Thomas Warren Richards, age 92, died on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital in Deadwood, SD.

T.W. was born on Wednesday, January 9, 1929 in Custer, SD to parents, Warren H. and Florence (Beagle) Richards. He graduated from Lead High School in 1947 and prior to marrying the love of his life, Cheryl L. (Gidden) Richards on September 5, 1948, he worked at the Bald Mountain Sawmill in Trojan, SD. They eventually moved to the Lead area, where T.W. worked at the Slime Plant in Deadwood for a number of years, and then at the Metallurgical Department of the Homestake Mine in Lead. Together they raised four children. T.W. also worked as a mail carrier for the USPS in Lead during the 1960s – a job he especially enjoyed because it gave him an opportunity to log more walking miles. Hiking and walking were two of his many passions. T.W. was a well-read, kind, patient, and honest man – a true family man. Through the retelling of his rich and varied experiences, he handed down a great deal of wisdom and life lessons to his kids and grandkids.

T.W. was a hunter, woodsman, wildlife artist, and published author ( Adventures of a Black Hills Stillhunter and Other Notable Experiences ; 2018). He loved hiking and hunting in the beautiful Black Hills, which he fondly referred to as his "old stomping grounds". These expeditions fostered his lifelong appreciation and respect for nature and honed his keen sense of observation. Essentially a self-taught artist, the majority of T.W.'s body of work (drawings and sculptures) was created using field studies of the movement, form, and habits of whitetail, mule deer, and Bighorn ram in their natural settings. His artwork has been displayed and sold throughout the greater Black Hills region.

T.W. is survived by his son, Conrad M. (Bonnie) Richards of Redford, MI; daughter, Roxanne M. (Steven) Qualley of Bloomington, IN; son, Travis G. (Amy) Richards of Lead, SD; son, Trent C. (Lila) Richards of Hawarden, IA; brother, Donald H. (Rosalie) Richards of East Helena, MT; 10 grandchildren, April A. (Nathan) Decker of Bothell, WA, Michelle M. Qualley (Jason) of Bloomington, IN, Jon (Adriana) Richards of Dearborn Heights, MI, Ryan (Charity) Richards of Redford, MI, Jennifer (Jon) McKenny of Inwood, IA, Alecia Richards of Culbertson, MT, Jasmine (John) Kaskie of Le Mars, IA, Zach (Carmen) Richards of Moorcroft, WY, Kyle (Corrie) Richards of Westfield, IA, and Brooke Richards of Whitewood, SD; 17 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cheryl L. Richards; infant son, Mark T. Richards; parents, Warren and Florence Richards of Helena, MT; sister, Norma Schmidt of Rapid City, SD; brother, Jackie Richards; and numerous lifelong friends that held a special place in his heart.

Graveside services for T.W. will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at the Mountain Lawn Cemetery in Lead, SD with Pastor Connie Eichinger officiating. Friends and relatives are welcome to attend and celebrate T.W.'s life.

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To my hunting partner, teacher, confidante and Dad

"If I had a penny, nickel or dime for every step I've taken in Trojan/Terry Peak, I'd be a millionaire many times over"

Soldered tin cans and glass blown bottles

Cabin to camps grow and model

Pack trails, mules and drifts of old

Prospecting miners dig and pan for gold

Building a grubstake- 126 years of Homestake told

"Don't go at it like your killin' snakes"

Building a cabin, Ester Load

Squaw Creek "snug in"  Old hunter told

Chainsaw slash piles still uphold

"One step at a time.  Be patient with yourself"

Picking berries in late summer- Service, Raspberry, thimble and chokecherry too

Always a pleasure being with you

Never a worry-life always fun and new

"Sufferin' Succotash and great slabs of boiled owl meat"

From velvet to polished bone

Antler rubs surface on aspen alone

Beautiful month of September to cheer

Summer fawn to sleek rutting deer

"Gone with the ages"

A simple fact important to all we love and breathe

Browning double swings into view

Ruff grouse beats wing through aspen and spruce

Ribeye of the sky, Fall wings of might

Wild V formations, dusk to dawn flights

Through the years remind

Beautiful flocks of the mind

"See ya further up the trail"

Shots at Whitetails-October Sunlight

Black Hills mule deer- Blue Edge delight

Old Buck Killer- P17 Enfield 06

In November of 54- Ole Two Johns missed

Sand Dam muledeer- over 40" wide

94 Winchester 30-30 denied

"Take yourself by the hand"

"Every day in every way I'm getting better and better"

Deep snow of winter- snowshoe trails lead

Army mountain troop webs bring Ross Springs deer to feed

Colt officers model 22 and military ruck sack maintain

Weekly trips in 48 sustain

"Time takes care of everything"

All desperation hurt and sorrow be freed

Wild turkey and shed antlers consume

Spring is here and wild crocuses bloom

"You are your own worst enemy"

"Look forward to the time you get it behind you"

Life is a process of good and bad, enjoy the ride

"Just dirty money"

Money is only a tool; lover of money is a fool

"Anticipation is greater than the reward"

Enjoy what you already have

"You already have your own best friend... me, myself and I"

Learn to live and accept your strengths and weaknesses

"Only thing you can control is yourself"

"Gotta learn to let it go"

No value or mileage to control other people, things or events

"This is BS and I'm not talking Butter Scotch"

Say what you mean and mean what you say

"I don't like the cut of your jib or the kit of your shit"

Move along, you are not welcome here in my camp

"Its the principal of the matter"

Do the right thing

"I'm kind of a Candy Ass when it comes to dyin"

Like Bridger, Colter, Carsen and Boone-mountain men of buckskin dead

The old woods loafer has now tread

Delicate and far His counsel gives nod

Happy hunting grounds forever with God

You were a pleasure to ride the river with Dad

From your steadfast cub with love— oh what a time we had!