Richard A. “Rick” Mendenall
May 5th, 1949 - January 24th, 2022
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Rick's Obituary
Richard A. “Rick” Mendenall, 72, of Benton Harbor, passed away, Monday, January 24, 2022 at Spectrum Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held, 2PM Saturday, July 30, 2022 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Moose funeral rites will be conducted by the Royal Order of the Moose, Lodge #1570. Military Rites will be conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Memorial donations in Rick’s name may be made to the Royal Order of the Moose, Lodge #1570, Benton Harbor. Those wishing to sign Rick’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Rick was born May 5, 1949 to Dewight and Catherine Mendenall at Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was the youngest of four boys. Rick attended Hull Elementary School and Benton Harbor High School, graduating in 1967. Rick started singing with his three brothers, “The Mendenall Boys” when he was just four years old. They sang at Churches, Lodge Halls and other venues in the area. As Rick got older, his velvety tenor voice accompanied him to high school, where he sang in the Acapella Choir. Although singing was a joy for Rick and all who heard him, his real passion was fishing!
Whenever he got the chance, he was off to a local inland lake or the North Pier to do some fishing. Rick was very good at it and pursued it most of his life. He also loved the outdoors and visiting with his friends at the Moose Lodge.
After high school, Rick worked at several jobs including the service department at the local Buick Dealership. Then he felt the calling to join the military, following the paths of his brothers Billy & Don. He joined the Army and was a model soldier. After basic training, Rick was stationed in South Korea where he was honored to head up the USO shows for his unit. He also sang in a large band that traveled to military installations in Southeast Asia to entertain the troops. In addition, Rick was selected to become a South Korean Police Officer to earn monies that were paid directly to local orphanages under the auspices of the US Army. After returning to the US, he was stationed in New Mexico at White Sands Missile Range Army Base. There he met his wife Geraldine and together they raised four sons in Las Cruces, NM-Jonathan (Jana) of Moyock, NC, Rick (Carol) of Laton, CA, Brian (Michelle) of Hamilton, MT, & Ceylon of Capitan, NM; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers-Donald of Englewood, FL & Terry (Kathy) of Vancouver, WA; several nieces & nephews; and special friends Tom Pratt & Jon Olexa.
After leaving the Army, Rick worked as a salesman & finance manager for several auto dealerships in Las Cruces, NM. After the death of his wife Geraldine, he moved to Eastern New Mexico, and later back to his home town of Benton Harbor. It was then that he met his long-time companion Laura Sieber, who also survives. Rick was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Geraldine, and his brother Billy Dewight Mendenall.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held, 2PM Saturday, July 30, 2022 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Moose funeral rites will be conducted by the Royal Order of the Moose, Lodge #1570. Military Rites will be conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Memorial donations in Rick’s name may be made to the Royal Order of the Moose, Lodge #1570, Benton Harbor. Those wishing to sign Rick’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Rick was born May 5, 1949 to Dewight and Catherine Mendenall at Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was the youngest of four boys. Rick attended Hull Elementary School and Benton Harbor High School, graduating in 1967. Rick started singing with his three brothers, “The Mendenall Boys” when he was just four years old. They sang at Churches, Lodge Halls and other venues in the area. As Rick got older, his velvety tenor voice accompanied him to high school, where he sang in the Acapella Choir. Although singing was a joy for Rick and all who heard him, his real passion was fishing!
Whenever he got the chance, he was off to a local inland lake or the North Pier to do some fishing. Rick was very good at it and pursued it most of his life. He also loved the outdoors and visiting with his friends at the Moose Lodge.
After high school, Rick worked at several jobs including the service department at the local Buick Dealership. Then he felt the calling to join the military, following the paths of his brothers Billy & Don. He joined the Army and was a model soldier. After basic training, Rick was stationed in South Korea where he was honored to head up the USO shows for his unit. He also sang in a large band that traveled to military installations in Southeast Asia to entertain the troops. In addition, Rick was selected to become a South Korean Police Officer to earn monies that were paid directly to local orphanages under the auspices of the US Army. After returning to the US, he was stationed in New Mexico at White Sands Missile Range Army Base. There he met his wife Geraldine and together they raised four sons in Las Cruces, NM-Jonathan (Jana) of Moyock, NC, Rick (Carol) of Laton, CA, Brian (Michelle) of Hamilton, MT, & Ceylon of Capitan, NM; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers-Donald of Englewood, FL & Terry (Kathy) of Vancouver, WA; several nieces & nephews; and special friends Tom Pratt & Jon Olexa.
After leaving the Army, Rick worked as a salesman & finance manager for several auto dealerships in Las Cruces, NM. After the death of his wife Geraldine, he moved to Eastern New Mexico, and later back to his home town of Benton Harbor. It was then that he met his long-time companion Laura Sieber, who also survives. Rick was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Geraldine, and his brother Billy Dewight Mendenall.
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