Richard Elmer Blehm

Richard Elmer Blehm, 64, of La Salle, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ after a long battle with bone cancer on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at North Colorado Medical Center. Richard was born on February 21, 1948 in Greeley to Elmer and Ina Lorraine (Ledford) Blehm.

Richard graduated from Platte Valley High School in 1966. He has worked at Maxey Farms, Monfort Feedlots, Cottonwood Square until he branched out as owner and operator of Rocky Mountain Lawn Service. On April 26, 1974, he married Linda Schneider at Sherwood Park Baptist Church in Greeley. They were members of the Greeley Baptist Temple.

Richard was always a morning person. He loved to watch the sunrise and get going early. He collected John Deere toy tractors and loved putting together puzzles of country scenes with trators. His favorite times were attending Walker Days, John Deere Days and tractor pulls. He enjoyed watching Western and Christmas movies on TV, he was always making something out of wood for the kids to color even some wooden puzzles, family gatherings, gardening but hayrides at the shop were his favorite. He always decorated the house for holidays and had breakfast at McDonalds. He was a father figure to many children. He liked to tease people, he was self-motivated and a perfectionist.

Richard is survived by his wife, Linda Blehm of La Salle; two daughters, Teresa (John) Doell of Pasco, Washington and Christine D. Blehm of La Salle; a god-daughter, Bonnie Keys of Albuquerque, New Mexico; four sons, Rodger (Jackie) Blackwell of Roland, Iowa, Scott (Brenda) Blehm of Aurora, Daniel A. (Sarah) Blehm of Ashburn, Virginia and Joshua D. Blehm of Ames, Iowa; his mother and her husband, Lorraine (Kenneth) Lyman of Kersey; special friend, Vicky (Brad) Gilmer; two sisters, Kathy Warner of Osh Kosh, Nebraska and Sandra Billings of Loveland; one brother, Randy Blehm of Osh Kosh, Nebraska and 13 grandchildren, Gregory, Breana, Kassandra, Robert, Benjamin, Aleesha, Natasha, Dustin, Emily, Cade, Baby Blehm, Danielle and Tyler; two great-grandchildren, Matthew and Alexandra and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father and a nice, Anita Warner.

Friends may visit from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at Stoddard Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the Greeley Baptist Temple. Interment at Linn Grove Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Richard Blehm Memorial Fund in care of Stoddard Funeral Home, 3205 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado 80634.

Please visit www.stoddardsunset.com to sign online guestbook.