Richard Struthers

Richard Donald Struthers, 78, of Idaho Falls, died November 8, 2017, at his home from kidney cancer. He was under the care of Hospice of Eastern Idaho.

Richard was born January 20, 1939, in Ames, Iowa, to Donald Kenyon Struthers and Helen Goodner Struthers. He grew up and attended schools in Des Moines and Spencer, Iowa, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. He also attended Drake University where he earned his Bachelors’s Degree in economics, and obtained his Masters in business administration from Governors State University in Illinois.

On January 28, 1961, he married Kathleen "Kit" Carr in Ames, Iowa. To this union were born two children, Scott and Kimberly. Richard and Kit made their home in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Richard worked as a manager at the Idaho National Lab.

He served two terms as a member of the Crete-Monee 201-U school board in Illinois. He was a founding member of Grand Teton Mediation Association in Idaho Falls.

He enjoyed scuba diving with his wife Kit, son Scott, and granddaughters Anna, Michelle and Ashley. His favorite places were Belize, Bonaire, Grand Turk, Fiji, and California. He enjoyed motorcycle touring in the U.S., New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia & Croatia, and Spain with Kit. Richard enjoyed fly fishing in Idaho, Montana and Belize. He enjoyed horseback riding with granddaughters Anna, Rachel and Michelle and teaching them to drive the tractor. It was his great joy to spend time with his grandchildren skiing, snowboarding, camping, scuba diving, horseback riding. Not to mention being the cool grandpa that the girls could call for any project they needed help with.

Richard is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Kit Struthers of Idaho Falls, ID; son, R. Scott (Jackie) Struthers of Escondido, CA; daughter, Kimberly (Michael) Carpenter of Idaho Falls, ID; granddaughter, Michelle Struthers; grandson, Justin Owings; granddaughter, Ashley Owings; granddaughter, Anna (Ram) Flores; granddaughter, Rachel (Caleb) Clement; great grandchildren, Cam Flores, Josie Flores, Colton Davis; brother, Roger (Mary Lou) Struthers of Port Ludlow, WA; brother, C Kenyon (Karen) Struthers of Nutrioso, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Kenyon Struthers, and mother, Helen Struthers.

Special recognition to Dr. Brad Adams and the professional, thoughtful, and caring nurses and support staff at Teton Cancer Institute. Also, the nurses from Advanced Home Health, especially Tilliya Pettingill, R. N., who was here with us many times, and Mary Buttolph, our son-in-law's sister, for her loving help and care in these final weeks.

An informal gathering for family and friends will be planned for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Hospice of Eastern Idaho, 1810 Moran St., Idaho Falls, ID 83401 or Grand Teton Mediation Association, PO Box 51165, Idaho Falls, ID 83405.

Private Family Gathering will be held. He passed away on