Her career only began posthumously with Rhoden's first solo exhibition/tribute curated by neighbor and friend Emily Weiner (cofounder of Soloway Gallery).

[2] Her father went to Northwestern law school and later became the 1st Native-American judge in Washington State[1] and later the mayor of Aberdeen.

Richenda attended the University of Washington in Seattle, where she met college sweetheart, Lawrence Lew Kay,[2] whom she married and who subsequently died in WWII.

Wanting a new start, Richenda moved to New York to attend Columbia University and pursue a Master's Degree in Asian Art.

While her husband John was managing a successful career, Rhoden began curating and developing exhibitions held in the living room of her apartment.

[1] Rhoden is also credited with starting the Cranberry Street Fair, which earned her a nomination from her neighbors for "New Yorker of the Week" on the local television network.

Most of the works are in oil, are untitled, and undated, which curator Emily Weiner was able to save from the Rhoden's heirless estate.