Richard Manke was born July 23^rd, 1938, in Spokane, Washington, to Richard and Ethel Manke.  The family wheat farm in Sprague was a bustling place full of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Everyone knew everyone in Sprague.  There were early morning fishing trips with his dad and long summer days spent wandering the acreage under the care of the family collie. 

He graduated from Reardan High School in 1956 along with his future wife, Marilynn Howard. 

He attended college at Washington State University in Pullman majoring in Architectural Engineering, which was a five-year program for a bachelor’s degree.  Marilynn also went to Pullman majoring in Home Economics Education.  While there, they teamed with another couple to build a duplex to give Richard some real-world experience designing, building, and managing the construction of a house. 

Richard and Marilynn were married on June 11^th, 1960, shortly after Marilynn’s graduation.  They lived a few more years in Pullman while Richard completed his degree. They soon ended up in Pasco where Richard was hired as an architect at Pence Associates Architects.  He was promoted to associate and then to full partner.  Many of the buildings he designed can still be seen in the Tri-Cities. He worked on the design of the Pasco Airport, the Franklin County PUD, Ruth Livingston School, and numerous veterinary clinics.

In 1974, he was offered a teaching position with the Engineering Technology group at Columbia Basin College. He would serve in that position for 25 years; under his care, the department was to become a leader in new and emerging technology. In the late 1970s, Columbia Basin College was one of the first to realize the future of stand-alone computer-assisted drafting systems. His department owned the first of Hewlett-Packard's roller plotters (serial number 000001). He took his department from drafting boards and pencils to a state-of-the-art lab with 18 Hewlett-Packard workstations running AutoCAD version 14.

He had an excellent relationship with his students, many of whom went on to become leaders in CAD design or to pursue advanced degrees. He took students to the national competition twice. After winning first place in the state Vocational In-Service Clubs of America drafting competition, they went on to win 12th place in the national competition in Kansas and 5th place the following year at nationals in Tennessee.

In 1996, he accepted the position of Dean of Communications Technology. During this pivotal time in the college’s technological growth, he helped to guide the construction and startup of a new technology center that enabled distance learning via satellite.

When he retired in 1997, hundreds of students had graduated through his two-year Associate of Arts in Engineering Technology program.  Many came to him working minimum wage jobs and trying to support a family, but they left his program able to support themselves, their families, and give back to the community.  Years into his retirement, students would walk up to him at a local coffee shop or restaurant and ask if he remembered them.  He always did.  Then, they would tell him how their life had changed in the years since they graduated.  The skills he taught them got them a job.  The job paid the bills and lifted them out of poverty.

For someone who was so invested in his career, it was hard to believe he would be happy in retirement, but he continued to help his family and his community.  He invested in people.  He could walk into any establishment, order a cup of coffee, and talk for several hours to people he had not previously met. He continued to be a good friend, caring mentor, and wise counselor.  For so many, he will be greatly missed. 

Retirement gave him more time for family.  He had regular coffee and lunch dates with children and grandchildren.  As his grandchildren neared college graduation, he took them out to lunch many times teaching them the art of the lunch portion of job interviews.  He was a constant sounding board for his son-in-law Randy regarding business decisions in the running of his company.  He loved his partnership with his wife managing their small farm and a growing extended family.  He meticulously researched products necessary to produce the best harvest, prune and care for their trees, plant the best seeds.  What he learned, he taught.  What needed to be done, he scheduled.  Where support was needed, he was always there. 

Richard was diagnosed with cancer two months before his death.  Surgery to remove it was originally successful, but he died of complications a week later on July 6^th, 2018. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Ethel Manke and his sister Jean Mullin.  He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marilynn, his daughter Alysia Schwarz and her husband Randy, and his daughter Kristin Manke and her husband Richard May, all of Richland, WA.  He has six grandchildren, Kathie Byrd (husband Michael), Alexander, Ashleigh, Kaitlynn, Alan, and Ryan Schwarz, all of Richland.  He has two great-grandchildren, Heidi and Cannon Byrd. 

A celebration of his life will be held in Spokane on July 17 at 1:00 PM at Riverside Memorial Park.  A second service will be held in Richland on July 24 at 1:00 PM at Central United Protestant Church with a reception to follow.

 Einan’s Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to his memorial fund at Central Church to be used in support of the orchestral music program his daughter leads or your favorite charity.