law, Diana and Jim Norman; five stepchildren — Kent Baker, Jim Polson, Holly Burgess, Nancy Molsberry and Danny Baker; nine grandchildren — Matt, Cailin, Nick, Brandon, Jaclyn, Whitney, Jordan, Andy and Katie; and four great-grandchildren — Aurora, Serenity, Alex and Noah; nieces Nancy and Linda.