Gussie Richards

Funeral Services for Gussie Richards, 97, of Ekalaka will be 2:00 p. m. , Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at the Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Burial will be in the Beaver Lodge Cemetery in Ekalaka. Visitation will be from 5:00 p. m. ? 9:00 p. m. , Tuesday, January 15, 2008 continuing on Wednesday from 9:00 a. m. ? 12:00 p. m. , at the Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Gussie passed away on Sunday, January 13, 2008, at the Dahl Memorial Nursing Home in Ekalaka. Gussie Burch was born on January 12, 1911 the daughter of Carl G. and Lola Z. (Ewalt) Burch in the Ridgeway Community in Carter County. She grew up and attended the Johnston Country School. Gussie was united in marriage to Clarence O. Richards at Belle Fourche, SD. Together they worked and helped on their parent?s ranches until the family moved to the Black Hills. They later moved to Lead where Clarence began working in the Gold Mine. In 1942, they moved back to the Ridgeway area where they purchased their ranch. After the death of Clarence in 1964, Gussie continued to operate the ranch with the help of her family until 1995 when she moved to Ekalaka. Gussie operated the mail route from Ridgeway to Hammond for over twenty years and served as a weather observer for the area. Through out her life, she was a member of the Eastern Star, Box Elder Community Club, Extension Club, served as Clerk on the School Board and helped as an election judge for many years. Gussie was an active member of the Carter County Sheep and Cattle Growers Auxiliary. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and helped out with various duties. She also enjoyed attending school functions and sporting activities. Gussie was chosen Senior Citizen of the Year as well as being a member of the Ekalaka Senior Citizens. She is survived by three daughters, Clarice (Richard) Owen, Hammond, MT; Florine (Clifford) Schell, Huntley, MT and Sharon (Doran) Higgins, Hammond, MT; three sisters, Crystal Palmer, Kennedy, TX, Mescal Greer, Petaluma, CA and June Johnson, Columbus, OH; 13 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Clarence, a daughter, Shirley Dague; a brother, Wilson Burch, a sister, Zelzo Hedges and two grandchildren.


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Burial Date: January 16, 2008
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral Service: Wednesday, Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka