Richard “Rick” Lee Elofson, 71, of North Bend, passed away on January 14, 2026 at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, surrounded by his family.
Rick was born on May 18, 1954 to Mel and Ruth (Wilson) Elofson in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Rick was the youngest of three boys. In the spring of 1956 the family moved to Wayne after his parents purchased the Coast to Coast Store. Rick had a lot of fond memories of growing up in Wayne and the friends he made there.
After graduating from Wayne High in 1972, Rick began exploring his path in life, taking on a variety of jobs, including serving as a deputy in Randolph and working for the Nebraska Department of Roads. In November 1975, while moonlighting as a bouncer at Big Al’s bar in Wayne, fate stepped in when a young woman caught his attention and never let go. On August 14, 1976, Rick married Lynette Snover in North Bend, beginning a journey together that would last the rest of his days.
A few years into their marriage the couple settled in Wayne and began their family. It was there they welcomed three daughters, Michelle, Mandy and Shari. In 1984, while pregnant with their son, Michael, they purchased Lyn’s grandparents’ home in North Bend where they still reside.
In 1977, he took his brother Larry’s advice and joined him in truck driving. That choice launched a 16‑year career on the road, carrying him through 47 states. (In retirement, he eventually added Alaska and Maine to the list.) Though being away from home was difficult, his children treasure the memories of the week‑long summer trips they each took with their dad. Those one‑on‑one adventures became cherished traditions, filled with stories and moments they still hold close.
After 16 years on the road, Rick was ready to spend more time at home. Following brief stints with a few local businesses, he and Lyn opened Little Ricky’s Saloon and Good Time Emporium in North Bend. For Rick, Little Ricky’s was far more than a business—it was his passion. He took great pride in transforming three Main Street buildings into a spacious dining area and a lively dance floor where he could host local musicians. He cared deeply about the quality of every drink poured and meal served, but he cared even more about the people behind it all—his employees and the customers who walked through the door.
Rick never lost his love for the open road. After selling Little Ricky’s in 2010, he eased into “retirement” by hauling small loads and campers across the country, happily finding any excuse to keep driving. He and Lyn traveled far and wide, revisiting the places he’d seen during his trucking years and discovering countless new ones together.
Rick was opinionated and stubborn in all the ways that made him unmistakably himself, and it’s true that not everyone saw it his way. But those who knew him saw the soft-heartedness he often tried to hide, the humor that could fill a room, and the creativity that made even ordinary moments feel memorable. To the people lucky enough to be in his circle, he was endlessly entertaining, unexpectedly tender, and genuinely fun to be around—a one‑of‑a‑kind presence who will be deeply missed.
In recent years, Rick faced a series of health challenges that slowly limited his ability to travel and even enjoy many of the simple things he once enjoyed. Still, his trademark stubbornness and fierce determination kept him pushing forward, fighting for every bit of time he could. Though his body eventually grew too tired to continue, his spirit—and the memories he created—will live on in the hearts of all who loved him.
He is survived by his wife, Lynette, and children: Michelle (Brett) Wilkins, Mandy (Matt) Robinson, Shari (Justin) Elofson and Michael (Samantha) Elofson; eight grandchildren; Riley, Kobe, Brodie and Gradi Wilkins, Parker and Grant Robinson, and Clayton and Violet Elofson; brother and sister-in law: Dean and Nancy Elofson, brother-in-law: Terry Snover, sister-in-law and brother-in-law: Denise and Stu Essman; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law: Clayton and Carol Snover and brother, Larry Elofson.
The funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 22, 2026, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in North Bend. Pastor Lawson Short will officiate. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Moser Memorial Chapel in North Bend. Burial will take place at Woodland Cemetery in North Bend.
Memorial may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association, St. Peter Lutheran Church, and the North Bend VFW.
Online condolences may be left at: www.mosermemorialchapels.com
