RICHARD GLADNEY OLSEN lost his valiant struggle with cancer on March 9, 2015. A public Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm at the Riverview United Methodist Church, 4412 W. Court St. in Pasco on Saturday, March 21, 2015. Reception following.

Richard never took a wife, but was forever, faithfully married to his passionate pursuits: job, family, farm, business, trucking, markets, helping others, politics, survivalist skills, holistic medicine, and nutrition. Richard was a man of wide interests and great sensitivity. These traits earned him a place on several favorites lists: favorite brother, favorite brother-in-law, favorite cousin, favorite uncle, best friend.

Richard’s story is a story of family. A story comprehended only through an understanding of the farm family that shaped him. He was fourth son with four brothers and a tag-end sister, Sara, who drowned at age eighteen. Imagine coming home from hospital to curious greetings from three older brothers — ages 2, 4 and 6. Would they give you rides in the baby buggy or Franklin Flyer? Would they play with you and pour sand over your head? Would they always be taller, stronger, faster, smarter, more fluent and equally capable of loving, helping, or tormenting? Yes, of course. Would you develop feelings of insecurity, inferiority, social inadequacy and sometimes anger or frustration? Probably, but you could observe, learn and be protected as well. 

Despite having, arguably, the most impressive physique of the Olsen boys, 4th-son Richard often lacked confidence. He had to contend with brothers who left formidable academic footprints and expectations. Those brothers went off, got married, and staked out their claims. Richard, on the other hand, went into the world often, but always came home. He was never the prodigal son — always a loyal son, and part of home. Richard went to work. Richard came home. Richard went to Nam. Richard came home. Richard bought a truck and long-hauled cross country, but Richard came home. Richard started businesses, and ran them from home. Richard searched for a soulmate, but Richard already had home and family. Besides, what young lady, no matter how lovely, could possibly compare with Mom? Richard found short-haul trucking jobs so he could help Dad farm. Richard helped Mom care for Dad in his final years, days, and hours. Richard continued to let Mom care for him afterwards and to reciprocally care for her. When Richard was no longer able to provide the level of care Mom needed, he moved with her to Parkview Estates in Kennewick, watched over her, and ultimately stayed past her death until he died — ever dreaming of getting better and returning to productivity. Richard anchored the home place — which is empty with his passing.

Younger brother, Charles, is the family historian, but Richard lived family. He remembered names of cousins, nieces, nephews and grandkids — even the younger ones. He knew their accomplishments, pursuits, and demons. He maintained connections all across the extended family. Brothers went to find their places in the world, but Richard was born into his. 

Richard never hated milking, but he did not enjoy the flies, tail slaps, and stinging urine splashes on bare feet. Besides, milking took time. Richard had too little time and too much to do. Solution? Pay $300 for a vacuum milker and let Lawrence do the milking. Smart investment. Richard liked investing. He also liked tools. Things designed to make life easier, or more productive. By extension, Richard liked machines. Sophisticated tools with motors. He never cared much how they were built, but he liked what they could do and how he could operate them to get more done. Leave the fixing to Cousin David.

 Mom once said: “Richard has to have a truck.” Early on, Richard and Cousin David used one of Uncle Wallace’s trucks to earn money bucking bales. Richard went to Nam and drove truck. Richard drove for Oak Harbor and other trucking outfits, bought his own truck to drive independently, and used a box truck in his milk delivery business. He did long-haul cross-country trucking, but as the Folks got older, he found short-haul jobs closer to home so he could help farm. Unlike his brothers, who set off to make their lives and put their mark on the world, Richard always came home.

 Richard’s life was not about Richard; but about work, family and integrity. Not about fame and fortune, but about doing the best job, completing the most productive shift or route delivery, or being the most attentive helper in time of someone else’s need. Richard loved people, but hated cruelty, deception, life’s unfairness and how people mistreat each other. Richard was honest, loyal and respectful. He could not abide sloth, waste, treachery or disrespect. Because the world is as the world is, a world failing to meet expectations, Richard sometimes suffered bouts of paranoia, anger and depression, but he will be remembered for his polite kidding, his sense of humor and his optimism. Richard never went to war. Richard went to Vietnam carrying a rifle for his country, but despite running over land mines with his truck, he never found the enemy. Instead, he found people, real people, enduring as people do. One of his biggest regrets was that he was never able to return to Vietnam to help alleviate in some small way the suffering caused by that war.

 At age 70, Richard has returned home. He joins younger Sister Sara, Father Harvey, Brothers Frederick and Ronald (who both died at 70), and Mother Lucille (who lived to 100.) He will, no doubt, prepare a place for Brothers Lawrence and Charles, and myriad aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and orphaned stragglers who have not yet crossed. Richard requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to The Chaplaincy Hospice, 1480 Fowler St., Richland, WA 99352.