Richard “Dick” Yoch

Obituary

Richard “Dick” Joseph Yoch was born on June 19, 1942, in Parkston, South Dakota, on the family farm, the son of Helen Ann (Hauser) Yoch and Orville F. Yoch.  He was raised by his mother and fraternal grandparents after his father died at the young age of 39.  Dick was baptized into the Catholic Faith on July 5, 1942 by Rev. Sheier of Sacred Heart Church, Parkston, South Dakota. Dick received his First Communion on April 18, 1950, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Parkston, South Dakota.

Dick enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 24, 1962, and served his country during the Vietnam War.  He was stationed in Japan with the Security Forces. He was honorably discharged on January 25, 1965.

Dick graduated from Southern State College in Springfield, South Dakota, in 1969 with a BA in History. He started work in Rochester, Minnesota, in management with Montgomery Wards.

While in Rochester, he met his future wife Kay Kimpton.  They married on December 27, 1969, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Clair, Minnesota. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Christopher (1971) and Kerri (1973). 

In October of 1971, they were transferred to Hutchinson, Minnesota, by Montgomery Wards.  After leaving Montgomery Wards in 1973, Dick started working for 3M Companies.  After working for 3M for 29.5 years, he retired in 2002.

During the long Minnesota winters, Dick and Kay enjoyed retirement in Florida and finally settled in Texas where they spent nine winters before Dick’s dementia made traveling too difficult.  In the summer months, Dick and Kay enjoyed their home on Lake Washington where the door was always open for friends and family.

Dick was a member of American Legion of Hutchinson, Lake Association Board at Lake Washington, Dassel, Knights of Columbus in Dassel, Lions Club, Dassel and volunteered at the two dementia homes in Dassel and Darwin.

In his spare time he was an active walker, avid reader, loved tending to his lawn and flowers at his home on the lake, spending time on the lake with his wife, kids, grandkids, friends and extended family.

Everyone was Dick’s friend as he was well liked by everyone he met.  He was the first person to jump up and offer a helpful hand whether it was cleaning up the dinner dishes or helping a friend or neighbor with cutting down a tree, weeding a friend’s flowers or helping put in the boat docks.  He loved deeply his wife, kids, grandkids, friends and extended families.

Dick is survived by his:
Wife, Kay Yoch of Hutchinson, MN;
Son, Chris Yoch and his significant other, Gayle Sherwood of Maple Grove, MN;
Daughter, Kerri Cowden (Yoch) Cowden of Maple Grove and her significant other, Andy Grinde, of Mound, MN;
Four Granddaughers, Ashley Yoch (21), Brooke Yoch (16), Kayte Cowden (12), and Morgan Cowden (10);
Former Daughter-In-Law, Krista Yoch of Hutchinson, MN;
Brothers, Duane Yoch and his wife, Ruth, of SC,
                Orville Yoch and his wife, Judy, of NE;
Step-Brother, Chuck Mize and his wife, Marge, of IA;
Brothers-In-Law, Richard Kimpton and his wife, Judy, of MN,
                                  Lyle Kimpton and his wife, Gail, of MN,
                                  Karl Kimpton and his wife, Gwen, of MN;
Many Nieces and Nephews on both sides and lots of special friends that have “held us up” during this long journey with dementia.

Dick is preceded in death by his Parents, Orville and Helen Yoch and Stepfather, Everett Mize.