Richard Ronald Seward, 87

Richard Ronald Seward, 87, of Coeur d’Alene, peacefully passed away on Oct. 28, 2017, due to a long struggle with Parkinson’s.

Rick was born on Feb. 20, 1930, in Springer, N.M., near the Seward Ranch. As a teenager, he moved with his family to Burbank, Calif., and graduated from Burbank High School. Rick enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 1948. In 1950, he was deployed to Korea with the 1st Marine Brigade. Rick saw combat in Pusan, the Inchon Landing, Wonson and the famous battle at the Chosin Reservoir. In 1965, Rick was sent to Da Nang, Vietnam with the Marine Squadron 312 for his first tour and was sent back again with the 3rd Marine Corps Air Wing G-2 Section.

Rick was married to the love of his life, Joy Zilbert, on March 31, 1951. Together they traveled with the Marine Corps to Virginia, California, Washington and Hawaii. They settled in North Idaho amongst family and friends.

He enjoyed volunteering, gardening, fishing and playing with the grandchildren. He was also actively involved in the Marine Corps League, Mica Flats Grange, Kootenai County Disaster Services and many others. Rick was nominated for the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Emergency Management for his work with flood mitigation from Cataldo to Fernan Lake. Rick was instrumental, as the President of the Chosin Few, in successfully convincing the Veteran’s Administration to include cold injury (frostbite) as a disability benefit for afflicted in the Chosin Reservoir Campaign.

Rick is survived by his wife of 66 years, Joy; his loving daughters, Deborah Seward Guanzon and her husband Paul, and Dianne Seward Holbart and her husband Chris; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his brother, Frederick A. Seward and his wife Patty.

Rick is preceded in death by his parents, Frederick W. Seward and Elva V. (Williams) Seward; and his brother Edwin N. Seward.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, at English Funeral Chapel, 1143 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d’Alene. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2017 at English Funeral Chapel. A military honors burial will follow the funeral at Riverside Cemetery at 2 p.m.

Flowers are welcome, but in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Marine Corps League Auxiliary Scholarship fund - Pappy Boyington Unit or Mica Flats Grange Scholarship fund.