Mr. Steven Rikke

Steven Gene Rikke, 50, of Upton, Wyoming passed away Friday, May 6th in his home due to complications from Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS).

Steve is survived by his daughters Leanna Flores of Upton and Mercedez Flores of Newcastle; grandchildren Scarlett and Asher Harper also of Newcastle; brothers John Rikke of Gillette, Allen Rikke of Nebraska; and sister Lou Rikke of Minnesota; along with many nieces and nephews. Steve was preceded in death by his father Arvid Rikke in October of 1997, his mother Bunny Rikke on December 17, 2004, and his wife Tammy Rikke on December 5, 2006.

Steve was born May 11, 1960 at Clarkfield, MN. The family grew up on a farm in Minnesota until Steve was about 9 years old, they then moved to Clarkfield for year before settling down on Boyd, Minnesota.

Steve received his GED, and then joined the U. S. Navy in 1980, where he spent the next several years enjoying life on the open sea. He ten met Tammy Yeaple and her daughters Mercedez and Leanna. Steve and Tammy married on February 3, 1990.

The family then moved to Upton on July 5, 1995, where Tammy and their daughters waited for Steve to return from a two year tour on the Mediterranean Sea.

After serving twenty years and receiving several awards and medals; including National Defense Service Medal, South West Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (four of them over the years) and the Navy Good Conduct Medal (fifteen of them over the years). Steve retired from the Navy in 2000. He would have served another twenty years had they allowed him to. He truly loved serving his country. After retiring he went to work on methane and water rigs. He also worked for the Navy as a recruiter in Gillette, Wyoming. Soon after he got a job at Black Thunder Coal Mine where he spent the last five years of his life working, making friends and just enjoying life.

Steve was a member of the American Legion in Gillette, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Moorcroft, Wyoming.