A tribute to Doctor Bill Riecke in the highest honor and respect

Many, many years back, when JoAnn and I were just married and starting our ranching career, there was a group of fall deer hunters that camped at an old, vacant log home of our neighbors. The Bismarck, N.D., bunch was made of some of their finest, including a doctor, a lawyer and business leaders. Three of them endured the decades of time and adopted our ranch as their “home base” and became some of our lifelong best friends that included Jim Mollison, Jerry Woodcox and Doctor Bill Riecke.

Jim eventually transferred to Pierre, S.D., with promotions of the company he was employed. Jerry owned and operated Arrowhead Dry Cleaners and became one of Burleigh County’s long term county commissioners, while Bill practiced as a pediatrician and a heart and lung, allergy and cystic fibrosis specialist in Mandan and Bismarck clinics.

Bill and Jerry spent many years hiking our ranch and a large area the Badlands in western North Dakota. They much more enjoyed the freedom of open spaces and watching all the wildlife species than they ever did to hunt them.

The duo traveled the world on thrilling adventures that included guided hikes up to base camps on Mount Everest and whitewater rafting the Bio Bio River of southern Chile, South America, one of the world’s most challenging.

Whenever JoAnn and I made the three-hour business trip to Bismarck, our money was worthless. Bill and Margaret and Jerry and Donna entertained us to the fullest. The Woodcox’s included us in their famous annual Halloween live model “spooks” that caused traffic jams on Washington Street. We carried a key to the Riecke’s residence to spend the night if they happened to be out of town at the time. Our room was at the top of the stairs and to the left. In fact, when they retired, we were invited to their going away party that included doctors, lawyers, a judge, businesspeople and “us.” As the evening progressed, Margaret took me aside and asked for their house key. I jokingly asked, “Why?” She said, “Well, you know we’re moving and have sold our residence.” I continued, “Yes. I understand that Margaret, but you must also realize that I might be coming through here from working a banquet and need a place to crash for a while. Can’t you just tell the new owners that’s my room at the left of the stairs?” They were always fun to be with.

Their new home took them high up on the Blue Ridge Mountainside looking down over Brevard, N.C., which is just south of Ashville, home of the famous Biltmore Mansion. Margaret became a North Carolina licensed real estate agent as Bill packed, hiked, and camped on the renowned Appalachian Trail. Bill always jokingly said, “Margaret doesn’t retire well, she has to be busy.” With that said, she did join Bill on many hikes that included a famous back country, 500-mile mountain hike of the Camino de Santiago in Spain and Portugal.

Bill also built great friendships with a group of runners that included him running the Boston Marathon. Canoeing the Boundary Waters and Canadian Lakes was another passion of his.

Over the past 25-30 years, JoAnn and I flew back to visit on two separate occasions. They hold memories of a lifetime. On the second visit, the Rieckes picked us up in Richmond, Va., where we then toured the first English settlement in America at Jamestown, then drove through the “under the ocean” tunnel at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay at Norfolk. Washington, D.C., was the next stop. Bill loved the back country life while Margaret was well schooled on political procedure and the depths of D.C. and was a valuable guide to us “county folk.” We took some awesome tours. Washington is a place every American citizen should visit at least once, but in truth, once is plenty enough for me. I need no more of the “rat race.”

Through the years, as the Rieckes returned to Bismarck to visit old friends, they always drove out to our ranch and spent several days with us. A difference in social order was never a concern to them.

One of Bill’s final requests was to have Margaret spread some of his ashes over his beloved western North Dakota Badlands of our Lowman Ranch. His easy smile, great personality, and love of nature rides with us daily in the highest honor and respect.

Rest in peace, our friend.