Dot Ann Ricker, 74

Dot Ann Ricker “went peacefully home to be with her Savior” on Sunday, April 15, 2012.

She was born Dot Ann Anson on June 17, 1937, to Claude and Dot Anson in La Grande, Ore.

She graduated from La Grande High School and attended college at Eastern Oregon State College, then graduated from the University of Oregon with an education degree. Soon after, she met and married the love of her life, Michael Ricker, of Union, Ore. They had three children, Curtis, Shannon and Tod.

 Dot Ann taught high school P.E. and health in Portland, Seattle and Whitefish. She was an active member of the Whitefish community and with her church, First Presbyterian Church. She served on the boards for League of Women Voters, Montana  State Medical Ladies’ Auxiliary, Rainbow Girls and was president of the Swim Team Parents group. She was a member of PEO, Eastern Star and Beta Sigma Phi. She was selected as First Lady of Whitefish in 1983 in recognition of her efforts for the community.  She worked to get a public pool in Whitefish and taught swim lessons for many years to pre-school through high school age kids. Her winters were filled with skiing and sharing her passion for it with kids and adults, especially as a Big Mountain ski school instructor.

Although her life was filled with activities and enthusiasm for her community, her love for her family, friends and above all, Jesus, surpassed  them all. She was a woman who lived a life that defined devotion to family, a love for many friendships and an unshakable faith. She lived it all with a dauntless spirit full of enthusiasm and optimism. Her quick wit and endless charm will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Dot and Claude Anson. 

She is survived by her husband, Michael Ricker; her children and their spouses, Curtis and Tatiana Ricker of LaGrande, Tod and Debbie Ricker of Sisters, Ore., and Shannon and David Mercer of Whitefish; her sister and husband, Sue and Michael McGuire of Golden, Colo.; and eleven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24 at First Presbyterian Church in Whitefish. There will also be a celebration of life Service at 2 p.m. on April 27 at Loveland Funeral Chapel in La Grande, followed by burial in Union.

Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church of Whitefish.

 You are invited to go to www.austinfh.com to offer condolences, share memories and view Dot Ann’s tribute wall.