Obituary for Don William Rickard
Donald "Don" William Rickard, age 68, of North Mankato, MN, formerly of South Shore, SD, passed away Saturday, June 12, 2021 at his residence.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., with visitation for 2 hours prior to the service on Friday, June 18, 2021 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Reverend Elmer Brinkman will officiate. Deverne and Jan Rickard will be the soloists accompanied by Darla Anderson.
Interment will be at the Lakeview Cemetery, South Shore, SD with Military Funeral Honors conducted by Northeast South Dakota Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1054.
Pallbearers will be Don's nieces and nephews: Crystal Scheuring, Heather Wilson, Jim Marko, Ron Marko, Zac Rickard and Will Rickard.
Honorary Pallbearers will be his many friends and military family, and classmates of his 50th high School reunion.
Donald William Rickard was born on December 26, 1952 to Ernest and Viola (Lohr) Rickard in Hoven, SD. He grew up in Summit and South Shore areas. He attended Summit school through the 7th grade and moved with his family to South Shore and attended school in South Shore graduating in 1971.
Don lived and worked in Milwaukee, WI following his graduation until entering the United States Air Force in July of 1972. He received his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and was stationed at USAF Hospital at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, NV until 1975 when he was then stationed at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. He served overseas for 1 year and was then discharged from the Air Force on February 9, 1976. He was extremely proud of his military service and was involved with the POW/MIA Veterans organizations.
After his military service he attended Dakota State College in Madison, SD for 2 years, then transferred to Mankato State University in Mankato, MN, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in Psychology. Don worked at the Minnesota Security Hospital as a mental health counselor in St. Peter, MN until his retirement in 2008.
After his retirement, Don fixed up houses and used them as rental properties. He enjoyed fishing and "old style" camping with no modern facilities in the woods, hiking and enjoyed viewing nature. He loved music and had a collection of over 3,000 albums.
Don was an avid Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan and attended many of the Vikings training camps held in Mankato, and talked with and received autographs of many of the players.
Don married Lori Loeschke on August 29, 1981 and they divorced a few years later.
Don is survived by his brother, Dennis (Delores) Rickard of Cedarburg, WI; his sister, Dixie (David) Korth of South Shore, SD; his half sisters, Lorraine (Ewalt) Struss of Blaine, MN, Shirley Swenson of Coon Rapids, MN; his half brothers, Jim (Irmgard) Rickard of Newport News, VA, Wayne (Marlene) Rickard of Cedar, MN, Leslie Rickard of Andover, MN, and Jerry Rickard of Brooklyn Park, MN; and his nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Debbie Widen, a half sister Leone Kinas, and his significant other, his beloved Linda Toth.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., with visitation for 2 hours prior to the service on Friday, June 18, 2021 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown. Reverend Elmer Brinkman will officiate. Deverne and Jan Rickard will be the soloists accompanied by Darla Anderson.
Interment will be at the Lakeview Cemetery, South Shore, SD with Military Funeral Honors conducted by Northeast South Dakota Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1054.
Pallbearers will be Don's nieces and nephews: Crystal Scheuring, Heather Wilson, Jim Marko, Ron Marko, Zac Rickard and Will Rickard.
Honorary Pallbearers will be his many friends and military family, and classmates of his 50th high School reunion.
Donald William Rickard was born on December 26, 1952 to Ernest and Viola (Lohr) Rickard in Hoven, SD. He grew up in Summit and South Shore areas. He attended Summit school through the 7th grade and moved with his family to South Shore and attended school in South Shore graduating in 1971.
Don lived and worked in Milwaukee, WI following his graduation until entering the United States Air Force in July of 1972. He received his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and was stationed at USAF Hospital at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, NV until 1975 when he was then stationed at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. He served overseas for 1 year and was then discharged from the Air Force on February 9, 1976. He was extremely proud of his military service and was involved with the POW/MIA Veterans organizations.
After his military service he attended Dakota State College in Madison, SD for 2 years, then transferred to Mankato State University in Mankato, MN, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in Psychology. Don worked at the Minnesota Security Hospital as a mental health counselor in St. Peter, MN until his retirement in 2008.
After his retirement, Don fixed up houses and used them as rental properties. He enjoyed fishing and "old style" camping with no modern facilities in the woods, hiking and enjoyed viewing nature. He loved music and had a collection of over 3,000 albums.
Don was an avid Minnesota Twins and Vikings fan and attended many of the Vikings training camps held in Mankato, and talked with and received autographs of many of the players.
Don married Lori Loeschke on August 29, 1981 and they divorced a few years later.
Don is survived by his brother, Dennis (Delores) Rickard of Cedarburg, WI; his sister, Dixie (David) Korth of South Shore, SD; his half sisters, Lorraine (Ewalt) Struss of Blaine, MN, Shirley Swenson of Coon Rapids, MN; his half brothers, Jim (Irmgard) Rickard of Newport News, VA, Wayne (Marlene) Rickard of Cedar, MN, Leslie Rickard of Andover, MN, and Jerry Rickard of Brooklyn Park, MN; and his nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Debbie Widen, a half sister Leone Kinas, and his significant other, his beloved Linda Toth.