Richard "Idaho" H. Brucks, 73, of Bellevue, Wash., went home to be with Jesus after a long battle with cancer on Monday, April 28, 2014, surrounded by his family at his home in Bellevue, Wash.

Richard was born January 22, 1941, to Emmanuel and Elva Brucks in Aberdeen, Idaho. He attended school in Aberdeen, and earned his certificates in Carpentry and Welding from Idaho State University.

In September 1961, he married Sheryl Tiede, daughter of Fred and Irene, in American Falls, Idaho. He worked at Arts Machine Shop, Double L Manufacturing and with his Father-in-Law on the family farm in American Falls, with their two children, Jerry and Terri.

They moved to Kirkland, Wash., in 1989 where Richard began his career at Northwest University, where he was known, fondly, as 'Idaho' to the students and faculty. His quiet and encouraging countenance, coupled with his deep love for the students, created a powerful ministry on the campus that lasted for the next 25 years of his career.

In 2001, Richard and Sheryl, along with their daughter Terri and her husband Dave, were blessed with the task of raising their great granddaughter, Natalia. His greatest joy was being with her. The two were inseparable; spending long hours in his shop at the university and playing in the park near their home in Bellevue, Wash. Though Richard is no longer with us, his legacy will live on in the lives of those who were fortunate enough to know him.

His wife Sheryl, of Bellevue, Wash., two children and their spouses, Jerry (Sue) of Medford, Ore., and Terri Turner (Dave) of Bellevue, Wash., three grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and brother Raymond (Shirley) survive him. His parents and one sister (Diane) preceded him in death.