Richard Clarence McBride

Richard Clarence McBride passed away peacefully on December 6, 2024, at Richland Rehabilitation Center in Richland, WA with loving family at his side.

Richard was born June 25, 1936, in Yakima, WA to Clarence Elmer McBride and Sarah Elizabeth (Edwards) McBride. Richard was the oldest of three children and included Norma Jean born in 1938 and Gordon Edward in 1942.

Richard was raised on a wheat and cattle ranch located in Bickleton, WA. He attended Donoho School in the Glade early on and then attended Bickleton school starting in fourth grade. He rode horseback to school 8 miles away until seventh grade when the school bought a bus. He graduated there in 1955. He then attended Milligan College in Tennessee for two years, where he met and married Cynthia Hooks and had a daughter, Melinda. They came back to Bickleton to work with his father and brother at McBride Ranches.

After his first marriage ended, he then married Barbara Shinn from Mabton, WA in 1959. They had three children, Karl, Colleen and Ben.  In 1974, Melinda joined the family at the home in Bluelight, which is an area east of Bickleton. This is where Richard lived most of his life and raised his children to love the farm as much as he did. Everyone was taught early on the importance of hard work, whether it was raising steers or driving a truck, tractor or combine. He was most proud that his children remained in the community and held strong in their Christian faith. In 1967, he went to auctioneer school in Kansas City and began a long career of part time auctioneering at county fairs and other benefit auctions. He sold many of his children’s and grandchildren’s 4-H animals. Richard was also a 4-H leader of the Bickleton Hilltoppers for a time.   He was a member of the Washington Wheat Growers Association, Cattlemen’s Association, IOOF Lodge, Alder Creek Grange and Alder Creek Pioneer Association. In 1967, the family was awarded the Yakima County Cattlemen of the Year along with Washington State Cattlemen of the Year and in 1976, they were awarded Conservation Farmer of the Year. He and his father were also able to find artesian water through “water witching” and were instrumental in bringing valuable water to the parched land in the Six-Prong area, also known as the “lower country”. Richard and Barbara later divorced but remained friends.

Richard remarried when he met Joyce Kinkade from Mabton, WA in 1983. Joyce had one daughter, Misty. Richard also became a pilot and enjoyed flying his own plane throughout Bickleton and beyond. In 1990, he began working for Rabanco Regional Landfill south of Bickleton, operating heavy equipment until 2001 before retiring. Joyce passed away in 2011.

Richard married Kathleen (Kathy) Cloninger in August of 2012. They were “snowbirds”, spending summers in Bickleton and winters in Quartzsite, Arizona. There they enjoyed side by side rides in the desert, attending the Quartzsite Southern Baptist Church and forming lifelong friendships. Richard spent many hours collecting and documenting his genealogy where he eventually found over 35,000 relatives. He also never met a stranger as he would begin most conversations with “where are you from?” This inevitably led to his statement that he was from Bickleton as he would proudly talk of his beloved hometown. In 2019, he was honored with being President of the Alder Creek Pioneer Association Picnic. He so loved the picnic every year where he would meet up with old friends and enjoy the day visiting and watching the rodeo. Richard and Kathy also attended Anchor Point Christian Fellowship in Grandview when they were able.

Richard was interviewed just before his passing by David Hoodenpyl on his podcast, Wrinkled Wisdom Episode 10. It can be watched on You Tube.

Richard is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Kathy. He is also survived by daughters Melinda (Tom) Whitmore and Colleen (John) Jensen, sons Karl (Nora) McBride and Ben (Julie) McBride, all of Bickleton, WA. He is also survived by stepdaughter, Misty (Gabriel) Zamora of Sunnyside, WA and stepson, Sol (Melissa) Freeman of Spokane, WA and sister-in-law, Carol (Gene) Waller and brother-in-law, Steven (Mary) Cloninger of Kennewick, WA, 19 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren and two on the way, several nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends throughout the country.

The family would like to thank the staff at Richland Rehab for their special care of Richard while he was there.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Bickleton Evangelical Church with burial to follow at Bickleton I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Those wishing to honor Richard’s memory may contribute to the Alder Creek Pioneer Association or the ACPA Carousel Museum, both at PO Box 116, Bickleton, WA  99322. Those wishing to sign Richard's online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

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