Richard L. Harper

Richard Leslie Harper, age 75, of Lamar, MO died Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at Barton County Memorial Hospital after an apparent heart attack.     Richard was born June 23, 1935 at Grove County, Kansas to Leslie Andrew and Nora Alice (Russell) Harper.  He graduated Lamar High School in 1953 and on November 17, 1957 he married Darlene Hanzlick in Girard, Kansas.  Together they raised four daughters.  He was a retired Cattle and Crop Farmer and loved to hunt and fish.      Richard leaves behind his wife Darlene of 53 years; four daughters, Jackie & Joe Beckett of Carthage, Terri & Terry Lawrence of Lamar, Judy & Roger Renken, of Carthage, MO, and Lori & David Gruginski, of Charlotte, NC; three sisters, Margaret & Bob McDonald, of Lamar, Marilyn & Gail Howard, of Springhill, KS, Dorothy Findley, of Lamar; eight grandchildren, Jeremy Johnson, Larry & Jenae Johnson, Brent Johnson, Heath Lawrence, Danielle & Jared Jackson, Courtney Renken, Nicole Renken, and Brooke Renken; two great grandchildren, Chase Johnson and McKinzie Johnson.     Richard was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Erma Smith, one brother-in-law Allen Findley, and one grandson Blake Lawrence.     Graveside services will be 2:00 pm Friday, January 14, 2011 at Sheldon Cemetery, Sheldon, MO.  Roger Renken will officiate.     This obituary may be read and condolences left at www.danielfuneralhome.net