Orville E. Rickard

Orville Edward Rickard, age 88, of Arlington, MN, formerly of Parkers Prairie, died on Tuesday, August 5, 2014, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Funeral services will be on Saturday, August 9, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Arlington, MN. Pastor Kurt Lehmkuhl will be officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Military honors to follow the service at church, followed by lunch. Burial will be late Saturday afternoon at Evergreen Cemetery, Clarissa, MN. Orville Edward Rickard was born on October 4, 1925 to Sam and Mabel (Swanson) Rickard in Cooperstown, North Dakota. He attended school near Hope, ND, Richville, MN, Perham, MN, and graduating from high school at Staples, MN. Orville entered the army in 1944 and served in Okinawa, returning home to farm with his parents. He married Maxine Hagelstrom September 28, 1949 at the Rickard family farm by Rev. Wallace Asper of Our Saviors Lutheran Church of Clarissa, MN. To this union three children were born: Roseann, Marilyn (deceased) and Charlene. Orville worked at farming, the Clotho Creamery, and 38 years in artificial insemination of cattle. During those 38 years, he was a technician, field man and instructor in every state except Alaska. Orville loved traveling, reading, ballgames, visiting, joking, having a good time and being with family. He enjoyed winters at his home in Apache Junction, AZ for several years. Orville was active in FFA, 4H, and Rural Youth Programs, the Miltona and Arlington VFW, Parkers Prairie American Legion, the San Jacinto, Miltona and Parkers Prairie Lion's Club. In 2002, Orville was honored with the Lion's Melvin Jones Fellow Award. He also served on committees and held various offices on church council. Orville lived in several states, ND, MN, CA, NH, WI and AZ; and traveled to Norway in 2005. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam & Mabel Rickard; father & mother-in-law, Henry & Florence Hagelstrom; daughter, Marilyn; grandson, Greg Nagel; brothers-in-law Harlan Hagelstrom & Walter Ehnes. Orville is survived by his wife, Maxine; daughters, Roseann (Richard) Nagel of Arlington, MN and Charlene Rickard of Plainview, MN; 3 grandchildren Kristin (Bill) Rosenfeld, Andrea (Chad) Getschmann, Jason (Janelle) Bade, 8 great-grandchildren, Jordan & Caleb, Katlyn & Kyler, Chase & Miana, step-grandchildren, Emily & Jack, and other family members and friends.