With sadness I today discovered that Richard had passed away, many fond memories. I worked at MAS Racing on Hennepin Avenue when he ran the manufacturing Department and I worked on the counter. 

This was back in the mid-1970s and I always got along great with him, after I moved away to California I would visit his brother Gary and I would see Richard from time to time at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.

After Gary passed away and he shut down Minneapolis store when Richard moved everything to St. Paul I remember spending time with him and he gave me the whole tour and I always enjoyed visiting with him.

Also remember when visiting him and Val at their Golden Valley home. We both would share stories about MN racers and experiences at 2538. Had a great phone conversation with him not too long ago and we shared a lot of thoughts about the goings on of MN of late...a great guy and always a smile on his face! 

James Maxwell

Carlsbad, CA

Dear Val and family and friends of Rich:

Renee and I send our love to you at this time of grief.  I just learned of Rich's passing today, as I happened to go on the fossil ball.com website for the first time in months.  Rich and I were teammates on the Fossils church softball team for many years, along with son Eric.  It was such a privilege to play on the same team as Rich and  Eric.  Both were very talented, but also humble and kind.  Rich will be missed and be forever remembered and loved by those fortunate enough to know him.  Russ and Renee O'Dell

Grandpa was the person in my life who had loved the most. Every day, he put forth all his energy to love and care for others. My favorite memories of him are fishing with him, eating his pancakes, and playing games with him. He taught me so much about how to love those closest to you. He showed me how just being in the presence of someone you love can solve any problem. He showed me how you have to be honest with those closest to you. He also emphasized the importance of a good time, whether it was playing games, or hanging out on the beach.

Grandpa was not perfect, nobody is, but I can't think of anything that was imperfect about him. He worked hard, all his life to supply those he loved with the knowledge and means to love everyone with their whole heart. Grandpa was also very proud of everyone in his life. He told my siblings and I every time he saw us how great we were doing in school and in our lives. I can’t ever summarize the life of my Grandpa,

I only truly remember his last 10 years, however the time I spent with him during those 10 years was some of the most valuable time I have experienced. In summary, Grandpa’s life was lived to the fullest. He had done far more for everyone, than anyone could have asked for. Sometimes we wish we could live forever, but that would just degrade the value life holds on this Earth. Life is beautiful because God can decide that death at a particular time follows his plan. The night Grandpa died, I watched a video that highlighted what people feel when they die. It emphasized the sense of completion many felt as they slipped away from life, only to be brought back again in a hospital. Sadly, this was not Grandpa’s reality as he never was brought back again in a hospital.

However, I believe he felt a tremendous sense of completion in his life as you look back at the friends he made, and the family he built. I can’t sum it up any better than this quote by Wolfgang Patersen, “Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?” And I can say for sure that grandpa fought for everything he cared for, and loved everyone, so much so that he worked his entire life for everyone around him.

I love you Grandpa and will miss you very much,

- Andrew

I was blessed with two amazing brothers and now both have passed. My brother Richard was 18 months younger than me and we were very close as we grew up together on the family farm in Hayfield, MN. We shared many childhood memories together and had many mutual friends. We always enjoyed reminiscing about the happenings, both good and bad that we experienced in the past together. We often jokingly discussed who had to work the hardest when we were growing up and the other one always had an excuse to avoid the job.

Richard had such a great sense of humor and every gathering was more fun if he was present. He was kind, knowledgeable and took time to help everyone out no matter what their needs were! I always enjoyed baking his favorite dessert – carrot cake. I will miss our weekly long phone calls as we would always discuss the weather, politics and how our kids and grandkids were doing. His strong faith was to be admired too. He was loved by everyone who knew him and he will be missed by so many people.

God bless you Richard. You will always be my favorite little brother!

Love you,

Your sister Mary

Valerie 

We are so sorry for your loss.  We learned of Rich's passing when Paster Tom Thompson announced it at mass this morning.  Our deepest sympathy for you and your family.  So sad.......

I will miss you Grandpa, because you always made great breakfasts and the best pancakes. You also made the best ham, and fish fries during the summer time. I will miss your hugs and taking boat rides with you.

I love you very much and will always be your Chickadee.

- Annabelle

I will NEVER forget when I asked Rich if I could marry his daughter, Erin. We were dating about 2 years at the time. He gave me just one condition... "As long as you never shave your head again."

We had just come back from a softball tournament and all the guys had shaved their heads in a show of team unity (well all the young guys did anyway). Rich really didn't like the new look.

Rich, I will miss you every day of my life.... your humor, your predictable phrases, and your incredible love for your family and grandkids.

I'll be keeping a cold Mich Golden Light in my fridge for you until we see each other again.

I love you, Rich.

Tony