Richard King, age 86, of Cambridge and formerly of Coon Rapids died June 22, 2021 at Prairie Senior Cottages in Isanti. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, July 25, at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 1450 237th Avenue NE, East Bethel, MN 55005, with a visitation beginning at 1:00 P.M. A lunch will follow the service.
Richard Louis King, 85, passed away Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Prairie Senior Cottages in Isanti, MN. Richard was born at home, on November 24, 1933 to Alex & Emma (Peterson) King in Turtle Lake, WI. He was one of 5 children. He loved going to school as a child where he became the quarterback for his football team, the homecoming king, and with the highest academic ranking in his class, he earned the title of valedictorian.
Richard started college at the University of WI, River Falls, and was drafted into the Army at the end of the Korean war.
In 1959 he met and married Sharon Joann Swanson. They were blessed with a baby girl in February of 1960, they named her Cindy. Sharon passed away in 1974 leaving him widowed at the age of 40. Sharon’s side of the family and Richard remained close to one another for all the years to come.
Richard began his career selling insurance as a Farmer’s Insurance Group agent. His office was located in a strip mall in Fridley MN. There was a little café next door to his office, the owner was a beautiful woman named Jo Anne, Richard and Jo Anne found romance within one another and were married in 1989. Richard worked in that building until he retired at the age of 80.
Richard was always so willing to help people in ways to make their lives easier. He loved his family greatly, he loved all the time he had with them for holidays and vacations and the “let’s just get together” times. At the family cabin he taught the generations of kids how to fish, water ski, feed the birds, and drive the tractor. It was a rare thing to see him sitting still, He was always busy building things, fixing things, and gardening.
Richard was a great man, he lived a wonderful life, and was loved by all.
Richard is survived by his wife, Jo Anne (Jarmer); daughter, Cindy (Erickson); step-daughter, Kathy (Cardinal); grandchildren, Melissa (Mason), Brandon (DeWitt), Angeline (Erickson) & Michele (Erickson); his great grandchildren, Marshall, Ben, Zack, Parker, Jada & Levi; his sisters, Eloise & Peggy and many nephews, nieces & friends.
I was privileged to become a friend of Richard’s through St. Croix Hospice. We began our weekly visits on July 10, 2019 and, since he made it clear that he liked to be busy, we constructed bird houses and feeders, we kept the bird feeders (inside and out) full of seed, we weeded the planters, shoveled the ice, and looked through the Richard King photo album numerous times. I enjoyed every minute of those times.
Those visits came to a screeching halt after our March 10th visit in 2020. I sent him a card a week for 16 months with an occasional treat, but finally got to see him on June 18th, just days before he passed. I feel so blessed that I did.
I only knew him for two years, but what a kind, sweet man with a constant smile and a chuckle whenever Donna would flirt with him. For someone who liked to be “busy”, his age had made that desire a challenge. I’ll bet with his new rejuvenated health in heaven, there will be no empty bird feeders, no chores left undone, and no errands left unrun.
I will miss you, my friend, and even though you weren’t as active as you wanted to be, you spent your final years “busy” making your friends feel loved. RIP …
I’ve been a life long friend to Cindy and her family. A wonderful family I might add. One of my favorite memories is up at the cabin. Dick or back then it was Mr. King would teach us to water ski. We learned on these old set of ski with no rutter. He was so patient with us. Over and over we would try until we finally made it up and was skiing. Dick was such a kind man. I will miss him.
Joanne, Cindy and Family I am so very sorry to hear of Dick’s passing, my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Dick was a great friend and partner to work with he taught me many things which helped so very much..We had some good laughs thru the years. I remember how every Monday nite he’d drive to Avon so Cindy could go to class at college. He loved his family very much. I am sorry I won’t be able to attend the service but will be thinking of you all. Dee