Obituary for Richard Alfred "Rick" Briggs
Richard A. "Rick" Briggs, age 53, of Buffalo, MN, formerly of Watertown, SD, passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at his residence from a two year battle with cancer.
Visitation will be from 4-7 pm., with a rosary at 6:30 pm on Friday, February 17, 2023 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown with Father Richard Fox officiating.
Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Watertown, SD.
Richard Alfred Briggs, son of Dale and Paula (Wirtz) Briggs was born February 14, 1969 in Watertown, SD. He attended Immaculate Conception School and graduated from Watertown High School in 1987. Rick worked at Larson’s Clothing while in high school. He went to real estate pre-licensing school while he was a senior in high school and began working for Century 21 Helland Realty right after graduation. Rick worked as a Memorial Counselor for Watertown Monument Works, and then entered the insurance business in 1989 with American Bankers Life Assurance Company. Rick was on the Watertown Volunteer Dive & Rescue Team.
In 1992, he moved to Minneapolis and worked with the Ross Nesbit Agency in their Elk River office as General Manager. In 1998, he moved back to SD and took a position with Norwest in their Groton location as manager of Norwest Insurance and in 2000 he began working as an agent for Stoudt’s Insurance in Watertown.
In 2001, Rick moved back to the Minneapolis area and found his home with Thomes Insurance Agency in Buffalo, MN. He headed up their bail bond division, and in 2017, he purchased Thomes Bail Bonds.
Rick was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church in Buffalo, MN, the Knights of Columbus, and the Buffalo American Legion. He began the effort for what became the Elk River Boys and Girls Club, was a past Chairman of the Board of the Elk River ABBA Crisis Pregnancy Center.
He enjoyed golfing, outings at his friend Shawn’s cabin up north, his home at Travelers Country Club on the Mississippi, and being with his family and friends.
Rick is survived by his sisters Tammy (Briggs) Mashek, Sherry (Paul) Conrad, and Bonita Briggs, and brother Mike (Loretta) Briggs, all of Watertown; as well as many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews; his aunt Donna Briggs; many cousins and friends; a special young lady that Rick thought of as a daughter, Elizabeth Vought; and three grandchildren, Hayden, Austin and Savannah.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Cindy Briggs, nephew Victor Briggs, paternal grandparents Alfred and Margaret Briggs, maternal grandparents Paul and Ruth Wirtz, and many uncles and aunts that Rick loved very much.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
Visitation will be from 4-7 pm., with a rosary at 6:30 pm on Friday, February 17, 2023 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown with Father Richard Fox officiating.
Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Watertown, SD.
Richard Alfred Briggs, son of Dale and Paula (Wirtz) Briggs was born February 14, 1969 in Watertown, SD. He attended Immaculate Conception School and graduated from Watertown High School in 1987. Rick worked at Larson’s Clothing while in high school. He went to real estate pre-licensing school while he was a senior in high school and began working for Century 21 Helland Realty right after graduation. Rick worked as a Memorial Counselor for Watertown Monument Works, and then entered the insurance business in 1989 with American Bankers Life Assurance Company. Rick was on the Watertown Volunteer Dive & Rescue Team.
In 1992, he moved to Minneapolis and worked with the Ross Nesbit Agency in their Elk River office as General Manager. In 1998, he moved back to SD and took a position with Norwest in their Groton location as manager of Norwest Insurance and in 2000 he began working as an agent for Stoudt’s Insurance in Watertown.
In 2001, Rick moved back to the Minneapolis area and found his home with Thomes Insurance Agency in Buffalo, MN. He headed up their bail bond division, and in 2017, he purchased Thomes Bail Bonds.
Rick was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church in Buffalo, MN, the Knights of Columbus, and the Buffalo American Legion. He began the effort for what became the Elk River Boys and Girls Club, was a past Chairman of the Board of the Elk River ABBA Crisis Pregnancy Center.
He enjoyed golfing, outings at his friend Shawn’s cabin up north, his home at Travelers Country Club on the Mississippi, and being with his family and friends.
Rick is survived by his sisters Tammy (Briggs) Mashek, Sherry (Paul) Conrad, and Bonita Briggs, and brother Mike (Loretta) Briggs, all of Watertown; as well as many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews; his aunt Donna Briggs; many cousins and friends; a special young lady that Rick thought of as a daughter, Elizabeth Vought; and three grandchildren, Hayden, Austin and Savannah.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Cindy Briggs, nephew Victor Briggs, paternal grandparents Alfred and Margaret Briggs, maternal grandparents Paul and Ruth Wirtz, and many uncles and aunts that Rick loved very much.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.