PEARL RICHTER obituary

HINGHAM - Pearl Viola Richter, 67, longtime Hingham resident, died Thursday, July 24, 2003, at her home in Bigfork.

A funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. Cremation will follow the services.

Pearl was born on Dec. 30, 1935, at Hinsdale to Martin and Leila (Hull) Brown. She was raised on a ranch at Thoene, a small community north of Hinsdale. She received her early education at Hinsdale, then transferred to Joplin, where she graduated from high school in 1953.

She married Christian W. "Chris" Richter on Oct. 28, 1953, at Hingham. They lived on the Richter farm south of Hingham and began raising their family. In 1970, they bought the Hi Way Bar and Cafe in Hingham. Pearl began working as a postal clerk at Hingham in 1973 and eventually was promoted to postmaster. She worked the Postal Service for 19 years until ill health forced her to retire in 2002.

The Richters enjoyed traveling to Bigfork to visit family and friends. They recently sold their home in Hingham and were in the process of moving permanently to their summer home near Bigfork.

Pearl was a private woman with a strong Christian faith. She was a longtime member of Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church and served on the Altar Society funeral committee for 31 years.

In her quiet time at home, Pearl enjoyed reading and was especially fond of mysteries and romances. She was an avid Elvis Presley fan and enjoyed watching his old movies and listening to his music. Pearl was an excellent cook and baked memorable pies and breads, loved visiting with friends and family, and cherished time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved animals and was a strong supporter of the Humane Society and related charities.

Pearl was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Clarence, Claude, Raymond, Eddy, Harry and Lawrence; sisters, Gertrude, Libby and Minnie; and grandson, Zachary Richter.

Survivors include her husband, Chris Richter of Hingham; sons, Dan (Rebecca) Richter of Phoenix, Ariz., and Don (Jocelyn) Richter, Dave (Judy) Richter and Dennis (Shari) Richter, all of Bigfork; daughter, Denise (Lowell) Strissel of Hingham; brother, Harold Brown of Fort Peck; sisters, Helen Samuelson of Cottonwood, Ariz., Alice Hoerster of Billings and Millie Harden of Billings; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Gift of Life Housing in Great Falls, Our Lady of Ransom Church in Hingham, or the donor's choice.

Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.