Michael Lee Richert

A Celebration of Life service for Michael Lee Richert, age 70, of Tulsa, will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the New Hopedale Mennonite Church, at 213 N. Meno Ave. in Meno, OK. Service arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory.

 Michael Lee Richert, was born on August 7, 1954 in Enid, OK at St. Mary’s Hospital, to Bob and Dorothy Richert, and passed away Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa, OK.

 He grew up the second born of two brothers (Steve and Jim) and two sisters (Deb and Rob). Mike loved his life growing up, enjoying hard work on the wheat harvest with his family from year to year. During his junior year in high school, while attending Oklahoma Bible Academy, Mike embraced Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. His life changed dramatically after that.

 Feeling the call to ministry, he attended Frontier School of the Bible in LaGrange, WY and later Calvary Bible College in Kansas City, MO, where he obtained a Bachelor’s in Divinity with Honors. Upon graduation, Mike began serving as pastor of Hillsdale Bible Church in Hillsdale, OK in 1980. Between going to school at Frontier School of the Bible and Calvary Bible College, Mike married the love of his life, Diana Walling in Aurora, NE on June 28, 1975.

 Mike loved being a pastor and serving his local congregation in Hillsdale, OK. He poured into the Scriptures and for those that knew him well, he liked to use big words that could be incorporated into his sermons. He loved the old hymns and even encouraged his first congregation to memorize the words of the great hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” Many people from the surrounding communities, hungering for the truth of God’s word, traveled to Hillsdale Bible Church to hear Mike preach. He always wanted to be used as a tool in God’s Kingdom on earth and even prayed, “God, do whatever it takes to make me effective in your Kingdom.”

 In 1985, Mike got his answer to that prayer and began noticing something was wrong with his health. He was later diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and suffered through numerous surgeries and health issues the rest of his life as a result. But God used this situation to bring people to the Lord in His unique way as Mike was able to share his faith with many people over the years as a result of his numerous health issues.

 Mike would go on to serve as a pastor in three other churches after Hillsdale; Community Bible Church in Lahoma, OK, Calvary Bible Church in Moundridge, KS, and finally, Pratt Bible Church in Pratt, KS. Mike always loved faithfully serving the people of God in each and every church he was able to be a part of.

 Mike was preceded in death by his father, Bob Richert and sister Deb Regier. He is survived by his wife Diana Richert of Collinsville, OK, as well as three sons, Michael Richert (wife Jennifer) of Collinsville, OK, Jesse Richert (wife Sarah, daughter Natalie) of Wichita, KS, and Josh Richert (wife Eva, son Ondra and daughter Madeleine) of the Czech Republic. He is also survived by his mother Dorothy Albin of Fairview, OK, brother Steve Richert (wife Jeanne) of Laramie, WY; sister Robin Souter (husband Randy) of Fairview, OK; and brother James Richert (wife Joy) of Ringwood, OK.

 Condolences can be made, memories shared, and services viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com.