Richard Schell

God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker”. So God made a farmer.

Richard F. Schell, 87, of Sterling passed away June 28, 2025, in Sterling, Colorado. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 2nd at Tennant Funeral Home from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. with Rosary and Vigil services following at 6 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, July 3rd at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery.

Richard Schell was born on December 25, 1937, in Sterling, Colorado to John and Rose (Schmitt) Schell. At an early age, his father christened him with the nickname “Dyke”. He attended St. Anthony’s school through 8th grade and then Iliff High School where he played basketball and baseball. He continued his athletic career playing fast pitch softball as a 3rd baseman for Baney Well Service where he made many lifelong friends. He was drafted into the Army where he served 2 years in Nuremberg, Germany. After his discharge, he started his farming career north of Sterling. On September 14, 1963, he married Judith Roth at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Sterling. They had two sons, Wayne and Steve. After 40 years of farming, he officially retired, although he still enjoyed helping his brother and nephew with harvest. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and took his sons and grandson to Seward, Alaska where they caught a freezer full of halibut and salmon.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Judy, his sons Wayne (Susie) and Steve (Christy), siblings John (Florence), Jim (Mary), Pat Louderbach (Dewey), Don (Kris), Robert (Jeanna), sisters-in-law Rosie Schell and Pam Schell, brother-in-law Ed Koester, and grandchildren Tyler and Kaitie.

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Rose Schell, brothers Jake Schell and Jerome Schell, and sister Pam Koester.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Richard Schell Memorial Fund c/o Tennant Funeral Home, PO Box 1547, Sterling, CO 80751.