Richard Spelbrink

Richard Lee Spelbrink, 95, of Burnsville, formerly Merrifield, died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, June 3, 2017 at his residence, Augustana Regent at Burnsville. There will be no funeral service. The family will hold a graveside memorial in late July to inter his cremains at Pinewood Cemetery in Crosslake.

Richard “Dick” is survived by his son-in-law, Richard Thompson, of Sierra Vista, AZ; his daughter-in-law, Mary Spelbrink, of Eagan; five grandchildren, Zach (Colleen) Thompson, of Dade City, FL, Zachlyn (Mike) Farwig, of Fenton, MO, Jesse (Kristen) Spelbrink, of New Prague, Joshua Spelbrink, of Burnsville, and Laura (Dan) Herzog, of Hudson, WI; and 4 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy “Dot” Spelbrink; daughter, Ricki Thompson; son Lee Spelbrink; brother, Ronald “Ronnie” Spelbrink; parents, Erwin and Meta Spelbrink; and stepfather, Frank Gleisner.

Dick was born August 25, 1921 in New Ulm, to Erwin and Meta (Knees) Spelbrink. Erwin died when Dick was 2 and Meta later married Frank Gleisner. Richard married Dorothy “Dot” Schleuder April 25, 1943 in New Ulm; the couple celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary before Dot’s death in 2011. They had two children, daughter Ricki and son Lee. They raised their family in New Ulm and Mankato. Dick was a great baseball player in his youth, spending a few years playing for a farm team in Eau Claire, WI. He owned Spelbrink’s Clothing in New Ulm for many years with his brother Ronnie, and then moved to Mankato and opened his own Spelbrink’s Clothing store. Upon retirement, they moved to Merrifield (Horseshoe Lake) and they wintered in Fort Meyers, FL. Dick enjoyed bowling when he was younger and golfing when he retired. Dick was a very kind man with a great sense of humor, who was loved by everyone he met. Although we know he was anxious to join his family in heaven, his family on earth will miss him greatly. Rest in peace. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN.