Born July 4, 1953 in Corona, California, Ric was the first child of Eugene and Melba Epperle.
After leaving the Marine Corps Eugene moved his family from southern California to the Weimar, California area where Ric grew up and finished grade school at Weimar Hills Elementary School and graduated from High School at Colfax High.
From an early age Ric's love and passion was with music. He started playing professional music with his father's band at age sixteen as a drummer. He later moved on to bass guitar, singing and keyboards eventually learning pedal steel guitar to complete his musical career right up to his passing at age 60.
He traveled the mountain west and the mid west performing music and magic tricks, some fun he picked up along the way, with the family band and, later, as a single entertainer.
He was a student of science with a deep interest in space, ham radio communications and computers.
He completed additional education in computers which enabled him to pursue perhaps his most profound interest, the SETI Institute.
Ric was a long standing member of the ARRL (American Radio Relay League), The Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Cloud Peak Radio and Electronics Group, Team SETI and the local country music group "The Rapid Creek Band".
In 2003 he made his way to Sheridan, Wyoming to start a new life. He met Alta, and they were married in 2011.
He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene in 2003 and his sister Patty in January of this year.
He is survived by his wife, Alta of Sheridan, Wyoming; his two sons Paul and Ben of Great Falls, Montana; his mother Melba of Bayview, Idaho; his sisters Debbie (Neil) Peck of Bayview, Idaho and Susan Smith of Athol, Idaho; his brothers Gerald (Johnna) and David (Connie) of Cody, Wyoming; Roy of Montana; brother in law Dale Peck of Bayview, Idaho and four Grandsons from Great Falls, Montana.
He deeply loved all of his family and will be missed by all.
Private services will be held at a later time.