William Rickert

William (Bill) R. Rickert, age 87, a patient at Countryside Care & Rehab, passed from this life on May 31, 2017. He was born on May 18, 1930, in Rupert, Idaho, where he resided his entire life. He was married to Joan Marie (Rausch).

Bill was the proud owner of Home Specialties, and built or remodeled many homes and designed and installed custom-built wood cabinets throughout the Mini-Cassia area.

Bill signed up for the Idaho National Guard in 1947 when he was 17 years old, and served for nearly 43 years until his mandatory retirement in 1990. On January 20, 1965, he took part as an Indian scout in the inauguration parade for President L.B. Johnson as a member of the Rupert National Guard's Third Squadron 116th Cavalry (locally known as "the Blue Shirts") . He received numerous awards for his military service, including the U.S. Meritorious Service Medal for exceptional meritorious service while serving as the Command Sergeant Major in 1978 and the Army's Legion of Merit Award "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service" in 1991. After his retirement, Bill continued to volunteer for a number of years for the Employer's Support for the Guard and Reserve.

Bill also was on the Board of Directors for Project Mutual Telephone Co-op Inc. for 21 years, from 1968 to 1989, and was appointed to the Rupert city Planning & Zoning Commission for many years. He was a parishioner of St. Nicholas Church in Rupert.

Bill is survived by his son Danny Rickert (Boise, ID), daughter Sheri Rickert (Livingston Manor, NY), brother Devoe Rickert (Springfield, UT), and sister Doris Bollar Hayden (Soda Springs, ID). He is preceded in death by his wife, Joan Marie.

On Bill's behalf, his family expresses their deepest appreciation to all those who have cared for him and shown him extraordinary kindness during these last challenging years of his life, especially his nephew Rick Bollar and wife Pat, who have been like a second son and daughter to him and provided extensive local care and support; Dr. Brian Muir, who provided exceptional and compassionate medical care to Bill and counseling to Bill's long distance caregiver; the incredible staff at Countryside Care & Rehab, Minidoka Memorial Home Health and Hospice, and Autumn Haven; Bob Miller, whose assistance allowed Bill to continue to go to Sophie's Chatterbox for breakfast with the guys when Bill could no longer drive; to Debbie Povlsen who chauffeured Bill to weekly Mass while he lived at Autumn Haven; and to Fr. Gabriel Morales, Fr. Pako Godinez, and members of St. Nicholas Parish who ensured that Bill had access to the sacraments after he moved to Countryside Care & Rehab. In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the Minidoka Health Care Foundation in Bill's memory for a planned outdoor walkway/seating area project

Gathering and viewing for family and friends will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday June 6, 2017 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Rupert. Services will conclude with burial with Military Rites in the Rupert Cemetery under the direction of Hansen Mortuary.