Richard Sunsdahl

Richard David Sunsdahl, age 74, passed away May 14, 2011 at his home in Faribault. Elaine, his loving wife of 49 years was at his side.    Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Dr., Faribault. Inurnment will be at the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park Columbarium.    Memorial visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory in Faribault on Wednesday from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and on Thursday for one hour prior to the services at the church.    A teacher and an inventor, Dick spent his life loving and encouraging others.  Many have said it was he who inspired pivotal moments in their lives.    Dick was born in 1937 to parents Otto and Hannah Amelia Sunsdahl of Stephen, Minnesota.  He attended elementary and junior high school in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. Eventually, the family moved to Litchfield, Minnesota where his father owned the John Deere Implement dealership, and Dick worked servicing tractors for local farmers. Dick graduated from Litchfield High School in 1955. While still in high school he joined the National Guard, which he proudly served in until 1962. He enrolled at St. Cloud State University, where he received degrees in industrial arts and psychology. He later received a Masters Degree in Education from Mankato State University.     Dick was a devoted educator, teaching high school industrial arts and then college machine tool technology. His twenty-three year career at the South Central Technical College included being named the Minnesota State Technical College Teacher of the Year in 1994.     Dick's passion for people and tools was always present in the many activities he enjoyed. He served on many manufacturing, educational and civic organizations, including ten years as a member of the Faribault City Park and Recreation Board, President of the Faribault Flyers Bike & Ski Club, and a longtime member of the Rice County Steam and Gas Engine Club. As an active church member, Dick felt especially blessed and proud to have served as a volunteer in the Befriender Ministry for fourteen years.     Dick will be fondly remembered for his positive outlook, his enthusiasm for life, his laughter and his ability to make friends wherever he went. He was a strong believer in physical fitness, having completed thirteen marathons, and he felt that a sense of humor and a healthy lifestyle were keys to enjoying life.      One of Dicks' greatest passions in life was his love of John Deere tractors. He spent many hours restoring antique John Deere tractors. This led Dick, along with his son Thad, to invent and sell several tools for restoring antique tractors.  This small business has become very successful with sales around the world.  Dick's love for restoring and showing tractors brought him to events across the country where he made many lifelong friends.     Dick was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, May, brothers Norman Sunsdahl and Lawrence Sunsdahl, and nephew, Greg Sunsdahl.     In addition to his wife, Elaine, he is survived by son Thad Sunsdahl of Faribault, daughter and son-in-law Chantelle and Scott Theisen of Medina, MN, grandchildren Hannah Theisen, Jackson Theisen, Joseph Theisen, Cole Sunsdahl, and many treasured nieces and nephews.