Richard B. “Rick” Aikman, age 66, passed away at his home in Blue Rapids.
Rick was born July 18, 1957, in Osceola, Iowa, the son of Robert and Agnes (Kemp) Aikman. Rick grew up and completed his education at Moreno Valley High School in Riverside, California, graduating in 1975. He moved to Natoma, Kansas in 1981. He also took drafting classes at Beloit Technical College.
In 1992, he met and six months later married his wife of thirty-one years, Karla Aikman. His son Kyle was four and his daughter Krystle was three when he became their dad. He lived in Natoma, Kansas, for thirty-seven years before moving to Blue Rapids in 2017.
When Rick lived in Natoma he worked as a Boom operator for the Prader Construction Pipeline crew out of Russell. His boss couldn’t remember his name, so he would say “go get that guy from Natoma”, and that became his nickname. Rick was a jack of all trades, he did fencing and construction. In the early 1990’s he opened Natoma Wood Works. He made many custom items, including: cabinets, wood boxes, chess boards; you name it he could build it. To name a few things he made, he remodeled the club house in Hutchinson, built one of the bridges and stairways at a campground at Sturgis, and remodeled his and Karla’s home. After making a casket for his dear friend Archie, he was planning on making his own. He didn’t get to.
Rick loved music, he would lay down with the music cranked as loud as it would go and would be in his happy place. Some of his favorites were Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, Buffalo Springfield and of course Dago. At their wedding, Rick dedicated “Kind Woman” from Buffalo Springfield to Karla. He taught himself how to play the guitar, he and his sister Maggie played together. He was so proud of her. He liked playing chess and he was very good at it. If you could beat him, you’d be staying around until he upped you one. Rick’s love for animals was a love like no other. Thorzene the Wonder Dog, Nick Boy, Gunner, Darby and Maggie Magpie. His Magpie never left his side to the day he passed away.
When Karla asked some of his favorite brothers what words best describe Natoma; one heck of a good brother, a true friend, true to his beliefs, respectful, loyal as they come, one of a kind, took care of business, and you could trust him with your life.
He started riding a Harley when he was a young man. His first bike was a 74 shovelhead with a suicide clutch. He loved that bike. When he moved to Kansas he started a group with a few guys from Russell, called Ride The Iron. Shortly after that he became a member of the Sons of Silence MC. He joined on January 4, 1990, and retired after twenty nine years in 2017. He was most proud of the years he spent as Nomad President from 2000 to 2012. He stepped down when his diabetes kicked in, and it became difficult to travel EMFP. He then took the role of President of the Western Kansas Chapter of the SOS MC.
Another one of Ricks proud moments was the Nomad Great Race 2005, Endurance Dash, going from the SOS Clubhouse in Montrose, Colorado to the Iron Horseman Clubhouse in Sangerville, Maine. First to arrive, with no support vehicle and no stops except for gas, the Grand Prize was time on the road with your brothers and stories to tell. First place won lifetime bragging rights. The ride was 2020 miles one way. Five brothers made it, Natoma said he finished last, but he finished.
In those twenty nine years, all the miles, all the smiles, all the memories of BUAN, what he loved more than anything was his brothers he met on the way, EMFP.
Rick’s survivors include his wife Karla, his two children Kyle (Wendy) Kruse of Waterville and Krystle (Devin) Zimmer of St. George, five grandchildren: Laekyn, Carsen, Skyler, Kayleigh and Phentyn, and by special nieces and nephews: Richard, Timothy (Jammie), Bonnie (“T”), Stacie (Jay), Casey (Shayne) and Lance (Brenda).
Preceding Rick in death are his parents and two sisters: Margaret Aikman and Mary Ann Aikman, and many SOS MC Brothers.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Prospect Hill Cemetery, north of Blue Rapids. Casket bearers are Kyle Kruse, Richard Frazier, Joet Ramsey, Leonard Ramsey, Lance Colle and Gary Bieler. Honorary Bearers are Drew Laffery, Tim Frazier, Dylan Frazier, Laekyn Hilt, Carsen Hilt, Delmar Yungeberg, Jarret Blocklinger, Jordan Blocklinger, Ethan Shanks, Wyatt Shanks, Tafaomaleuctogi Garman and Jay Smith. Burial will follow at Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Rick Aikman Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Christie-Anderes Funeral Home at PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.
Condolences may be left at www.apfunerals.com.
