 He represented the riding of Similkameen from 1953 to 1966 and its successor riding Boundary-Similkameen from 1966 to 1975.Born in Keremeos, British Columbia, he was the youngest son of Frank Richter, Sr., who settled in the Similkameen Country of the Southern Interior of British Columbia in 1864 and became a successful rancher and entrepreneur there, and his wife, Florence Elizabeth Loudon.The elder Richter had five daughters and six sons, of whom the youngest was Frank Jr.

Richter was a cattle rancher and fruit grower.