Richard James Wessels was born Sept. 24, 1945, in Cottonwood, to Richard Wessels and Jean Beckman Wessels. Although Dick was an only child, he spent much of his younger years in the Beckman family home in Kamiah with his close friends and relatives, Carol and Don Beckman. Dick attended school in Nezperce, where he excelled in athletics, participating in football, baseball, basketball and track. He graduated in 1963 and attended Idaho State University, where he played football.
After college, Dick returned to the prairie and worked first at the Nezperce Rochdale Co. before becoming a farm equipment salesman at Bell Equipment. He married Lynn Ralstin in 1979, and they settled in Nezperce, where they raised two children, Christi and Ryan. During this time, Dick continued to enjoy sports and was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to fish and hunt, and spent many, many hours on local golf courses. Dick was also an accomplished trapshooter and played slow pitch softball for several Lewiston and Nezperce teams.
Dick passed away Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, because of complications from diabetes. He is survived by his two children, Ryan and Christi; his aunt, Carol; uncle Don; aunt Sylvia; and many other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A graveside service will be held at a later date and a celebration of his life will be held this summer at the Orofino Golf Course.
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