He was a pioneer, an entrepreneur, a loving father, husband, grandfather and a treasured friend.
Born in Gloucestershire in 1928, Mr Ricketts moved a lot during the Depression years and had attended five different schools by the age of 7.
He left school before age 15 and started a farming cadetship.
He met the love of his life, Napier's Audrey Langley during Christmas 1954 in the United Kingdom.
"It was an instant love story," Stephen said.
The couple tied the knot in June 1956.
"They had a fantastic marriage, always supported each other for almost 60 years," Stephen said.
They complemented each other perfectly.
"Dad was the ideas man while Mum was the reality check, they did everything together," Graeme said.
The couple loved to travel and they covered a good portion of the globe.
He always enjoyed returning to his homeland to visit family but never regretted his move to New Zealand.
Although raised in Britain, Mr Ricketts considered himself a Kiwi.
He always had an ambition to run his own business.
In 1960, Mr Ricketts found a paint shop in Taradale he was interested in but was beaten to the punch by Gisborne's Bert Scott.
However, later that year Mr Scott was looking to increase capital and approached Mr and Mrs Ricketts.
As a result, Scott and Ricketts was opened in Taradale in January 1961. Mr Scott left in 1963 and sold his shares to Mr and Mrs Ricketts.
As the name "Scott and Ricketts" had already established itself, it was kept.
Mr Ricketts then turned his eye toward expansion.
In 1981 a second store in Dickens St was opened, followed by the Hastings store in 1986.
"We spent countless hours working as a team in the 80s with sledge and jackhammers, paint brushes, knocking walls down, and building new ones" Graeme said.
"We developed a fantastic camaraderie."
The brothers grew up with the home improvement store as part of their lives but Mr Ricketts never really retired.
"We would always send him financial reports, which he would read every Monday."
Graeme said his Dad taught him and his brother about honesty and integrity.
"He was a wonderful mentor, always encouraged us and allowed us to spread our wings."
He and his wife were also the inaugural inductees into Mitre10 Hall of Fame.
"Even though he was struggling with his health, I was so proud to see him receive the award," Stephen said.
Mr Ricketts spent 50 years as a Taradale Rotary Club member. He held nearly every position in the club during those years including president.
"He enjoyed contact with people," Graeme said. "He was always engaging with people, genuinely caring about what they had to say."
Mr Ricketts lived by two mantras - "work hard, play hard," and "treat others how you wish to be treated".
"This is what made him a very successful businessman," Stephen said.
These philosophies are still adopted by staff today.
Mr Ricketts was also a keen snow and water skier, having picked it up in his mid-40s and continued well into his 70s. He was very capable with his hands, kept up with technology and even learnt how to text the grandkids.
His sons said that family and business were the two driving forces loves in their father's life.
"Dad would tell you the journey of the business is just beginning and it is up to the future generation to carry it on.
"He will be widely missed."
Mr Ricketts was farewelled yesterday.
