Richard "Dick" Buck

Richard "Dick" Buck


Dates

December 31, 1946 - November 15, 2024

Obituary

Richard “Dick” Buck, 77, of Mitchell, SD, passed away Friday, November 15, 2024, at his home under hospice care. Visitation will be Friday, November 22, from 5-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a 6:30 PM prayer service.

Richard John Buck was born December 31, 1946, to Lawrence and Julia (Dobbs) Buck in Flandreau, SD. Dick graduated from Egan High School in 1965 and General Beadle State College (DSU) in 1969.

Dick taught band full-time while attending college. He was the college band soloist his senior year, playing “Blue Bells of Scotland” on the trombone. Dick played in a dance band during the summer of 1972. His future wife, Susan Jensen, also played in the band, and they married on November 17, 1972, in Colton, SD. To this union, they had two sons, Jonathon “Frank” and James “Jimmy”.

Dick was a band director in Chester, Flandreau, Scotland, and Sisseton, SD. Teaching band to beginners and middle school students was his dream job. He always felt the right beginning was essential for success in music.

He took a break from teaching and drove Schwans truck for eight years. He made the President's Club based on sales, which is the highest award possible for a Schwan's salesman. He and his family moved to Sisseton in 1987 where he taught middle school band until retirement. He then drove bus for a couple of years before moving to Mitchell in 2011. In Mitchell, he and Susan played in the college/community band and the Mitchell Municipal Band, until Dick could no longer play due to failing health.

He is survived by his wife Susan; sons, Frank (Tammy) Buck of Beardsley, MN, and Jimmy (Gretchen) Buck of New Orleans, LA; brother, Edward (Nancy) Buck of Flandreau; step granddaughter, Emily Waldner; and his nieces and nephews.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Betty and her husband Mike Cullen.

It was Dick’s wishes that his body be donated to science at the University of South Dakota.


Visitation(s)

Date
Friday, November 22, 2024
Time
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location
6:30 PM Prayer Service

Bittner Funeral Chapel
805 W Havens Ave
Mitchell, SD 57301



Posted by Dale Daniel on November 23, 2024
Sorry for your loss, Susan. Good to know you stayed with music so long after high school I won't soon forget how he kept time by beating his music stand with a snare drum stick.The music stand took a real beating. I hope he never stopped beating music stands with drum sticks.
Posted by Lisa Aldrich Acheson on November 22, 2024
Mr. Buck was my band instructor from 5th grade to 9th grade. I played the alto saxophone. He would tell me to watch Lawrence Welk and listen to the vibrato of the sax players. We had pep band, marching band, concert band, and jazz band. Our band program suffered greatly for a year after he left. He expected a lot, but also gave a lot with his talent and time. I have very fond memories and loved playing in the band. As an adult it’s one of the things I miss the most. To his family I send my sympathy and prayers and am so sorry for your loss. He had a huge impact on the lives of many young musicians!
Posted by Mark Kotalik on November 21, 2024
He was a good person
Posted by Andrew Machado on November 21, 2024
Thank You for everything Dick
Posted by Scot Uthe on November 21, 2024
Mr. Buck was my band director when I started in 5th grade at Chester. I started out on clarinet and he switched me to baritone sax in 8th grade. I received a music scholarship to Dakota State and played in marching, pep, concert, and jazz band while attending college. I made a lot of friendships that I still have today and it is because of the time he spent giving me lessons and talking me out of quitting band a couple of times. He was a great teacher and touched a lot of lives. RIP Mr. Buck.
Posted by Philip Blum on November 19, 2024
It was great knowing Dick as a fellow participating in the Mitchell music world.
Posted by Dwayne LaFave on November 18, 2024
It was great to know Dickie. We never ran short on conversation. When long distance calls no longer were billed by the minute, we finally could afford groceries. I'll miss his predictable commentary on his favorite topics. I'm not sure where the next life is for band directors, but I'm sure Dick will have his 2B drumstick ready. Thx for being a good friend.
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