Richard ‘Wade’ Welch

April 22, 1944 - July 5, 2013

Richard ‘Wade’ Welch, 69, of Rochester Hills, Mich., died Friday, July 5, 2013, at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.Wade was born April 22, 1944 in Cowley to Ford and Ruth (Stubbs) Welch. He graduated from Cowley High School in 1962 and began working as a masonry apprentice for Strom and Nordenstam. In June 1964 he married Judy Martin, moved to Cody and began working nights at the gypsum plant while attending Northwest Community College for dentistry. Some say it was the love of hammering things at the gypsum plant that began to pique Wade’s interest in building. During this union Wade and Judy had two children, daughter Shanee Dee and son Yancy Beau. Also during this time Wade began a partnership in construction with his then brother-in-law, Merwin Martin, and Martin & Welch Construction was born. This partnership ended in 1977 along with his marriage to Judy and Wade went out on his own.In August 1979 Wade married his partner for life, Billy Petersen, and with this union added Billy’s two sons, Thomas and Troy. Additionally Wade and Billy had three children of their own: daughter Kimberly Ruth, daughter Ketti Beth and son Rhett Wade (deceased), to create a rewarding family of seven.Wade’s love in life was working construction with his sons, and in 1989 he moved to Michigan and became a respected carpenter and the business owner of R.W. Welch Construction, which he proudly maintained until his health made it difficult to work. After retirement, Wade became deeply involved in his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and enjoyed cooking and playing with his grandchildren.Wade’s hobbies included hunting, fishing, horseback riding, golfing and especially his visits back to Wyoming.Wade was preceded in death by his parents and infant son, Rhett.Wade is survived by his wife Billy of 34 years; sons Tom Bloomenrader of Calif., and Troy (Becca) Bloomenrader of Powell, daughter Shanee (Eric) Parham of Powell, son Yancy (Robbi) Welch of Powell, and daughters Kimberly (Paul) Hornung of Royal Oak, Mich. and Ketti (Josh) Kohl of Sidney, Mont.; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild; brothers Ford (Bernice) Welch of San Diego, Michael (Ellen) Welch of Snellville, Ga., Klaes (Nancy) Welch of Mandan, N. D., Todd (Myrna) Welch of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Dr. Charles (Loretta) Welch of Cody; sister Marsha (Kneil) Baron of Orlando, Fla. and many nieces and nephews.A funeral service was held in Rochester Hills, Mich., with an additional service held Saturday, July 13, at the LDS Church on Seventh Street in Powell. Interment was in the Crown Hill Cemetery. Thompson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.