Richard Elton Sturgis, 76, Kasson

Richard Elton Sturgis, 76, died at Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester, St. Mary’s Campus on Feb. 28, 2019 from complications of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
Richard and his twin brother, Robert, were born April 10, 1942 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester. During his childhood, his family was involved in tenant farming in Dover, and throughout the southeastern region.  He attended country schools through eighth grade, then Lewiston-Altura High School, graduating in 1961. Financing his college education through various farm-related jobs, he graduated from Rochester Junior College, attended the University of MN-Minneapolis for one year, and finished his college career at Mankato State where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1966.  In June 1966, he was drafted into the Army, trained at Fort Leonard Wood, and served in the finance department at West Point until his discharge June 1968.
Immediately following his discharge from the Army, Richard began working at IDS Services Minneapolis in the internal audit and treasury departments until his retirement in 2004. Upon retiring, he worked as a custodian for Holy Family Catholic Church in Kasson,  where he and Lynn were members.
Richard met Lynn Towers in the spring of 1969 and they were married on September 26, 1970 in Wayzata, MN.  They lived in Columbia Heights until moving to Brooklyn Center in 1972 where they had three children. In 1986, they moved their family to Kasson, after purchasing the Ben Franklin Store; renaming it Kasson Variety.  Lynn ran the store while Richard did the bookwork and continued his work at IDS in Minneapolis.
Richard is survived by his wife Lynn; children Christine (Michael) Wood of Mantorville, Paul (Darlena) Sturgis of Rochester and Elizabeth (Brandon) Lerch of Charlotte, North Carolina; grandchildren Evan and Piper Wood, Alexis (Jesse) Pflaum, and Alyssa and Analise Adler; brother Gene (Sandy) Sturgis; sisters Ruth Nolte, Pam (Carl) Skime, and Barb (Steve) Clark; and brother-in-law Leroy Neil Haverly.
He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Ruby Sturgis; twin brother Robert; sister Marjorie (Haverly); and brother-in-law Henry Nolte.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to: Cure PSP404 5th Avenue, 3rd floorNew York, NY 10018
Minnesota Military Family Foundation620 Mendelssohn Avenue NorthGolden Valley, MN 55427
Holy Family Catholic Church1904 North Mantorville AvenueKasson, MN 55944
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 7 at Church of the Holy Family, 1904 N. Mantorville Ave., Kasson, with Father John Lasuba officiating.  Visitation will precede the service from 9-11 a.m. at the church.  There will be no reviewal.  Burial will be in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Mantorville.  Military services will be provided by the Kasson American Legion.
Dibble Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Kasson is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be shared at www.dibblefuneralhome.com.