Richard Hart

Richard Warren "Dick" Hart, 75, of Lewiston, Idaho, died Thursday June 1, 2017, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston after fighting leukemia and related ailments for almost four years.

Dick was born July 22, 1941 in Jerome, Idaho to Arthur William Hart and Anne Mae Hart (née Pugh). He attended Jerome High School and, throughout his military career, attended multiple military academies.

Dick enlisted in the Army in July, 1959 where he served mainly in radio and telephone communications. After leaving the Army in 1965, he returned to Idaho to spend a year working with the US Forest Service. In 1966 he returned to the military, this time the Air Force, where he served as a radio communications specialist, a training technician, recruiter, first sergeant, and senior enlisted advisor. His assignments included Georgia, Oklahoma, Germany, Korea, Mississippi, Montana, Washington, Turkey, Idaho, England, and North Dakota.

He retired from the Air Force in 1990 with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. His combined military service totals 31 years.

His military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with three oak leaf clusters, including service in Vietnam.

After a prestigious military career, Dick continued to serve veterans as the Veterans Advisor at Idaho Job Service in Lewiston for 15 years before retiring again in 2005.

After retirement he joined Lewis Clark ATV Club and spent many happy hours riding with the group. He spent summers camping, fishing, cleaning atv trails, and sitting around the campfire making memories and good friends. He made several 2 week long atv trips pulling a trailer along the Magruder Corridor, along the Montana-Idaho border, and in the mountains around Moab, Utah.

He loved spending time with his grandchildren who were the highlight of his life. He loved them all and was amazed by them. They filled his heart with so much laughter and pride. He loved his family and spending time with them was his vacation of choice. He and Charlette made several trips across country to see family in Illinois, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He never met a stranger and often would invite them home. He made lasting friends easily and always had a huge smile to greet you.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Charlette Hart (née Kitchens); his children, Josie Hart Ka'anehe of Honolulu, Hawaii, Arthur Hart of the USA, and Vern Hart of Salt Lake City; his grandchildren, Ashley Cha of Buckeye, Arizona, Mikela Caseria of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Giovanni Ka’anehe of Honolulu, Hawaii, Nate Hart of Lewiston, Hannah Hart of the USA, Emily Hart of Logan, Utah, Valaya Hart of Salt Lake City, and Christopher Hart of Salt Lake City; his great-grandson, Kenni Malosi Cha of Buckeye, Arizona; his brother, Robert W. Hart of Mountain Home; his sister, Anne Walgamott of Jerome;  and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur William Hart and Annie Mae Hart, by his daughter, Valena Hart, and by his sisters, Leona Harding, Lois Murray, Edith Brooks, and Ethel Klepe.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 10, 2017, 12 noon at Farnsworth Mortuary, 1343 S. Lincoln Ave., Jerome, Idaho.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Dick's memorial webpage at www.farnsworthmortuary.com.