Richard Dean Rhea

Richard “Dick” Rhea, son of Ora and Alma Rhea was born in Sharon Springs, Ks on March 27, 1930 and he went home to be with God on June 17, 2026.

He is survived by his children Rhonda Haislip and Chet Morris of Kingman, AZ, Donna and Gary Haislip of Wallace, KS, Kurt and Cheri Rhea of Litchfield, AZ and Amie and Jay Sharp of Sharon Spgs, KS. 8 Grandchildren: Lorie and Pat Reed, Salina, KS, Justin and Michele Haislip, Wallace, KS, Travis and Ranay Haislip, Tulsa OK, Jodi Chaput, Lenexa, KS, Casey and Megan Rhea, Waddell, AZ, Keith and Ashlee Rhea, Sharon Spgs, KS, Breanna and Brandon Reynolds, Sharon Spgs, KS and Tyler Sharp, Sharon Springs, KS. 17 Great Grandchildren: Cody Reed Louisville, Kentucky, Trey Haislip and Fiancé Lauren Tagtmeyer, Sharon Spgs KS, Carli and Dustin Bundy, Benkelman, NE, Josh and Zoie Reed, Kansas City, MO, Dawson Haislip, Tulsa OK, Dustin & Emma Haislip, Tulsa, OK Morgan Chaput, Malin Chaput, Grant Chaput of Lenexa, KS, Lexi Rhea, Kendall Rhea, Cadence Rhea, Waddell, AZ, Kaylee Rhea, El Dorado, Braxton Rhea, Sharon Springs, KS, Jaelynn Ita and fiancé Jacob Lowe of Karney, NE, Ellie Reynolds of Sharon Springs, Kaitlynn Smith and fiancé Brennan Fitzgerald of Gypsum; 4 Great-Great Grandchildren: Cooper Haislip, Weskan, Ks, Myka Reed-Storkman, Louisville, KY, Callum Bundy, Benkelman, NE, and Brantley and Kalliope Fitzgerald of Gypsum.

Proceeded him in death was his wife, Bernice in 2017, his parents, stepfather, Wayne Ordway, sister, Lorrene Ford, two brothers Leyon and Gerald, granddaughter and grandson-in-law Tricia and Thad Ita and step-great grandson, Jake Ita.

He lived his entire life in and around Sharon Springs. He graduated from Wallace County High School in 1949. In 1949 he was baptized into the Catholic Faith and he and Bernice Pfeifer were married.

In Dick’s early years he was a farmer and rancher until 1958, he then bought into the International Harvester Implement business with Carl Witzel and they were partners for many years. His son, Kurt purchased and took over the business in 1976. He owned a modified race car and enjoyed traveling to many different tracks with his family and friends. Dick also put his time into training his race horses in Colorado, Nebraska and New Mexico for several years after he retired.

Dick had a keen eye for antiques and loved farm auctions, always bringing home many treasures. He always had to be busy doing something and when he sold his last race horse, he remembered an old antique pump organ that he had taken out of the Catholic Church when they received a new electric one. He was asked by the priest to take the old organ to the dump and instead he took it home. Everyone that knew Dick Rhea, knew he did not throw anything away! This organ was the beginning of his last hobby. From there, he began restoring Antique Pump Organs. He purchased a building on main street and set up a museum which housed 64 organs until August of 2017. At that time, his collection of pump organs were donated to the Ft Wallace Museum so the display could be seen by the many thousands that enjoy the museum each year. And at his death he had a total of 101 organs that he proudly refinished and displayed.

Memorials may be designated to Prairie Village and may be left at the service or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N Main, Goodland, KS 67735.