Richard Riffel

Richard Theodore Riffel, age 74, of Abilene, KS passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, KS. He was born July 21, 1951 in Herington, KS to Jesse Riffel, Jr. and Hope (O'Doniel) Riffel. As a child, he worked on the family farm in rural Dickinson county. He was a 1969 graduate of Chapman High School. He graduated from Salina Area Vo Tech with a degree in Diesel Mechanics in 1971. In 1973, he married Margaret J. Kohart on August 18, 1973 in Abilene, KS, later having two children. He worked at Ehrsam's in Enterprise, KS later known as ABB from age 18 until 1996. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Abilene, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, Jesse, Sr. and Leah (Deines) Riffel along with numerous family members. He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret, of Abilene, KS, daughter Amy Osborne (Alex) of Topeka, KS, and son Matthew Jesse Riffel (Tobi) of Beloit, KS. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Sophia Riffel-Vrbas of Phillipsburg, KS, Jackson, Jesse, and Evan Osborne of Topeka, KS, and step-grandson Dameon Sides. He is survived by his brother Russell Riffel of Woodbine, KS, Linda (Jim) Jones of McPherson, KS, many cousins, nieces, and nephews. A visitation will be on Friday, January 2, 2026 at the Martin Becker Carlson funeral home from 5-7 PM. Memorial services will be at Martin Becker Carlson funeral home of Abilene, KS at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 3, 2026 with Lindsey Brummer officiating and the family has chosen cremation. Please make memorial funds to Dickinson County Hospice at Martin Becker Carlson funeral home. Richard was a happy-go-lucky man with a wonderful sense of humor who was the quiet rock of his family that dearly loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and family. His favorite pastimes included Royals baseball, country music, Snoopy, boating or camping at Milford Lake, fishing in his younger years, and gardening. He greatly cherished the time he had with his grandchildren and loved counting his numerous daily steps on a walking tracker during his retirement years. To quote Theodore Roosevelt, Dad was a wonderful example of the following quote: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. He always said that there's always a better day tomorrow.