1LT Richard Lance Honey, U.S. Air Force, was born 30 Oct 1943 to June Marie Bullert (22 Nov 1917 - 23 Apr 1979) and Robert Leroy Honey (20 Oct 1912 - 30 Aug 1976) in Rhinelander, Oneida County, Wisconsin. He was a graduate of Texas Tech University.

1LT Richard Lance Honey died 6 Nov 1969 while co-piloting an F-4D Phantom II. C. R. Anderegg described the circumstances of his death in Chapter 1, “Fallen Comrades” in “Sierra Hotel: Flying Air Force Fighters in the Decade after Vietnam” published for the Air Force History and Museum Program, USAF, Washington, CD, 2001. C. R. Anderegg wrote: "Suddenly, a single .50 caliber bullet smashed through the canopy quarter-panel and struck the back-seater in the chest. Only two years out of college, 1st Lt. Richard Lance Honey bled to death in the time it took his pilot to race at supersonic speed to the nearest airbase.” The complete account by C. R. Anderegg is available online at http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100929-043.pdf.

Richard's parents Robert Leroy Honey and June Marie Bullert Honey married on 30 Sep 1941. Born of this marriage were:

Dorothy "Dotti" Jean Honey (b. 6 Jul 1942) (John L. Splendore)

Richard Lance Honey (30 Oct 1943 - 6 Nov 1969)

Barbara Clara Honey (b. 12 Jul 1946) (Johnny Maurice Mitchell)

Richard Lance Honey's stepsister was Sharon Honey (b 3 Sep 1937).

His mother June Marie Bullert Honey was born in Webster, Day County, SD, to Marie "Mary" Clara Brakhage Bullert (5 Aug 1892 – 21 Nov 1966) and Otto Daniel Wilhelm Bullert (18 Aug 1890 – 10 Jul 1975). As a youth, he and his sister Dorothy visited his maternal grandparents Mary and Otto at their farm near Webster, SD. His maternal grandparents had nine children.

Byron Jadon Bullert (7 Aug 1913 - 20 Jun 1983) (Lucille A. Glahe)
Vivian Minnie Bullert (30 Jul 1915 - 23 Feb 1993) (John W. Shea)
June Marie Bullert (22 Nov 1917 - 23 Apr 1979) (Robert Leroy Honey)
David Charles Bullert) (8 Sep 1920 - 7 Mar 2005) (Dolores "Dory" Arndt)
Margery [Marjorie] Rose Bullert) (5 Jul 1922 - 23 Feb 1993) (Bohumil "Boh" J. Kral
Betty Dorothy Bullert (16 Jul 1924 - 9 Jan 2015) (Julian Baxter Coghill, Jr. - 4 Jul 1918 - 19 Dec 2003)
Orin Dean Bullert (5 Jul 1927 - 15 Feb 2014) (Marilyn Rogers; Carole A. Schneider; Linda J. Kelly)
Beverly Ann Swanson (b. 1930) (Marshall Victor Swanson)
Marilyn Jeanne Bullert (b. 1934) (Col. David Rarick)

Richard Lance Honey's maternal great grandparents were Wilhelmine "Minnie" Augusta Mathilda Kohls (14 Jan 1867 – 19 May 1953) and Carl "Charles" Bullert (16 Oct 1860 – 13 Feb 1920). Both Minnie and Carl were born in Germany. Carl Bullert's father David Wilhelm Erdmann Bullert (31 Jan 1820 – 25 Feb 1887) and his mother Rose Seehaver (14 Sep 1824 – 22 Apr 1903) were original settlers in Sibley County, MN.

Richard Lance Honey's maternal great great grandparents were Caroline Doretta Westphal Brakhage (1858 – 13 Dec 1932) and Friedrich "Fred" William Brakhage (22 Jul 1853 – 25 Jun 1935).

Richard Lance Honey's maternal great great grandmother Caroline Doretta Westphal Brakhage was born in Germany and died in Webster, Day County, SD. She married Friedrich "Fred" William Brakhage in 1877 and came to America in 1881. They first located in Caswell, Michigan, and later moved to Freeport, Illinois. They came to Day County in 1883 and filed on a homestead in Morton Township where they resided until they retired from farming and moved to Webster in 1907.

Richard Lance Honey's maternal great great grandfather Friedrich William Brakhage, one of Day County's earliest pioneers, was the son of Ernest Henry August Brakhage and Henrietta Wilhelmine Stock Brakhage. Friedrich was born in Mollenbeck County, Schaumburg Lippe, Germany. It is likely that the German spelling of his first name would have been Friedrich or Frederick.

Richard Lance Honey's paternal grandparents were Grace E. Clare Honey (Dec 1879 – 28 Feb 1951) and Ralph LeRoy Honey (22 Oct 1876 – 1 Dec 1918). Ralph LeRoy Honey completed a U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card 1917-1918.

Richard Lance Honey's paternal grandmother Grace E. Clare was the daughter of Daniel Clear (b. 1841) and Mary McCormick Clear (b. 1840). The 1920 US Federal Census indicates that his paternal grandmother Grace E. Honey (born circa 1882) was a widow. Besides Robert Leroy Honey (20 Oct 1912 - 30 Aug 1976), Grace E. Honey had a daughter Dorothy Claire Honey (born circa 1918), both born in Nebraska. Information from Archives.com indicates that Grace E. Clare Honey also had a daughter Ruth Honey (20 Mar 1911 – 24 Mar 1911).

Richard Lance Honey's paternal great grandfather Ralph LeRoy Honey was the son of Peter H. Honey (c. 1845-10 Jan 1921) and Mary Jennie Chandler (1847-1916). On many credible records, Robert Leroy Honey's grandfather Peter H. Honey's birth date is given as 1845; however, his tombstone shown in Findagrave.com gives his birth date as 1847.

Richard Lance Honey was a descendent of persons who came from Scotland. The 1850 U.S. Federal Census lists Peter [H.] Honey (5) with the following family members:

John Honey (72) born in Scotland 1778
Peter Honey (56) born in Scotland 1794
Anne Honey (40) born in Scotland 1810
JOHN HONEY (36) born in Scotland 1814
JANNET HONEY (54) [transcription error – Janet Johanna Thornton Honey should have been listed as age 34 born in Scotland 1816.
Robert Honey (7) born in Scotland 1843
PETER [H.] HONEY (5) born in Wisconsin 1845
John Honey (4) born in Wisconsin 1846
Margaret Honey (2) born in Wisconsin 1848
Rachel Honey (0) born in Wisconsin 1850

Richard Lance Honey's death sent shockwaves of sadness throughout the family. He was not only intelligent and highly skilled but also kind and thoughtful. He was an outgoing person who was widely loved and respected.

"His deeds live on in memory, ever cherished, ever honored, ever green."

Information for this entry was taken from family records and public information, primarily Ancestry.com. Please hit the "Edit" button to suggest changes. Changes are very welcome.