Edmund G. Ricard

6/8/1919 — 1/30/2017

Service Date: 2/4/2017
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Edmund Gerhardt Ricard of Lewiston, aka "the Dahlia Man," passed away Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston, at age 97.

Ed was born June 8, 1919, on the family farm in Uniontown, to Carl and Elizabeth Ricard. He grew up on the farm in Uniontown and graduated from Uniontown public school.

After high school, Ed served in the U.S. Army for three years during World War II. He was a staff sergeant in the field artillery unit under Gen. George Patton during the Battle of the Bulge. He served in France, England, Belgium, the European Theater and Austria.

After his service to our country, he married Cecelia Rickard in 1959. They had four children - Corine, Neal, Gene and Karen. The family later moved from their Uniontown farm to Lewiston. Ed worked at Potlatch Forests Inc. and retired from there in 1985.

Ed was the ultimate farmer. He and his wife grew many types of fruits and vegetables, but they especially loved to grow dahlias. This is where he earned his nickname, "the Dahlia Man." They would enter their garden treasures in the Nez Perce County Fair each year. They won many prizes for their dahlias. He was a regular at the Lewiston farmers market, where he would sell his fruits, vegetables and flowers. He enjoyed visiting with the many patrons he would see. He also would donate buckets of dahlias each week to the Catholic church.

Ed was a grand knight of the Uniontown Knights of Columbus. He was a charter member of the American Legion and a lifetime member of the Elks. He also was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Ed is survived by his sister, Betty Lillie; brothers Albert and Clarence (Kathleen) Ricard; daughter Corine (Don) Vancil; son Gene (Denise) Ricard; and granddaughters Darrah Ricard, Korry Ricard and Carrie (Bryce) Cummings. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Cecelia; brother Reynold Ricard; sister Lorraine Pearson; daughter Karen Ricard; and son Neal Ricard.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at All Saints Catholic Church in Lewiston. He will be laid to rest with military honors at Mountain View Cemetery after Mass. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston would be appreciated.

Service Information

Date & Time: Saturday, February 4, 11:00 AM
Location: All Saints Catholic Church
3330 14th Street
Lewiston, ID 83501

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Additional Details: Burial to follow at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens