Richard "Dick" Wild

Richard “Dick” Wild, 83, Lake Park, MN died Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Sunnyside Care Center, Lake Park.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, January 19 at 11AM in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Lake Park.  Visitation will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on Friday, January 18 from 5pm-7pm with a 7pm Prayer Service.   Interment will be held in the spring.

Richard Lloyd Wild, known to many as Dick, was born February 3, 1935 in Mankato, MN to Joseph and Della Wild.  He lived in Bemidji, MN as a young child before moving back to north Mankato where he attended Holy Rosary Catholic School, graduating from Mankato High School in 1953.  Dick had an incredible work ethic.  His first job was at a filling station when he was 14.  After he graduated high school, he worked for Minnesota Supply selling auto parts.   Dick was united in marriage to Elnora Junge on April 16, 1955 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in north Mankato.   They honeymooned in Tacoma, WA where Dick was offered a job.  They relocated to Tacoma and welcomed their daughter JoAnn to the family.   After a year in Tacoma, Dick and Elnora moved back to Mankato.  After settling back in Mankato, Dick was offered a job by his neighbor with Singer Sewing Machine Company.   Their family continued to grow as Dick and Elnora welcomed Jeff, Jim, Mike and Kris.  For 25 years Dick continued with Singer Company living in the communities of Fairmount, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Grand Rapids, MI, Fon du Lac, WI and eventually Fargo.  He ended his career with Singer Sewing owning his own store in Fergus Falls.  For the next 20 years and until his retirement Dick & Nora owned and operated the Lake Park Laundromat and Dry Cleaners where he was kept busy repairing all the machines as they broke down. During this same time Dick worked for Good Will Publishing selling advertising.   In his spare time, Dick enjoyed wood working.  He often would build brand new items and also refinishing the old, as well as  sewing machine repair and small engine repair.   As time would allow, Dick loved to go hunting and fishing along with camping in motor home.   He taught all his children the benefits of changing their own oil and keeping a vehicle clean as a whistle.   After a bout with the flu four years ago, Dick transitioned to Sunnyside Care Center where he received excellent care from their wonderful staff.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 64 years, Nora,  five children:  JoAnn (Jeff) Brennan of Pulaski, WI, Jeff (JoAnn) Wild of Isanti, MN, Jim Wild of Lake Park, MN, Mike (Shannon) Wild of Coon Rapids, MN and Kris Eversman of Eden Prairie, MN.  In addition he is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren and one sister-in-law: Evie Wild.

He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Dennis and his wife Barb and one great-grandson: Trevor Wild Jr.