Richard Nelson Pinkston passed away June 26, 2012 at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 81. Richard was born September 3, 1930, on a farm in Radium, Kansas to Oscar "OC" and Clara (Richards) Pinkston. Richard was the middle child of three children.

Shortly after Richard's birth, his family moved to a farm near Monument, Kansas where his father was a sharecropper. Growing up, Richard helped his dad farm, and graduated from Monument High School in 1948. He was very competitive and excelled in baseball and basketball in high school. After high school, he served in the US Marine Corp from 1951 through 1953. Richard was an excellent marksman, from his love of hunting, and was promoted to corporal in 1952, and was selected to become a marksman instructor in the Marines.

Upon Richard's return from the Marines, he married Rosalee June Beckman on September 15, 1954 in Oakley, Kansas, and settled on the family farm near Monument. He was a loving husband and great father and to this union three children were born: Debbie, Rick and Rhonda. He worked hard on the farm over the years and as a result, moved from sharecropper to farm owner. Richard never settled for being an average farmer and rancher. He always strived for excellency, working from sun up to sun down, NEVER cut corners, and took extreme pride in his wheat and milo crops and his home grown herd of cattle. As a result these hard working values were instilled into his children, for which they are extremely thankful. He always led by example exhibiting respect, honesty, hard work and pride in his life.

Richard was a family and religious man and a member, deacon and trustee of the Oakley Christian Church. Richard always stood for what was right and never wavered from that. He made sure his children attended church every Sunday, so they too had the opportunity to know God, and always led prayer before every meal. He was actively engaged in all his children's lives and was the ultimate role model by setting an example, encouraging them, attending all their sports activities and helping them with 4-H projects throughout their childhood and teen years. Richard and Rosalee loved to square dance and get together with friends and play cards.

Richard was a wildlife conservationist and loved to hunt. He was on the ground floor of the Kansas Hunter's Safety Program becoming one of the first Kansas Hunter Safety Instructors in 1973. He served as an instructor in Logan County until 1996. Richard was known as one of the best shots around the community, winning many turkeys at trap shoots. Many times, as witnessed by his son, he would drop four pheasants in four shots. On another occasion, out of his pickup window while not completely stopped, he shot a juvenile rattlesnake as it hurriedly slithered across the dirt road in one shot with his 22 rifle! He also loved to go elk hunting in Colorado, quail hunting in Oklahoma, and duck and goose hunting with his friends.

In March, 2006, Richard and Rosalee moved from the farm to Oakley; and then in December of 2010, they moved to Wichita. Richard loved to give back to the community, spend time with his friends drinking coffee at local gathering places, and visiting with his family and grandchildren. He served on numerous boards and committees including Monument High School Alumni Board, Oakley High School Board, Oakley Booster Club, ASCS Community Committee for Monument Township, and Oakley Christian Church Board. Richard received the Soil and Water Banker's Award in 1985 for conserving water and soil by implementing terrace systems on his land.

Richard will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.