Richard Uecker, 74, of Wagner

Richard died Monday, December 6, 2010 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Wagner. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM, Friday, December 10, 2010 at St. John's Catholic Church in Wagner. Burial is in the parish cemetery, rural Wagner, with military honors. Visitation will be Thursday from 11 AM until 5 PM at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Wagner. Rosary/Wake services will be 7 PM Thursday at the church.

Richard Bryan Uecker was born April 14, 1936 in rural Wagner, SD, the son of Bryan and Marie (Bradley) Uecker. He went to meet his heavenly father on Monday, December 6, 2010, surrounded by his family, at the Community Memorial Hospital in Wagner. Richard attained the age of 74 years, seven months and 22 days.

Richard attended country school until the eighth grade and graduated from Ravinia High School in 1954.

Richard enlisted in the US Navy, serving most of his time on the USS Bushnell, stationed out of Key West, FL. He was honorably discharged in 1958, having attained the rank of Petty Officer 2nd class.

On May 20, 1957, Richard married Beryle Johnson at St. John's Catholic Church in Wagner. This union was blessed with three daughters: Lynn, Vicky and Dawn. His family, children and grandchildren were a great source of pride to Richard.

After being discharged from the Navy, Richard began farming with his father and brothers. He raised row crops, oats, cattle and hogs. Richard and Beryle moved into Wagner in 2002.

Richard enjoyed watching sports, especially those involving his brothers, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He read The Sporting News from cover to cover every week. Football was his favorite sport.

He was a life-long member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife Beryle of Wagner; daughters: Lynn (Rick) Soulek of Rapid City and their children, Tyler, Abbey, Lauryn and Madelyn; Vicky (Troy) Wilson of Raton, NM and their children, Gavin, Riley and Callie; Dawn (Greg) Randall of Camarillo, CA and their children, Kirsten and Cole; three brothers: Francis (Sylva Jean) of Wagner; John (Erdene) of Wagner; Dennis (Fern) of Rapid City; four sisters: Margaret Gilreath of Wheat Ridge, CO; Carol Blaha of Lake Andes; Sandra (Charles) Eitemiller of Armour; Elaine (Alvin) Albert of Newcastle, WY; sisters-in-law: Shizuko Uecker of Austin, TX; Bev Beeson of Wagner; Darlene (Richard) Dvorak of Lake Andes; and Donna (Tony) Stastny of Wagner; one maternal aunt, Elsie Huckaby of Denver, CO; and many nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; brother Kenneth; and brothers-in-law: Tom Blaha; Raymond Beeson, Jr.; and Don Gilreath.