Richard Anthony Hendricks

Richard Anthony Hendricks of Palmer Alaska was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on October 1, 1951, to John Richard and Sally Philbin Hendricks.

Having been a commercial salmon fisherman for 46 years in Alaska’s Bristol Bay area and beyond, on October 27, he flew his C170 for over three hours from Naknek, Alaska, back to a private airport in Butte, Alaska, near his home. Neighbors who were to meet him saw him fly over, and when they reached his plane after he had landed on runway AK1, in front of his hangar 15’ from the tie-down, they found him deceased in his pilot seat. His family and friends feel very blessed that he had made it safely ‘back home,’ most certainly with God as his pilot.

‘Bear,’ as he was affectionately known and loved by so many throughout his life and travels, grew up at Hollow Rock Resort, four miles Southwest of Grand Portage, Minnesota, where he and his brother Tom learned the life of commercial fishing from their dad.

He attended Grand Portage Elementary and Cook County High School in Grand Marais, Minnesota, graduating in 1969, and spent one semester at the then College of St Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Shortly after, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, to build houses with his Irish cousins. These families became lifelong friends and ignited within him a desire to visit the homeland of his mother and her family in County Mayo, Ireland, which he did more than once.

But through his many connections with those in Cook County, Minnesota, who went annually to Bristol Bay (or the Aleutians where he and his boat almost sunk in rough weather), he was enthralled with trying out the livelihood of salmon fishing there and soon had his boat, the Royale Isle, built in Everett Washington. He purchased a log home near Palmer, Northeast of Anchorage. And he learned how to fly and bought his own plane for those frequent trips through the rugged, dangerous terrain of Iliamna Lake and the Lake Clark Pass. He acquired various pieces of heavy construction equipment and began many winter journeys to the Arctic North. He sometimes used his own equipment working for major oil exploration companies near Prudhoe Bay and other sites, often helping make winter ice roads on land or sea.

He always looked forward to the fall hunting season, for moose or caribou, in areas Northeast of Tok, Alaska. And a warmer vacation spot in the lower 48, even taking a cruise from Spain to Florida with an unknown captain at the helm! In 1988, he and Joey Carlson of Grand Marais helped bring one of five trawlers, used in the oil industry, from Mobile, Alabama, through the Gulf via the Panama Canal to Seattle, Washington, to be used as a tender for Kemp Fisheries.

More recently, he traveled with friends from Alaska to tour Kruger National Park in South Africa. His family and friends back in Minnesota and Chicago beckoned him along with his brother, Tom Hendricks of Frederica, Delaware, for a get-away. Tom saw him several times in Alaska when working his pipefitting career and fished one summer near him and another for him.

Then there were those CCHS Class Reunions, which he tried to make for the more notable year markers, trying to pack as many personal visits as possible into his always too short a time ‘back home.’ Like so many others, his sister and brother-inlaw, Mary and Ben Petz of Hovland, Minnesota, and his nephews Sean and Ryan, and niece Erin, always looked forward to a visit from ‘Brother Bear’ or ‘Uncle Bear.’ A classmate of his noted: ‘Rich was so smart, kind, and when he smiled, his eyes sparkled. Rich lived his life to the fullest, which many people only dream of doing.” He loved a good discussion. And after returning to the practice of his Catholic faith, he immersed himself in learning more and had even read the entire Bible over a year’s time.

His fishing companions were Larry John Spry of Grand Portage and Joe and Joy Carlson of Hovland. Joy also got to know how he rejoiced in his faith journey as they “spent time together sharing and praising God” when they attended Mass together at Saint Theresa’s Parish between Naknek and King Salmon. She spoke for so many as she recalled his stories, great laugh, big smile, and ‘Big Bear Hugs.’ One friend from Bristol Bay wrote on Facebook: “We lost a one of a kind, salt of the earth friend yesterday. His kind soul and infectious laugh could pick you up on any down day. He often said, “If you’re lucky, you get a few spins around on this mudball, so make sure they are good ones!”

When ‘camping’ at Jay Cooke State Park near Duluth, Minnesota, a few years back, Mary and Ben got a call from Rich asking where should he meet them for lunch in about 90 minutes? So being the joker, he often was, to him, Mary responded with ‘Homer, Alaska, on the Spit.’ That went back and forth a few times until he then said he was in Ashland, Wisconsin. Surprise! So when he arrived at the camper, he walked in with yet another big surprise, Tom was with him also! It was her birthday, and not the first time he had shown up from Alaska to help celebrate it! When they left, they were on their way to Grand Portage to surprise Ann as the two sisters were born on the same date nine years apart. He was certainly fun to be around, and the two brothers together sure knew how to bring a bit of jolly to one’s life.

He has been cremated and will be buried next to his mother (1914-1969) in Duluth, Minnesota, at Forest Hill Cemetery. His father (1916-1987) is buried at Hollow Rock. His family includes his sister Mary Petz (Ben) of Grand Marais Minnesota; nephews Sean Petz of Crystal Minnesota; Ryan Petz (Michelle), parents of Hadley and Kieran of Golden Valley Minnesota; niece Erin Petz Giguere (Matt), parents of Corwyn of Grand Marais, Minnesota; his sister Ann Hendricks of Grand Portage, Minnesota; his brother Tom Hendricks of Frederica, Delaware; nieces Mandy Croll with Carley and Page, and Kandi Johnson (Orlando) with Myles of Delaware; and Kevin Herman of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Ted Herman of Toronto, Ontario.

A time for family and friends to gather in celebrating his life will hopefully happen in the future. But in the meantime, do share with each other blessings of the stories, pictures, and memories that are cherished and have enriched each other’s lives.