Noreen was born March 12, 1934, to Victor and Jennie (Hentila) Kosola on the farm at Horse Creek attended by a midwife. She weighed 3 pounds and for the first few weeks of life was kept in a shoebox by the stove. Noreen joined siblings, Ione, Howard, Hazel, Harold, and Marvin.

She attended grade school at the Winkler School until the 8th grade and then she graduated Newell High School in 1952.

Upon graduation Noreen married local rancher Dale Richards on June 15, 1952, and began ranch life northeast of Newell on Willow Creek. To this union were born sons, Monte and Rick, and daughter, Rhonda.

Through the years, Noreen held a variety of interests including bowling, watching the Denver Bronco football team, car racing, and bird watching.

Music had a tremendous role in her life. She played the accordion and often took part in jam sessions - traveling long distances and through storms to get there. She sang all the time and the radio was always on. Sunday morning the gospel songs were playing and she was an avid listener of the Grand Ole Opry.

Later in life, she would fulfill a lifelong dream of going to Nashville, TN, several times, along with Branson, MO.

Gardening was also an interest and she spent time canning and helping her son, Monte, with his garden at Vale.

Noreen was noted for her cooking skills and family gatherings were very important to her with lots of food to go around. Angel food cake, baked beans, and fried chicken were among her specialties. Several cowboys came to the Richards branding just for her dinner.

She was an immaculate housekeeper and a tidy house she did keep. She prided herself on a clean house and had two seasons in which she kept - spring and fall housekeeping - which actually seemed to be year around to many.

Her Finnish heritage was important to her and she kept in touch with extended family in Finland. Holidays were highlights for her. She enjoyed her family around her and made efforts to establish special memories, instituting Easter egg dying and Christmas parties for the grandchildren and later her great-grandchildren.

Her life with Dale on the ranch was always busy. They never took a trip that didn't involve horses and she was interested in the cattle herd until late in life. Spring on Willow Creek, where she could see the foals and calves, was among her favorite times of year and she enjoyed checking the livestock with son, Rick.

Noreen Jennie (Kosola) Richards, 82, of rural Newell, SD, passed away July 13, 2016.

She is survived by sons, Monte, Vale, and Rick (Deb), Newell; and daughter, Rhonda (Randy) Vallery, Nisland; grandchildren, LaRae (Chad) Hanson, Lonnie Richards, and Codi (Brian) Mills; great-grandchildren, Aspen and Hunter Hanson, Justin, Daycie, and Brodie Richards, and Kimber Mills; sister-in-law, June Kosola; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Noreen was preceded in death by parents, Victor and Jennie; in-laws, Burnie and Thelma Richards; husband, Dale; siblings, Ione, Howard, Hazel, Harold, and Marvin; infant twin brothers; and two infant sisters.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 18, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Newell with Pastor Marcia Brennan officiating. Burial will follow at the Richards Ranch Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to Make A Wish Foundation.

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