Selmer 'Buster' Richards

MASON CITY: Selmer F. “Buster” Richards, 92, of Mason City, died peacefully Thursday, March 20, 2014 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit after a short battle at Mercy North Iowa. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, March 24, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating. Interment will be in Elk Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Kensett. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Monday at the church. Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hospice of North Iowa, Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank or donor’s choice. Buster was born April 1, 1921 in Prairieburg, Iowa the son of Ralph and Anne (Roslien) Richards. He served in the US Army during WW II. Buster married Mavis Brunsvold January 11, 1953 at Elk Creek Lutheran Church, rural Kensett. He began his career at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego CA. During WW II he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Adak Island, Alaska to repair military aircraft. As the war ended, he returned to Manly to care for his mother and sister. His career continued with Sedars Motor Company, retiring in 1986. Buster was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Benevolence Lodge #145 A.F & A.M., and volunteered at Hospice of North Iowa. Buster lived his life and raised his children by the guidance of 2 books, the Bible and Dale Carnegie’s, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.' He never knew a stranger, and made a lasting impression on the many people that he touched over the years. Buster and Mavis were blessed with 61 years of marriage where together they enjoyed gardening, camping in every continental state and traveling internationally. Buster also enjoyed fishing trips with his church friends and spending time with his grandchildren. He was grateful to be a part of a recent Honor Flight to visit the WW II memorial in Washington DC. He lived a spiritual and virtuous life and was a role model to his children. We were fortunate to have him with us so long and in such good health, still shoveling snow just weeks ago. Buster is survived by his wife, Mavis Richards of Mason City; daughter, Cynthia Walker of Mason City; son, David (Rachael) Richards of West Des Moines; daughter, Susan (Craig) Porter of West Des Moines; grandchildren, Kendra, Jarid, Kiley, and Dylan Richards, Evan and Elyse Porter; great grandchild, Reese Richards. Sister-in-law, Lois (Frank) Heflin of Alden; nieces, Barb (Paul) Niedermeyer, Mary (David) Snower; nephew, Mark (Connie) Heflin and many special great nieces and nephews. Buster was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Ruby. Arrangements: Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401, 641-423-0924, www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com