Richard “Dick” Yoder, 82, of Custer, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Dick was born in Los Angeles County, California, on March 16, 1934 to Lester and Vivian (Strain) Yoder.
After graduating from Hemet High School in Hemet, California, he joined the U.S. Navy in 1952. He married Karen Bounds in 1956 in Hemet. He was a salesman for Ford Tractor in Hemet and later, after moving his parents to Custer, he and Karen decided to move their family to Blaine, where he worked for Intalco.
Dick and Karen started and continued to dairy and row crop farm for many years while raising their family. Over time, Dick, Karen and son Dale started a small registered Polled Hereford ranch. As that herd got bigger, the dairy cows herd got smaller and smaller until the dairy cows were gone.
Dick was a member of the American Polled Hereford Association, American Hereford Association, Whatcom County Agriculture Advisory Committee, Whatcom Conservation District board, Whatcom County Cattlemen’s Association and the Washington State Cattlemen’s Association.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Vivian Yoder; brother Charles Yoder; and daughter Sharin Yoder.
Dick is survived by his wife of 60 years, Karen Yoder; children Alan (Joan) Yoder, Renetta (Patrick) Pollock, Dale (Tammy) Yoder, Deborah (Jay) Johnson and Nadine Weatherby; grandchildren Jeff Yoder, Chris Yoder, Victoria Pollock, Cabel Pollock, Katie Yoder, Clark Yoder and Megan Weatherby; and sister Betty (George) Borlace. He will be missed by his entire family and many friends.
A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, in Hope Lutheran Church, 900 E. Grover St., Lynden.
In lieu of flowers, if desired, please make donations in his honor to the Washington Cattlemen’s Endowment Fund of Ellensburg, Washington (P.O. Box 96, Ellensburg, WA 98926).
Please share memories at www.molesfarewelltributes.com
Arrangements are by Moles Farewell Tributes – Greenacres.
