Richard L. Choquette

Our dad, Richard L. Choquette, 92, was born in Sioux City, Iowa on May 10, 1933, to Leona Pearl and Leo August Choquette. The family moved to Jefferson, South Dakota where our grandfather Leo owned and operated a successful automotive shop. After enduring many bitterly cold Midwest winters, a move to Santa Clara, California as a young teen led to many more noteworthy adventures. In California, dad worked in the family photography business owned by his aunt Skip and uncle Marv, developing film and delivering customers' pictures after school. We are sure that being allowed to drive his uncle's old pickup making those deliveries played a key role in developing his life-long interest in automobiles. Over the years his natural aptitude and amazing expertise in everything automotive grew. Highlights of dad's hobby included his participation in the world of auto racing, winning several trophies at the Portland stockyards as a young man. When our mom expressed concern about his involvement with high-speed competitive racing, dad shifted gears from driving the racetrack to becoming an enthusiastic observer where he delighted in taking his oldest son, Dave, to watch the races together. Years later, the annual summer Championship Auto Races at Portland International Raceway was an event dad's children looked forward to attending with him. We learned the vocabulary of international racing, including chicane and pace car, the meaning of the different flags waved, and the names and backgrounds of all the famous drivers. A trip to Waddle's at Jantzen Beach for ice cream after the race was a wonderful treat for us kids.

Dad's lifetime dream was to attend the Indy 500 in person. As a teen, he listened to the radio broadcast of the world-famous race and then watched the first televised broadcast in1965 and thereafter. His dream came true in 1995 when he and his second son, Dennis, traveled together to Indianapolis to see French Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve win that day. Seeing Villeneuve win was a noteworthy nod to our father's French Canadian ancestry. It was certainly dad's most exciting memory of racing.

Also in 1995, our father experienced yet another traveling adventure - on a US Naval vessel for a special Tiger Cruise. It allowed civilians to accompany their deployed family member to learn about the ship's day-to-day operations and participate briefly in life on a military ship. During the 20-year Navy career of his third son, Duane, dad flew to Hawaii and boarded the USS Roanoke (AOR 7) in Pearl Harbor with other family members of the ship's personnel. The Roanoke had just returned from a six-month deployment to begin its return trip to Bremerton, WA. Dad absolutely loved his time aboard the ship with Duane, soon got his "sea legs" and delighted in experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime adventure at sea with his son.

Throughout his career, dad had an extraordinarily strong work ethic. During his decades-long profession as a Teamster, first with Industrial Specialties and then with Airco Industrial Gases, he was awarded the company's "Five Million Miles Driven with No Accidents" safety award. However, dad was not ready to retire. Shortly thereafter, he joined TestYou in Vancouver, training men and women who wanted to earn their commercial driving license. In his 70s and into his 80s, he was the most popular - and most requested - instructor at a local Vancouver driving school for over 20 years, teaching hundreds of teenagers and young adults how to drive safely. Dad was well known for his patience and kindness to his students. Although he loved the world of competitive racing, dad was infinitely wise to insist that his own children - and all his students - learn and practice responsible driving. In his spare time, prior to his move to Ocean Park, dad was a long-time member of the "Slo Poks" auto club of Clark County.

Dad attended Vancouver High School where he met and married his first love, Rosalie (Gilmore) Choquette (Emter), class of 1952. He is survived by his children: David (Jeanie); Dennis (Marlis); Doreen (Mark); Duane (Colleen); Debra and Denise; grandchildren: Garrett, Johnna, Travis, David, Brad, Kaitlyn, Brandon, Brett, Chad, Joshua and Jordan; and great-grandchildren: Talon, Trevin, Taysom, Jerrin, and Jovaun. Also surviving are his sister Jacquelyn Torres and brother Randy Hall, numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, and wife Susan. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rosalie, youngest son, Don, granddaughter Cassandra, siblings Sue (Hall) Bellcoff and Woodrow Hall, and son-in-law Tracy.

Family and friends are invited to join us for our father's memorial service on Monday, December 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Vancouver.