William "Bill" Ricken

William "Bill" Joseph Ricken was born on a bright and beautiful Sunday, March 27, 1955 in Pocatello, Idaho and passed peacefully into eternity on another bright and beautiful Sunday, December 7, 2014 in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Born to very proud parents Alvin H. and Tommie Lou Vaughan Ricken, he was one of five children.

From the git-go Bill was truly unique – he would sleep through the night. And true to his personality, he'd rise in morning to demand his share of attention from the world. As a child he continued to be unique and demanding, bringing home every stray animal he could "rescue" – cats, dogs, pigeons, lizards, and every frog he and his brother Ed could catch. On one occasion he rescued a pond full of frogs, and concerned that he'd have to take them back, stashed them in the kitchen freezer next to his Dad's prized trout.

Bill was active in the Boy Scouts where he learned to love camping with his favorite Scoutmaster Jim Martin. Throughout his life his love for animals and the outdoors grew even stronger. As he grew up he limited himself to just one favorite animal, a dog named Bear. In the last few years of Bill's life he rescued a tomcat who thought he was a dog and, like Bill, brought animals home, although they weren't necessarily rescued.

Bill attended St. Joseph's Catholic Elementary, St. Jude's Elementary (Havre, Montana), and Alameda Middle School. He graduated from Highland High School, Class of 1974, and attended ISU Technical School. After ISU-TS Bill signed on with the Union Pacific and held the position of a brakeman/switchman.

Bill married his sweetheart LaNae Brower on July 23, 1976 in Hailey. They were married for 38 years. Bill and LaNae have two children and a grandson. They are Holly Ricken-Flynn, who also attended ISU and finished her bachelor's at BSU and now lives in Meridian where she is the RN Coordinator and Liaison between Micron and St. Alphonsis Hospital. Their son Willy Ricken is an accomplished independent contractor specializing in granite countertops and successfully plies his trade both locally and regionally. Their grandson Hayden Flynn, 14, attends Meridian High School. He is an "Outlaw Kart" race car driver with winning records throughout the area and Montana, Nevada and California.

While Bill loved Idaho, he and LaNae spent winters in Fort Mohave, AZ where he truly enjoyed the warmer winter for the holidays. Each Thanksgiving was shared for years with his youngest sister Barb, her husband Jeff Talbert, and his niece "Tiny Tina," who at two years old affectionately nicknamed him "Uncle Cat Face." She still called him that nineteen years later. He returned each spring to Mackay to camp, fish, and enjoy "his Idaho." Bill was a big man with a big heart and an even bigger laugh. He made friends easily and loved them like family. If you were his friend he would do anything for you. He truly enjoyed riding his Harley and claimed to be "a fat boy on a fat boy." Now he's riding tall with the wind in his hair.

Bill is survived by his wife LaNae, daughter Holly Ricken-Flynn, son Willy Ricken, grandson Hayden Flynn, mother Tommie Lou Ricken, brothers Mike and Ed (Raynette) Ricken, sisters Roxane Ricken and Barbara Talbert her husband Jeff and his nieces Tina Talbert, Kelly Ricken and Erin Ricken, and Erin's daughters Tori and Lyric. We all shared a wonderful world with you, Bill, one that is diminished by your passing. We will miss you.
Funeral services for Bill will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2014 at Wilks Funeral Home 211 W. Chubbuck Road. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the funeral home. Interment will follow services in the Mountain View Cemetery. Immediately following graveside services the family welcomes friends at a celebration of life that will be held at the Elks Lodge at 410 S. Main Street in Pocatello. Condolences may be sent to the family online at wilksfuneralhome.com.