Richardson, Donald Wesley (1923-2018)

RICHARDSON, ZINN, BRUNS, FLISS, DEWEY, JACOBSON, LINDGREN, MAGNUSSEN, WILEY, PETERSEN

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/18/2021 at 17:36:22

Donald Wesley Richardson
September 19, 1923 - October 2, 2018

Donald Wesley Richardson, age 95, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake.

A son of Lester and Esther (Zinn) Richardson, Don was born on September 19, 1923, in the country home where he lived all but sixteen years of his life. Baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith, he attended country school until the 8th grade and then graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1941. In 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps to serve his country during World War II as a flight deck crew chief mechanic. Honorably discharged in 1945, he returned to the family farm. Then, in 1949, he moved his farming operations to Canby, Minnesota.

On December 10, 1950, Don married Betty Jean Bruns at the Presbyterian Church in Canby, Minnesota. Subsequently, they were blessed with four children: Bruce, Paul, Danny, and Neal. In 1964, they moved back to Iowa to the family farm which became a century farm in 1995. A farmer most of his life, he took pride in the Registered Polled Herefords herd he maintained for over seventy years, selling breeding stock, raising occasional 4H calves, and mentoring several young farmers starting their own herds.

Very active in the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake throughout his life, Don served on numerous boards. In addition, he participated in the Farm Bureau, the National Corn Growers Association, and the American Polled Hereford Association.

In his free time Don loved participating in sports, golfing, playing pitch, and following the Iowa Hawkeyes. Most importantly however, he took the time to attend his sons many sports events and activities, and fortunately, he lived to see his grandkids and great grandkids in their many activities.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Betty; his children: Bruce (Deb) Richardson, Paul Richardson, and Dan (Molly) Richardson, and Neal (Teri) Richardson; his brother, LeRoy (Delores) Richardson; his sister-in-law Arlene Fliss; his grandchildren: Kris (Dove) Foster Dewey; Abby (Matt) Jacobson; Katie (Josh) Lindgren; Jenny (Paul) Magnussen; and Connor, Danielle, Elly, Jeremy (Andrea), Matt (Megan), Sean (Andrea); and Zachary (fiancée Avani) Richardson; and his great grandchildren: Lyra Song and Ruby Rose Foster Dewey; Cash, Colton, and Levi Lindgren; Allie and Tyler Magnussen; and Braxton, Cole, Dallas, Emma, Hunter, Luke, and Rylan Richardson; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Carolyn (Francis) Wiley, his nephews, Roger and Lyle Wiley; his parents-in-law, Theodore and Susie Bruns; his brothers- and sisters-in-law: Harold Fliss, Archie Bruns, and Shirley (Allen) Petersen.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 5, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. Visitation will take place on Thursday, October 4, 2018, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in STORM LAKE. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes, Storm Lake, Iowa, 2018.

Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
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