Richard Quast

Funeral services for Richard Quast, age 85, of Ortonville, Minnesota, will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at United Methodist Church in Ortonville, Minnesota. Visitation will be Monday evening, January 2, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Larson Funeral Home in Ortonville, with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Rev. Darrell Boe will officiate. Burial will be in Mound Cemetery.

Richard Cord Quast was born on May 9, 1926, to Curt and Alice (Beeber) Quast in Berlin, North Dakota. He was baptized on April 17, 1927 by Rev. Dodge at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Berlin. Richard attended schools in Edgely, Grand Rapids, and Dickey, North Dakota and went on to train at Ellendale Industrial High School and graduated in 1947. He served in the United States Army from May 1945 until December of 1946.

On January 1, 1955, Richard was united in marriage with Eleanora Ruth Bergstrand in Valley City, North Dakota. Both of their parents had been married on January 1, so it was a very special day. To this union two children were born ~ Kathleen and Kevin.

Richard farmed most of his life near Grand Rapids and Dickey until health issues caused him to retire in 1982. They then moved to Valley City. While living there, he was a member of the Epworth United Methodist Church and a faithful participant in the Men's Prayer Breakfast group. In 2006 Richard and Eleanora moved to Ortonville. Northridge Residence became his home in 2009.

Richard was one to keep his hands busy! He did craft work and helped others with odd jobs, often mowing a lawn or shoveling a walk. He had a ready, charming smile and a quick wit. His favorite saying was "If you can't be good, be careful!" He will be especially remembered and missed for his loving kindness and devotion to Eleanora and their family.

Richard died on December 29, 2011, in Ortonville, Minnesota, having reached the age of 85.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Eleanora, of Ortonville; his daughter Kathleen Korth of Big Stone City, South Dakota; his son Kevin of Waverly, Iowa; seven grandchildren: Lance Korth, Sheldon Korth, Timothy Quast, Daniel Quast, Elizabeth Quast, Naomi (Casee) Sickles, and Rachel Quast; four great grandchildren: Oliver, Bailey, Audrina, and Adrienne; and his brother Roger (Ruth) of Fargo, North Dakota; and his sister-in-law Gloria.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Donald.