Era G. Richards age 96 of Belle Fourche, died Sunday October 15, 2006 at the Belle Fourche Regional Senior Care Center.

The funeral service will be held 10:30 am Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche, with Rev. Gail Arnold officiating. Visitation will be 1 to 6 pm Wednesday at the Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held in the Pine Slope Cemetery, Belle Fourche. Arrangements are with Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.

Era G. Hopkins was born March 28, 1910 in Hill City SD. She was the daughter of Robert and Antionette Hopkins and one of eleven children. On October 2, 1928 Era was married to Chuck Richards. To this union nine children were born. Era spent much of her life as a cook in Caloway Nebraska, and also at the Valley Café in Spearfish and the VFW Club in Belle Fourche. She also had a dance band called "The Kokomo Kids" that played for dances in Montana and South Dakota, and she enjoyed playing the accordion. Since November of 2005 Era has resided at the Belle Fourche Regional Senior Care Center.

Era is survived by her sons, Chuck (Robin) of Belle Fourche, Robert (Marcia) of Spearfish, Kenneth (Jackie) of Auburn WA, Buster (Margaret) of Silverton OR; daughters, Kathryn Richardson of Belle Fourche, Juanita (John) Apland of Belle Fourche; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and nine brothers and sisters.