More detail on this person: Richard Edward Bauer, 65, passed away Saturday, September 29,
2012, at Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance, Nebraska. Richard was born October 1, 1946, and
graduated from Alliance High School in 1964. In 1966, Richard began a twenty-year career in the
United States Army, serving two tours in Vietnam as a airplane and helicopter pilot, as well as
tours in Korea and Turkey, and many stateside assignments. During his military career, Richard
earned numerous commendations and awards.
After retiring from the military, Richard returned to his hometown of Alliance and eventually began
a career in law enforcement, starting as a part-time correctional officer at the Box Butte County
Jail, while also delivering mail in rural Alliance. He became a deputy sheriff in 1994, the same
year he received the Nebraska Sheriff's Association Officer of the Year award, after retrieving a
loaded gun from a defendant in District Court. Later that year he was appointed Sheriff for a full
four-year term, due to the untimely death of Sheriff Mike Frerichs. Richard ran for two more
terms, serving 12 years total as the Box Butte County Sheriff, before retiring in 2007. Richard
enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing and spending time with family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Carol; one brother, two sons, one daughter, seven grandchildren and
numerous nieces and nephews. Burial was held at the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery, the family
requests that memorials be given to the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery.
ALLIANCE - Richard Edward Bauer, 65, passed away Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at Box Butte General
Hospital in Alliance.
Memorial services will be Thursday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. at United Methodist Church with Pastor Tom
Lucas officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Alliance.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery, P.O. Box 718,
Alliance, NE 69301.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of
arrangements.
Richard was born Oct. 1, 1946, to Oscar and Dorothy (Curry) Bauer in Alliance.
He graduated from Alliance High School in 1964. In 1966, Richard began a twenty-year career in the
United States Army, serving two tours in Vietnam as an airplane and helicopter pilot, as well as
tours in Korea and Turkey, and many stateside assignments. During his military career, Richard
earned numerous commendations and awards.
After retiring from the military, Richard returned to his hometown of Alliance and eventually began
a career in law enforcement, starting as a part-time correctional officer at the Box Butte County
Jail, while also delivering mail in rural Alliance. He became a deputy sheriff in 1994, the same
year he received the Nebraska Sheriff's Association Officer of the Year award, after retrieving a
loaded gun from a defendant in District Court. Later that year he was appointed Sheriff for a full
four-year term, due to the untimely death of Sheriff Mike Frerichs. Richard ran for two more terms,
serving 12 years total as the Box Butte County Sheriff, before retiring in 2007. He enjoyed golfing,
hunting, fishing and spending time with family and friends.
Richard married Carol Hooper on January 1, 1997, in Alliance. He is survived by his wife, Carol;
brother, Jerry (Doretta) Bauer of North Platte; sons, Garry (Denise) Bauer of Alliance, Bobby
(April) Bauer of Castle Rock, Colo.; daughter, Matisha (Andrew) Stratton; grandchildren, Devin
Bauer, Kayla Kriz, Nicole Bauer, Stephanie Bauer, Travis Bauer, Adrienne Stratton and Bethany
Stratton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding Richard in death were his parents.
Published in The Star-Herald from October 2 to October 4, 2012
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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