Richard James Rutten passed away in Manchester, New Hampshire on October 18, 2026, at age 93. Richard (“Dick”) was born July 30, 1933 in Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. He moved to California with his family at age four and lived most of his life in San Bernardino, California.

Raised in the Roman Catholic faith, he attended St. Bernardine’s Catholic School in San Bernardino.

He served his country with pride and honor in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1953 to 1955. He served stateside, achieving the rank of sergeant while stationed at Fort Ord, California. Telling stories of his army days throughout his life was evidence of the pride he felt at serving and the good times he had then.

As a young man, he worked for the California Division of Forestry and for Rohr Aircraft in Riverside, CA.

Coming from a family legacy of outdoorsmen, Richard had a lifelong enjoyment of hunting and fishing. He would tell of carrying his shotgun across the handlebars of his bike to go rabbit hunting when he was a kid. His passion for gun collecting and shooting continued throughout his life. Well into his late-80s, he would regularly shoot near-perfect to perfect scores in trap shooting.

On October 26, 1963, he wed the love of his life, Bonnie Van Hee, in Corona, CA. He devoted his life to her care and happiness and was a loving husband of nearly 63 years. Their long and loving marriage was an endearing example for their whole family and all who knew them.

Together, they raised two children in San Bernardino, Deborah (Rutten) Harpe and James C. Rutten, who remember him as a principled man and a loving father.

In early marriage, he worked selling insurance for Life of Virginia before settling into his career as a State Farm agent with an office in San Bernardino, CA. After 31 years, he retired from State Farm in 1998.

He lived a full and busy life in retirement. He and Bonnie enjoyed traveling around the country in their RV, going on cruises, and visiting Israel and Bora Bora. He converted to Protestantism and became a member of Faith Bible Church in San Bernardino. Together, they relocated to Bedford, New Hampshire in 2021 to be near family.

Richard loved reading and telling stories of his life. His stories were legendary! They were a glimpse into the past for his family— told with humor and epitomizing the character he was. He loved telling stories of his grandchildren— having at least one favorite story from each of their childhoods.

His family will miss his warm presence, principled character, teasing sense of humor, and great love immensely. But we do “not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13), but trust that “…whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Richard is survived by: his wife of 62 years, Bonnie, his daughter Deborah (Rutten) Harpe and son-in-law, David, of New Boston, NH, his son James C. Rutten and daughter-in-law, Nancy, of Amherst, NH, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and (niece) Paula Rutten and (nephew) Tom Rutten of California. He is predeceased by: parents Archibald and Hazel Rutten, brother Don Rutten, (nephew) Tim Rutten, and great-granddaughter, Corinna Jennings.

Visitation/Service will be held Tuesday, October 27, 2026 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Phaneuf Funeral Home, 243 Hanover St., Manchester, NH. Interment to take place Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at the New Hampshire State Veterans’ Cemetery in Boscawen, New Hampshire.