Floyd Richardson

Floyd Joseph Richardson passed away at the age of 86 on Friday, December 3, 2021 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.  His loving wife Gerri and daughters were at his side as he peacefully left this earth.  Floyd loved God, his Catholic faith where he was a Eucharistic minister, his family, and was thankful for all of his blessings.

Floyd was born April 8, 1935 in Sioux City, Iowa, the fifth of 13 children (5 girls and 7 boys), to parents Floyd Spencer Richardson and Bertha Leone (Desjarlais).  It was challenging times growing up in Iowa, Missouri, and Nebraska during the Great Depression, and the Richardson family struggled.  For a time, Floyd was sent to live with his dear grandmother Aurilla whom he lovingly called Gram.  One of Floyd’s most profound memories is of The Salvation Army visiting the Richardson home at Christmas providing the family with food, clothing, and gifts for the children.

Floyd is preceded in death by his youngest son Martin, his beloved parents and many siblings.

He and his former wife Darlene married in 1959 in Omaha, Nebraska where their first four children were born.  In 1965 they moved to Denver, Colorado where two additional children were born.  They raised their six children:  Denise, Diane, Michael, Mark, Matthew and Martin in the Platt Park area of Denver where they were members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic church.  Floyd was a wonderful provider to his family.  When he wasn’t driving, he liked to go to the mountains or take his kids to Washington Park recreation center to go swimming.

Floyd met Geraldine (Gerri) Richardson through her son Duane and daughter-in-law Lee, and they married at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic church in Northglenn, Colorado on July 11, 1992.  Floyd’s family grew with the addition of Gerri’s children Duane, Donna, and George and many grandchildren.  Floyd and Gerri lived in Northglenn and then Henderson, Colorado.  In 2017 they made a big move to Lake Havasu where there is no cold or snow.  During their marriage they enjoyed each other’s company, going to church, their dogs, traveling, dancing to big band music, and having their early morning coffee on their back patio watching the sunrise.

Floyd was a hard-working man throughout his entire life.  He worked for Northwestern Taxidermy in Omaha, Nebraska and Butternut Bakery as a baker in Denver, Colorado.  It was at that time that he obtained his CDL license.  Floyd loved to drive and began his life-long career as a semi-truck driver for over 40 years.  His CB handle was “Denver Dog”, and he had a stellar driving record.  To make extra money, he bootlegged Coors beer out of Colorado to Chicago in the 1970’s well before the movie “Smokey and The Bandit” came out.  Throughout the years he had a variety of personal vehicles and each received meticulous care.

Floyd was a numismatist (a person who collects coins) his entire life.  In his earlier years he belonged to a coin club, but later on he kept an annual pass to the Mile-Hi Flea Market where he would sell and trade.  He made many coin sales and trades with people over the years, attended coin shows and swap meets at every opportunity.  He made many friends through his hobby.  His last vehicle was purchased by trading his coins for a really nice Toyota Camry.

Floyd donated his O-negative (universal) blood regularly and received his 17-gallon donor pin from Bonfils Blood Center, and he and Gerri participated in the Broncos Drive for Life many times.

Floyd’s favorite things:  an avid reader of biographies, historical books, Reader’s Digest, and the newspaper; drinking his signature cocktail of Canadian Mist and Squirt and Schlitz beer back in the day; watching The Huntley-Brinkley Report, Walter Cronkite, 60 Minutes, and Fox News; lover of good trucking music such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Reed, Bob Seger, Flatt & Scruggs, and Dave Dudley; buying new watches; sharing anecdotes that he read in “Dear Abby” or “Orchids & Onions”; playing cards, but please--no wildcards; occasionally playing his harmonica for others; and eating his favorite foods of ice cream and filet mignon.

Floyd is survived by his wife Gerri of 29 years, his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

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Services are scheduled for Monday, December 13, 2021 Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 11385 Grant Drive, Northglenn, Colorado 80233, 9:30 a.m. - Visitation, 10:30 AM - Rosary, 10:55 AM - Eulogy, 11:00 AM - Funeral Mass, 1:30 PM - Burial at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. (Please note that there will be no reception.)

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital:  stjude.org/donate, Catholic Charities:  ccdenver.org, The Salvation Army:  give.salvationarmyusa.org and
Donate blood to Vitalant Blood Center (formerly Bonfils)