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Richard Alan Armstrong
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January 13, 1950 ~ December 9, 2013 |
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December 11, 2013 |
 Richard Alan Armstrong, 63, passed away at
Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry
December 9, 2013. Services will be held at 1
p.m. Saturday, December 14, at Mountain Springs
Church, Bonners Ferry.
Richard Alan Armstrong was born in Meadsville,
Pennsylvania, on January 13, 1950 to Alonzo and
Dorothy Armstrong, joining his older brothers
Ken and David.
They lived in Pennsylvania until 1960 when the
family took a cross country road trip to settle
in Sacramento, California. He completed high
school early and moved to San Diego to earn his
Associate's degree at junior college. He decided
to become a student of life and began traveling
and exploring. Some of his adventures included
working on a crab boat in Alaska, a shrimp boat
in Jamaica, carving flutes in Wyoming and
panning for gold in Warren, Idaho.
He moved to Boundary County in the late '70s,
and in between exploring his new surroundings
and volunteering his time with local youth, he
worked as a logger and a surveyor. Richard
eventually settled in Moyie Springs where he
raised his two daughters.
Because of his caring and empathetic spirit, he
began working with at-risk teens in the '80s at
Rocky Mountain Academy. Inspired by what he
learned there, he helped start new therapeutic
and wilderness programs and eventually began his
own transport and in-home program. Through
Boundarylines and Homelines, Richard touched
many families with his large presence and calm
demeanor and was happy to share his practical
knowledge and down to earth life lessons.
Richard met and married Karen, his wife of 14
years, in the late '90s. Together with Karen's
three sons and Richard's two daughters they
built their life together and forged strong
connections to the community.
Richards interests after retiring included
playing tennis, hiking, fishing, hunting,
sailing, and gardening. He was happiest spending
time at home with friends and family, enjoying
the outdoors and looked forward to traveling new
places with his wife and kids.
He is survived by wife Karen, daughters Della
and Sikora, sons Patrick, Ryan and Taylor,
grandchildren Cayden, Kyleigh, Summit, Casey and
brothers David and Ken.
In lieu of flowers people may make donations to
Pawsitive works at
www.pawsitiveworks.com, an organization that
pairs at-risk youth with furry friends.
Family and friends are invited to sign Richard’s
book at
www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of
Bonners Ferry Funeral Home. |
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