Long time resident of Oak Harbor, Dick Knoche died last Monday following a brief illness. He retired from the US Army as a Sargent Major and from a second career as an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance Group. He and his wife Betty have resided in Oak Harbor since 1994.

Dick was an active member of the Whidbey Island Golf and Country Club and an avid golfer until a golf cart accident sidelined his golfing. He and Betty also enjoyed bowling in a league at Island Bowl.

He met Betty as a widow with two young daughters while attending a party when stationed at Fort Lewis in 1956. They married when stationed in Virginia, the first of many duty stations throughout their 55 years of married life. As an Army recruiter their travels included Nederland and El Paso,Texas; Okinawa; Detroit, Mich.; Chicago, Ill.; Korea and ending in Vancouver, Wash.

He then started a second career as an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance Group which eventually brought them to Oak Harbor. In both careers he was well respected by his colleagues and peers, receiving honors and awards based on his performance and strong work ethic. He will be remembered by many for his friendship, sense of humor, and always wanting to know “what’s the happenings?”

Dick was preceded in death by his father, Jack Knoche; his mother, Ethel Greenwalt; stepfather, Albert Greenwalt and sister, Dorothy Knoche. He is survived by his wife Betty, son Richard (Di) Knoche Jr. recently of La Conner; daughters Linda Lee (Kenneth) Schroder of Marysville; Sue (Dean) Bohne of Chicago, Ill. and Trina (Jeff) Linabary of Great Falls, Mont.; grand children Brandy (Will) Kraemer of St. Louis; Sarah Balam of Stanwood; Ronee (Eric) Parsons of Olympia; Jasmine (Nate) Chute of Marysville, Calif., Jenaveve Linabary of Idaho Falls; Dwight (Geri) Bohne of Chicago; Dwayne (Becky) Bohne of Florida; grand-dogs Sadee and Kylee of Great Falls; Max, Codie and Zoe of Chicago; great- grand children Benjaman, Sabrina, Kaylee and Elvis and brother Charles Knoche of California. He is also survived by an extensive extended family and many, many dear friends.

A military burial is being arranged at Tahoma National Cemetery. A celebration of Richard’s life was held Friday, Jan. 4 at Whidbey Island Golf and Country Club for family and friends.