Richard 'Dick' Park

Richard Dawson "Dick" Park, 66 of Elk City, Idaho, went to be with his Heavenly Father on July 31, 2015, at the Boise VA Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.

Dick was born to William and Norma (Mantle) Park on June 25, 1949, in Golden, Colo. He was raised and went to school in Texas, graduating from H. Grady Spruce High School, in Dallas, Texas.

Dick then attended Texas A&M for a time before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1968. He proudly served his country, doing three tours in the Vietnam War in the Green Berets.

Dick was a journeyman electrician by trade but held other jobs as well such as building fences for BLM, raising pigs and assisting Future Farmers of America and worked in a print shop, also helping build the Prospector Cabins in Elk City.

Dick met and married Mary Ann Sibley on Dec. 30, 1978, in Boise, Idaho. There were four children from this union, Heather, Kenneth, Faith and Robyn. They divorced in 1989. Later, Dick had a son, Ryan, in 1993.

Dick was a lover of the outdoors, making Elk City his final home. He loved to camp, fish and hunt. Dick also loved to read books and was an avid rock hound. You could also find him around the campfire at night with a cold beer and a story or two to tell.

Dick is survived by his daughters, Heather (Daren) Hillhouse of Orem, Utah; and Faith (Josh) Smith, of Urbana, Ohio; and sons, Kenneth Park of West Liberty, Ohio; and Ryan Carpentier of Mountainburg, Ark.; brothers, Kenneth (Suzan) Park of Virginia and Michael (Kathy) Park, of Colorado; three grandchildren, Sara, Emilee and Kaden; and numerous friends he called family.

Dick was preceded in death by his daughter, Robyn, his parents, William and Norma, and his sister, Patricia Reilly.

A memorial service will be held in Elk City on Aug. 29, 2015, at the VFW Hall at 2 p.m. Dick's ashes will be scattered on the mountain at Elk City per his request. There will cake and coffee after the service at the VFW Hall.