From his son Richard -
The memories I had with my father are way too numerous to count, but
I’ll share two of my favorites:

When I went to school at the University of Missouri, I lived very
close to Faurot Field, and would usually watch Tiger football games on
TV for the first half and then walk over and get in at the second half
for free. In 1997, though, Missouri was actually starting their
transformation into a decent team, and they were playing the Nebraska
Cornhuskers, who were on a national championship run in the final year
of their legendary coach Tom Osborne.

Some of the happiest years we had as a family were growing up around
Omaha in a neighborhood where every third house hangs a Cornhusker
banner, and we would watch big games on TV or from a transistor radio
in the garage on the weekends when they were playing the inevitable
Western Wyoming or Idaho Wesleyan Technical College.

So we got some great seats for the game and watched an epic battle
between a Husker squad led by Scott Frost, and a Tigers team led by
Corby Jones. It was an epic back-and-forth battle that came down to
one final play, when Nebraska QB Scott Frost tossed a pass into the
end zone, which looked like it hit the ground but was instead kicked
into the air by one Nebraska player and eventually caught by another.



The play was so confusing, and it looked like the ball had fallen, so
Missouri fans rushed the field and started taking down the goal posts.
Police swarmed the field and had to remove everyone. We absolutely
couldn’t believe it. Of course, based on that play, Nebraska tied up
the game and took it into overtime, which they won.

Nebraska went on to win the national championship, and Tom Osborne,
who my Dad very greatly admired for his plainspoken Midwestern work
ethic and persistent stoicism, hoisted the trophy in his final year.

That play, which has since been named the “Flea Kicker," was something
we talked about all the time. I am so glad I got to see it with my
father, as I can’t imagine anyone in the stands appreciated it with
such mixed emotions or enjoyed the spine-tingling craziness of that
game as much as we did.

One more great memory from his last days:
I’m sitting next to my dad and he's been pretty much completely
incoherent and sleeping for a day or so, and his shallow breathing is
excruciatingly hard to watch. And all of the sudden he looks up at me,
eyes wide and fully awake and says, "I think I'm about ready for my
beer."

I laughed for a second and grabbed the water that was nearby
with a straw in it and gave him a sip, and he says "well that's not
quite the same now is it?" Indeed it isn't, Dad. Indeed it isn't.

So we broke out a bottle of a deep, dark, delicious home brew
that I’d made along with friends with him in mind, and we shared it.
He had a couple sips from a straw and winced cause it hurt like hell
to swallow. Then he licked his lips and smiled.

I’ll remember that smile for the rest of my life.

From his daughter, Sarah -
Trying to narrow down the memories of my dad that I could share here is an impossible task. Do I talk about the endless laughter, the way he was always there when I needed him, or the lessons he taught me daily?

My dad worked tirelessly to get girls soccer in Springfield, because I said, "Daddy, I don't like playing with the boys."  He was at every game I ever played, even when it was out of town, driving me home no matter how late it was.  And on Saturday night after being at the soccer field with all of his kids, he would turn on Garrison Keillor and make the best pizza anyone has ever put in their mouth.

My dad taught me to garden, camp, build a deck and, most importantly, to breathe and let things go. 

I am so lucky to have had him for a dad.

From his much loved Son-In-Law, John -
I have only known Randy for 17 years. Far less than others who have written of him but long enough to get to know a man fairly well. Randy met me the same way he met everyone, with an outstretched hand, a genuinely friendly smile and without preconception or judgment.

His easy way made him approachable and popular. He seemed to lead his family and children with an effortless gentle hand that helped shape their lives and make them what they have become today, a loving family who cares for and supports one another without question or fail. I don’t ever remember seeing Randy outwardly angry. He handled every situation with the same quiet confidence that he knew would bring those he loved and cared for back to him.

He kept his ways and humor to the very end. I will be grateful if I am as fortunate when my time comes.

From his Sister-In-Law, Kathleen-
I have been thinking this past week about the memories I have of Randy. They are many and it is difficult to single out a few. First of all, Randy was a kind and gentle man. He wasn’t easy to anger. In fact, I never did see him angry. Just don’t discuss politics with him if you were not a Republican. J That is the only thing we never talked about.

I have known Randy since he was 15 years old. Wow. That’s a long time. He dated Carol and I dated, Craig, in high school. When Carol and I got our first apartment Craig and Randy helped us paint it and we would cook for them. We played lots of cards and drank a few drinks (actually Carol and Randy taught me to drink). I was pretty straight.

I remember when Carol and Randy moved to Omaha I felt so bad. I wanted them to stay here so the cousins could be close. Actually it was good that they moved because we got to visit them wherever they went and always enjoyed our visits. I remember Randy as always the best host. He had a great sense of humor and we always laughed when we were together. Craig and Randy always laughed about the two “Dahlgren” sisters and compared notes. We were the BF&GF girls.

I remember good times in the boat. And some camping trips together. Randy taught Craig how to water ski. And Randy and I water skied together. I didn’t think I could do that, but he assured me that there was nothing to it. I am not a risk taker, so he was good for me in that way. We skied together and crossed back and forth. I think we felt quite professional!

