Robert L. "Lem" Riddell, 87, departed on his final patrol on November 1, 2010, following a brief illness. He was born April 10, 1923, in Crookston, MN, where he was raised and became an Eagle Scout. Lem graduated from Central High School, Devils Lake, ND, in 1941. He joined the U.S. Navy and fought in the Pacific Theatre during World War II, serving as a radio operator on
USS Finback (SS-230), a
Gato-class diesel submarine.
Lem married his high school sweetheart, Mary Noel Tharalson. They settled in Seattle, where they raised three daughters. Lem graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in business administration. He worked in telecommunications throughout his career, most of it with Pacific Northwest Bell. He also served in the Signal Corps, U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as a Colonel.
Lem lived for many years on Hollywood Hill in Woodinville and then moved to Greenbank on Whidbey Island ten years ago, where he lived with his wife, Marianne Dorman, and his three dogs. In his later years, Lem was active in U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II and its Washington state chapter.
Lem was one of the early members of REI and the Mountaineers. He explored the Pacific Northwest, camping, climbing, hiking, fishing, boating, and horse riding. He traveled North America with his Airstream trailer and often by rail. His father worked for the Great Northern Railway and instilled a love of the rails in Lem. He also traveled the world, visiting Europe and Australia, and working in the Middle East. Lem is survived by his wife, Marianne, his daughters Susan (Shoreline), Carol (Edmonds), and Mary Kay (Andrew Renggli) (Seattle), four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, two of whom are serving in the military.
He is loved and missed by his family and his many good friends from the phone company and the military. Lem will be buried at the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD.
Sailor Rest Your Oar.
