Nadene Eleanor Ripper Richards was born in a Nazarene parsonage in Burlington, CO on March 5, 1933 to Rev. C. Harold and Opal Ripper. She passed from this life on July 17, 2011. Nadene was the 2nd of 5 children and was preceded in death by her parents, C. Harold and Opal Ripper and brother, LeRoy Ripper. Nadene attended Bethany Public Schools, graduating in 1951. She attended Bethany Nazarene and Olivet Nazarene Universities and met Ray Richards at Olivet in 1952. They were married in Bethany First Nazarene Church, April 3, 1955. Active in the ministries of the Nazarene church through the years, she served as a Sunday school teacher, VBS Director, Junior church director, President of the University Womens Club, and Missionary President. She was a stay at home mom and cared for their four children, Brenda, David, Donny and Rhonda. She belonged to the Oklahoma Quilt Guild and made many quilts for family members and also over 100 childrens quilts for the Swaziland project at her church; additionally she made 70 dresses for the young girls of Swaziland. After a serious illness in 1990, her ministry was limited to the SS class. Sending cards to the sick and discouraged became a God-directed ministry. She settled spiritually in college at Olivet and was sanctified when a young mother in Illinois. She was baptized at age 72 at a spontaneous baptismal service at BFC in 2009 under the ministry of David Busic. Her personal testimony Know that I have reached my heavenly home with Jesus. Safe in the arms of Jesus. Nadene is survived by her husband of 56 years, Ray Richards; her 4 children, Brenda Randell and husband Donald of Bethany, David Richards of Dallas, TX, Donny Richards and wife Shirley of Bethany, Rhonda Shields and husband Clint of Knoxville, TN; daughter-in-law Karla Richards of Bethany; 10 grandchildren and spouses: Jeremy and Tracy Randell, Broken Arrow, Brandon Randell of OKC, Andrea and Arin Richards of Allen, TX, Jordan Richards, Bethany, OK, Brooke and Scott Bartlow of Chicago, Daniel and Sara Wilson of Las Vegas, NV, Kristin and Chris Kana of OKC, Taylor Shields and Morgan Shields of Knoxville, TN. She is also survived by her brother Marloe Ripper and wife Pat, Stuart, FL; sister-in-law Delores Ripper, Port St. Lucie, FL; sisters Darlene Graves, Bethany, OK, Joyce Page and husband Monte, Martell, NE; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be Wed., July 20, 6:30-8:30pm at Mercer-Adams. Services will be Thursday, July 21, 2:00pm at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene with interment in Bethany Cemetery. To share a memory or condolence, visit www.mercer-adams.com