RICHARD RYSDAM

Richard Allen Rysdam, 73, of Pine City, MN, passed away peacefully at home with loving family by his side on February 19, 2025 after a long, hard fight with cancer.

Richard “Rich” was born on September 12, 1951, to John and Harmania Rysdam in Braham, MN. He was the seventh child of 10 siblings, growing up on the family farm, attending Braham Day School and Braham Area High School, graduating in 1969. 

It was early on in high school where he met the love of his life,  Doris Brust.  Starting with sharing a first kiss as sweethearts behind the Braham Hardware Store, Richard and Doris married on October 2, 1971, moving to Minneapolis where he worked for the U.S. Post Office.   In 1972, they moved back closer to family and settled in Henriette, MN, where he got into drywall.  It was during this time they raised three children, Joseph, Eric, and Rebecca.  Looking for more acreage to pursue his passion for cattle farming, in 1996 the family moved east of Pine City, MN.  A farming accident in 2010 provided new challenges, but Richard and Doris persevered.

Richard’s calendar of events, which included a cast of so many friends and family, aligned with hunting, fishing, and trapshooting seasons.  On top of that, as frustrating as they could be for him, he always made time for his love of the Vikings, Twins, and Gophers. Rich’s favorite pastime by far, though, was his role as a fan of his grandchildren in all their activities—volleyball, football, basketball, hockey, baseball, and softball, along with music, theatre, and dance. His family and friends were a true source of joy for him, and he cherished sharing these moments with those he cared about.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; brother Ronald (Dorothy) Rysdam; sister Marie (Ralph) Joy; brothers-in-law, Jim Bostrom, Jack Pixley, Stephen Johnson, Wayne Stromback, and Lowell Burkstand.

He is survived by his wife Doris; children, Joseph (Shay), Eric (Angela), and Rebecca (David) Palmer; grandchildren, Cade, Aaron, Alexandra, Morgan, JJ, Carson (Sutton) Palmer, Brooke Palmer, and Drew Palmer; great grandson Forrest Palmer; siblings, Annette Burkstrand, Dianna Stromback, Sharon Johnson, Patricia (Peter) Rysdam-Miller, Deborah (Rick) Nystrom, Roberta (Mark) Bistodeau and Randy (Jeanette) Rysdam; sisters and brothers-in-law, Carol Bostrom, Kathy Pixley, Donna (Steve) Schletty, Linda (Ed) Erickson, Sandra (Donny) Pearson, and Doug (Val) Brust; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at the Braham Event Center. 

Memorial Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service. 

Food and fellowship will follow the service. 

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