Richard Allen Ley

Richard Allen Ley passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on May 26, 2026.

Rich was born on December 21, 1962, in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Clarence and Patricia (Gillett) Ley. They moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1969, where Rich spent most of his childhood. He was musically and athletically talented, playing French horn in the South Dakota State Band and Orchestra for two years and eventually playing football in college. Shortly after completing his degree in Metallurgical Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rich met his beloved wife of 38 years, Michele (Woods) Ley in Spokane, Washington. They married on February 13, 1988.

Rich’s career started in the aluminum industry then shifted to steel products. While working for BIEC, he traveled to five continents and twenty-one countries licensing Galvalume technology. In his final role as Director of Procurement at BlueScope, a company he loyally served for over twenty years, he tried his best to go above and beyond with his employees, seeing them as people and not just coworkers. He also had a strong work ethic, often putting in extra hours to complete his work with excellence. Rich joyfully shared his talents and resources with the United Way, Compassion International, One Life Child Sponsorship, and his granddaughter’s school.

Rich often filled his down time with home improvement projects, both at his own home and at the homes of those he loved. Because of his upbringing and engineering background, he was exceptionally handy. Some of his favorite projects were for his daughters: a shed, a garden, and a fence. Smoking meats and sharing them was also a way Rich enjoyed caring for others. He dreamed of one day being a BBQ Grandmaster.

A fun loving, knowledgeable, and caring individual, Rich always looked for opportunities to put his faith in Christ into action. He liked to keep things light with a dad joke or silly selfie. He truly enjoyed and was gifted at connecting with and mentoring others. Through the years he was known to drop everything to come to someone’s aide, loved ones and strangers alike. In all these things, he didn’t let his cancer diagnosis keep him from loving others and loving God.

Rich’s family meant everything to him. He is survived by his wife, Michele Ley; daughters Adria (Tyler) Budke, Olivia (Gennifer) Riley, and Rebecca (Chris) Adams; mother, Patricia Ley; brother, Dennis Ley; and his cherished grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father, Clarence Ley, and brothers Steve and Tim Ley.

Respected by colleagues and beloved by friends and family, he will be sorely missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, June 1, 2026, at Johnson County Funeral Chapel & Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas. Visitation will begin at 9:00am, followed by a service at 11:00am and burial at 12:30pm.

If you feel inclined, please consider donating to a memorial fund in Rich’s honor for Ambrose Academy of Manhattan, KS.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/c16ef333-76e0-46ff-9921-cc825d6ff604