Louis Rickman

Louis Rickman, 97, longtime Othello area resident, died in the early hours of Dec. 30, due to complications following a stroke.

Louis was born April 7, 1916, in Hatton to Frank and Clara Rickman. He graduated from Lind High School in 1933, salutatorian of his class.

Following high school, he went to work for Don Damon on his ranch east of Othello. Don told Louis he had enough work to keep him busy for “a few weeks” and that engagement lasted 46 years.

During WWII, Louis served proudly in the U.S. Army, assigned to the China Burma India Theatre. He completed his service at Minter Field in Bakersfield, Calif., where he met WAC Corporal Joyce Bergman. They were married in Joyce’s hometown of Bellingham on Jan. 29, 1946, and then returned to the Damon ranch to begin their new life and start a family together.

At that time Louis was made foreman and was responsible for managing the entire ranch, including over 10,000 acres of wheat and alfalfa, and a large cattle operation. He was widely respected in the farming community for his knowledge, loyalty, perseverance, and integrity.

Louis retired from farming in 1980 and immediately took up a new line of work: golf. For the next 25 years – until age 89 – you could find him on most days of the year at the Othello Golf Course. He applied the same devotion and dedication to his golf game that he did to farming, resulting in many years of successful play, including a hole-in-one. He was known for his consistency and accuracy, as well as the somewhat unorthodox use of his putter.

Louis loved big family gatherings, especially on his birthday, when the entire clan would be under one roof. The last five years, he and Joyce lived in Stanwood in an assisted living facility, where he enjoyed many new friendships, attending music programs, and playing lots of pinochle and poker. Louis was an avid fan of the Mariners, Seahawk and Cougar football, and Gonzaga basketball, and was always happy to take a wager on any game. He had a fantastic mind, and was fully engaged and well informed on most any subject. Throughout his life, in all his pursuits, he lived by the creed “Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.” Louis was a true gentleman.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Francis, William, and Jack, and his sister Ruth.

His wife of 67 years, Joyce, residing in Stanwood; his son, Robert Rickman (Jenny) of Pasco; daughters, Linda Murdock of Othello; Shirley Rickman (Jeffrey Hoffman) of Ocean Shores, and Elaine Rickman (Roger Clark) of Camano Island; six grandchildren, Louis Broughton (Barbara) of Spokane, Travis Murdock (Yesenia) of Othello; Ryan, Lucy, Mathew and Maggie Rickman of Pasco; five great-grandchildren, Holly and Garet Broughton; TJ, Mariah, and Tianna Murdock.

No service is planned. Condolences can be left online at http://www.Gilbertsonfh.com or by mailed to 272 Gough Drive, Camano Island, WA 98282. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association http://www.alz.org or a favorite charity.