Richard "Rich" N. Kvale

Richard "Rich" N. Kvale, 74, of Tucson, AZ, passed away at home on Sept. 18, 2025 following a year-long battle with lung cancer. He was born on Aug. 7, 1951 in Lemmon, SD to Norman and Belle (Walter) Kvale. He was the eldest of four children who grew up on the family ranch near Thunder Hawk, SD. He graduated from Lemmon High School in 1969 and went on to attend South Dakota State University earning a double major degree in range management and botany. He was married to Madona Jacobs in 1970. To this union, four children were born: Daniel, Anne, Rebecca and John.

After college, he began work as a ranch manager near Morristown, SD and then accepted a position with the U.S. Forest Service in Sierra Vista, AZ. That move was the start of a career that led him to more than 10 positions on three forests in two states and the District of Columbia. During his 36 years in the Forest Service, he performed in many different roles including range conservation, range and wildlife staff officer, district ranger, Malpai Borderlands Coordinator, forest aviation officer, and Commander for the Eastern Arizona Incident Management Team. In 2005, he moved to his final US Forest Service duty station, the national headquarters of Fire & Aviation Management in Washington, D.C. where his leadership and communication skills were tapped in evolving roles and culminated in his final assignment as Deputy Director Fire & Aviation Management. Throughout his career and upon retirement, Rich was recognized for his capacity for hard work, his enduring respect for natural resources, and his dedication to supporting his co-workers.

Rich was married to Jonetta Trued in 2009 and retired in 2010 to live in Tucson where he took on a number of construction projects for his fixer-upper home. During his lifetime, he enjoyed returning to the family ranch to help with the seasonal activities, always bringing his saddle with him. He also had many hobbies including woodcarving, drawing and watercolor painting, gardening and reading. He was a member of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees and the National Museum of Forest Service History.

He is survived by his wife, Jonetta; siblings Dale (Mary) Kvale, Tim (Charlotte) Kvale, Beverly (Tim) Holdahl; children Daniel (Stacy) Kvale, Anne (Matt) Young, Rebecca (Donald) Case, John Kvale; step-daughter Lillianna (Jacob) Turpin; grandchildren Joseph (Clara) Kvale, Kimberly Kvale, Katherine Kvale, Faith (Lane) Borders, Dante Case, Hope Case, Emily Young, Meredith Young, Claire Young, Jacob Young, Zachary Young, Julia Young, great grandchildren Joan Kvale, Theodore Kvale, and Sadie Borders; and ex-wife Madona Jacobs Kvale.

Arrangements are being handled by Desert Rose Heather in Tucson, where an online memorial page has been established. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be directed to the National Association of Forest Service Retirees (P.O. Box 273362, Ft. Collins, CO 80527), and the National Museum of Forest Service History (P.O. Box 2772, Missoula, MT 59806).

Celebration of life events will be a service Oct. 11 at the Lutheran Church in Lemmon, SD and an open house from 12 to 5 pm Oct. 19 at his home.