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Submitted: 1/26/12 • Approved: 1/26/12 • Last Updated: 8/13/15 • R147963-G147963-S3
Richard May 3, 1931 - Aug. 15, 2007
Joan May 3, 1931 - Aug. 15, 2007
Richard “Dick” Wilson was born May 3, 1931, the son of A.M. "Bud" and Belva (Robinson) Wilson. He attended grade school in Sioux Falls and moved to Lennox with his family in 1946. He graduated from Lennox High School in 1949. On Dec. 26, 1951 he was united in marriage to Joan Knowlton in Lennox. Dick joined the SD Air National Guard and in January of 1952, during the Korean Conflict, he was activated and stationed at the Rapid City Air Base (Ellsworth) in Rapid City. They then moved to Minneapolis where Dick attended Electronics School. They returned to Lennox and he worked at his father's Wilson Gamble Store for a short time before becoming a fulltime member of the SD Air National Guard, retiring in 1991. Dick spent the summer months at his home on Leech Lake near Walker, Minnesota. Grateful for having shared his life are his son and daughter-in-law: Joel and Donna Wilson of Rapid City; his daughter and son-in-law: Dawn and Ronnie Smith of Sioux City, IA; three grandchildren: Becky (Helge) Norvang, Tony Keats and Jason (Jessica) Smith; two greatgrandchildren: Patrick Norvang and Rylee Smith; one sister: Ann Plimpton of Lennox; his niece and nephews; and an extended family at Ivanhoe Resort. Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Joan, on Oct. 14, 1999, his mother, Belva, on Feb. 14, 1973, his father, A.M. Wilson on Nov. 29, 1993 and one brother, Marvin Wilson on November 5, 1973. Dick was a member of First English Lutheran Church, Brethorst-Burma American Legion Post # 174 and the Lennox Senior Citizens. He had been a member of the Lennox Volunteer Fire Department for 21 years, retiring in 1976; the Masonic Lodge and the El Riad Shrine. He served on the Lennox City Council for 22 years from 1962 to 1984. He loved to bowl and was one of the people who started the youth bowling league in Lennox in the 1960's. He helped start the ice skating rink and always made sure the kids had a place to skate. Dick was an avid golfer, loved to fish, and always was a fan of the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. He loved wood working and spent many hours in his woodworking shop making furniture—a legacy that lives on for his family, Dick and his fellow Lennox Guardsmen, Don Stewart, Norm Dykstra, Dick Hemple and Bob Spencer were featured on KELO-TV as the longest running car pool- a total of 25 years.
Photo & research by Gene Hammerstrom
Used with permission
Contributed on 1/26/12 by revilo
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Record #: 147963