Date : 08 May 2001
Location : St. Thomas Cemetery, Madison, SD
Francis W. Richter, 79, died Friday, May 4, 2001, at the Madison Community Hospital in Madison.
He was born Oct. 28, 1921 in Madison to Edward and Emma (Minneart) Richter. He attended St. Thomas Grade and High School in Madison and graduated in 1939.
He served with the Army Air Corps during World War II as a fighter pilot. He was stationed in Texas and Florida.
Richter married Joyce Mannes on Dec. 29, 1945 in Hibbing, Minn. After the war, he returned to South Dakota and attended South Dakota State University in Brookings and Northern State University in Aberdeen. He received a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in administration.
He served as a teacher and administrator in South Dakota and Minnesota schools for 34 years. He retired in 1983 as superintendent of the Chester Area Schools in Chester. He then moved to Madison.
Richter enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Richter was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Madison and the McKibbin Mosher Post #23 of the American Legion.
Richter is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Madison; two sons, Bill, of Elgin, Ill. and Dr. James of Wilmar, Minn.; three daughters, Sandra Honnette of Jackson, Minn., Cheryl Harris of Richville, Minn., and Barbara Bergerding of Sauk Center, Minn.; 12 grandchildren; three brothers, William of Madison, Donald of Ft. Myers. Fla., and Harold of Lincoln. Neb.; two sisters, Mary Ellen Murphy of Trinidad, Colo., and Bernice Metcalf of Yuma, Ariz.
A mass of Christian burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Madison. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. A parish scripture service will begin at 7 p.m. Monday at the Randall Funeral Home of Madison, with the family present after the service.
Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at the funeral home and before services Tuesday morning. The Randall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Argus Leader - May 6, 2001 (See: NOTES)
