Loretta J. Richmond, 88, passed gently out of this life Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018 with family at her side. She lived at North Star Retirement Community in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho for the past two years with her husband, Maynard “Rich” Richmond.
Born Oct. 16, 1929, Loretta Jean Ferguson was the first child for Murdo and Wenonah (Boyce) Ferguson. Joined later by a brother, Murdo Lawrence “Larry” Ferguson, they grew up in a loving family in Owosso, Mich. She later said that growing up during the Great Depression and World War II taught them courage and responsibility.
In fourth grade, Loretta learned to play trumpet and said it was the most enjoyable time of her young life. She continued to play in the Owosso High School concert, marching and swing bands. After high school, she attended Michigan State College and then Gregg College in Chicago for secretarial training.
On Aug. 19, 1951, Loretta married Maynard, also an Owosso native, at her parents’ home, and they began life together as an Air Force family. Military assignments took them to live in numerous places: State College, Pa.; Wichita, Kan.; Dayton, Ohio; Madrid, Spain; Rantoul, Ill.; and Los Angeles, Calif. In Spain, she loved shopping in downtown Madrid, weekly tours of the Prado Museum, and visiting Toledo, Segovia, Alhambra, Granada and Barcelona. The time was during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco; Loretta recalled an occasion where she met Mrs. Franco, describing her as a beautiful, charming and elegant lady.
In her early employed years, Loretta worked at the Michigan State Conservation Department and then Gregg College, where the director hired her as his secretary after she graduated there. She used her shorthand skills for the rest of her life, apparently for efficiency, but sometimes her children suspected secrecy. In later years, she worked for Teleflora, Continental Airlines, Epson Computers, and Local Data, as executive secretary or assistant to the president.
In 1989, Loretta and Rich retired and moved from the Redondo Beach/Torrance area of California to Atascadero, loving their B’Longa Lorich “house-on-a-hill” for nearly 18 years. In 2006, they moved to Whidbey Island to be near children. In 2015, another move took them to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to again be near their daughter.
Throughout her life, Loretta served others by volunteering in many organizations, beginning with Family Services on Air Force bases. She held board positions in Loaves & Fishes, the Atascadero Historical Society, and in local churches where they lived. She was also a charter member of the San Luis Obispo Chapter of Assistance League. This organization was especially close to her heart because of the help it provided to children in need; over the years she held several board positions there. In Washington, Loretta was invited to join the P.E.O. philanthropic organization. In Idaho, she continued her membership and truly enjoyed participating in meetings she was able to attend.
Loretta always had an affinity for beautiful things, and a flair for arranging items into lovely displays, whether it was flowers from her garden, a lavishly set table, a renowned artist’s work, or the perfect accessory for an outfit.
Loretta is survived by her husband; her daughter Lynda (Richmond) Glassmoyer of Post Falls, Idaho; sons Kirk (Teresa) Richmond of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Mark (Michelle) Richmond of Batavia, Ill.; and Eric (Karen) Richmond of Langley; 12 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, seven nephews and three nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother.
To share a memory with the family, please visit www.yatesfuneralhomes.com
