John Richard Bihr went to be with our Lord on August 2, 2018. He passed peacefully in hospice care while surrounded by many of his family members who were holding his hands and singing some of his favorite Christian hymns and a song that was sung at his wedding.
Rich, as all of his many friends knew him, was born on February 28, 1934 in Worland, Wyoming to John Bihr Jr. and Mollie (Lass) Bihr.
On June 11, 1960, Rich married the Love of his Life, Karen (Bennett) Bihr, who is the daughter of William (Bill) and NeVada (Denton) Bennett.
Rich and Karen have four children: John Mark (Tina) Bihr, Richelle (Paul) Jordan, Diana (Robert) Janicek, and Jared Richard Bihr. They have eight grandchildren: Kristen (Judd) Latham, Derek (Hannah) Bihr, Tiana (Taylor) Carlson, Brent Bihr, Seth and Mackenzie Jordan, and Kelby and Layne Janicek. They have four great-grandchildren: Kaiden and Jayce Latham, and Harper and Beckett Bihr.
In 1952, Rich graduated from Washakie County High School, Worland. He then attended the University of Wyoming and Billings Business College where he graduated in Business Management. In 1986, Rich became the Washakie County Assessor and retired from that position in 2003. He had previously worked for International Harvester, Worland Machine Company, FE Myers, and the LU Sheep Company.
Rich is a member of the Church of Christ. He was a member of the Wyoming Association of County Assessors, the Worland Lions Club, and the Washakie County Historical Preservation Society.
Rich loved to be with his family, to worship God in fellowship, to camp, fish, hunt, watch wildlife, and to ride horses and ATVs in the Big Horn Mountains. He had a unique sense of humor and enjoyed making new friends. He liked playing pinochle and cribbage and having a good cup of coffee with his old friends. Rich also loved to work on the family farm and was truly a farmer at heart.
Rich was preceded in death by his father in 1979, his mother in 2005, and his brother, Ronald Bihr, in 2006. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, his two brothers-in-law: Bill (Sally) Bennett and Darol (Marie) Bennett, and by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Rich will be held at the Casper Church of Christ building on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 2:00 pm. Memorials in Rich's honor may be made to the Mountain States Children's Home, PO Box 1097, Longmont, CO 80502.
Rich's family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences online at http://www.newcomercasper.com/obituaries.