Richard Fred Vahsholtz

RUPERT – Richard Fred Vahsholtz a 90-year-old resident of Heyburn, passed away Friday, May 17, 2024, at Monte Vista Health Care Center in Pocatello, Idaho.

Richard was born May 2, 1934, in Emporia, Kansas. He was the eldest son of Fred Richard and Merle Evelyn (Butler) Vahsholtz. He married Diana Jolene Johnson on July 23, 1955, in Spring Valley (Canton), Kansas, and, together, they had four children. He began his career in car sales, but mostly spent over 60 years selling and trading farm implements. He worked alongside his dad in Kansas who owned a Case franchise, but in 1961, a yearning for the west moved him to Idaho and he worked for Case company in Paul for a while. He then worked as a salesman for Massey-Ferguson in Burley for eleven years until he ventured out on his own and was in business selling and trading on the Rupert-Burley highway for over forty years. He always claimed he had a price on everything he had except for one thing, “friendship”, that, he said, was priceless.

Richard was a devout Lutheran (Missouri Synod) and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Rupert since 1961. Having a family and camping all over the United States with said family were two of his most enjoyable pleasures in life. He was rightly proud that he was able to take his wife and travel for 40 years “Unbroken” as he would always say. Richard also loved his games, his two favorites being Pitch and Wahoo. His laugh, as he threw dice and played cards, was contagious. His family will keep playing these games for years to come, while parroting his nonsensical quotes such as, “Fever from the south!”

Richard is survived by his children, Randal J. Vahsholtz (Suzanne) of Grace, Idaho, Gregory Keith Vahsholtz (Charlotte) of Nampa, Idaho, Janine Vahsholtz Fields (Jay) of Boise, Idaho, and Jeannie Vahsholtz of Pocatello, Idaho; 12 grandchildren; 21 (another on the way) great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild (also on the way); a brother, Robert Vahsholtz (Marge) of Port Angeles, Washington, and a sister, Ruth Richter (Ron) of Winfield, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Diana; his parents, Fred and Merle; a great-grandson, Matthew Richard Phillips; and a grandson, Dustin Colby Couch.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 6, at Trinity Lutheran Church, located at 909 8th St., in Rupert, with the Reverend James (Jim) Von Busch officiating. Burial will follow at Rupert Cemetery. Following the graveside a luncheon will be held back at the church.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday, at the church prior to the service.

A live webcast of the funeral will be available at tlcrupert.com. It can be accessed by clicking “worship” and then “livestream” under the “worship” dropdown menu.