Richard Kent Anderson

Richard Kent Anderson, 78, of Thermopolis, Wyo., was found to have passed away unexpectedly on February 15, 2023. 

Richard was born September 26, 1944, in Lander, Wyo., the oldest of four sons, to the late Louise Klos formerly of Kirby, Wyo., and Richard Cleon Anderson, formerly of Cheyenne, Wyo. He graduated from Saint Stephens Indian School in St. Stephens, Wyo., and served in the US Army during the Vietnam War from 1966-1969, the recipient of several medals, including a National Defense Service Medal and a Purple Heart. He attended college at the University of Montana and Weatherford College in Texas. 

Richard married Marlene Boitano in June 1970 in Richmond, Calif., and to this union a daughter, Shiloh, was born; they divorced in 1982. He married Karen Hitchens in August 1992 in Doylestown, Pa., and to this union was born a son, Zachary, and a daughter, Victoria. The couple divorced in 2012.   

He started his career in the oil and gas industry in California working for Chevron USA and worked on the cleanup of the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989 before moving back to his home state of Wyoming in 1989. In Wyoming he fulfilled his dream of designing and building a log home in the Lucerne Valley on the outskirts of Thermopolis, WY.  He worked for the Wyoming Boys School in Worland, Wyo., and traveled to many project locations while working for The Industrial Company (TIC). He founded Anderson Inspection Service and TriCo Inspection Service both based in Thermopolis, Wyo. 

Richard was passionate about catch-and-release fly fishing, and his favorite pastime was fishing trout streams throughout Wyoming and Montana. He enjoyed science fiction and fantasy literature and was an animal lover to his Border Collies, cats, sheep, and horses. He dedicated much of his later years to guiding his children and grandchildren in their professional endeavors and managing his own startup business. 

Richard is survived by his former wife, Marlene Anderson of Prince Frederick, Md., their daughter Shiloh (Tony) of Charleston, S.C.; former wife, Karen Hitchens of Pittsburgh, Pa., their children Zachary of Norfolk, Va., and Victoria of New York, N.Y.; grandsons, Cody Lawrence (Taylor) of Douglas, Wyo., and Jory Anderson (Abby) of Wilmington, N.C.; great-grandson, Carson Lawrence of Currituck, N.C.; brothers, Terry (MaryLou) of DeSoto, Mo., Charles of Billings, Mont., and Gary (Sheri) of Fishtail, Mont.; and many nieces and nephews.     

A celebration of life will be planned for a later date.