Richard Thomas Loper

Rich spent the first decade of his life on a farm in Littleton, CO, before moving to Longmont when his father retired from propane servicing to become a full-time dairyman. He was a member of the FFA during high school and graduated from Longmont Senior High in 1961.

Rich found his career and lifelong passion as a machinist after first considering farming and television repair. He started out as a screw machine operator at Dualmatic in Longmont before joining Dieterich Standard Corporation in 1972 in the same role. Over his 35-year tenure, he was promoted to supervisor then “prototype machining specialist” where he supported product development projects until 2007, when he retired from Dieterich. His passion for precision and craftsmanship led him to establish his own machining business in 1982, a pursuit he continued even after his retirement until he moved away from Hygiene in 2020. He found great joy in his work, embodying Mark Twain’s words: “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

On October 3, 1970, Rich married Bev Daharsh after meeting on a blind date. They built a life together, including two daughters, on their acreage in Hygiene, where they lived for 50 years.

Rich was a man of many talents and interests beyond his gifts in machining. The skills he learned on the farm were invaluable including pouring concrete and building a cinderblock structure for what would become his garage shop. He was also a skilled handyman; Rich could repair anything—from cars to household appliances. In 1978, he and Bev tore down their two-bedroom ranch house to build their four-bedroom, two-story home from the foundation up. Rich taught himself electrical wiring from textbooks he would read at night to wire house and he passed inspection on the first attempt.

He was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church in Longmont, later attending Foothills Baptist Church in Lyons and, most recently, Longmont Nazarene Church with his daughter, Jenney.

Rich is survived by his daughters, Jenney Loper of Longmont, CO, and Andrea Loper of Albuquerque, NM; granddaughter, Vivienne Loper of Albuquerque, NM; sister-in-law, Janie Loper-Pierce; brother-in-law Gary Xander and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverley; parents, Lyle and Antonia Loper; brother, Floyd Loper; sister, Stella (Loper) Xander; and nephew, James Loper.

In honor of his lifelong concern for the treatment of animals, memorial contributions may be made to the Longmont Humane Society. A visitation for Richard will be held Friday, April 11, 2025 from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel, 326 Terry St., Longmont, Colorado 80501. A funeral service will occur Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM at Longmont Nazarene Church, 2111 Mountain View Ave, Longmont, CO 80501. A graveside service will occur Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 2:30 PM at Foothills Gardens of Memory, 14241 N. 107th Street, Longmont, Colorado 80504.