Rick Green

Richard Ren Green, 76, of Gordon, Nebraska died Saturday, September 30, at his home after a brief but valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.  

Rick was born on September 12th, 1947, to Neal and Gladys (Gustafson) Green in Gordon, Nebraska.  Rick grew up on the family farm 2 miles east of Gordon and fell in love with the outdoors.  Rick was followed in birth by his brother Ron and his sister Kay.  He attended East Pride Country School through the 8th grade and then entered Gordon High School in the fall of 1962.  Rick graduated from Gordon High School in the spring of 1966.

Rick was an above average student and because of a back injury he was forced to limit his athletic participation to track and field events.  He excelled as a runner and his relay team won a gold medal at state. He was known by all his classmates as a fun-loving guy who was never afraid to push the boundaries.  

After high school, Rick developed an interest in the emerging computer science field and attended Hiram Scott College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska and a short stint of studying with IBM in Kansas City, Missouri.  He was soon hired by the Army Air Force Exchange Service in Denver, Colorado as a computer operator and would spend the next 34 years working for the Military Exchange Service.  His work with the Government would eventually transfer him to various cities in the south.  From Denver, he first transferred to Montgomery, Alabama and then to Atlanta, Georgia and finally to Dallas, Texas.  Rick excelled in his work and received special recognition at the time of his retirement in 2002.

In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Kay Wheeler and Rick and Kay would eventually have two children, Kim in 1975 and Shelly in 1980.  Rick and Kay’s marriage ended 1986 while living in Dallas and Rick then married Camille Jamison of Dallas and they would be married for 31 years until Camille’s untimely death in 2017.  After a few years of bachelorhood, Rick started dating Marilyn Halverson of Gordon and the two married on September 4th, 2021.  

Rick had 3 great loves in his life.  Being raised in rural America he early on developed an unquenchable and life-long love for hunting and fishing.  At the time of his passing, he owned over 80 guns and rifles.  His third great love was flying.  Following in his father’s footsteps as a pilot in World War II, Rick started taking flying lessons while living in Denver in the late 60’s and never stopped learning and teaching others how to fly.  

Richard Ren Green never lost his love for life and life-experiences.  It’s not a stretch to say he has friends from all over America.  He was one who never waited for things to happen, but always made things happen.  He was a joy to work with and was consistently upbeat and supportive of all who knew him.

He is proceeded in death by his mother and father and his second wife Camille.

He leaves behind his wife Marilyn of Gordon, his two daughters Kim South of Gordon and Shelly Harding and husband Jason of Gordon.  His brother Ron and wife Libby of North Platte, Nebraska and his sister Kay and her husband Mark Mayer of Arizona. His grandchildren: Logan St. Germain of Gordon, Luke South of Arlington, TX., and James Harding of Gordon.  In addition, his stepchildren: Amy and husband Mike Pisha of Martin, SD., Justin and wife Stacey Meeks of Gordon, Jeremy and wife Jaymi Meeks of Dupree, SD., Jill and husband John Schaefer of Lisbon, IA. and Jacy and husband Josh Valandra of Ft. Thompson, SD.  Also, II step-grandsons and 6 step-great grandchildren and almost an infinite number of friends, relatives, and past co-workers.