Richard J. Biever, 84, of 553 Ivy Court, Nappanee, died unexpectedly at 2 a.m. Nov. 1, 2011, of natural causes, at Community Hospital of Bremen, where he had been a patient since Monday evening.
He was born June 21, 1927, in Manfred, N.D., to Albert Nicklous and Lucy Specht Biever. On Sept. 3, 1951, in Leeds, N.D., he married Nancy Warner, who survives.
He was a 1945 graduate of Harvey High School, N.D., and later graduated from North Dakota State College from the School of Pharmacy in 1950. Following high school, he joined the Navy, where he was stationed on the USS Topeka in the Pacific.
He lived in Harvey, N.D., and then moved to Ligonier in 1958. He and Nancy then moved to Nappanee, where he worked as a pharmacist at Dunham & Love Rexall Drug Store, Nappanee, from 1958-78. He was raised Catholic as a child and later in life became a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Nappanee, where he served as a treasurer for 12 years. He was a member of the Nappanee American Legion and a former Rotary Club member.
Also surviving are daughters, Nanette (and spouse Larry) Fredericks and Julie (and spouse Egbert) Dijkstra, all of Nappanee, and Joan (and spouse Peter) Kirby, San Antonio, Texas; a son, Richard (and spouse Heidi) Biever, State College, Pa.; eight grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and sisters, Peggy (and spouse Gene) Lerner, Spokane, Wash., and Dorothy Davis, Tacoma, Wash. He was preceded in death by a daughter, a grandson, a sister and a brother.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Nappanee, with Pastor Terry Tylor officiating. Burial will be in Union Center Cemetery.
Calling is from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
***** Memorials may be made to the Community Hospital of Bremen.
