Richard Arlen Povlsen

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Richard Arlen Povlsen, 82, passed away on Monday, February 19, 2024 at his home in Centerville, Ohio.  He lived all his life in Burley, Idaho, except for the last six months.  Richard had several health issues, including blindness, so he needed to be closer to his son, David, who helped with his care.  He didn’t want to leave Burley, but knew it was the smart thing to do.

He married Debbie Henscheid, in Rupert, on August 10, 1968.  They celebrated 55 years of marriage last August.                                                                    

He was born to Frank Povlsen and Kate Etherington in Rupert, Idaho, the eldest of three children.  Richard attended Burley schools, graduating in 1960.  He joined the Air Force in 1961, which took him to Suffolk County AFB in Long Island, New York for three years and Cape Lisburne, an AF radar site in Alaska.  He always claimed that the year in Alaska was “way longer than a year”.  He often joked about there being a girl behind every tree.  But, of course, there were no trees.  He was 200 miles above the Arctic Circle where he had to look south to see the Northern Lights.  Richard was very proud to have served his country and often talked about the life skills he acquired.

Richard worked for various contractors in Burley, including Jackson Plumbing and Stephenson’s (working on heating and cooling equipment, electric motors, and furnace cleaning).  Over the years, he designed and installed lawn sprinkler systems. For several years, he owned and operated Mini-Cassia Furnace Cleaning, then sold his business to Jim Stroud under the name of Bronco Electric and Heating and then Bronco Service Co.  In 1985, and for the next sixteen years, Richard worked for Larry Larson at Larry’s Electric and Heating.  His last place of employment was for the Cassia County School District as the HVAC tech, retiring in 2007.  He filled his retirement days, meeting with his friends for coffee at Charlie’s Café, solving the world’s problems.  He drove around Cassia and Minidoka counties, either on his four-wheeler or in his red pickup, looking at all the new construction.  We called him Burley’s “sidewalk superintendent”.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, Glenn Funk; parents-in-law, Bill and Mary Henscheid; brother and his wife, Harold and Tonia Povlsen; sisters-in-law and brothers-in law:  Sister Dorothy Henscheid, Angie King, Leo Henscheid and Mary Lou and Ed Borrowman.  He is survived by his wife, Debbie; sons David (Melissa) and Brian; grandson Tristan Bode of Germany; sister, Linda (Neal) Thomas; sisters-in-law:  Sr. Kathleen Marie Henscheid (Barbara), Kathy (Gary) Maxson and Dodie Henscheid and many loving nieces and nephews.

Recitation of the Rosary will be Friday evening at Hansan Mortuary, beginning at 6:00 p.m., with visiting following.  The Rosary is a prayer service, lasting about 30 minutes.  The funeral Mass will be held at St. Nicholas Church in Rupert, on Saturday, March 2nd at 10:00 a.m.  The burial will be in the Rupert Cemetery.  Arrangements are under the direction of Joel Heward Hansen Mortuary. If you choose to donate in Richard’s memory, consider St. Nicholas Catholic School (P.O. Box 26, Rupert, ID 83350) or the Minidoka Senior Center (702 11th St., Rupert, ID 83350) for the Meals-on-Wheels program.  Richard delivered meals-on-wheels, with his wife, for several years.

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