Russell Kenneth Richards

Russell Kenneth Richards – husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend was called home peacefully on June 2, 2025 from complications caused by spinal stenosis and from natural causes. He was 86 years old.

Born on August 7, 1938 in Boston, Massachusetts to Florence Mae Grover Richards and Jerome Edward Richards, Russ was the oldest of four children. Although his accent faded over the years, it always returned quickly after talking to his family.

When he was 6, his family moved from Boston to a small town named Bolton. He attended high school in Hudson, about 5 miles away, where he played many sports (hockey being his favorite!) and served as Student Council President.

After graduating, he headed west to attend Utah State University. After his sophomore year, he was drafted and sent off to Germany, where he played hockey for the Army Eagles. Two years later he returned to Utah State where he met his wife, Nancy Keller, a local girl. They were married on June 4th, 1966 and promptly headed off to the University of Massachusetts where he would earn his Masters of Landscape Architecture.

His first job was for the Oregon Parks Dept., then the City of Salem, then back to Oregon Parks Dept., designing and improving parks all over the state. Notable accomplishments are Silver Falls State Park and Salem Riverfront Park.

Russell was an avid participant in Boy Scouts, serving as a Scoutmaster for over 40 years. Many of the young men he worked with still sing his praises as a fun, invested leader who believed in them and helped shape their lives. He also served in a multitude of capacities as an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was sealed in the temple to his bride, Nancy.

Russ was a lifelong fan of Boston sports teams, especially his beloved Red Sox. He was well known for his amazing sense of humor. He also greatly valued connecting with people, and was constantly making phone calls and writing letters to check in on those he cared about. He always remembered everyone’s name and their life story, and no matter where he traveled he would inevitably run into someone he knew.

Russ spent his last days comfortably, surrounded by loved ones, in the home they built in McMinnville, Oregon, and the beautiful yard he and Nancy cultivated for over 20 years. He passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Russ is survived by his wife, Nancy; children Jolie, Derek (Holly), Corby (Kristin), Kyle and Kara; his siblings Warren Richards (Merry), Linda Daisy (Richard), and Anne Gasparoni; 18 grandchildren and grand-in-laws; and 5 great-grandchildren.