Richard Molko

Funeral services for RICHARD MOLKO, 90, will be held at 10am Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Richard died in the early morning hours of December 24, 2011. A memorial has been established to the Torrington Senior Friendship Center. Visitation will be Tuesday from 3pm to 7pm and the casket will be open briefly following the services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and friends may send condolences to the family at www.colyerfuneralhome.com. Richard was born October 5, 1921 in Lincoln, Nebraska the son of Henry and Katherine Marie (Schmall) Molko. At a young age the family moved to Goshen County, Wyoming where they farmed around Lingle, Torrington, Huntley, Veteran, and Yoder. Richard like most depression era farm children worked hard topping beets, windrowing, and bucking hay and the other farm chores as well. He was the second of five sons and was the one who loved helping his mom. He learned baking and cooking form her and was a big help to her with their growing family. His love for baking brownies, cookies, and pies never diminished. He attended several country schools in Goshen County and finished his schooling at the Veteran School. In 1944 Richard headed to Alliance, Nebraska where he began working for the Burlington Northern Railroad. In 1947 he came back home and worked for his father, older brother Harold as well as other farmers in the area. He was also part of a combine crew that traveled the Midwest during harvest time. He moved to South Dakota and worked to his brother Harold for a short time but headed to California on the last day of 1951. Richard went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad in southern California as a brakeman and switchman. In 1960 he married Marie McKnight and along with her daughter Peggy Ann, they made their home in El Monte, California. They were later divorced. One month short of thirty years with the Union Pacific Railroad but with over thirty years total between the two rail companies, Richard retired and moved back to Torrington to be a companion to his father. He maintained his love of farming and that was evident as he loved his flower garden and shared that love with the Senior Friendship Center. Richard is survived by two nieces from his brother Henry, Cindy Sharp and her husband Ron of Nampa, Idaho, and Diane Brumbaugh and her husband Dave of Meridian, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents; and four brothers LeRoy, Don, Henry, and Harold. His goal was to live longer than his father and brothers and he did just that. Thank you to Jim and Connie Addy his good neighbors for so many years. Your watchful eyes as well as those of the staff of the Senior Friendship Center, and those of you who were close to him made his life better. Thank you to the staff and residents of Evergreen Court who have made Richard so comfortable and showed so much care and concern for him for the last two and a half years. Thank you also to the nurses and staff of the Goshen Care Center and the Community Hospital for your tenderness and care given to Richard during these last few months.

Richard Molko

October 5, 1921 - December 24, 2011