December 12, 1935 – July 12, 2024
Funeral services for Warren “Corky” Richie, 88, of Mobridge will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mobridge at 11:00 a.m. CT. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 27 from 2-4:00 p.m. at the Clear Lake Community Center, Clear Lake. Corky died on July 12, 2024 at the Mobridge Regional Hospital.
Warren Bryce Richie was born December 12, 1935, in Dubuque, IA, to Bryce and Florence (Warren) Richie. He had one sister, who was two years younger than him. When he was 6 years old he moved with his parents and sister to Minneapolis, MN.
He purchased his first horse with the money he earned by working hard at several jobs. While his classmates spent their time in school sports, Corky spent his time before and after school at the arena with his horse where he learned to be a “cowboy.”
Corky joined the Air National Guard in So. St. Paul in July of 1958 and was honorably discharged in 1964.
He met his first love, Lucille Engeseth, and they were married on November 21, 1959. Three children were born of this union. During that time, Corky worked construction and joined the RCA rodeo association.
Lucille passed in 1975 from breast cancer. Corky stayed on the ranch, raising his three children, doing construction, and following his passion of rodeo.
In 1979, Corky met Sharon Grunewaldt Bethke of Clear Lake, who was a single mom with four daughters still at home. They were married October 3, 1980, blended their families and lived on the ranch near Tunnerville.
Corky spent many a summer evening helping young people who were in 4-H and high school rodeo. He was on the rodeo board of 4-H and High School rodeo in Watertown. Through a friend, he came out west where he met lifelong friends and other cowboys in the area.
Corky and Sharon started Richie Livestock Equipment, Inc. in 1983. He designed the pens and alleys for veterinary services.
Corky didn’t like crowds, but once you knew him he could spend hours talking about rodeo, ranching, cattle, hunting, or his family. He was a skilled farrier and trimmed and shoed his own horses. He also became an auctioneer.
Corky always looked forward to branding and hunting seasons. His retirement years were spent in Mobridge, where he and Sharon moved in September of 2019. He was a member of the Burger King coffee group and spent hours on the Bickel ranch at Trail City, riding the beautiful pastures with his grandchildren. He took his last ride on Newt, on October 18, 2023, and attended his last branding that year as well, roping and pulling calves to the branding pot.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mobridge.
Corky is survived by his wife Sharon; his children, Laurie (Bill) Bickel of Trail City, Leslie (Keith) Reuer of Reliance, Jason (Leslie) of Bristol, Vickie (Nick) Vigna of Phoenix, AZ, Lee(Pam) Bethke of Baltic, Lisa (Jim) Heyn of Watertown, Robyn (Rob) Frease of Clear Lake, and Melody (Vin) Perry of Bancroft; 22 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lucille Richie, daughter Michelle Bethke, son Rick Bethke, his parents, his sister Sharon Oberaigner, Walter and Retha Grunewaldt of Ethan, Wilma Grunewaldt of Mitchell, numerous aunts and uncles, and most recently his Corgi, Skye.
In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to youth rodeo in care of the Richie Family.
(Laurie Bickel’s address is P.O. Box 136, Trail City, SD 57657)