Richard L. Tennant, 86, died August 17, 2022, at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital, Wichita, Kansas.  He was born June 1, 1936, in Magic City, Texas, the son of Glenard "Whitie" and Thelma Grace (Bridges) Tennant. Richard graduated from Lefors High School in 1955.

On June 2, 1957, he married his high school sweetheart, Ann Stracner at the Baptist Church in Lefors, Texas.

Richard worked his whole life in the oil field in many different aspects.  He started with Sinclair Oil and Gas as a roustabout, a truck driver, and a pumper. They were later bought out by Atlantic Richfield where he worked his way from truck driver to foreman. Retiring in 2000 with British Petroleum as a supervisor.

Richard and Ann moved with his oil field jobs, living in Stafford and Medicine Lodge, and finally moving to Claflin in 1974.  He was active in the Volunteer Fire Departments in Stafford, Medicine Lodge and eventually Claflin where he was also an EMT.  He was a member of the Claflin United Methodist Church, the Hoisington Masonic Lodge #331, the Golden Sheaf Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #226, and the Midian Shrine Center, receiving 50 year pins in each respectively.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ann Tennant of the home; and two daughters, Melinda Crager and husband Ron of Wichita and Gracie Demel and husband Roy of Ellinwood; 8 grandchildren, Heather Lutz & husband Brian, Christy Hunter & husband Jeff, Tonya Housman & husband Kevin, Christopher Demel & wife Amber, Pam Boese & wife Jess, Amanda Naw & husband Tim, Kathy Jensen & husband Simon and Hayla Demel; and 11 great grandchildren, Kyla Hunter, Jordan Hunter, Blayne Naw, Kaden Hunter, Conor Lutz, Ava Lutz, Harper Demel, Bentley Boese, Addison Housman, Mya Boese, and Olivia Housman.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, with family to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m., at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 22, 2022, at Claflin United Methodist Church, with Pastor Diana Webster presiding.  Burial will follow in Claflin Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Claflin United Methodist Church, Hoisington Masonic Lodge #331, or the Golden Sheaf OES Chapter #226, in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.