Richard Kenneth Henderson

Richard Kenneth Henderson, one of four children of Leona Viola (Stille) and Kenneth Harris Henderson, was born on April 1, 1936 on a farm northwest of Malvern, Iowa. In 1942, his family moved to a farm five and one-half miles north of Malvern. He attended the country schools of Prairie Valley (Frog Pond) and Pleasant Valley and graduated from Malvern High School in 1954. As a boy, Richard rode his horse to haul water to the farm crews in the fields. As a 4-H member, he showed in the Grand Champion Beef Group and received the 1953 Beef Feeder Award. From 1954 -1956, Richard was the Mills County representative at the Iowa State Fair Tractor Rodeo Safe Driving Contest. At age 12, he learned to drive the tractor and loved all aspects of farming. After graduation, Richard began farming the E.L. Gilbert farm three miles north of Malvern. Richard and Carolyn Joan Kline, daughter of Dr. John A. and Helen (Gilbert) Kline, of Malvern, were married on November 27, 1955 at the Malvern First Baptist Church. Their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Ronda Kristine and Janenne Kay. They made their home on Gilbert farm until 1963, when they purchased the Ivan Jackson place just...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

rth of Malvern. Richard had a "farrow to finish" hog operation and a crossbred cow/calf herd. He was a progressive farmer, using modern techniques and conservation practices, to improve the farm to its present productivity, for which he received a Mills County Conservation Award. Richard was a life-long member of the United Methodist Church, first in Silver City, then in Malvern. He was a life-time member of Farm Bureau and had served on the boards of Farm Bureau, Mills County Extension Council, Mills County Fair Board, and Malvern Community School Board. Richard thoroughly enjoyed horseback riding and belonged to several saddle clubs and was currently a long-time member of the Waubonsie Saddle Club. He always had at least one horse and one dog at the farm. For a few years in the 60's, Richard and Joan joined other Mills County horseback riders on trail rides in the Colorado Mountains, which became a favorite vacation spot for their family for many years. Richard was there for his daughters when they showed their 4-H feeder calves and horses and especially enjoyed attending their basketball games while in school. He loved farming, raising livestock, tending to his horses and took great delight in spending time with his grandchildren. In the fall of 1976, Richard and Joan took square dancing lessons and enjoyed over 30 years of dancing all over southwest Iowa and through the Midwest area. For nearly 20 years, they attended the Okoboji Square Dancing Week each September, and even went on square dancing cruises to Hawaii and the Caribbean Islands. Richard passed away on January 30, 2013 at his rural Malvern home, attaining the age of 76 years, 10 months, and 29 days. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother-in-law Eugene Den Hartog. Richard is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joan Henderson; daughters, Kristi Franke and husband Tom of Eureka, MO, and Kay Teachout and husband Chris of Shenandoah, IA; grandchildren, Zack Franke, Alexandra Franke, Skyler Teachout and wife Lindsay, Katelyn Sewell and husband Aaron, and Chelsey Teachout; sisters, Barbara Den Hartog, and Marilyn Pedersen and husband Richard, all of Des Moines, IA, and Karen Wahle and husband Rodney of Carson, IA; sister-in-law Diane Schroeder and husband Gerald of Montrose, CO; nieces, nephews, and many cousins; other relatives and friends. Memorials suggested to Malvern Volunteer Fire Dept or Malvern Volunteer Rescue. Interment in the Malvern Cemetery. Loess Hills Funeral Home of Malvern in charge of arrangements.