Barbara Lee (Hecker) Richardson

Barbara Lee (Hecker) Richardson, 83, passed away peacefully on June 3, 2016, at her home in Palmer, Alaska, surrounded by family and friends. She was a wonderful and caring woman who shared her love unconditionally with her family and friends.

She was born in 1932 in Hubbard, Oregon, to William and Kathreen (Gibson) Hecker. Barbara traveled by steamship with her family in 1938 to Alaska, as replacement colonists in Palmer. She graduated from Palmer High School in 1950. She met and married her first husband, Orin Tess, in 1951 and soon moved to the Lower 48, settling into the San Francisco Bay area for about 12 years. In 1966, Barbara and her first three children moved back to Palmer and in 1967, she married her second husband, Gerald McKechnie. For several years, she lived at Lion’s Head by the Matanuska Glacier and then again in Palmer for the remainder of her life. In 1970, she welcomed her fourth child, Julie, into her family.

In the late 1970’s, Barbara met the true love of her life, Terry Richardson, and they have been happily together for the past 36 years, combining their family for a total of eight children.

Barbara was an active member of the Church of Latter Day Saints and spent a lot of her time in teaching others. While living in Palmer, she worked for a period with the State of Alaska and then later with the Matanuska-Susitna School District, between which she was co-owner with her life-long friend, Sis Grasser, of the Fun ‘n Fancy Fashions clothing store in Palmer.

She loved her Alaskan life — snowmachine trips, fishing, cooking, baking, travel, church and family and friends. She was very giving and loved by so many.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Bill Hecker; sisters, June Burden, Fern Leek, and Alice Totten; sons, Brian and Dean Tess; and son-in-law, Todd McDougall.

She is survived by her husband, Terry, of Palmer; children (and spouses) Teri Tess of Palmer, Julie McDougall, of Olympia Washington, Ken (Diane) Richardson, of Anchorage, Heather Clayton, of Wasilla, Betty (Danny) Russell, of Palmer, and Trulie (Kurt) Helgerson, of Spokane, Washington; sister Joyce Hecker, of Texas; 23 grand-children; and 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and many, many other relatives and close friends.

A graveside service and burial will be at the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery on Thursday, June 9 at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Palmer Senior Center would be greatly appreciated.