Boardman leaves legacy as aviator, family man

A newly built hangar on the grounds of R&M Flying Service near Henderson was christened in tears and emotional tributes Saturday as the man who built a life and legacy on the property was laid to rest.
Rick Boardman, age 61, died tragically in an agricultural aircraft accident on June 11 near his family home and business. Widely known for an aviation business serving farmers throughout central Nebraska, Boardman was remembered for living life to its fullest, both as a hard-working entrepreneur and as a family man.
“It is no secret that Rick was an extremely driven and intelligent man, one who held to his commitments,” said Rev. Rick Bartek, who presided over a service held inside a large new hangar finished just days prior to Boardman’s death. “He was a man of integrity. For some, he was a logical and successful businessman who had no quit in him, but to those closest to him he was an incredible family man. He was solid; someone you could lean upon for advice and wisdom. He was the boss, but more than that he was a father in life and a mentor to all.”
Saturday’s service was to include a flyover honoring Boardman’s love of aviation, but the weather doused those plans, as well as those of an estimated 40 or more pilot friends and colleagues who had planned to land on the R&M Air Service airstrip in southeast Hamilton County to attend the services. During the eulogy, thunder roared from the skies above, causing Bartek to pause briefly.
“It is moments like this that reveal to us what really matters in this life,” he said. “It’s moments like this that reveal to us that this world, in the end, is fleeting and broken. It’s moments like this that the house of mourning, or in our case the hangar of mourning, is able to bring hope to our hearts as we gather in this place, a place that Rick loved, surrounded by the work that he devoted his life to.”
Bartek quoted scripture in celebrating Boardman’s faith and commitment to his family.
“We remember a man who built, worked, laughed, who loved, provided and invested in himself and others,” he said. “His life reminds us that our days matter, and even more importantly this day reminds us that eternity matters.”
Boardman purchased the family business in 1987 with his wife, Mary, and brother Bob, who died in an airplane accident in 2007. That tragedy impacted Rick immensely, and deepened his commitment to safety, mentorship and protecting the next generation of ag aviators. In 2018, he opened R&M Flying Service, named for Rick and Mary, and built a respected team which he considered his family.
Boardman’s impact extended beyond his own operation, as he served on state and national aviation boards, advocating for pilot safety. Just four months ago, he was honored with the National Agricultural Aviation Association’s Airman of the Year Award for his outstanding contributions to ag aviation.
Boardman’s commitment to service was also reflected in his community involvement, as he served on the Henderson Healthcare Services board for many years. He joined the HHS board in 2019 and has been active during his seven-year tenure.
“In addition to serving on the board, he was very engaged and dedicated,” HHS CFO Jill Myers said in a later ANR interview. “He served on our medical committee, our building committee and our finance committee and was incredibly generous with his resources, his time, his talent and his knowledge. He was certainly very engaged and dedicated on the board, but remained extremely humble with his contributions and what he brought to Henderson Healthcare Services and the Henderson community at large.”
Myers also noted that HHS recently hired Boardman’s daughter, Samantha Pederson, as a physician’s assistant, who in her new role will be working in a medical clinic that her father helped facilitate.
“So that’s kind of just a very heartwarming thing to have him be so involved in that construction project, and then have his daughter come back, as she is going to play such a pivotal role in the success of that,” Myers added.
Andrea Boardman Fisher spoke on behalf of the family during a funeral which drew several hundred people to the rural setting just west of Henderson, sharing how much it meant to see so many gathered in her father’s honor.
“We would joke with Dad from time to time that he was kind of a big deal,” Andrea said. “He would answer with an expected eye roll, followed by saying that he’s just a regular guy. But to me it’s pretty clear from all the people here and the outpouring of love and support from across the country that we have felt this week and I’m sure in the weeks to come, that he was wrong about being just a regular guy. He was extremely humble, caring, generous, funny and soft. Those are the qualities that I think made him more than just a regular guy to a lot of people. Being his daughter, and I think my sister feels the same, being his daughter was the honor of a lifetime.”
Two songs were played during the service as family photos were displayed on a large screen near the front of the hangar. Andrea shared that she and her sister wrote those songs as a surprise gift to their parents a few years ago. Here is an excerpt from “Working Family:”
Rick and Mary’s adventure, a story so true,
Of family and faith, and all they’d pursue.
Through the years and the miles, the bond only grew,
Summers together, a life we all knew. 
Summers together, we worked as a team,
Living the highs and the lows of a dream.
Sissy in the office, Sam by the stove,
Rick in the airplane, Mary on the phone.
Through joy, heartbreak, exhaustion, and laughter,
We built our best memories to cherish hereafter.”
Andrea concluded with a message of thanks from her family, and from a business which will continue on as her father’s legacy.
“Thank you to everyone who is here for Dad, either in person or streaming from afar,” she said. “I would ask that you continue to pray for safety and comfort for the R&M crew as we get ready to head into the busy season. We will be running R&M business as usual without Dad. It has always been his No. 1 priority for them to fly safe and have fun. We will continue to do that, so keep them in your prayers.”