Mae & Cal Rickel

AMANDA “MAE” & CLARENCE “CAL” RICKEL

Amanda Mae (Blair) Rickel was born June 22, 1923 in Oklahoma the daughter of Jake Alvie and Mary Sue (Brown) Blair. She passed away on Friday, May 10, 2019 at her residence at the age of 95.
Clarence John Rickel was born December 1, 1919 in North Dakota the son of Clarence Earl and Otilia Clarenca (Strand) Rickel. He passed away on Monday, December 15, 2014 at his residence at the age of 95.
Cal was a true entrepreneur. He became a partner with Neilsons when he moved to Cortez, and over the years he was involved in several other businesses. After selling Neilsons, he built Southwest Contracting. He served as President of Colorado Contractors and was Colorado Contractor of the year.
Cal and Mae were very active in the community. They attended the 4-H Fair and purchased many animals. Mae interviewed the 4-H scholarship recipients each year and they gave 10 scholarships, sometimes more, every year. They also purchased Christmas gifts for all the residents of the nursing home. Mae bought and wrapped the gifts with help from other volunteers. They also purchased the first senior bus and large TV for the nursing home.
Cal was an avid reader and was very much self-educated. Mae played a lot of golf, which she really enjoyed. They spent many happy retirement years in Mexico enjoying the warm weather and lots of fishing. While in Mexico, Cal and Mae also built and started a grammar school.
Surviving Mae and Cal are their children, Billie Atkinson of Dolores, Kenny Hinton (Kim) of Cortez, Janice Parres of Oxnard, Calif., and Susan Rickel of Glenwood Springs, Colo.; 10 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and by numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Private services will be held.