Dick L. Dudley

Dick Dudley was born in Falls City, NE on July 3, 1938, to Russell and Hazel (Franks) Dudley.  He passed away quietly at home on January 6, 2026. 

Dick grew up in Macon and Excello, MO. He attended Macon High School and graduated in 1956. He attended Hardin Simmons University and graduated in 1961.He was a 1st LT in the Idaho National Guard for 7 years. 

He taught driver's education in Wise River, MT for 5 years and during the summer he worked for the U S Forest Service in the Fire Program, where he later got a permanent position in the Fire Program for approximately for 50 years, first as a regular employee and then as a casual hire (call when needed employee) after he retired he continued to work with many fire teams in Idaho and Montana as a fire dispatcher and rose to an Air Operations Branch Director. He was well thought of all over the United States.

He met his wife, LaVon, when they were both on fire assignments in Tallahassee, FL in 2001. They married November 30, 2002, she survives of the home.

He is also survived by his sister, Ann (Dan) Medlin, Alba, TX, his sons, Russell (Valeria) Dudley, Princeton, ID, and Cliff (Arlene) Dudley, Granada, British Isles. His bonus sons, Rod (Tracy) Burghart, Blue Springs, MO, Chris (Staci) Schroeder and Jerry Kraemer all of Junction City, KS; his grandson, Tristen Dudley, Pullman, WA, his bonus grandchildren, Haley (AJ) Hunter, Silverstreet, SC, Alexis Kraemer (Dee Jay Fullwood) and Matthew Kraemer, all of Junction City, KS; Makensey Burghart (Ethan Balogh), Independence, two bonus great-grandsons, Jeremiah Fullwood of Junction City, KS, and Anthony Hunter, Jr., Silverstreet, SC, three nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Sara Lynn Dudley.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 am, January 30, 2026, with Pastor John Fries at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 9719 Clark's Creek Road, Junction City, KS. Cremation has taken place, and inurnment will be at a later date in Montana.

Memorial Contributions have been designated to St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery, in care of Johnson and Mass-Hinitt Funeral Home.