Richard Dick Major

Richard ?Dick? Major, 85, of Wessington, died Wednesday, June 25 at the Avera St. Luke Hospital in Aberdeen. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 30 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wessington. Visitation will be Sunday, June 29 from 6:00-7:00 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service all at Rembold Funeral Home in St. Lawrence. Burial will be at the Wessington Cemetery.

Richard Lee Major was born on the Major farm, to Guy and Gladys (Keller) Major, December 6, 1928. He graduated from Wessington High School in 1946. He met Mary Kieffer in Carthage, while working construction hauling gravel, and married her on December 12, 1951 while he was home on leave. Dick served in the Army from 1951-1953.

After the service, he farmed for himself until 1958 when he went to work farming for his best friend Dale Johnsen. Dick then went to work as a rural mail carrier in 1963, which he did until his retirement in 1990.

Dick was a loving, nurturing Christian. He loved spending time with his family and friends and always seemed to have a houseful around. Dick enjoyed remodeling his house only using the blueprint in his head. He worked with his kids and grandkids on various projects around the house and his homestead family farm. He loved music and collected record albums. He enjoyed dancing, including calling and teaching square dancing. He liked hunting, especially deer and pheasant, fishing, refinishing furniture, farming, gardening, playing cards, reading, watching Twins and Vikings games, and making ice cream.

He was very active in the Watson Krauter Post 110, American Legion, and was a member of St. Joseph?s Catholic Church. He was a member of 40/8, and the monthly Sunday Pitch club. At one time, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Rural Letter Carriers Association, Wessington?s Volunteer Fire Department, Wessington City Board, Mr. and Mrs. Dance Club, and mixed doubles and men?s bowling league.

Blessed to have shared his life were his wife, Mary, of Wessington; and his children, Teresa (Merle) Harvey, of Miller, SD, Gary (Phyllis) Major, of Lithia Springs, GA, and Loren (Nancy) Major, of Miller, SD; eight grandchildren, Michelle, Lisa, and Dustin Harvey, Derek (Cindy) Major, Beckah (Brian) Brooks, Adam Major, and David and Chris Major; four great grandchildren, Payten, Brayden, Samantha and Kelsey Jo; three sisters, Neree Lowenstein, Mardelle (Lyle) Brown and Nadine Matthews; brothers and sisters in law, John Kieffer, Betty Ferguson, Virginia Nagelhout, Veronica and Calvin Jones; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Gladys Major, father and mother in law John and Josephine Kieffer; brothers and sisters in law, Joe Lowenstein, Don (Moose) Matthews, Dean Ferguson, Delores Kieffer, Nick and Sally Kieffer.