Richard Kent Alden

Richard Kent Alden

June 7, 1951-January 23, 2016

Richard “Rick” Alden passed away on January 23, 2016 after a courageous two year battle with cancer. A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate his life will be held at 3 PM on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th. Ave. So. with military honors by personnel from the US Marine Corps. Rick was the second son born to Sterling “Bud” and Edna Alden on June 7, 1951 in Hartford, Connecticut.  The Alden clan was never short on new experiences. Rick, along with his siblings, enjoyed  a life of adventure living in Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho. Rick graduated from Coeur d’ Alene High School in 1970 and joined the Marine Corp.  He married his high school sweetheart, Kathy Solberg, in 1973.

Rick took a break from the Marine Corp to complete his vocational degree in auto mechanics at North Idaho College. He then returned to the Marine Corp in 1974 and travelled the world protecting his country.

 Rick and Kathy had a daughter, Siri, born in 1974, and a son, Jeffrey, born in 1978. Education was always very important to Rick. While in the Marine Corp, he attended the High Desert College in Palm Springs and completed an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. He then separated from the Marine Corp and joined the Idaho Army National Guard.  In 1982, he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Development at University of Idaho. Following the completion of his education, Rick went to work for Farmers Insurance in Bozeman, Montana. He left Farmers after four years and began, a long and successful career with State Farm Insurance in Nampa, Idaho. Rick’s career with State Farm took the family to many beautiful locations including Alaska, Washington, and finally settling back in Idaho. Rick retired from State Farm in 2009. Rick and Kathy started their own independent claims adjusting company shortly after retirement. This afforded them the opportunity to make new friends and see many parts of the country.

 Rick had a passion for flying that he got from his father and uncle, Frederic Karlton Alden.  After earning his private pilots license in 1993, Rick built a Glastar experimental plane. Rick, Kathy, and their close friends and family in the aviation community, spent many years crossing the nation and seeking new and unfamiliar territory. Rick had an irresistible smile, a zest for life, and talent for making new friends. He will be missed by many.

Rick is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Kathy Alden, his children, Siri Slater (Charley) of Denver, Colorado, and Jeffrey Alden (Jenny) of Elgin, Illinois. Rick had four grandchildren he adored, Jason and Jocelyn of Elgin, Illinois, and Piper and Bailey of Denver, Colorado. Rick is also survived by his close knit loving siblings who included Bonnie Murphree of Junction City, Oregon,  Melody (Paul) Kasl of Lafayette, Doug (Ginger) Alden of Marietta, Georgia, Oregon, Wendy (Collins) Hemingway of Bend, Oregon, and Travis (Debra) Alden of Damascus, Oregon. Rick leaves behind many nieces and nephews across the country who loved him dearly and admired the man he was.

A celebration of Rick’s life will follow the service.  It will be held at 10286 Airpark Loop, Melba, ID (across from Givens Hot Springs, Highway 78).

 Service Information