Richard Lutes

Richard Lutes passed away peacefully July 21, 2016, at his home in Rock Springs.

As a baby of a soldier at Fort Lewis, he was born in Tacoma, Wash., Jan. 24, 1942, the first of four children born to Jack B. Lutes and E. LaVera Curdy Lutes.

Shortly thereafter, the family moved back to Bozeman, Mont., where he spent his youth.  

Lutes loved to participate in pranks and challenge the rules growing up and gave his friends and family nicknames out of love.

He was a great storyteller and his gift of storytelling served him all his life. It's what helped him succeed as a bartender and salesman.

After high school Dick tried several trades that took him to Nevada, Montana, Oregon, back to Montana, and finally to Wyoming.

His dream was to be a vet working with ranch animals. Instead he worked as a ranch hand, bartender, and salesman.

He was happiest in the mountains fishing and hunting with his friends, riding his horse Duke with his beloved dog Jake by his side.

Dick boxed in high school and was an avid boxing fan.  

Lutes married Nathalee Young March 2, 1965, and together they had two sons, Howard and Clark. They later divorced.

Years later when his travels took him to Rock Springs, he met his life partner in Wauneta Nussbaum and they were married Aug. 20, 1993.  With her he gained two stepsons, Dennis and Darrel Nussbaum, who he loved as his own. He spent 30 years in Rock Springs working for electrical supply companies. Due to health reasons, he retired from Codale Electrical Supply in March 2015.

Lutes was preceded in death by his parents; two grandsons, Mark and Tyler Morgan; a brother -in-law, Wayne Mundschenk and nephew John Mundshenk.

He is survived by his wife Nita; sons Howard (Emee) Morgan of Riverton, Utah, Clark (Jeanine) Morgan of Orlando, Fla., Dennis (Joy) Nussbaum of Minot, N.D., and Darrel (Sirena) Nussbaum of Rock Springs; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brother Victor (Shirley) Lutes of Bozeman, Mont.; sisters Priscilla (Chris) Christenson of Lebanon, Ore., and Jeannie (Steve) Thompson of Missoula, Mont.; sisters-in-law Wanda (Rick) Carpenter of Pine Bluffs, Diana (Roger) Jessop of Rock Springs, Darla (Dennis) Kreasky of Haskell, Okla., and Donna Mundshenk of Hamilton, Mont.; numerous nieces, nephews an their children, aunts Ruth McGinnis of Butte, Montana, and Frances Curdy of Hamilton, Montana as well as many cousins and close friends.  

A barbecue celebration of Lutes' life will take place at Crossroads Park in Rock Springs Sept. 4, 2016 at 1 p.m.

Lutes' family respectfully suggests that donations in his memory be made to Hospice of Sweetwater County or Young at Heart Senior Center.