Charles Richard Monson (Rick) graduated from this life after a long battle of pain and struggle to join loved ones eagerly awaiting his arrival. Rick was born October 4, 1959 and died November 12, 2020 at OHSU Hospital in Portland, Oregon. He lived and owned a home in Goldendale, Washington. Rick was the youngest of seven children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Orlando Monson and Helen Mar Carter Monson, 2 sisters, Margaret Judith Monson Page and Marion Elizabeth Monson Vladimiroff, 1 nephew Jonathan Michael Poole and 1 niece, Angela Cathleen Monson. He is survived by siblings; Annette Monson Pierce (Wayne), Vicki Monson Moore (Mel), Harold (Lanny) Monson Jr. (Kathryn), Kim Poole (Keith), 1 brother-in-law, David Vladimiroff and by 20 nieces and nephews and his beloved cat, Shasta. She was a comfort and companion for him for many years. Rick was born at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, Washington. He grew up in Benton City, Washington, where he attended school from kindergarten through high school. One of many of Rick’s strong points was extreme loyalty to what he loved. Rick loved his family and his faith. Rick served an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California. He also loved his State of Washington and its volcanoes. After his mission, Rick graduated from Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. He studied political science, history, and volcanoes. He could tell you almost anything about volcanoes anywhere in the world but especially the volcanoes in Washington, Oregon, and California. He loved hiking, climbing mountains, exploring ghost towns and old cemeteries. He loved music, history, politics and was a loyal republican. When he no longer could go on trips to explore or climb mountains, he enjoyed watching the deer resting in his yard. Our family would like to give a special thanks to Rick’s “family” at the Quality Inn where Rick worked before retiring; the home health nurses from Visiting Health Services in The Dalles who visited him every other day for years providing great care, friendship, and a bright spot in his day; and the nurses at OHSU Hospital in Oregon, who treated him with such skilled kindness. We would like to thank the many members of the Goldendale Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who provided loving friendship, help, support and a true spirit of ministering when Rick’s siblings lived so far away. We also would like to especially thank Brenda Moore, his niece, who left her demanding job in Yakima to spend a week with Rick in the hospital helping to get his final affairs in order. Also special thanks to another niece, Lorelei, and her husband Kyle Schouten who flew from Utah, leaving company and responsibilities at a very busy time. They spent the last few days with Rick providing crucial family support. Both nieces provided comfort, humor, and love for Rick at a time when COVID restricted travel for his siblings. There will be short graveside service and interment at Evergreen Cemetery in Benton City managed by Hillcrest Funerals and Cremation of Kennewick on November 18th at 2 PM.