Richard Russell Yeo, 90, “went to be with the Lord” in the early morning hours on Feb. 26, 2015, in Kalispell. His wife was by his side.
Richard was born to Marian Litelia Francisco and Russell Usher Yeo on Nov. 5, 1924, in Big Rapids, Michigan. He joined his older sister, Bonnie Jean. After graduating High School, Richard joined the U.S. Navy. During WWII, he served on the USS Welles (DD628), a Gleaves-class destroyer, and on the USS Bennington, an aircraft carrier. He was stationed in the Pacific and served as an electrician.
Richard put his G.I. Bill to good use. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1950 and a master’s degree in botany and plant pathology in 1952 from Michigan State University. In 1959 he received his Ph.D in plant genetics and soils from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis. During his years of study, Richard met, fell in love with and married Phyllis Rosencrans. By the time Richard received his Ph.D, he was the father of two sons, Mark and Clayton, and a daughter, Janice.
Richard was very involved in Boy Scouts during this time and even more so when his boys were in Scouting. From 1957 until his retirement in 1986, Richard worked for the USDA, Agricultural Research Service in Huntley, Montana, and Davis, California. Sadly in May 1978, after 31 years of marriage, Richard’s wife, Phyllis, passed away. He found a new soulmate in Linda Tracy.
They were married on Nov. 4 of that year. In marrying Linda, Richard became the father of Sean, 8, and Heather, 6. He soon adopted them as his own. Richard now shared his love of the outdoors with his new family. As he had done with his own children, they went camping, fishing, and hunting. In 1988 Richard and Linda moved to Kalispell. Richard was now retired and able to enjoy his much-earned retirement. He and Linda spent hours working on their new project, clearing out an area for a flower garden and another area for a big vegetable garden. When not planting or weeding, they were off to Hungry Horse Reservoir for a weekend of camping and fishing.
Richard suffered a bout with prostate cancer and came to have compassion for those suffering from cancer. He began raising mini roses to use in the dried mini-rose baskets he would make and donate to the Oncology Department at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. On each basket was a little tag with the Bible reference from Jeremiah 17:14, “Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed.” It was his way to share the Lord with those special, never-met people sharing a common disease.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Russell and Marion Yeo; sister, Bonnie Jean McDuffie, and his daughter, Janice Merritt. Richard is survived by his wife, Linda; sons, Mark of Victoria, Texas, Clayton of Davis, California, and Sean Yeo of Phoenix, Arizona; and daughter, Heather Crowell of Kalispell. He is also survived by grandchildren, Ryan and Cinjon Yeo of Texas; Wesley Merritt, Crystal and Jenny of California; Mark Yeo, Nicole Sorter, Jessica and Summer of California, Baron and Brittany Moon and Devin, Andrew and Phillip Crowell of Kalispell, and great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at Easthaven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road, Kalispell.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family