Richard Thomas Albert

Richard Thomas Albert

Richard "Dick" Albert passed away peacefully on July 31, 2012 at his son's home in Bothell, Washington. He was born in St. Paul Minnesota on August 13, 1929 to Clement Thomas Albert and Helen Agnes Renz Albert. His elder siblings were Eugene Joseph Albert and Doris Marie Albert; he was older brother to Clement Washington Albert.
In 1936, his father sold the family farm in Hinckley, Minnesota and used the proceeds to move the family to Richland, WA. Dick spent most of his young life in the tri-cities area, and lived on a farm in Richland with cherry and peach orchards in a house built by his father with no power tools or electricity until the family moved to neighboring Prosser, WA.
While still in his teens, Dick left Prosser to become a merchant seaman (Coast Guard) and travelled to far-away places: Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, to name a few. He also served in the Army during the Korean War, in the Signal Corps. Always ready for adventure, Dick road his Harley Davidson motorcycle to Mexico and lived in Vera Cruz for a year in the early 1950's. Although he worked in the construction industry throu-ghout his adult life as a member of the Local 302 Operating Engineers, his wanderlust led to job-related travel and he worked extensively on the Alaska pipeline in the 1970's and dredging projects in various places in Western Washington – Point Roberts, Long Beach, Forks, to name a few.
Other highlights of his life include the births of his four children – Doris, Gail, Mary and Tom. Inner-tubing down the Wenatchee River, camping at Banks Lake and Grand Coulee Dam, and rattlesnake-hunting in the tri-cities area were some of his favorite adventures with his kids. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, Dick lived a life full of zest, of adventure, and fun!
Later in life, he settled into his house in Woodinville on Little Bear Creek, and enjoyed watching fish migrating up the stream and tending his fruit and flower gardens.
Dick was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. He is survived by daughters, Doris Anderson of Roseburg, Oregon, Gail McFarland and husband Kirby of Woodinville, WA and Mary Albert-Raines and husband Rob of Snohomish, WA; and by his son, Thomas Albert and wife Lucy of Bothell, WA, as well as five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He became particularly close to his daughter-in-law, Lucy when she cared for him in the latter years of his life.
Dick will be laid to rest at Purdy & Walters at Floral Hills Cemetery, 409 Filbert Road, Lynnwood, WA 98036.
A Celebration of Life service for Dick will be held at Floral Hills on Monday, August 13, 2012 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Providence Hospice of Snohomish County, 2731 Wetmore, Suite 500, Everett, WA 98201, who provided loving care and support during Dick's extended illness.