Richard Cotton

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Richard Cotton, 89, of Miller and formerly of St. Lawrence, peacefully passed away Monday, October 21, 2024, at Highmore Health surrounded by his family.

A Celebration of Richard's Life will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller.  Burial will be at G.A.R. Cemetery, Miller.  The family will greet visitors at 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 25, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church, Miller.

Richard Lowell (Richie) Cotton was born August 20, 1935, to Henry Wales and Inez Mary (Harris) Cotton at the Miller Hospital.  He joined siblings Donald (Donnie) and Maxine (Mac), and Howard (Hum). The tag-alongs, Ardith (Ardie) and Thomas (Tommy Joe) came later and were Richie’s biggest fans. The family lived on various farms in Hand County. In 1936 they moved to Oregon. Within a year the family returned to Hand County on a farm near Vayland, SD.  When Richard was 7 years old the family moved once more to a farm East of St. Lawrence where Richard lived for over 70 years. Richard attended grade school and high school in St. Lawrence, graduating with the class of 1954. Education was important to Rich - - he was so proud that all five children graduated with high honors from college. When he was a Junior in high school he met the love of his life, Ellie Mae Testerman.  They were married on September 9, 1956, in St. Lawrence.  To this union five children were born, the five little “Cottontails”.

Richie’s working life revolved around farming and ranching on the family farm, first partnering with his Dad, and later on his own with the help of his family.  He raised cattle, pigs, sheep and once in a while, chickens, turkeys, and even a peacock!  In addition to farming and ranching, Rich was a substitute mail carrier for 21 years, a school board member for both the St. Lawrence and Miller School Districts, a member of various farm organizations such as NFO, Farmers Union, and Pork Producers. Religion was also a big part of Richard’s life.  He was a very faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ where he served in both district and local leadership positions. He was so delighted to have a beautiful little chapel in Miller! 

Family meant the world to Richie.  He was very close to his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren as well as his siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles.  Many happy memories of family sustained him and gave him reason to smile and laugh. Rich loved to travel with Ellie and together they enjoyed trips to both coasts several times, as well as enjoying trips to Alaska, Canada, the Yukon, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Mexico and even Russia! But . . . his favorite trips of all were to the Black Hills with Ellie. 

Richard is survived by his wife of 68 years, Ella Mae (Testerman), and his children Gregory Mark (Erick Wolfmeyer) Cotton, Tamara Lea (Ray) Caffee, Jodean LaRae (Shannon) Speck, Michele Lynne (Alan) Wieseler, and Clark Jeremy (Adrienne Zeller) Cotton, his fourteen grandchildren Naomi (Jon Isaac) Caffee, Vance (Jennie) Caffee, Jay (Tandra) Welk, Jennifer (Nathan) Thyen, Hannah Caffee, Olivia (Joshua) Randall, Evan (Shelby) Wieseler, Eleanor (Jon Salisbury) Cotton, Sylvia (Colin) Johnson, Elizabeth (Trent) Steptoe, Joseph (Erica) Wieseler, Ian Speck, Eric Speck, and Samuel Cotton. Great grandchildren Paul, Marie and Joel Randall; Nolan, Ivan, Logan, and Rhys Caffee; Ellie, Millie, and Asher Welk; Vaelynn Welk, Averi, Weston, and Clara Thyen; Miles and Mabel Steptoe; Leo and Rudy Wieseler; and Ledger Johnson.  Richard is survived by his siblings Ardith (Gil) Bristlin and Thomas (Donna) Cotton, sisters-in-law Inez Cotton, Aloa Carter, Carolyn Testerman, and brother-in-law Philip (Phyllis) Testerman and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Donald and Howard and his sister Maxine (Ted) Lamm and infant sister Joan Cotton, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Freel and Orena Testerman, as well as his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Allen (Eva) Testerman, Russell (Berniece) Testerman, Marion (Bill) Sears, Donald Testerman, Roger Carter, and Duke Testerman.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Richard's arrangements.