Ethel Margaret Rickard

Ethel Margaret (Boucher) Rickard, 97, died on Saturday January 4, 2025, at Newton Presbyterian Manor where she has lived since 2013.

She was a longtime active member of First Presbyterian Church in Newton where she has held membership since the 1950’s.

Ethel, known by almost everybody as “Granny”,  was born on April 25, 1927, in Douglass, Kansas to Charles and Lena (Zurbuchen) Boucher. She married Aubry Hartley (Rick) Rickard on August 1, 1948, and celebrated over 66 years of marriage before he passed in June of 2015.

She was an accomplished seamstress and worked for over 20 years making drapes. In retirement she enjoyed square dancing, traveling in their RV and wintering in McCallen Texas. Other favorite times included family dinners where her specialties of homemade noodles and gooseberry pie were served.

Ethel is survived by her children: Louise Rickard of Wichita; Doug (Kathy) Rickard of El Dorado; David (Sandra) Rickard of Lawrence; four grandchildren, Michelle McGinty, Houston; Brandy and Andy Miller of Lawrence; Scott and Staci Rickard, El Dorado; and Brian and Erica Rickard of Newton.

Though age eventually took her recall, she never forgot to ask about the “little ones,” her great grandchildren: Jordan Watson, Carter Miller, Aidan Miller, Brylee Miller, Corah Miller, Cole Rickard, Taylor Rickard, Caroline Rickard, Case Rickard and Clark Rickard. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and 7 brothers and 3 sisters. 

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with The Reverend Scott McGinnis presiding. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service beginning at 1 p.m. A private family interment will take place at Restlawn Gardens of Memory, Rural Newton, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations in Ethel's memory, be made to the Presbyterian Manor Scholarship, in care of Petersen Funeral Home.