Alvin Riggs

Alvin Richard Riggs, 85, peacefully passed away at his residence in Salisbury, on Oct. 10, 2016. Al was born June 7, 1931 to the late Raymond and Clara Hanson Riggs in Motley, Minn. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was stationed in the South Pacific. Al received a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Delaware before attending Yale University to earn his Masters and Ph. D in History. Among his many accomplishments, Al was a Fulbright Scholar and studied in Edinburgh, Scotland. He taught U.S. History at McGill University in Montreal, Canada for many years. In his spare time, he enjoyed being a member of the Motley American Legion and traveling back home to Motley to visit with friends and family. His hobbies included fly fishing, floating down the Smith River in Montana, and reading. Al also had a passion for gardening, and one could say he was a farmer at heart. In addition to his parents, Al is preceded in death by his son, James “Jim” Riggs; and sister, Myrt Riggs. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara Lennington Riggs, whom he married June 17, 1962; daughter, Amy Wimmer (Mark) of Salisbury; daughter-in-law, Rose Riggs of Salisbury; sister, Donna Bakula of Chincoteague Island, Va.; brother, Stan Riggs (Rosemary) of Southern California; and four grandchildren, Alex Wimmer, Elle Wimmer, Brooke Riggs and Bailey Riggs. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. Arrangements: A memorial service will be held at a later date with his final resting place being in Motley, Minn. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Legion 124 Motley (P.O. Box 145 Motley, MN 56466).