Richard Lee Henry, age 90, of Hill City, Kansas, died February 17, 2026, surrounded by his family in the home he loved. He was born in Rural Graham County near Bow Creek to Vernon and Hazel (Fredde) Henry. He was the last child born in a sod house in Graham County. His childhood was spent surrounded by four sisters and one brother.
Following his educational years began in a country school, he attended and graduated from Hill City High School. Richard enjoyed playing football and basketball and was quite good at both. Richard always worked hard. He took a job of roofing houses before and after high school. He married Bonita Robinson from Trego County. The couple had three children and later divorced.
Richard moved to Colorado and then Montana where he got into car sales. However, even as a kid, Richard was a rockhound always into rock hunting and collecting. In Montana and Wyoming, digging for rocks became a passion. From then on, he spent his life doing what he loved as a successful rock man. His business was the Jayhawk Rock Shop. The rocks he gathered were polished and made into many lovely pieces of jewelry. Later he married Peggy Sue Denney. The two of them traveled to many rock shows all over the United States. Each year they spent winters among the rock and gem fanatics in Quartzsite, Arizona. He was well known as “Dick", “Jayhawk" or “Rock Man".
While coming down mountain switchbacks in Montana, Richard experienced a lifesaving Divine Intervention from God. He became a follower of Christ and his Faith in Christ defined his life. Faith was everything to him and he had a steadfast peace in his heart that came from the hope of the Gospel.
Richard was immensely loved by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.Was always fun to be around and had a unique sense of humor until the very end. He even began enjoying his cats!
Preceding him in death were his parents; siblings: Roger Henry and Betty Mauck; and his daughter, Sandra Koerperich. Left to carry on his legacy of love for Christ and Family are his children: Brenda Estes of Hill City and Ryan Henry of Palm Springs, California; sisters: Marilyn Grigsby of Texas, Doris (Vic) Wagoner of Edmond, Lois Zelenka of Hutchinson; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
4Funeral Services were February 24, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. in the Hill City First Assembly of God Church, Hill City, Kansas. Memorials may be sent % Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 North Pomeroy Avenue, Hill City, Kansas. 67642 for the Hill City First Assembly of God Church.