Richard "Dick" Buck

Dates

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)