Richard Dittes

Richard Dittes, of Pequot Lakes, died January 10, 2013 at Essentia Health - St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, January 17, 2013 at St. Alice Catholic Church in Pequot Lakes with Father George Zeck officiating. Family and friends are welcome to gather Wednesday evening from 5-7 PM at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pequot Lakes and one hour prior to services on Thursday at the church. Interment with Military Honors will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, January 18 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Richard was born December 1, 1930, in Minneapolis, MN, the son of Albert and Lorraine (Springmier) Dittes. Following his graduation from De La Salle High School, Richard attended the University of Minnesota. He then enlisted in the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge, he continued his education and graduated with a double major in Electrical and Industrial Engineering before obtaining his MBA. He worked in Tech Support for the Bomark Missile at Boeing and moved onto magnetic tape research at 3M. He finished his professional life as a Sales Rep marketing to many companies in the area of computer aided design development. He and his wife, Pat enjoyed their retirement on Sibley Lake.

Richard enjoyed the outdoors with his family and friends - hunting, fishing, downhill skiing, camping and boating. Reading and researching genealogy were passions in his life; he never stopped gathering knowledge. Richard was proud to design and build his own home. He was a member of the American Legion in Pequot Lakes.

He will be missed by his wife, Pat; his children, Michael (Chantale Bertrand), of Toronto, Canada, Annette Olson, of Oceanside, CA, and Janine LePage, of Brainerd; sister Frances Chihanski, of Mentor, MN; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Elizabeth.