I am so honored to have shared so many spiritual blessings with Father Richard. It all started when I attended his mass services as a teenager. His love and happiness touched my life. From that moment I knew he would be the one to bless my matrimony and my three children. Thank you Father Richard for your godly services and may you rest in heavenly peace.

My wife Therese and I are forever grateful that Fr. Richard presided over our wedding on April 18, 2015.  

A bit of a scary-turned-fun story to share...Fr. Richard did not show up for our matrimonial at St. Francis Xavier Chapel in Little Tokyo when all the parties (except him) were ready to start.  We remember the panic and all the frantic calls we made to reach him.  Fr. Richard was missing, and of course we cannot do the church wedding without the priest, right?  We had the families/friends visiting from out of town, some from the East coast and from Japan!  What are we going to do?  Fr. Richard had to go to Las Vegas for a funeral the day before and apparently drove back the night before because the church staff found his car on the premises.  What happened to him?  Given his health conditions (which deteriorated later that year), we were worried something might have happened to him.  

It turned out that Fr. Richard was sleeping in his room just across the parking from the chapel, so deeply that he could not hear the buzz on the door or the calls!  The church staff was able to open the door and wake him up!  Well, we were totally behind the schedule but had the happy ending as he was able to complete the wedding after all!  My wife and I will cherish our time and memory with Fr. Richard and continue pray for his soul.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Fr. Richard!

Naoki and Therese Sekiya 

Fr Richard has been our friend since he served at American Martyrs Church.When he heard we were planning our 25th anniversary ,he enthusasticly volunreered to be our celebrant.Thank you for being our priest, friend and confessor.
Love
John & Georgette Buckley 

We always enjoyed our time with Father Ricky when he came back to ND to visit. He took Jared with him up to the Peace Gardens one time and Jared talked about this for a long time. We will miss you Father Ricky. Be at Peace. 

Vicki Boehnke

Rick came to our Advent Group last Christmas and we went around answering questions from a Christmas box of Questions I have. The question was: What is your favorite part of the Christmas story?  Bob Birgen answers reverently,"Mary's willingness to say yes", but really all we could hear was Chuck and Rick snickering in the corner of the table  trying to contain themselves,... and then they couldn't contain themsleves any longer.. and both say out loud " YOU will Shoot your Eye OUT!!!."   

I will miss more than anything the underwritten references and Musical tourettes.  

Father Ricky, which he was known as by family in ND, was a special cousin.  I remember his first visit and how shy we thought he was but of course it didn't take him long to open up to us.  We have so many wonderful memories from performing weddings, funerals and just coming to visit.  The people from Towner, where his grandparents lived, still remember when he came to assisst the parish priest and how wonderful they thought he was.  He had so many great talents, but the best was being able to talk to the young, old and anything in between and always saying the right thing to make you feel good.  We love and will miss you.

Jerry and Geri Zainhofsky (Hoynes)

I remember with Father Ricky would come to our farm in the summer! We played basketball and had so much fun! He liked to really challenge my bother in a game of HORSE! I think he usually won too!!  My thoughts and prayers are with the whole family during this difficult time. 

Love,

Chelsea 

(Jeff and Vicki's daughter)