Richard Friemel

Services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, September 21, 2015 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Umbarger with Father Christopher Schwind officiating. A Rosary will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Sunday, September 20, 2015 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Umbarger. Richard Dennis Friemel was born August 15, 1933 to Frederick and Mary E. Crouch Friemel. He married Mary Theresa Averbeck on May 2, 1958. He graduated from Price Memorial College and attended West Texas College. He entered the Armed Forces in 1954 during the Korean War. Richard was a farmer and cattleman in Umbarger. He was a conscientious steward of his land, receiving formal recognition as a conservation farmer of the year for Deaf Smith County and recipient of the Top Hand Award for Randall County. He was proud to be a founding Director of Happy State Bank and was on the board of directors for 19 years. He served on the Randall County A.S.C. Committee, was a director for Umbarger Co-op, was past director of Texas, New Mexico Sugar Beet Growers Association for 11 years, and director for Mid-Plains Rural Telephone Co-op for 25 years. Richard attended St. Mary's Catholic Church in Umbarger all of his life. He served on the first Parish Council and on the Council of Economic Affairs. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Theresa, his parents, two sisters, and a stepbrother. Survivors include his children, Stephen M. Friemel and wife, Renee, James E. Friemel and wife, Melanie, Monica M. Wilhelm and husband, Tim, Denise K. Schenk and husband, Kevin, Fred J. Friemel and wife, Alecia, Grace C. Hilliard and husband, Damon, and Stan P. Friemel and wife, Anessa; 27 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to Alzheimers Unit at Childer's Place, 6600 Kilkgore, Amarillo, TX 79106, the Veteran's Administration, or do a kind deed for someone in need.