Richard William Klein

1926 - 2025

BORN

1926

DIED

2025

Richard Klein Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for Richard William Klein
Start: 2025-03-01T19:00:00.000Z
Location: Redemption Church

Richard William Klein
October 25, 1926 - February 3, 2025
It is with a mix of deep sorrow and resurrection joy that we announce the passing of Richard William Klein, faithful husband, beloved Father, grandfather, pastor and friend, who left us peacefully on February 3, 2025 at Holy Family Hospital, Spokane WA. Richard "Dick" Klein was born on October 25, 1926, to Hugo and Esther Klein. He was raised in Southern California with his four siblings; Jane, Joanne, Nancy, and Calvin. Richard attended BIOLA (Bible Institute of Los Angeles) in La Mirada California. His education journey continued, attending Whitwork College. While on a tour with the Whitworth College choir, he met and fell in love with the love of his life, Ardith Moberly. Dick attended San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo CA where he was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church. Dick and Ardith were married on July 3, 1954 at the Whitworth College chapel. They were a wonderful match for their complementing personalities, temperaments and talents. They were partners in both their marriage and ministry for 70 years.
Richard was a faithful pastor with a heart for his Savior Jesus. He served as pastor in 9 different churches. He began in Entiat, WA in 1955. His first son, James, was born in Entiat WA. Steven was born while Dick pastored the Walla Walla Presbyterian Church. Ardith gave birth to daughter Mary while they served in East San Diego. Dick served in El Cajon, CA and Weiser, Idaho before moving the family to Ephrata WA, where he Pastored for 15 years. These were good years for the Klein family. Dick completed his years of Pastoring in Wendell, Idaho. Dick and Ardith served for a short time on Metlakatla Island in Alaska. They made a beautiful ministry couple with Ardith adding spunk and energy to Dick's teaching and preaching ministry.
Dick loved to study God's word and spent countless hours digging into the scripture to bring fresh insights and wisdom from the pulpit. He was a quiet, supportive and gentle man. He loved to ride his bike, garden, putter around in his garage, and take road trips with Ardith. He volunteered for many years in the Kiwanis Club in Ephrata. He loved to drive his old wooden blue boat fishing or pulling water skiers and boogie boarders with the help of Ardith.
Richard is survived by his three beloved children, James Klein, Steven Klein, and Mary Ekblad, nine grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. A celebration of Richard's life will be held on Saturday, March 1st at 11:00 a.m. at Redemption Church, 400 E. Grace Street Medical Lake WA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Beautiful Gate Ministries P.O. Box 515, Deer Park, WA 99006, a ministry within the family that trains pastors in Africa.

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Published by The Wenatchee World from Feb. 10 to Feb. 13, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Klein

3 Entries

Randy and Joanne Bracht

February 28, 2025

Reverend Klein had such a huge and positive impact on everyone he came in contact with. Quiet, thoughtful, and soft-spoken, his heart-filled sermons touched the hearts of everyone. Reverend Klein married my husband and me in 1978 in the old Presbyterian church. We were going through the first of his traditional pre-marriage counseling and he was talking about relationships and responsibilities. He was advising how the man of the house should be the responsible leader and make all the decisions and the wife should be loving and supportive. We were interrupted by the phone and could hear Ardith's energetic voice on the other end discussing dinner. She made several suggestions and gave a brief description as to what each would entail. She summed up her end of the conversation by asking him which one he would prefer. He gave a pause to consider, then told her, "I don't know dear.
Why don't you make that decision." We laughed about it with him later. His eyes twinkled when he was amused. I will never forgt that. I loved both him and Ardith and will always have a special place in my heart for them. It is hard to say goodbye and will miss his presence. But heaven is celebrating as he joins Ardith taking care of heavenly business. God bless Jim and Margaret and the rest of the family. He will live on through you and your beautiful children. The world is a better place because of him.

Theodore Olson

February 14, 2025

What a genuine man of God. I am privileged to have known him, and call him a friend. Our loss, God's gain. Rest in peace.

Sheila Billingsley Massey

February 11, 2025

Thoughts and prayers to the Klein and Eckblad families. The extent of "Pastor Dick and Ardith's" influence cannot be quantified.

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