Richard Alan Armstrong, 63

Richard Alan Armstrong, 63, passed away on Dec. 9, 2013, at the Boundary Community Hospital in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Services were held on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, at 1 p.m. in the Mountain Springs Church in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Richard Alan Armstrong was born in Meadsville, Penn., on Jan. 13, 1950, to Alonzo and Dorothy Armstrong, joining his older brothers Ken and David. They lived in Pennsylvania until 1960 when the family took a cross country road trip to settle in Sacramento, Calif.

He completed high school early and moved to San Diego to earn his associate’s degree at junior college. He decided to become a student of life and began traveling and exploring. Some of his adventures included working on a crab boat in Alaska, a shrimp boat in Jamaica, carving flutes in Wyoming and panning for gold in Warren, Idaho.

He moved to Boundary County in the late 1970s, and in between exploring his new surroundings and volunteering his time with local youth, he worked as a logger and a surveyor.

Richard eventually settled in Moyie Springs where he raised his two daughters. Because of his caring and empathetic spirit, he began working with at-risk teens in the 1980s at Rocky Mountain Academy.

Inspired by what he learned there, he helped start new therapeutic and wilderness programs and eventually began his own transport and in-home program. Through Boundarylines and Homelines Richard touched many families with his large presence and calm demeanor and was happy to share his practical knowledge and down to earth life lessons.

Richard met and married Karen, his wife of 14 years, in the late 1990s. Together with Karen’s three sons and Richard’s two daughters they built their life together and forged strong connections to the community.

Richard’s interests after retiring included playing tennis, hiking, fishing, hunting, sailing, and gardening.

He was happiest spending time at home with friends and family, enjoying the outdoors and looked forward to traveling new places with his wife and kids.

He is survived by wife Karen; daughters, Della and Sikora; sons Patrick, Ryan and Taylor, grandchildren Cayden, Kyleigh, Summit, Casey and brothers David and Ken.

In lieu of flowers people may make donations to Pawsitive works at pawsitiveworks.com, an organization that pairs at-risk youth with furry friends.

Family and friends are invited to sign Richard’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.