Les Richardson

Les Richardson December 11, 1935 - March 27, 2025 Les Richardson passed away peacefully on the morning of Thursday, March 27, 2025. He was born in Spokane, Washington, on December 11, 1935, to George and Melissa Richardson. A devoted family man, Les was married to his wife Donna for 68 years, and had two sons, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Les was a man of many talents, excelling in photography, woodworking, welding, and just about any type of repair work. He had a passion for playing the trumpet and was an early computer enthusiast, building his first computer from scratch and manually inputting programs using symbols. He was also an amateur ham radio operator. On November 10, 1956, Les married the love of his life, Donna. As Donna put it, “It was her and him against the world.” In 1961, they moved to Wenatchee, Washington, where they had no family or friends within a 60-mile radius. That same year, Les began working for the City of Wenatchee Water Department, where he dedicated 36 years of service, retiring in 1997 as a lead operator. During the 1970s, he co-founded a photography club and launched a part-time wedding photography business, Tri Photo, which thrived into the 1980s. Les and Donna shared a love for travel and took many tours with their friends with Three Ring Tours, visiting Italy, England, Ireland, and Scotland. They enjoyed four cruises and made biannual road trips to California to visit family before heading to Reno, where Les played blackjack and Donna enjoyed the nickel slot machines. After retirement, Les embraced new projects. When his son Terry purchased a home in need of renovation, father and son built two large shops, filled them with metal and woodworking tools, and completely rebuilt the house. When Les and Donna moved into their new home in 2003, Les crafted much of their furniture. He was always building—lamps, clocks, and even an entire bedroom set—realizing his lifelong dream of having a fully equipped woodshop. His knack for fixing things extended to helping his grandson, Travis, whose landscaping business often put their engineering skills to the test. The family joke became, “We need to make it Travis-proof.” Les also dedicated his time to volunteering. He spent 12 years with Twin River Productions, recording and producing around 200 video documentaries about the Wenatchee Valley. He also found fulfillment in Wish Masters, helping to grant wishes for seniors. The last month of Les’s life, though challenging, was filled with love and cherished moments. While in the hospital and later at Bonaventure, he was constantly surrounded by family and friends, sharing stories, laughter, and love. Many of the nurses and caretakers call him Grandpa. Even in his final days, Les remained his smart-aleck and flirtatious self, bringing smiles to those around him—just as he always had. Les is survived by his beloved wife, Donna; his sons, Garry and Terry (Rachel); his grandson, Travis (Courtney); his granddaughter, Krista (Justin); his two great-grandsons, Mason and Brody; sister-in-law, Wanda. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Les leaves behind a legacy of craftsmanship, laughter, and unwavering love for his family. He will be deeply missed but forever remembered.