Richard D. Shepard known as "Dean" was born March 27th, 1926 to Lila Bryant Shepard and Charley Phelitus Shepard known as Ship in Cope, Colorado a thriving farming community at that time. He attended school on the hill north of Cope and graduated from the 12th grade. His father departed this earth in 1934 of cancer when Dean was 7 years old. His mother remarried Francis Weape who was a farmer and a great Step-Father although it took Dean and his siblings a long time to realize what a good man he was.

Dean joined the United States Army in 1959 and served in combat in both Korea and Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1966. After his discharge he went into the prescription delivery business for 5 years and then landscaping for about 3 years. He then decided to go back to work for the government to complete his retirement and was employed at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and later at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina as a school bus driver where he retired in 1987.

Dean met Bertha Humphrey the summer of 2000 and they were married September 3rd, 2000. They loved to go dancing, in fact that is how they met, they have been inseparable for over 14 years. He enjoyed their many traveling adventures. Dean was known for his never ending supply of jokes and stories.

Dean was a member of the American Legion and a life member of both the Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Dean was preceded in death by his Father, Mother, Step-Father and older brother Glen,

He is survived and will be missed by his wife Bertha and Stepdaughters; Cynthia Liggette of Raytown, MO; Alberta Naill and husband Ken of Fort Morgan, CO; Ellen Strong and husband Jimmy of Utica, MS; Patty Ehrlick and husband Mark of Johnstown, CO. Sister Joyce Klassen of Yuma, CO; Niece Geri of Fort Morgan, many grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends.

Services will be held Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Akron. Interment will follow at the Akron Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Akron or Otis VFWs or the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.