Richard Anders Hammarsten

Richard Anders Hammarsten, 69, left this world after a short, but mighty fight with neuroendocrine cancer on April 8, 2020.
He was born June 28, 1950 in Richfield, MN, went to grade schools in Minnesota and Oklahoma, graduating high school from Casady. He obtained his B.S. from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, his M.B.A. from Duke University, and his J.D. from University of Tulsa College of Law. His interest in wills and probate led him to a lifelong career working for bank trust departments, with his last years spent as the internal trust auditor for BancFirst.
In 1979 Richard married the love of his life, Cathy Clendenin, of Oklahoma City. He was proudly supportive of her through her years of law school, and into her many years as a public defender. Together Richard and Cathy lived and worked in wonderful cities; Phoenix, St. Louis, Tacoma, Salt Lake and Oklahoma City. Richard was a world traveler when he met Cathy, and together they were able to continue that passion, making repeated trips to Richard’s favorite cities of Budapest and Paris. Richard loved dogs. He and Cathy’s steady stream of rescues provided him great joy. Richard was also a sports fan and loved all sports trivia, without regard to team loyalty.
Richard is survived by his wife, Cathy, as well as his sister, Linnea Ingold (Harry, d 2002), sister in law, Beth Hammarsten (James, d. 2016), sister in law, Ann Clendenin (Lydia Moore, d. 1994), brother in law, James Clendenin (Paula Radosevich, d. 2015), and brother in law Steven Clendenin and wife, Karol. Richard is also survived by several aunts and uncles, including special aunts, Judy Hammarsten Jarsko, and Sharon Wolf Lafferty, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews, all of whom were important to him. He is especially missed by his niece Krystal Clendenin Launius of Louisiana and his cousin, Iina Hammarsten of Turku, Finland.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Dorothea Jung Hammarsten and Dr. James Francis Hammarsten, as well as his brother, Dr. James Eric Hammarsten. He is also preceded in death by his parents in law, James Philip Clendenin and Mary Wolf Clendenin.