Richard ("Rich") Frederick Strain's spirit "lifted off" from this Earth peacefully on May 3, 2025, at Sacred Heart Hospital following complications from a recent stroke. His wife Colleen was at his side.

Born in Walla Walla, WA on 4-28-44 to parents Helen Elizabeth and Frederick Selah Strain, Richard was raised in Pomeroy, WA, a farm boy at heart. His sense of rhythm and love of dancing may have been engrained, as he was transported as a young boy from one grange hall to another by his parents as part of the Strain Family Band. As a first grader, little did Richard know that the girl standing next to him in the class picture would one day be his high school sweetheart and wife of 60 years. Growing up, Richard played all the sports and took over the running of the family farm as a teenager after his father's early death. Following graduation from PHS in 1962, Richard attended WSU and while there, he and Colleen Byers were married in 1964. Their daughter Susan Andrea was born in 1965, as was a lifelong Coug allegiance.

Rich and Colleen completed their student teaching in Moses Lake, WA. He pivoted into a career in insurance after training in Tacoma, WA and a move to Yakima with United Pacific Insurance as an underwriter. In Yakima, son Michael Richard was born in 1968. The family moved to Sunnyside, WA in 1971 and Richard joined the Ash Pearce Agency, which he later purchased and operated as Lower Valley Brokers, Inc as an independent agent. Richard was known in the Yakima Valley as a trustworthy businessman to his many clients and friends. A bonus of his business career were the many industry trips he and Colleen were able to make around the world, including Hawaii, Yugoslavia, Hong Kong, Bermuda, and Canada. Always a lover of travel and the open road, Richard often piled the family into the car for Sunday afternoon drives with no particular destination in mind but to enjoy exploring somewhere new. Family trips to the Oregon Coast, Spirit Lake and Hawaii were part of those child raising years. A lover of the sun, warmth, and Hawaii, Rich and Colleen enjoyed a month a year on Maui for several years as empty nesters. Motor home travel came into play when grandchildren Andrew and Caroline arrived on the scene, followed by a lake place in Coeur d'Alene to boat, jet ski, and pull kids around on the tube. After CDA came several winters in Florence, AZ where Rich loved the desert heat, landscape, hikes, and the pool.

Richard was an active member of his community. In Sunnyside, he served as a Rotarian for many years, was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Parish (and a "go to guy" for anything the parish or school needed). He was an elected PUD commissioner, a Port Commissioner and served as a member of the Yakima Federal Savings and Loan Bank for 43 years.  Rich and Colleen traveled for a medical mission to Vietnam with two dear friends and Rich cleaned instruments for cleft palate repairs. Another club Richard obtained perhaps the most enjoyment from was his involvement in the "Bridge Club," a mix of several friends who ostensibly got together to play Bridge but actually visited, laughed, partied, and supported one another through many years and milestones.  A hand or two of Bridge may have indeed been played. Rich worked hard and left his work at work, always attending his children's sports, music, neighborhood and school events.

In 1999, Rich and Colleen moved to Yakima, WA and lived in the Aspen Village neighborhood. Always a water lover, Rich loved their view of the lake and the sound of the waterfall out of their back door. He was tickled to take grandson Bodhi out for spins in the paddleboat. One may notice a water theme here--ocean, lake, waterfall, pool, and most recently---river. Rich and Colleen had just recently moved to Riverview Retirement Community in Spokane, WA and enjoyed the view of the Spokane River flowing by. Rich was as comfortable under the water as he was above it. A master scuba diver, he completed many dives, mostly in Hawaii, but also in Bermuda, Tahiti, and around the state of Washington. Rich's idea of the most magical place on Earth was underwater at the back side of Molokini.  He had the strongest stomach of anyone we knew…never seasick, always smiling. He willingly rode any carnival ride, white water raft, or hot air balloon.

Rich had an interest in geology, cars, and architecture. He knew the history of land formations on many hikes, was known to have dropped by the car dealership on the way home from work and ended up with a new car (on a fairly regular basis) and built a home for his mother next door to his family on the Sunnyside lot. The man had an eye for measurement, being early or on-time, furniture arranging and picture hanging. He was a reader with an easy going "go with the flow" gentle and generous personality. His light-hearted sense of humor and friendly personality lightened the room and provided a calming presence to those around him. As an only child, Rich embraced the large Byers family that he married into and stayed in touch with Colleen's siblings, their spouses, and nieces and nephews. One of his greatest joys was time spent and conversation shared with his wife, children and grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Colleen Strain, daughter Susan Herzog and her husband Michael J. Herzog, son Michael Strain and his wife Alicia Strain, and grandchildren Andrew Irwin-Herzog and his wife Emma Irwin-Herzog, Caroline Herzog Davey and her husband Andrew Davey, and Bodhi Strain.

In honor of Richard's fondness for the Hawaiian ocean, land, culture and music, we invite those attending Richard's service to wear a Hawaiian shirt or attire or a flower in your hair. The celebration of life will include a funeral mass at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center Chapel, 6910 S. Ben Burr Road in Spokane, WA on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. with a luncheon to follow on site.  Blank cards will be provided to write a memory of what Rich meant to you to share with the family.