Richard (Dick) Lynn Boudrie

Richard (Dick) Boudrie passed away from Parkinson’s Disease on November 6, 2026, in the presence of family and care staff. Dick was born on July 17, 1947, in Monroe, Michigan, to Harold and Doris Halleen Boudrie.

Dick met the love of his life, Nancy, at a dude ranch in Michigan where Nancy was a camp counselor and he was a wrangler. They were married on July 19, 1969, and shared their lives for an adventurous 57 years.

Dick obtained his Bachelor’s Degree and Honors from Western Michigan University and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Kansas with a concentration in particle and nuclear physics. The University of Colorado hired Dick as a postdoc and assigned him to Los Alamos National Laboratory.

In 1976, feeling like the Beverly Hillbillies, they packed up their two horses & all their belongings and moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico sight unseen. After two years, Dick accepted a permanent position ate Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and served as a long-time Group Leader of MP-10 at LAMPF before moving to the DX division, where he worked on explosive experiments and DARHT. He was also an American Physical Society fellow.

While Dick loved his work as a scientist, but what mattered most was his family, his tractor and his horse. They became members of the Los Alamos Sheriff’s Posse, where they organized the NMRA rodeo for 12 years. For 15 years, they trained young riders in the Jr. Sheriff’s Posse to square dance on horseback, spending their summers traveling to rodeos around the state, including the NM Balloon Fiesta, and two appearances at the NM State Fair. Dick absolutely loved calling the routines to Cotton-Eyed Joe. Working with Los Alamos Counselors, he helped to keep the stable area in place for other generations.

When their kids Michelle and Ryan arrived, they were automatically ‘born into the saddle ’ and became avid riders, competing at very young ages. As the herd grew, so did the need for Dick’s B & 640 John Deere tractors. The Johnny Popper was heard throughout the stables as he cleaned the lots and loosened the rodeo arena ground. Dick attended almost every rodeo and horse show, and encouraged the kids to develop their own competitive skills

To support a growing family, Dick studied for and obtained his state contractor’s license so he could build his own home addition, do his own electrical and plumbing work, and take on this project with his dad.

Dick learned to pack horses, and the family would ride into the wilderness. One of his favorite memories is when he and his friend Ray rode to the Santa Barbara Divide, 12,000 ft, with a view of the world. When horseback riding was no longer possible, Dick turned his passion towards camping and fishing in New Mexico wild spaces.

Dick was preceded in death by his father, Harold; mother, Doris; and in-laws, Dale and Barbara. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two children, Michelle and Ryan; brother, Wayne; two grandchildren, Shelby and Brody; sister-in-law, Diana; partner, Gary; nephew and niece, Greg (Celina & Olympia) & Heather.

Celebration of Life: November 21, 2026 at 11:00 am at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, NM

In lieu of flowers, please donate to LA cares, Espanola Humane Animal Shelter or Horses for Healing.