James Richard “Dick” Rye, resident of Grande Prairie, AB, formerly of Rycroft, AB, passed away on Friday, October 2, 2020, at the QEII hospital, at the age of 79 years old.

Born in Grande Prairie on July 1, 1941, Dick grew up in Westmark, AB, and later relocated to the land he purchased from his father in Fourth Creek, AB, where he would start a family. Eventually, the family relocated to Rycroft, and Dick continued to farm on land near Dunvegan Historical Site.

In the last two decades of his life, Dick continued to help his friends out with farming or collecting wood. He enjoyed playing crib and could often be spotted at the local coffee shop in Rycroft, chatting about current events. He also spent time as a live-in maintenance worker at the York & Park Hotels in their final years, during which he would supply holiday dinners on his own dime for anyone who had nowhere else to go. He was always willing to give and believed that if anyone took from him then they must have needed it more. In his final days, he can be remembered saying, “If you have the chance to help someone, just do that.”.

Dick will be greatly missed by his four children: James (Karen) Rye, Brian (Ruth) Rye. Dawne (Jean-Guy) Pitre, and Kevin (Brandy) Rye; he also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Rycroft Community Memorial Hall on Saturday, October 24, 2020, from 12:00pm - 5:00pm, as an “Open House” style event with respect to current public health guidelines.

Memorial donations may be made to Seniors Outreach (102, 9905 101 Ave., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 0X7).