Richard Ott

Richard William Ott, born February 6, 1946 in Winfield, Kansas.  Passed away February 4, 2023, age 76.  Richard is survived by his wife, Virginia Jensen, his children, Joshua Sage Ott (Fruita, Colo.) and Jonathan Tupper Ott (Glenwood Springs, Colo.); Step-son Collin Jensen; Grandchildren, Dylan Ott, Lilly Barrett, and Hadley Knudsen; his sisters, Kathryn Morgan and Deborah Takaki (Grand Junction, Colo.); and is pre-deceased by his parents, William and Wanita Ott.  Richard’s family moved to Rangely, Colo. In 1949, accompanied by and aunts and uncles, following after his grandparents, William and Bertha Ott, where he grew up in the small rural town.  Richard graduated from University of Colorado, Boulder in 1968, working in the summers on oil rigs in Rangely.

Richard lived in Palisade, Colorado on a peach orchard before moving to Farmington, New Mexico, then to Albuquerque, New Mexico, before settling in Grand Junction in 2000.

Richard worked with the Western Colorado Museum in Grand Junction and also the museum in Rangely. He has worked on many different projects as project coordinator for several archeological projects, including the Ute Indian Dominguez Wikiup project.  Richard has authored “When the River was Grand,” 1976, and “Valley Gray, Valley Green.”

He was a talented musician, designer, writer and photographer who spent his entire life creating and seeking understanding.  He had a deep love of Colorado and all nature.