Richard Joseph Spence

1944 - 2023

Richard Joseph Spence Richard Joseph Spence, beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather and Friend, saddled up and rode off to meet his Lord, May 29, 2023. We take comfort in the fact that he passed on Memorial Day. As a Vietnam Veteran, his service to our country was a great source of pride and meant a lot to him. Rick was born August 16th, 1944 in Evergreen Park, Illinois to "Orvis" John and Dorothy (Cameron) Spence. He grew up running the streets in Chicago Illinois with his older brother and sister, Johnny and Maggie, and younger sister Barbara. He graduated on June 24th, 1959 from Healy High School in Chicago, Illinois and moved to California to live with his brother Johnny. He enlisted in the Air Force on November 13, 1962, and was initially stationed in Alaska, where he worked in intelligence, specializing in cryptography. Following his service in Vietnam he was stationed at Minot North Dakota AFB where he met and married Wadena Sieler, the daughter of an Air Force Master Sergeant, daughter Richelle Elise was born in 1966. Upon completion of his military commitment on November 10th, 1966, the young family moved to Kent, WA with Wadena's parents to work for the BOEING Company in Renton, and had son Courtenay Lee in 1970. Rick's time with BOEING was short lived and over the course of his life he reinvented himself many times. He owned an insurance company, sold cattle, owned a construction business working with BNSF, did underground site work and worked as a consultant.

Rick was divorced in 1987. He welcomed Sue Ecklund and her son Steven Gacek into his family and they were married in 2006. He was a proud Republican but, was able to work alongside Democrats. Even though they were political adversaries, he counted Ron Sims as a friend. He worked tirelessly alongside legislators as a property rights advocate and served as President of the 4 Creeks Council. He learned to fly helicopters and earned his pilot's license in 1993. His greatest passion was horses. He raised and raced thoroughbreds at Emerald Downs and Portland Meadows and was a true cowboy at heart. Rick and Sue moved to their farm in Cle Elum in 2009, fell absolutely in love with the community and made a wonderful, caring circle of friends there. He was a founding member of the Cle Elum Roundup and remained active for the first seven years. Rick served as a Trustee and Interim Secretary for the Cle Elum Eagles #649 and cared deeply about the club and its members. However, Rick's single biggest accomplishment in life, was his 42 plus years of sobriety. He always said without that he would have nothing.

He had a fierce love for his family and friends and if he counted you as one, he would go to the ends of the earth for you. He is survived by; his wife Sue Spence, daughter Richelle Spence, son Courtenay Spence and wife Angela (Parrott), Grandchildren; Brittney Peterson, Tanner Spence and Autumn Spence. Sisters, Margaret Moscato, Barbara and husband Hank Endzelis, and Sister in Law Teri Spence. He was proceeded in death by his parents, son Steven Gacek, and brother John "Orvis" Spence.

Celebration of Life will be at the Cle Elum Eagles #649 on Saturday, June 24, 2023 from 3:00-7:00 pm with live music and dancing to follow.

Military Internment will be held at Tahoma Military Cemetery, Tuesday June 27, 2023 at 10:30 am in Kent Washington. All are welcome.