Richard Ivan Denton

Richard (Dick) Ivan Denton, age 81, passed away on Saturday, June 20th, 2026 peacefully at his home in Bentonville, Arkansas. He was born on October 3rd, 1944 in Creston, Iowa to Ralph Boyd and Martha Izora Denton (Smith).

Richard grew up in Thayer, Iowa, and graduated from Lorimor High School. His first job out of High School was road construction, putting in Interstates across Iowa. He went on to enlist in the United States Navy in 1962. Afterward, he got his start at a Ford Dealership body shop in Des Moines, and would later open up his own auto body shops, one in Thayer, Iowa and one in Bentonville, Arkansas. He was a Ford man through and through, and loved going to and participating in car shows, driving as far as it took. He and his family were avid Iowa State Fair goers, and his love for truck and tractor pulls led him to own his own Earthshaker pulling truck. He moved to Northwest Arkansas from Thayer in 1986. While operating his body shop in Bentonville during the day, he worked nights at the Wal-Mart Warehouse in Bentonville. In his later years, he drove for Penske, running trucks across the United States. He also led Junior Gearheads Spark Plug challenges for kids at Wal-Mart Shareholders meetings and new store openings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Boyd and Izora; and one brother, Max Denton.

Richard is survived by his children, Dawn M. Palikij (Rick) of Rogers, Arkansas, Regina A. Pogue (Lynn) of Lewisville, Texas, and one son; two brothers, Dale Denton (Nancy) of Thayer, Iowa, and Robert Denton of Creston, Iowa; one sister-in-law, Mary Denton of Creston, Iowa; seven grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and many close friends he had acquired over his many years of life.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, July 12th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Bentonville Community Center at 1101 SW Citizens Cir. in Bentonville, AR 72712.

There will be another Celebration of Life service and burial in Iowa on August 1st. More information to come.