Richard Eugene Blankenbiller

December 15th, 1942 — February 9th, 2025

Richard Eugene Blankenbiller of Sierra City passed away on February 9th, 2025, in Truckee due to internal organ complications. He was 82 years young.

Richard was born in Santa Paula, CA, on December 15th, 1942, where he gained his love for nature, raised on a ranch. He was a member of FFA, showing cattle and pigs. Richard graduated from Santa Paula Union High School and married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Vera Mae, at 19 years old. He attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, majoring in Animal Sciences and Landscape Architecture. In true Richard fashion, he skipped his semester before graduation, bought a Triumph motorcycle, and happily camped the next year away throughout Europe with Vera Mae by his side.

When they returned to the United States, Richard began his career at Fillmore Ford as a car salesman, which landed him the lifetime opportunity to represent and be sponsored by the dealership as one of their Baja Off Road race drivers piloting a Ford Bronco.

Richard’s fearless passion for adrenaline and love of automobiles and the outdoors catapulted him into the national ranks of the National Off Road Racing Association, racing against the legendary Parnelli Jones. He placed 1st in the 3-day Carrera International, 2nd in the Baja 300 and the Mexican 1000, among many other races he placed and raced in throughout the many years of his racing career.

In 1966, Richard became a father to Erik Blankenbiller and, in 1971, to Heidi Blankenbiller. His family traveled the Baja race circuit with him. In the early 70s, he and best friend Chuck Redman opened up a Santa Paula 76 gas station.

Looking for a more peaceful and family-orientated life, Richard retired from racing in 1976 and relocated the family to Downieville, California, where wife Vera’s family had been long-time residents. Richard ran Herrington’s 76 gas station in Sierra City as a mechanic and tow truck driver for many years until he took over as one of the lead mechanics for the Sierra County road crew. Eventually, he was promoted to the Sierra County Equipment Shop Supervisor and retired from that position in 2009.

Richard’s retirement did not last long, as his passion for the outdoors and recreational driving skills landed him his next job as Land Manager, Guide, and Ranger for the Sierra County Land Trust, protecting the lands he had spent the last 40 years trekking while deer hunting and hiking. Richard’s dream job was to be paid to protect the forest he loved and to which he had devoted his life.

Richard retired from the Land Trust in 2019 and is fondly remembered as a docent and historian of our rich Sierra County heritage.

Richard was a hunter, fisherman, expert marksman, and all-around mountain man, excelling in all things nature and auto-related. He participated yearly in the Sierra City Big City Rod Run with his Award-winning Classic Stingray Corvette and was a member of the Sierra City Snowbusters and the Downieville Lions Club.

Richard loved his community and was always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need with a smile. He was considered a Patriot of the Mountains.

Richard is survived by his wife of 64 years, Vera Mae Blankenbiller of Sierra City; his son, Erik Blankenbiller of Downieville daughter Heidi Blankenbiller-Cooper of Daytona Beach; Grandaughter Arianna Blankenbiller of Portland, and Grandson Colton White of Downieville, CA.

A Celebration of Life will be held for friends and family in his honor at the Sierra City Community Hall on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, from 1-4 PM. Please RSVP to attend: Heidi (949) 412-7208.