Service Information
Richard C. Thompson, age 71, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, February 4, 2022, at his home in Hutchinson.
Services will not be held at this time.
Obituary
Richard Charles Thompson, age 71, of Hutchinson, Minnesota passed away February 4, 2022, at his residence. Rick was born in Minneapolis on June 22, 1950 and graduated from Minnetonka High School and St. Cloud State University, majoring in biology and wildlife management. Rick was a microbiologist at Minnesota Specialty Yeast in Hutchinson for many years.
Rick loved his brothers and their families, his Springer Spaniels, visiting the family cabin on Lake Belle Taine for some fishing and family time, hunting grouse and pheasants every fall, and investing his hard-earned money. He was successful in all of these endeavors.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents Willis and Wilma, and brother Willis Jr. (Bill). He is survived by sister-in-law Byrdie, brothers Robert (Pat) of Houston, Texas, Anthony (Nadia) of Anaheim, California, Douglas (Anna) of Ely, Minnesota, John (Mirca) of Cambridge, England, and many nieces and nephews.
Rick hated funerals and found many creative ways to avoid them. In his honor, we are forgoing a funeral service and will have a private family celebration at the family cabin this summer. For those so inclined, Rick would have preferred that donations go to Pheasants Forever.
David Franzen says
We, passed employee’s that worked with Rick, will miss him. He was always playing with the market. Made feel like I was missing something. He was a hard worker, that got along with everyone. God Bless you Rick
David Franzen -Maintenance Supervisor
Dan schmit says
Always had a wonderful time in the outdoors with Rick pheasant hunting! He will be greatly missed!
Dan schmit says
Sad to see that Rick passed away! I have lots of wonderful memories pheasant hunting with Rick over the years! God bless him.
Bridget Burch says
Thompson family,
Sorry to hear about Rick’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Judy Suess says
I worked with Rick at Ohly Americas. He was a loyal Quality Dept. employee. Our discussions always included his dog Chili. Many talks regarding him going to the cabin.
He enjoyed our company pot lucks. He always kept his truck clean and shiny. So many memories. So sad you will be missed but always remembered . Larry enjoyed your visits at Walmart.
Larry and Judy Suess
Kim Nave says
So nice to read the comments from Rick’s friends. As part of his family, it is special to read from those who lived near him and likely saw him more than many of us did.
Kim
Hank & Sharon Graef says
How wonderful to be neighbors for years with
Those “Thompson Boys”.
The farm, sliding, all your
Animals Cookie,
Susie, Bourbon, Burr fur the
Cat. We were truly blessed
Those years. The memories
Keep coming back.
You will be missed Rick
And will always bring smiles.
Jeff Betker says
I worked with Rick for quite a while all the way back to the Pure Culture days. I liked him a lot and always enjoyed talking with him about hunting and the cabin by Nevis. I learned a lot from Rick mover the years about microbiology. It was nice these past few years when we were able to bring him back part time to help out in the Lab. I know he enjoyed being back too. I know we’ll all miss him a lot at MSY. He really was a part of our work family and will be dearly missed. RIP Rick.
– Jeff Betker
Dick Ward says
I met Rick at SNAP Fitness many years ago and we instantly became gym buddies, having a common interest in college hockey. We continued our friendship at HFIT 360 after COVID restrictions lifted and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing of his many hunting adventures. I will truly miss him.
Kerry Howard says
I have so many memories of Rick… from growing up as a neighbor, both going to St. Cloud State University, and the many times he came to the Howard hunting cabin. He did such a good job of staying in touch and called every few months which I really appreciated. Yes, you will indeed be missed.
Karyn k Heydt says
So very sorry to hear about Rick’s passing. We have been friends for almost 40 years. I will miss his phone calls telling me about his days hunting or fishing adventures and tales of his dogs. He loved his dogs. Our family had the pleasure of having Rick over for many holiday gatherings and just grilling out. He will be truly missed. Rest in peace dear friend.
Virginia Lord says
I loved growing up by the Thompson’s. We spent hours on our ponies or horses, riding for hours throughout the countryside, without a care in the world. Our parents were best friends. Rick, John and I were best friends. When I was about 6 or 7, we had a pretend ceremony where Rick presided over me marrying John. We all had so much fun. Rick was a great guy. I am sorry for your loss! Virginia Lord
Kim Weerts says
I worked with Rick for 24 years at the plant. He always called me kiddo. He was our work brother. His memory will be in our hearts forever. Here are just a few memories of mine. He loved his family. He often talked about Bill and Birdie at the cabin. When he would come back from up north he would put his arm next to mine to compare tans. He loved going up north. His dogs were his kids. He said his family said this last dog could not be named Chili. I will miss running into Rick uptown and seeing him at the county fair in Aug. God bless his memory as his work family and friends will miss him dearly. Cheers brother Ricky T.
Doug Thompson says
Thank you for your kind comments about my brother Rick. For those who reached out by phone in the hours after Rick’s passing, I’m sorry that I wasn’t more talkative, but I was having a hard time holding it together.
Anthony Thompson says
It is such a jolt to see so good a mixture of vitality and smiles and health reduced with such ghastly abruptness. It is sad beyond expression. Eventually, perhaps a measure of peace will fill the empty feeling. Rick always evinced a calm, gentle, friendly presence. Exceptional intelligence lay behind his laid-back style.
How often will we have him near us when wood smoke drifts across the wind signaling another pheasant season is at hand. We will hold his memory strong.
Goodby dear brother.
Tony and Nadia Thompson
Frank S. Cafferty says
Rick, (Bucky) and I were friends for many years. From St. Cloud State where we were roommates in our downtown apartment up on the second floor to the many years that have since passed. We enjoyed riding motorcycles together, me on my Triumph and Bucky on his BSA. We enjoyed hanging out at the Red Carpet, meeting new friends and basically enjoyed life in St. Cloud. College at St. Cloud State and graduating from St. Cloud State was important to both of us. We both went on to earn post graduate degrees.
I too enjoyed our phone conversations every few weeks. The time between phone calls sometimes stretched into a month before we connected via the phone, but I always knew when Bucky called or when I would call him, it would be a fun filled conversation. No matter how busy life had gotten, when Bucky called it was time to stop and talk for a while. It was always fun to hear you, Bucky, talk about hunting in the fields on the farms near to where I grew up. Bucky loved to talk about his hunting experiences around Winsted and Silver Lake.
I agree he loved going to the cabin. It was always the plan for either him to come out here to Idaho to see us or Jean and I would stop at the cabin the next time we drove to Minnesota and enjoy his second home with Bucky and his puppy. He always referred to his dog as his puppy.
Bucky, I will miss you always, but the fun filled good memories will always be there. Remember the time we loaded up in the van and drove to Red Lodge, Montana during one of our fall breaks from school. Just after we had gotten there, it snowed hard one night, a western snow, well over a foot of powder, and the next morning before the sun came up, Bucky had his ski boots and skis packed and headed to Red Lodge Mountain for one of the best days of downhill skiing ever….
From skating, to playing hockey, to cross country skiing, to downhill skiing, to hunting, to riding bicycles and motorcycles, Bucky enjoyed every season of the year.
Bucky, my friend, I will always cherish the memories. I am happy we experienced all of what we did experience.
I will miss you always and you will always be in my heart!