Richard Whipple, 89

Richard (Rich) William Whipple, Jr. passed on Sept. 18, 2026, and joined with his heavenly Father in the great hereafter. Rich’s hope was that his time and actions on this earth were sufficient to grant him this final reward. 

Rich was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on May 22, 1937, to Richard W. Whipple Sr. and Dorothy Mae (Purvis) Whipple. Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to Rochelle, Ill., and later Wyanet, Ill., where Rich received all his preliminary education. He graduated from Wyanet High School in 1955. He participated in all offered sports in high school and lettered from his sophomore through senior years. 

After graduating from High School, Rich worked for the Wyanet Door Factory, SJ Construction Company, and AT&T in Peoria, Ill. While living in Sycamore, Rich had one son, Todd Richard Whipple, born in 1958. In 1967, Rich took a job with Adolph Coors Company in Golden, Colo. Rich stayed with Coors for 13 years, moving from a maintenance worker to a sales representative in the states of Colorado, New Mexico, and Kansas. While in Kansas, Rich met Anna, who had three daughters: Renee, Kimberly, and Jennifer; they married March 3, 1973. Now they had a full family with four children. Shortly after their marriage, Rich was assigned as a Divisional Sales Manager for California, Nevada, and Arizona and was asked to move back to the Denver area. In 1976, Rich took an assignment to start a distribution facility in Spokane, Wash. While in Spokane, Rich’s nephew, Don Whipple, joined the family since his mother, Rich’s sister, Rita, passed away from cancer. Rich built and ran the Coors distribution facility until he left Coors in 1979 and became general manager of B&B Company in Spokane. In 1981, B&B was sold; Rich and his family moved to Wenatchee, where he became a partner in Columbia Distributing Company (Budweiser). He ran the company until his retirement in 2002 and then eventually relocated to Twin Lakes Village, Idaho, in 2005, and moved to Coeur d’Alene in 2022.

Throughout Rich’s life, he has been a member of several churches and would like to recognize all the members of those churches who have influenced his life. In particular, he thanks the pastors of those churches who helped guide him. 

Rich is preceded in death by his parents, Richard William Whipple, Dorothy Mae (Purvis) Whipple; and sister Rita Smith. Survivors include his wife, Anna of Coeur d’Alene; son Todd (Sherri) Whipple of Spokane, Wash.; daughters Renee (Rodger) of Barnhart, Mo.; Kimberly of Tahuya, Wash.; Jennifer (William) King of New Plymouth, Idaho, and nephew Don Whipple of Wenatchee, Wash.; sister Carolyn (Dave) DeAre of Glen Ellen, Ill., brother Leslie (Tom) Whipple of Bellingham, Wash.; 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and four nieces and nephews. 

A funeral service for Rich will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Please visit Rich’s online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Christ the King Lutheran Church Love Pantry, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814. This project was near and dear to his heart.