Richard Allen Defore

Richard (Dick) Allen DeFore passed away suddenly October 7, 2023 at Valley Medical Hospital in Renton at the age of 89. He was born December 28, 1933 in Superior, Wisconsin to Lorna and Willard DeFore.

He married June Matteson in 1962 and they had two children: Thomas Reid and Patricia Elaine. He is survived by his wife June; daughter Patty Ladd; grandchildren Meredith Ladd LaMere and Davis Ladd; sister Marjorie Sholund of Duluth, Minnesota and brother Ronald DeFore of Havasu City, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother and his son Tom.

He attended school in Superior and graduated from the University of Wisconsin there. He received his master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and further classes from UW, Superior. He taught high school in Superior; Battle Mountain, Nevada; Huntington, Indiana; and Lancaster, California. He was manager of radio station WKLK in Cloquet, Minnesota, taught radio and television at the University of Wisconsin Superior; was media library consultant for the Colorado State Department of Education, and media consultant for Jefferson County, Colorado before becoming library media director at the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo where he worked until retirement in 1996. He lived twenty three years in Rio Rancho, New Mexico before moving to Renton three years ago.

Dick enjoyed music before the rock and roll era and collected radio transcription records. He initiated the Nostalgia music group at the Rio Rancho Senior Center and spent many hours researching music.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greenwoodmempark.com for the Defore family.