Allen 'Big Al' Richardson, 69

Allen Harvey Richardson, 69, of Columbia Falls, formerly of Alexandria, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly from health complications on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Intermountain Health Hospital in St. George, Utah.

A visitation will be held from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, May 17 at the Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria. A private family burial will be held at the Nelson Cemetery.

Allen was born Oct. 25, 1956, in Alexandria, the fourth child of Irene (Domine) and Ralph Richardson. He was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church. From a young age, Allen had a fascination with trucks. 

After graduating from Jefferson Senior High School in 1974, he worked for a couple of local companies, driving short hauls. He dreamed of owning his own truck. That dream turned into reality when he moved to Montana, bought his first semi, and became "Big Al," a long-haul trucker. 

On his frequent runs east, he managed it so that he was able to stop for the night or the weekend in Alexandria. This enabled him to see his parents regularly. No stop was complete without a trip to Nelson for a cold one and a little socializing with friends, some of whom saw him so often that they questioned whether he’d really moved to Montana. 

He drove for over 45 years and covered several million miles, with his faithful dog, Pipper, by his side. Pipper was known from coast to coast and often would get to the office for a treat before Allen did! During those years, Allen earned many safe driving awards and the coveted Montana Driver of the Month Award.

Allen enjoyed riding his snowmobile and his horses; he was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed camping with his many friends. He especially enjoyed elk hunting when his brother Wayne visited from Alaska. Allen and Wayne had a special bond that lasted a lifetime and Allen truly loved when out-of-state family and friends came to visit.

After Allen retired, he sold his Montana home and purchased a fifth wheel and a diesel pickup. Continuing to spend his summers in Montana, he would leave the cold and snow behind and travel to Littlefield, Arizona, his new winter home. Once Allen retired, he decided cooking was going to become his new hobby. As evidenced by frequent texts with pictures of really good-looking meals, he shared his new knowledge of recipes and spices with family members. There was nothing he wouldn’t try. Allen enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest! He will be missed greatly by his family and many wonderful friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Richardson and his brother, Wayne Richardson.

Allen is survived by his mother, Irene Richardson of Alexandria; brother, Lloyd Richardson and wife, Betsy of Maple Grove; sister, Peggy Hills and husband, Gary, of Mesa, Arizona; sister, Deb Lindquist and husband, Bruce, of Brooklyn Center; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

"Truck driving is a lifestyle, not a job."