Boyd "Dude" Ritchie

Boyd Russell “Dude” Ritchie, age 84, of Savanna died peacefully Sunday, September 30, 2012 at home surrounded by his family. A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 4, 2012 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Savanna, with Reverend Dan Foelske officiating. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna. Memorials may be made in Dude’s honor for the West Carroll School Educational Foundation or Mercy Homecare and Hospice.
Dude was born August 25, 1928 in Savanna, the son of Earl and Cora (Diehl) Ritchie. He is a 1947 graduate of the Savanna High School. Dude served seven years in the US Navy during the Korean War on the USS Midway. On April 7, 1956 Dude married Sally Yates, they have celebrated fifty-six years of marriage.
Dude owned and operated Ritchie Bus Service for forty-two years. He performed all of his own mechanics work and was known as “one of the best.” He is a member of St. Peters Lutheran Church and the VFW Post #2223, Savanna.
Dude’s greatest love in life was being a Husband, Dad, and Grandpa. He enjoyed growing up in Savanna, on the river with his brothers and sisters, and he shared that love with his family. For years, he would take his family water-skiing, fishing and sightseeing in his wooden boat on many excursions up the Mississippi. Dude also enjoyed duck hunting.
Dude will be dearly missed by his wife, Sally; three daughters, Ramona (John) Coffey of Argyle, Wisconsin, Nancy (Allan) DeSpain of Savanna and Kristie Byrnes of Savanna; two sons, John (Beth) Ritchie of Savanna and Joe Ritchie (fiancee Barbara Hamling) of Savanna; fifteen grandchildren, Jennifer, Susan, Katie, Jason, Mary, Anthony, Luke, Thomas, Benjamin, William, Ethan, Isaac, Sarah, Samantha and Matthew; sixteen great grandchildren, Payton, Shelby, Neveah, McCoy, Cooper, Alayha, Brynn, Cora, Wyatt, Savannah, Madelyn, Kinnick, Braylee, Kolton, Addison and Emma; and two sisters, Eunice Bowers of Savanna and Ruth (Donald) Ermel of Savanna. Dude is preceded in death by both parents; a son, Raymond in 1994; two grandchildren, Andrew Reed in 2009 and Sarah Reed in 1979; a great grandson, Coen Boyd Ritchie in March 2012; a daughter-in-law, Susan Ritchie in January 2011; and two brothers, Raymond in 1964 and Bernard “Barney” in 1980.