Obituary of Frank Melvin RICHARDS

June 25, 1941 – Edwards County, Manitoba  
January 26, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Frank grew up on the farm near Wawota, Saskatchewan and is predeceased by his parents, Herbert and Mary (nee Kadulinska) Richards. He was born June 25, 1941 in Edwards County, Manitoba. He was predeceased by his siblings Walter, Violet (Bob) Moffitt, Elmer, Mary Ellen, and Ray (Shirley) Richards.  He will be deeply missed by his brothers Jimmy and Joe Richards, and his sisters Margaret (Gerry) Gilroy and Marjorie (Wayne) Deschambault and their families.  

Frank turned sixteen and with fifty bucks in his pocket took the bus to the big city of Regina. He heard there were buildings taller than a barn. He got a job building grain elevators until he turned eighteen and could work on the rigs. 

On his second hole, drilling in Lyalta, Alberta he met Gail Moen on her family farm where he was boarding. They were married on May 18th, 1963. Two girls followed, Heather Richards (Patrick Fitzgerald) and Glenda (Richard) Zamzow. 

Frank worked his way up from roughneck to tool push. He worked for High Tower Drilling, Drilco (Smith International) and Lee-Mason Tools, to name a few, before starting his own company, All-Fab Leasing. He successfully ran his company for over 28 years. 
Frank loved nature and was at his best around animals. He loved riding his favourite horse, Flash, in the mountains and being at hunting camp with his best friend Otto. Many great adventures were shared with friends and family over the years. 

Frank was larger than life and lived with gusto! He loved to laugh and always had a prank to pull or a joke to tell. He worked hard and he played hard. He skied fast. He loved golfing and in his prime had a handicap of three, made five holes in one, and his best round was a 69! In 1979 he became a member of Valley Ridge Golf Club and then moved to Country Hills Golf Club where he was a member for more than 25 years. 

Frank loved life and was blessed with almost 58 years of marriage. Frank and Gail loved their time in Arizona with family and friends, golf, meals shared, birding, travel, and were in their small group from Advent Lutheran Church for nearly 39 years. He loved and was so proud of his four grandchildren, Brittany & Anna Fitzgerald, and Marcus & Derek Zamzow. His face would light up and he had a twinkle in his eye when he spoke of them. 

Advanced Parkinson's, COPD, and pain led Frank to choose MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying). This gave us all the precious gift of time. Time to say goodbye. Time to reminisce, to laugh, and to cry together. A strange kind of beautiful. Surrounded by his loving family, Frank passed peacefully on January 26, 2021 at the age of 79. He is deeply missed. His light and love for life will live on through all who were fortunate enough to have known him. As written in his favorite song, we know he’ll be waiting on the “Far Side Banks of Jordan” drawing pictures in the sand. 

A Private Funeral Service will be held at Advent Lutheran Church on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m., with the opportunity to join the service live virtually at https://zoom.us/j/4835977957  Password: 569693 and for 7 days a recorded version will be available at https://vimeo.com/user35465755.  Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Frank’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com. 

If friends and family so desire, memorial tributes can be made directly to Camp Kuriakos www.kuriakos.ab.ca.  

In living memory of Frank Richards, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.