Richard M. Sartell

Richard M. Sartell, Minnesota Mortician Emeritus, 75, of Sartell and all points north, south, east and west, our sweet, enduring Husband, Dad, Papa, Grandpa and Great Grandpa died on Sunday, September 18, 2016, in Sartell, MN after a lengthy and valiant struggle with Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson's Disease.

Dick was born and raised in St. Cloud and Sartell. He attended the St. Cloud State Lab School. He was an active Boy Scout and achieved the Order of the Arrow and worked hard to become an Eagle Scout. He was a 1959 graduate of Tech High School where he was a National Honor Society member and on the swim team. He attended Macalester College in St. Paul where he was a member of the Bagpipers and where he met the love of his life and married Diane Swenson Sartell May 29, 1962, in Mason City, Iowa. He was a 10 year member of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. He worked in information for Greyhound lines until 1969 when he joined Perkins Restaurants. He was part owner operator of the first Perkins in Brainerd, Mn. After a short turkey farming caper he worked as a manager for FasGas and then opened two restaurants; Oasis Inn in Pequot Lakes and Sportland Café in Nisswa. Later he was a Sales Rep for Continental Foods until he decided to return to school, attending St. Cloud State Univ and graduating from the University of Minnesota with distinction in 1989. He was a Minnesota Mortician Emeritus serving as staff mortician at Cavallin Funeral Homes in Two Harbors and Grand Marais, J.S. Klekatsky Funeral Homes in Eagan, So. St. Paul and West St. Paul, Crawfords in Duluth, the Cremation Society, Utoft Johansen in Tyler and Lake Benton and Dobmeiers in Barnesville, MN. He belonged to the American Legion A.C. Hansen Post #185 of Tyler, MN. He was a past active member of the Tyler Lions and their melodramas, Tyler Kiwanis, Tyler Arts Council and the Grand Marais Little Theater where he played the lead in Mass Appeal.

Dick will be painfully missed by his family and friends. Life with him was never boring. There was always an adventure in the offing and things were always changing. He decorated our lives in so many ways. He was a cherished, dedicated, creative, hard-working husband, father, grandfather, good friend, patriarch, thespian, intellect, history buff, comedian and occasional hike master.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents Richard A. Sartell and Margaret E. Hannahs (Nee Cole), brother Samuel C. and sister Julee M.

He is survived by his best friend and love of 54 years, Diane; children, Richard (Mayuree) Sartell of Mankato, Joelynn Lahr of Champlin, Steven (Dawn) Sartell of Brookings, SD, Nicholas (Mia) Sartell of Norwood/Young America, Tiffany (Ben) Anderson of Sartell, Megan (Terry) Patzner of Sartell and Lace (Randy) Davis of Lino Lakes; 22 grandchildren; Thai, Talay, Drew, Brock, Cole, Max, Jake, John, Danny, Alex, Peter, Paige, Ben, Chet, Kenzie, Matt, Kate, Scout, Carson, Ethan, Evin and Grace; great granddaughters, Melissa and Sparrow.  

A reflection of Dick's life and gifts of happiness, love and humor will be held on Saturday, October 1st from 4:30 to 7:30 PM in The Founders Room at St. John's University, Collegeville, MN. Memorials preferred in lieu of flowers.  www.bensonfuneralhome.com