Dretha Mae Richards

Dretha Mae Richards (82) was called home to heaven on Thursday, March 13, 2025, to be at peace with her Savior, joining her beloved husband, Gary Richards (04/29/2017), her great-grandson, Arthur Heyer (02/18/2025), her parents, Frank (03/14/1989) and Vera (07/11/2006) Gaddy, and all of the other family members who have gone before her.

Dretha was born March 11, 1943, in San Bernardino, CA. She grew up in the mountains of Big Bear Lake, CA. Her father was a forest ranger and her mother managed the local five and dime store. Dretha has one sister, Eileen (05/16/1995), and two brothers, Duane and Dennis. Dretha graduated from Big Bear High School in 1961. In high school, she met the love of her life, Gary Richards. While Gary went to Navy Boot Camp in San Diego, CA, Dretha attended Skadron’s College of Business in San Bernardino, CA. They married on December 16, 1961, at Big Bear. They were married 56 years before Gary was called home to heaven. They raised 3 daughters, Kellie, Tracy, and Jackie, settling in Yucaipa, CA, in the foothills of the mountains they loved. They joined Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Yucaipa and were baptized and confirmed as adults. Growing to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior was very important to them and the foundation of their family. Gary worked for the United States Post Office for 20 years. Dretha was a homemaker while the girls were small, then worked in the Yucaipa Public Schools Food Service as the high school lunch lady several years. They were active in their church, community events, and the local 4-H club. They lived in Yucaipa for many years but always considered Big Bear Lake home and enjoyed vacationing there.

Dretha loved her family immensely. She especially enjoyed sharing meals, holidays, and visits with family and friends and always told everyone to “drive careful” when they left (her way of saying, ‘I love you”). She was an avid seamstress, making many clothes for herself and the girls, including wedding dresses. In her retirement years, Dretha began quilting. She thoroughly enjoyed it and put much love into each creation. She made approximately 30 beautiful quilts over the years for family and friends.

Gary and Dretha moved to Folsom, CA, in 2015. Jackie’s family lived there also. After Gary passed away in 2017, Dretha had a stroke, and her health declined. In October 2020, she moved to Onalaska, WI, to live with Dean and Tracy. She was able to spend her remaining years at home with family and being cared for by loved ones.

We are thankful for her faith, guidance, and unconditional love over the years and rejoice that she is now at peace in her heavenly home. Dretha is survived by her daughters, Kellie (Deven) Thackeray, Tonopah, NV; Tracy (Dean) Heyer, Onalaska, WI; and Jackie Richards, Eagle, ID, 12 grandchildren, whom she loved with all her heart, and 7 great-grandsons, whom she could still see with love in her mind’s eye even when her own eyesight failed.

She is also survived by two brothers, Duane (Donna) Gaddy, Rochester, WA, Dennis (Jeanette) Gaddy, Pahrump, NV, and many nieces and nephews.

A joint memorial service will be held for Dretha Richards and her great-grandson, Arthur Heyer, who passed away at the age of 5 on February 18, 2025, from neuroblastoma cancer. He was a smart, loving, funny, inquisitive, courageous boy whom we will miss forever, but are comforted knowing he is at peace with Jesus and his pain and suffering is over.

Friends and family are invited to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Nodine, MN, on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 11:00am. Pastor Ethan Boese will officiate. Memorials may be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church or Ronald McDonald House, Rochester, MN.