Richard Lavern Blodgett

Richard Lavern Blodgett, born September 8, 1923, in Worthington, Missouri, to his parents, James Paris Blodgett and Polly Ann Haynes Blodgett, passed away on December 17, 2018, in the Northeast Regional Medical Center after a short illness.

Richard married his current wife, Betty June Main Carolus, in Des Moines on December 27, 1963.

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty June, and their 8 children, Ethlyn Blodgett, Melvin and Michelle Blodgett, Richard J. Blodgett all of Des Moines, Iowa, Evelyn and Dennis Jerde of Clive, Iowa, Pamela and Harold Harvey of Martinstown, Missouri, James and Laurie Carolus of Des Moines, Iowa, Sherry and Ronald Slaughter of Queen City, Missouri, and Robert and Tina Carolus of Miami, Oklahoma. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Christina Reidel, Karlos and Jamie Kirby, Ronnie Thomas, Emily and Sarah Blodgett, Christopher Harvey, Heather Lampke, Jamie and Rick Carolus, Ryan Slaughter, Tiffany Newland, LaChrista McBride, Robert Carolus, Amanda Carolus, Ben Rodrigez and his numerous great-grandchildren. Richard is survived by his older sister Lillie Blodgett Elsea of Wentzville, Missouri.

Richard is predeceased by his siblings Victor, Faye, and J. D. Blodgett, as well as Cecil, Basil, George, and Susie Minnix.

In his late teens Richard joined and was a proud member of the C.C.C. He attended school in Worthington, Missouri until this time, but obtained his 8 ^th grade equivalency while in the C.C.C.  During his time in the C.C.C. he helped construct the park in Trenton, work on bridges, roads, and buildings. Later Richard worked in the wheat fields, and on farms and ranches out west until he returned to Des Moines, Iowa where was a mechanic by trade working for Continental Trailways as a bus mechanic until 1973 when he moved his family to Worthington, Missouri. Richard owned and operated the local gas station in Worthington, farmed and raised cattle until he retired and moved with his wife, Betty, to the Queen City community where he spent the rest of his life.

Richard enjoyed attending the Coffee Club in Queen City where he would visit with his friends and enjoyed refreshments provided by the Coffee Club ladies. He loved family get togethers where he could spend time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Richard had a lot of stories that he enjoyed sharing with his family and friends and entertained the nurses at Northeast Regional Medical Center with his wit until the end.

Visitation with the family will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday (December 21, 2018) with a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at the Dooley Funeral Home, Queen City, MO.

Arrangements under the direction of Dooley Funeral Home, Queen City, MO; www.davisplaylehudsonrimer.com