Lowell W. Richter

July 27, 1926–January 16, 2024

Long-time Dayton resident, Lowell W. Richter, 97, passed away gently on January 16, 2024, at Parkview Memory Care in Walla Walla.

Lowell was born July 27, 1926, and was raised by his grandparents, Benjamin and Anna Richter, on the family farm in Montgomery, Minn. He had lasting memories of attending grade school in the one-room country school and later moving to town where he graduated from high school in 1944. He entered the Army Air Corps in 1945, where he served proudly for two years, primarily in Guam.

After discharge Lowell moved to Pomeroy, Wash., to work at Blue Mountain Cannery (later Green Giant Company). He returned to Montgomery in 1948, to marry his high school sweetheart, Aggie Filipek. Their honeymoon was a drive back to Washington, "God's Country," he always called it. They made their home in Pomeroy where he began what would become his strong, life-long commitment to serving his community and church.

He and Aggie welcomed their first three children, Mary Kay, Kurt, and Karen, and lived there until 1959, when Lowell was transferred with Green Giant Co. to Dayton. In 1968, their family was completed when son Kyle was born.

Lowell's career as Green Giant Field Man lasted until his retirement in 1981 when he began farming, growing wheat, barley, and dry peas and raising cattle. This was the career he truly loved and it continued until the early 1990s.

Lowell and Aggie then became "snowbirds" and began spending their winters in Desert Hot Springs, Calif. After Aggie's passing in 2003, Lowell continued going to the desert each winter, golfing nearly every day until 2018, when he moved to Wheatland Village in Walla Walla.

Lowell was known for his involvement in all phases of community activity, Dayton School Board, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, St. Vincent's Society, Columbia County Grain Growers, Pomeroy Jaycees, as both a worker and a leader, a man never too busy to help. He was honored as "Citizen of the Year for Community Service" in 1971.

Lowell's life story is simply the way he lived his life, with faith, kindness, truth, and a huge love of his family, friends, community, and country, always with a smile and a humble heart.

He is preceded in death by his wife Aggie, son-in-law Art Fuller, mother Eleanor Welshinger, and half-brother Pat Mears.

Lowell is survived by his four children Mary Kay Richter (Peter Schmitz), Kurt (Debbie) Richter, Karen Fuller, Kyle (Audrey) Richter; his eight grandchildren Courtney Juhl (Nicholas), Zachary Fuller, Paul Richter, Kaden, Alek and Rylan Richter, Alan Schmitz, Katey (Greg) Ricker; and his four great-grandchildren Charlotte and Madeleine Juhl, and Will and Emma Ricker. He is also survived by sisters-in law Judy Filipek and Patricia Filipek, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a multitude of friends.

Private graveside service will be at Dayton Cemetery. Lowell's long and wonderful life will be celebrated at the Columbia County Fairgrounds Pavilion, Dayton Wash., on Monday, March 4, at 2 p.m.

-Submitted photo

Lowell W. Richter

In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial contribution to these local organizations that were important to Lowell: Touchet Valley Golf Course, Project Timothy, Dayton Kiwanis, The Glen Nysoe Cancer Fund...or by simply planting a tree in his honor, he would love that.