Loveland Reporter-Herald
August 20, 2017
Richard passed away at the age of 56 peacefully in his Loveland home on August
16, 2017 after a 10 month long heroic battle against esophageal cancer. He was
the youngest of five children belonging to George and Celeste Rule. Richard was
born and raised in Oklahoma City
with rodeo in his blood. Growing up only 5 minutes from the National Finals
Rodeo, he knew he wanted to be a Professional Bull Rider at the ripe age of six
years old. Richard remembers watching legendary Freckles Brown ride the
unrideable bull named Tornado. As a young boy, he loved helping his father work
at the Oklahoma City Stockyards and working at the National Saddlery with his
brother John Rule. Richard was also a member of 4-H for 9 years showing lambs,
steers, and giving charismatic speeches. He graduated from Western Heights
High School in 1980 with
Oklahoma State Citizenship and Oklahoma County Hall of Fame awards. Richard
attended college at Southwestern University in Weatherford,
OK. As the 1982 Collegiate Bull
Riding Champion, he answered his calling to ride bulls professionally after 2
years of college. Richard lived his dream traveling all over the country riding
rank bulls for 15 years in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association(PRCA) and
Bull Riders Only(BRO). He was revered highly by his travel companions and
fellow contestants as one of the best, consistently ranking in the top 25 bull
riders in the world. Richard claimed the Mountain States Circuit Bull Riding
Championship in 1985 and 1990. In 1988 Richard was hired to be a stunt double
in the movie My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys. After his bull riding career
Richard settled down in Loveland and worked as a
fencing contractor for the first 10 years and as the Operations Supervisor of
the Larimer County
fairgrounds in Loveland
for the past 10 years to present. His first marriage of 17 years with Shannon
Tapley Rule gave Richard his two prized possessions: sons Harrison Rayne and
Elliott Drake Rule. He later married the love of his life, Shannon Lee Fancher
on May 10, 2010 and gained a beautiful daughter who captured his heart named
Lindsey Jeanne. They lived together at Richard's forever dream home, The Fancy
R Ranch. His second home and family was where he worked at The Ranch in Loveland. Richard's love
for life and people radiated through his smile and the genuine way he treated
people. His magnetic personality touched everyone who knew him, and Richard's
secret to life was having fun. He worked hard and played hard. He loved his
job, raising bucking bulls, team roping, trail riding, directing the rodeo,
vacationing with family and friends, dancing, discussing politics, and quoting
Blazing Saddles. In a toast to Richard, Bob Tointon said he was the epitome of
a cowboy. He never met a stranger, and never met anyone he did not like. When
he came into a gathering of friends or family, the party started. His smile,
his laugh, his stories were infectious, and everyone was his friend. Richard
defined the term "carpe' diem", as he seemingly never had a bad day
or even a down moment. He was everyone's favorite Okie and we will all miss him
greatly. Please drink a toast to our Cowboy - Jack and Coke naturally! Richard
is survived by his wife Shannon Fancher of Loveland, sons Harrison Rayne Rule
and Elliott Drake Rule of Loveland, stepdaughter Lindsey Jeanne Fancher-Owen of
Loveland, mother Celeste Nelson of Oklahoma City, brother John Rule and wife
Dona Kay Rule, sister Suzanne Smith, sister Cindy Rule, and brother Kevin Rule
all from Oklahoma, as well as a beloved extended family of nieces, nephews,
cousins, aunts and uncles. He is preceded in death by his father George Rule,
stepfather Don Nelson, grandparents John and Alfreda Leonard and Harrison and Martha Rule, Uncle David Rule, Aunt Marcella
Hendrix, best friends Terry Groce and Johnny Shea. A Memorial Service for
Richard will be held on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at 10:00am in The Ranchway
Indoor Arena at the fairgrounds in Loveland Colorado with a reception
following. Carl Sutter will be officiating. There will be a viewing prior to
the service on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 from 4:00pm - 7:00pm at Viegut Funeral
Home in Loveland.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund at
justincowboycrisisfund.org. The family requests any tales from the trails
please be sent to our email address at Trailtalesrichardrule@gmail.com Please
go to www.viegutfuneralhome.com for on-line obituary and condolences.
RULE, Richard (Richard
Joseph Rule)
Born: 11/30/ 1961, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
Died: 8/16/2017, Loveland, Colorado,
U.S.A.
Richard Rule’s
western – stuntman:
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys - 1991
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