Arden Richardt

Arden Richardt, age 86 of Milbank died June 21, 2017, at Milbank Care and Rehab Center.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 26, at 2:00 p.m. at American Lutheran Church in Milbank. Pastor Carl Larson will officiate and burial will be in the Milbank City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank. Visitation will continue at the church on Monday, one hour prior to the service.

Arden was born on February 8, 1931, at rural Ortley. He was the son of Ervin “Dutch” and Freda (Swanson) Richardt. He completed grades 1 through 8 at Ortley #1 Country School. He later received an honorary high school diploma from Milbank High School.

He was united in marriage with the love of his life, Betty Ione Lee, on September 26, 1953, in Webster. Arden and Betty were blessed with seven children: Gary, Wendy, Nancy, Ruby, Hope, Holly and Angela.

In 1952, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1953, having earned the rank of Corporal. Arden remained an active member of VFW Post 3486.

From 1953 to 1964, he farmed in Lura Township. He worked for Concrete Materials in Summit from 1964 to 1974, and at Dakota Granite in Milbank as a welder and maintenance worker from 1974 until his retirement in 1993. In 1976, the family moved to Milbank, where he lived until his death. Although he received little formal education, Arden was known to be a brilliant man. He was able to quote Shakespeare and poetry, and was known as the family historian for both the Richardts and the Lees. In his free time, he enjoyed attending auction sales, refinishing furniture, dancing with Betty, completing crossword puzzles, and watching “Jeopardy”. He was a voracious reader and loved music of all kinds, but especially old country and western music. His greatest joy, though, was spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Arden is survived by his son: Gary (Pamela) Richardt of Sauk Rapids, Minn.; daughters: Wendy (Dr. John) Knecht of Rapid City, Nancy (Allen) Bender of Sioux Falls, Ruby (Kevin) Oligmueller of Castlewood, Hope (Tom) Murray of Maple Grove, Minn., Holly (Mike McKernan) Hilbrands of Milbank, and Angela (David) Roden of Brookings. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Matthew (Shanelle) Richardt, Madelyn & Easton; Joseph Richardt; Emily (Loren) Daak, Daniel & Joseph; Cherie (Justin) Tank, Jackson & Quinn; Andrew (BryAnn) Knecht; Zachary Knecht; Bethany (Chris) Dale, Zoe, Willow & Eden; Emma Knecht; Eric (Donna) Bender, Jubilee, Sydney, Lilly & Aiden; Richard (Alissa) Bender; Melody (Tyler) Sieh, Vivian, Luann & Scott; Sarah (Dustin) Popkes, Della; Markus Solheim; Tina Carlin; Emma Murray; Elise Pederson (Brad Wilson), Marlaina & Everly; Cullen Pederson, Michael; Alexis (Aaron) Schoenfeld; Elizabeth and Abigail Roden. He is also survived by his brother Donald (Gloria) Richardt of Wausau, Wisc.; sisters-in-law, Pauline Flones of Ortley, and Norma Richardt, Waubay; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; brothers: Wallace and Maurice; a sister, Linda, who died in infancy; brothers-in-law: Carl, Ingvald, Mancel, John, and Bernard “Tommy” Lee; sisters-in-law: Ruby (Ralph) Redlin, Lois Lee, Marvel Lee, Josie Lee, Kathryn Lee, and Vinita Richardt.