Norton E. Rickard 67, of the Tuscarora Indian Reservation, died suddenly Tuesday, October 13, 2009. at home after being stricken ill with an apparent heart attack.

Norton was born a member of the Bear Clan, on December 28, 1942, on the Tuscarora Indian Reservation, the son of Clinton and Beulah [ Mt. Pleasant ] Rickard. He attended the Tuscarora Indian School and was a graduate of the Niagara Wheatfield Class of 1963. Norton served in the United States Army, in the 82nd Airborne, from 1965 to 1967. He was employed as a millwright, at the former Kimberly-Clark, Airco Speer Carbon, and later at Harrison Radiator for 18 years, retiring from Delphi, in Lockport, NY, in 2004.

Following his retirement he became a full-time farmer and gardener. He enjoyed Moose hunting and fishing. Being with his family was most important to him, he was a great provider, always cutting wood, processing his catch from fishing and hunting, and his crops. He also enjoyed making his own maple syrup. He was a member of the Tonawanda Indian Baptist Church.

Surviving is his wife of 43 years, the former Marlene M. Patterson, three children, William [ Rachel ] Rickard, Patricia Hummel and George [ Shalan ] Rickard, his brother and sisters, Eli Rickard, Beverly Hill, Onalee Cooper, Karen Jacobson and Lois Henry, grandchildren, Kayla, Ashlynn, Mariah, April, Joshua, Anna, William, Charlie, Matthew and Jacob, and a great granddaughter Maylee, and many nieces and nephews.

He was the brother of the late Enid, William, Charles, Clark Rickard, and Leroy Mt. Pleasant.

The family will receive friends at their home, at 4919 Blacknose Springs Road, Lewiston, NY, after 11 AM, Thursday, where funeral services will be held Friday at 1 PM, with the Revs. Robert Dean and Walter A. Printup, Jr., officiating. Burial will Military Honors will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Town of Lewiston, NY.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Tonawanda Indian Baptist Church, % of the family.

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