Richard Loren 'Dick' Basse

Richard Loren "Dick" Basse, 91, passed away at the home of his son Richard Jr. in Eagle, Idaho, on September 11, 2019. He was able to spend the last two months of his life surrounded by family in home hospice, a labor of love and honor by many.

Dick was born on a farm outside Harrison, Neb., on September 21, 1927, to August Emil Basse and Margaret Belle (Leeling) Basse. Dick, weighing 4 1/2 lbs., was delivered by his father and placed in a warm cook stove oven for the first several hours of his life. He attended schools in Harrison, graduating from Sioux County High School with the class of 1945. Dick enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1946 where he served until 1948 when he joined the Air Force Reserve. He was honorably discharged from military service on September 19, 1952.

Dick married Norma June Pierce in Chadron, Neb., on January 14, 1949. Dick and June lived in Chappell, Neb., Glenwood Springs and Eagle, Colo., and Rawlins Wyo., before Dick's job as a rural electrification lineman brought him to Thermopolis in 1951. Dick lived in Thermopolis for the rest of his life until illness prompted his last move to Eagle Idaho.

Dick and June have four children, Richard (Virginia) of Eagle, Idaho, Cathy (Ron) Lance of Laramie, Keith (Cindy) and Brad (Leslie) of Thermopolis. Lynne (Jeff) Milton of Dubois was informally adopted during her high school years and remains a part of the family.

Dick was employed by R.N. Campsey Construction at the time of his move to Thermopolis in 1941. After completion of the transmission line project that terminated in Thermopolis, Dick was employed by Farmers Union Oil as well as T.E. Delaney Electric – both full time jobs – working nights at Murphy Dome for Farmers Union and days as an electrician for T.E. Delaney. In 1956, Dick along with partner Jack Eaton bought out T.E. Delaney forming Jack and Dick's Electric. In 1965 Dick and June became the sole owners of Jack and Dick's Electric which is now a third-generation family owned company known as JADECO, Inc. Dick and June operated the company until their retirement in 1995.

Throughout his life Dick enjoyed many hobbies and pursuits including camping in the Big Horn Mountains, boating on Boysen reservoir and spending time at the cabin on Brooks creek. One common thread to all these activities was a love for fishing. Dick was also an avid snowmobiler. Dick and June enjoyed traveling around the West to visit family as well as internationally.

Dick was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church and was a member of St. Paul Lutheran in Thermopolis for 68 years. He held many offices in the congregation and was especially proud of helping construct the new church as his health allowed. Dick was a member of the Lions club and a past board member of the Wyoming Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

Dick is survived by his four children; 9 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren; Lynne and her 3 children and 3 grandchildren; sister, Doris (Bill) Toliver of Newcastle; sister in-law Sharon Basse of Dayton; and his faithful canine companion, Sam.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife June; his parents; sister, Flora Jean (Basse) Drumright; and brother and best friend Laverne "Vern" Basse.

Funeral services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Thermopolis at 10 a.m. on Saturday October 19 with internment of cremains following at Riverside Cemetery, Pastor Samuel Needham officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke's Hospice at 3330 E. Louise Dr., Meridian, ID 83642, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Frontier Hospice through Friends of Hospice Lander/Riverton, 230 North 1st St., Lander, WY 82520, and Nash's Furever Haus – fureverhaus.org.