Richard D. Calliham

Richard D. Calliham

Richard D. Calliham, 84, of Colby, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, March 4, 2026. He was born April 24, 1941, in Thomas County, Kansas, to Thomas and Bessie (Dawes) Calliham.

Richard enjoyed riding horses as a boy at his grandparents’ Dawes home. He was active in 4-H, serving as president of his club, and enjoyed both playing and watching sports, particularly football. During high school, he served as president of the FFA chapter at Colby High School and graduated with the Class of 1959.

Richard attended Fort Hays State University before returning home to Colby to begin a lifelong career in farming and ranching.

On February 2, 1963, he was united in marriage to Kathryn Ann Haller. Two children were born to this union, and the couple shared 63 years of marriage together. Kathy was his partner in life and in the work of the farm, supporting him every step of the way and playing a vital role in building their life and family together.

Richard and Kathy dedicated their lives to farming and ranching in Thomas County. Throughout the years, Richard served in many leadership roles within the agricultural community. He was a member of the Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers State Committee, and the family was recognized as Kansas Farm Bureau Family of the Year. Richard also served as President of the Thomas County Extension Council, where he was especially proud of supporting efforts to build the Thomas County 4-H Building.

They were also honored as Master Farmer and Homemaker recipients, an organization through which they greatly enjoyed traveling and spending time with fellow farm families. He was a lifelong member of the Colby United Methodist Church.

He believed deeply in stewarding the land that God created and was grateful for the opportunity to care for it, provide for his family, and help feed others.

Richard will be remembered as a hardworking man who was deeply committed to providing for his family and others. Farming was not just his livelihood, but his way of life, and his family holds many cherished memories of planting and harvest seasons when he spent long hours in the tractor and combine doing what he loved. Outside of the field, Richard was a loud and proud Kansas City Chiefs fan who rarely missed the chance to cheer on his team. He was also incredibly proud of his late daughter, Michelle Schuster, and his son, Rich Calliham, and the lives they built, including their families and the many accomplishments they have achieved. Nothing brought him greater pride than seeing the land he cared for continue through his son and future generations of the Calliham family.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Michelle Schuster; and his sister, Barbara (Melvin) Bannister.

He is survived by his wife, Kathryn; son Richard (Suzi) Calliham; sister Judy Calliham; grandchildren Chelsie (Alex) Voorhees, Christian Calliham, Katrina (Nick) Slovikoski, Brandon Schuster, and Ashley Schuster; and great-grandchildren Benton and Betty Voorhees and Stella Slovikoski.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Colby United Methodist Church with burial in Beulah Cemetery in Colby. Memorials may be made to Colby United Methodist Church and may be mailed in care of Baalmann Mortuary, P.O. Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or to leave condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com