Richard "Rick" John Derf

Richard “Rick” John Derf, age 75, of Grand Haven, passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020 at Holland Community Hospital. He was born on July 25, 1945 in Plymouth, IN, to the late Richard and Hattie (Hupp) Derf, former family-owners of Derf Jewelers, in Plymouth. Rick married Martha “Marty” Baughman on June 25, 1967 in Plymouth, IN.

He was the President of the Plymouth Softball Association, member of the IHSAA, and was a well-known sports broadcaster in Plymouth, IN. Rick announced high school sports, including the 1977 Plymouth High School Football State Championship game, and in 1982 for the Plymouth High School State Championship basketball game. Rick and his sidekick, Corky Lingle, were known to many as B.T.R., “Big Time Radio.” Rick was also a very familiar voice at both the Plymouth  and South Bend Motor Speedways, where he announced regularly for more than 15 years. He loved to D.J. music for special occasions, and he was an avid bowler and played slow pitch softball.

Rick worked as the Advertising Manager at the Pilot News local newspaper in Plymouth for five years before he committed himself to full-time work as an insurance agent with AFLAC. It was with AFLAC where he found his passion for helping others, enjoying 45 years of service. In 1990, he and Marty moved to Michigan, and Rick continued to work with AFLAC. Rick had a great sense of humor, was a spiritual man, and a faithful member of Harvest Bible Chapel in Grand Haven, MI.  

Surviving is his wife of 53 years, Marty; two daughters, Kimberly (Willie) Rahrig and Erica Bergner; seven grandchildren: Lauren Roscoe, John (Cassie) Roscoe, Aaron Rahrig, Garrett Rahrig, Noel Rahrig, Gabriel Rahrig, and Reese Bergner; four great-grandchildren; and his brother, James (Suzanne) Derf. He was preceded in death by his brother, Phillip Derf.

A Celebration of Rick’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7, 2021 at Harvest Bible Chapel, Grand Haven. Masks and Social Distancing will be required. Interment will take place in Plymouth, Indiana in Spring of 2021.

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