Rodney Richeson

Rodney E. “Buzz” Richeson (also known as Buzz Zanetti growing up), 79, of Spokane, Washington passed away January 8, 2015 at Touchmark in Spokane.

Buzz was born August 30, 1935 in Wallace, Idaho to Grace Lieber. His mother married Bill Zanetti when Buzz was a small child and Bill raised him as his own.

Buzz graduated from Wallace High School in 1953. He graduated from the University of Idaho in 1958 with a degree in Education. He accepted a teaching and coaching position with Wallace Jr. High with Harold Goldstein and taught there for the next three years.

In 1960, he married Phyllis Walker from Boise and they both accepted teaching positions in Las Vegas. Buzz was the 9th grade coach at Hyde Park Jr. High for two years and won two all city championships in football and basketball including one -four overtime game in the city finals.

They then took a leave of absence and Buzz went to Pacific University in Oregon to obtain a Master’s Degree in School Administration, while serving as an assistant football coach. In 1962, they returned to Las Vegas and Buzz was a teacher/coach at Hyde Park Jr. High again and then four years at the newly opened Clark High School, during which he participated in the development of several new education programs as well as assisting in two Nevada State football championships and two basketball state championships.

After seven years, their desire for Northwest living won out and they returned to Wallace where Buzz worked for a year for Zanetti Brothers in Osburn.

He then accepted a position with The Dalles School District in Oregon as the high school assistant principal. After three years there, he was offered and accepted a similar position at West Valley High School in Spokane Valley. While at West Valley, he was credited with helping develop several programs and plans as well as serving as an assistant varsity coach on the football team that reached the state finals two years in a row, winning the 1976 state championship.

The following year, Buzz was promoted to the position of building principal where he served for nine years. Before retiring, he moved to the Orchard Center School as principal, where he led a successful move to remodel and upgrade the school.

After retiring, Buzz served as an accreditation consultant for Eastern Washington for the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, assisting school in self assessment and developing school improvement plans.

Buzz was a member of the Spokane Valley Kiwanis Club serving as Club President in 1996-97 and the Regional Lt. Governor 1997-98. He then served as a member of the Advisory Board of the Silver Wood Good Samaritan Nursing Facility in Silverton that his father helped to develop.

Buzz will be remembered by many as their waterskiing teacher and practical jokester. He was full of fun living in his summer home on Coeur d’ Alene Lake each year.

Buzz is survived by his wife of fifty-five years Phyllis Richeson; two daughters Kimberly Ann Harp and Julie Ann Reimann; four grandchildren Zackjery, Lexie, Madison and McKenna Harp. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and many long time friends.

At his request, there will be no services. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Buzz will be laid to rest near his father Bill Zanetti in The Nine Mile Cemetery just outside of Wallace.

SHOSHONE FUNERAL SERVICES & CREMATORY KELLOGG, IDAHO is entrusted with arrangements.

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