Richard Crater

Richard Crater


Dates

January 17, 1951 - November 24, 2022

Obituary

Richard Crater, 71, of Stickney, SD, died Thursday, November 24, 2022, at his home surrounded by his loving wife Sheila and other dear family members. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, December 3, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stickney. Burial will be at Silver Ridge Cemetery in Stickney. Visitation will be Friday from 5-7:00 PM at St. Paul Lutheran with a 6:30 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Richard Franklin Crater was born on January 17, 1951, to Harold and Bertha (Prien) Crater in Mitchell, SD. He grew up near Stickney, Plankinton, and Winner before his family returned to Stickney. He attended school at Hopper, Winner, Plankinton, and graduated from Stickney High School in 1970. Rich was a jack-of-all trades, working at the Plankinton Locker during and after high school. After graduating high school, he also worked as a farm hand for Ray Prien and Rudy Bartelt. In 1977 he started working at the Aurora Co-Op, later McGillvrey Oil, and then CHS. While there he worked in the station, fixed farm tires and furnaces, then drove the bulk fuel and LP truck until his retirement in 2015. His passion in life was farming and he raised pigs, sheep, and cattle in addition to gardening on his small farm west of Stickney.

In 1972 he attended the wedding of a classmate and met the love of his life, Sheila Herbst. They married on August 14, 1974 at St. John’s Lutheran Church (Hillside), Dimock, and enjoyed 48 happy years together. Rich believed in investing in the next generation and loved encouraging and interacting with all the children in his life. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stickney where he served on the council for many years. He and Sheila enjoyed traveling, community life in Stickney, and time with their family and friends.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Sheila; brother, John Crater, Mitchell; sister, Connie (Russell) Graves, Ethan; brothers-in-law, Dean and Mark Herbst, Dimock, Leland (Andrea) Herbst, Mitchell; sisters-in-law, Rebecca (Mark) Klumb, Mt. Vernon, Teresa (Dave) Bruinsma, Stickney; numerous nieces and nephews, and special family Joel (Sammie) Prien and daughters Kyla, Maddie, and River, Stickney.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Bertha Crater, and his parents-in-law Clifford and Dorothy Herbst.


Visitation(s)

Date
Friday, December 2, 2022
Time
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location
6:30 PM Prayer Service

St. Paul Lutheran Church
103 N 6th St
Stickney, SD 57375

Service

Date
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Time
10:30 AM
Location
St. Paul Lutheran Church
103 N 6th St
Stickney, SD 57375

Cemetery

Silver Ridge Cemetery
Stickney, SD


Posted by Velma Scott on December 3, 2022
Will not make it to Stickney for the service. My thoughts have been with you Sheila. Will always have fond memories of Richard.
Posted by Randy and Shirlee Burmeister on November 30, 2022
So sorry to hear of Rich's passing. It brings back memories when we used throw darts against each other. He was a great man and friend. He will be missed. Sympathy to Sheila and rest of the family. RIP Rich!
Posted by Barb Smith {Gerald) on November 29, 2022
Though it has been a few years since you were our clients I always enjoyed visiting with you when it was your appointment day. I lost Jerry this year too so I know the emptyness you are feeling. My thoughts are with you.
Posted by Rich and Diane hofer on November 29, 2022
So sorry for your loss sheila and your family god bless
Posted by Jim & Audrey Handsel on November 29, 2022
Sheila, so very sorry for your loss! Our prayers for you to find peace & strength now & in the days to come. Huggs!
Posted by Beverly Miller on November 29, 2022
Sheila so sorry sending prayers to you
Posted by Darcy Feenstra on November 28, 2022
Thoughts and prayers to Sheila and family. I will always remember working with Rich at the coop. He taught me alot of things like fixing furnaces and hauling fuel. I was always nervous running his fuel truck a few times when he was out of town that I would mix up gas and diesel together but he taught me well. He always made things fun and we always had a blast.
Posted by Frank & Mary Bruna on November 28, 2022
Shelia you & family are in our prayers. Our sympathy are sent with hugs. May Richard rest in peace.
Posted by Jim and Jackie Wentworth on November 28, 2022
Sheila, we were saddened to hear of Rich's passing. Sending loving hugs your way. Our sincere sympathy to you and your family.
Posted by Becky Blom on November 28, 2022
so sorry to hear of Rich’s passing. you have my deepest sympathies and prayers Shelia!
Posted by Mike Berglund on November 27, 2022
We love you Sheila and will continue to pray for comfort through the future for everyone. We don’t know what the future holds but we know who holds the future. Praise God for being our stronghold and ever present comforter.
Posted by Bonnie Kinyon on November 27, 2022
Attended school with Rich at Hopper and part of high school in Plankinton. Always a very nice caring person. Sending our deepest sympathy to Sheila and family. Rodney and Bonnie Kinyon
Posted by Judy Prien on November 27, 2022
I am so sorry for your loss Sheila! Keeping the whole family in my thoughts and prayers!!
Posted by Lois Schmoll on November 27, 2022
BIG hugs Sheila, many thoughts and prayers are sent your and family’s way!!!
Posted by Vonnie Prien Gall on November 27, 2022
Sheila, I’m keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. I have so many great memories of times spent with Richard at Grandpa and Grandma Prien’s house and reunions. Hopefully, you do too! Vonnie Kay
Posted by Thomas & Trista DeLange on November 27, 2022
Thinking of you Shiela and pray for strength and healing in days to come.
Posted by Alan & Karli Spaans on November 27, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with Sheila and family.
Posted by Brad and Shirley VanGenderen on November 26, 2022
Our deepest sympathy to you and the family.Prayers for everyone.
Posted by Jim & Renee Spaans on November 26, 2022
So sorry for your loss Sheila. We always enjoyed visiting with you both. He was a good guy!
Posted by Sandy and Gary Butterfield on November 26, 2022
So sorry to hear about your loss
Posted by Garry and Lena Dykstra-Bultje on November 26, 2022
Our sympathy to all. So enjoyed visiting with Rich. Always friendly, and eager to talk. Remember Rich and Sheila enjoying to dance. He will be missed. Rest in peace, Rich.
Posted by Norman and Dorthey Muilenburg on November 26, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with Sheila and all the family
Posted by Doug and Vicky Gerlach on November 26, 2022
Our very sincere and deepest sympathy. May God bless and comfort you. Our prayers are with you.
Posted by Rita Doerr on November 25, 2022
Prayers ascending for his friends and family. May Richard rest in peace.
Posted by Linda McBrayer on November 25, 2022
My prayers are with you call
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