I remember one Christmas exchanging presents after all the kids went to bed. We were not to spend more than $3, I think. He gave me a package of paper napkins since I never seemed to have any when they came to visit. We gave him a bottle of Thunderbird wine since he was such an expert on wine.  I so remember our sitting on the porch together where the four of us had great chats and many laughs. One year when the Sharps came to visit for the 4^th of July, Randy pulled out a huge display after our city fireworks and started lighting them. I was a nervous wreck thinking we would all go to jail, but the whole neighborhood thought his display was better than the city’s!

We loved visiting at Table Rock Lake. We fished, played “train” and drank much wine and laughed much! I always admired how he was always there for his kids and how much they loved him. Loved to hear him talk about his kids and grandkids and how much he loved them.

I will miss you, Randy. I will miss your sense of humor, your great smile, your love of soccer, your wonderful meals and our visits. Rest without pain. We know we will see you again..

From his Brother-In-Law, Craig-
I have known Randy for almost 50 years. We met when we were in high school and dated the Dahlgren sisters. I married Kathleen at age 20 and Randy married Carol at age 21. We discussed how we hoped it was the right decision, but consoled ourselves in the fact that we could change them over time. The last time Randy and I spoke of this, we were still hoping.

The old saying, “the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree” reminds me of the time Randy’s dad said he could make more money with his mouth than his hands. Randy was just like his dad in that respect. He never knew a stranger. He could talk and joke with anyone. Other than politics, he and I solved all the world’s problems over beer, wine and various alcoholic beverages. I will miss those semi-serious talks, but most of all the laughs we always had together with and without the Dahlgren sisters.

Elaine Priest -
Truthfully, I have procrastinated recounting special moments with our friends, Randy and Carol.  Somehow I wanted what I wrote to be true to Randy’s memory and to Carol’s honor, and I was afraid my words wouldn’t be adequate.  Today, I finally allowed my mind to recall our times together.  I allowed myself the pain of losing such a good friend but quickly rushed to the memories of the joy Randy gave Terry and me. 

My husband, Terry, and I first made acquaintance with the Sharps in Shell Knob, Missouri shortly after the Sharps arrived.  Being new to the lake ourselves, only recently opening Horsefeathers, Terry and Randy hit it off immediately when Randy came into the store to buy some wine.  Both men loved the vino, and it was the fruit of the vine and gardening that started and strengthened their friendship these last 17 years.  It wasn’t long before we had the chance to meet Carol.  Watching Randy and Carol together, it was apparent they were a tandem team.  They ebbed and flowed as one, like a long-practiced and beautiful dance.

Once while working for Bass Pro, Randy sold us a sporty ski and fish boat.  Does it surprise anyone that he allowed us to park our boat trailer in his side yard for 8 years since we had no place to park it?  While in Shell Knob, together we celebrated birthdays, births of grandchildren, deaths of friends and family, and enjoyed the everyday life in beautiful Shell Knob.  We ate at each other’s homes, which was always an occasion for all of us.  Good food, good wine, good friends.  Taking the boat out for dusk excursions was picture perfect. 

Eventually, we all became involved in right-of-way work.  By 2008, we were in McPherson Kansas working with Westar Energy performing right-of-way duties for the construction of large transmission lines.  Like always Carol was Randy’s competent personal assistant and learned the business by his side.  There, we once stood in an above ground, 6’X6’ storm shelter along with two very wet dogs, Nellie and Karma, at 2 AM.  As the wind screamed, the hail and rain hammered the earth, intense thunder vibrated the ground, and the lightning lit the night sky, there was a direct lightning strike to a tornado siren located about 100 yards from our houses.  This caused the system to short out, and it began to wail.  Do you know how long it takes someone to repair a siren system at 2 AM in McPherson, Kansas?

Together, we moved town-to-town with our jobs.  Occasionally we rooted out new restaurants, lingering over the fine foods and lovely wines.  New recipes were tried.  Randy demonstrated his bread-making and pizza-making skills as often as we could coax him into it.  And, always Carol spoiled us with wonderful desserts.  Never talking of politics or other controversial subjects, we focused on important things: soil modification to produce more tomatoes, grandkids, kids, level of Table Rock Lake, the next vacation.  We mowed each other’s yards when one couple was out of town.  Listening to good music while we talked and laughed around tables in assorted Kansas towns, we wove the bonds of life-long friendship.   And, all the while, Randy was the smiling, gentle guide of our journey.

As so many others have already written, Randy was steady and strong; faithful and fun; loving and lasting.  All of us who worked with him, miss hearing him start our day with “Top of the morning” or “It’s a great day in Kansas”.  He even managed to say, “It’s a beautiful day in Marysville” when he was exiled there on a project.  Always optimistic, he could buy right-of-way from almost anyone because folks trusted him as they sensed his caring and truthful nature. 

Randy’s humor was one of his more endearing traits.  I remember the time he shook a rain stick and danced (not too gracefully, by the way) around a conference room table hoping to entice the rain gods to send rain so a farmer wouldn’t be able to harvest wheat the next day and would, instead, sign easements.  Yes, he did this, and it rained!

I can’t wait to come to Denton Texas to celebrate Randy’s life.  I know he will be there laughing with us.  I know he will sip each glass of wine and taste each morsel of food with us.  Good friends are like that.  They are always there when we need them.  Randy was such a friend, always there for us in life and now forever in our memories.

Salute, my good friend, Salute!