Richard Henry Blehm

Richard Henry Blehm, age 84, passed away Wednesday afternoon, March 18, 2020, at the Meade District Hospital, Meade, Kansas.

Richard was born November 7, 1935, in rural Meade County Kansas, the son of Gottfried F. and Hannah (Borchers) Blehm. As a young man, he attended school in Meade, was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church of Meade. Following his education he served in the Army from 1955-1957.

On September 21, 1958, he married his best friend, Dorothy Jean Specht at Meade. After their marriage, the couple made their home in Meade where they raised their family. Richard later began working for the McKinley Sale Barn, then as a farming ranch hand for Alva Rexford, Benny Cordes, and others. He then worked for the Meade School District as a Janitor. He started his life long career in 1979 working for Woolwines. He later became store owner and manager of the well known Corner Auto Parts, where he worked for more than 35 years, while taking on the personal responsibility of serving his community through rain, snow or shine, staying late or coming in after hours to make sure his customers were always taken care of.

Richard was a member of Saint John Lutheran Church, serving as an elder, and was a member of the church board for 12 years. He served on the Meade District School Board for more than 8 years and was a Dale Carnegie Graduate. Hobbies and activities he enjoyed were clay target shooting, gardening, and being an avid hunter and fisherman. Some of Richard’s favorite things were hunting with his family and all of the dogs, grilling his special recipe pork chops, faith, family, friends, playing cards and wahoo, sharing his hot pepper mix, and taking his best bud Newt everywhere he went.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Blehm (Specht); three sons, Randall Blehm of Meade, Kevin Blehm (Denise) of Abeline, KS, and Brian Blehm of Brighton, Colorado; a sister, Katherine Borger of Meade; and his two cherished grandsons, Seth and Gavin Blehm.

He is preceded in death by his parents; two infant sons; a brother, Paul Blehm; sisters, Myra Kurth, Elsie Porter (Schaben), Wilma Holmes, and Eva Elizabeth Blehm.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 22, 2020, at Saint John Lutheran Church, Meade. In accordance to his requests, cremation has taken place. Interment will follow at the Stone School House Cemetery, Meade.

The family would welcome memorials to Saint John Lutheran Church in care of Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary or a random act of kindness in memory of Richard.