Richard Dick Bruggeman, 67, died on Saturday, July 13, 2002 at Northwest Medical Center in Thief River Falls, MN.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2002 at 10:00 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls with Father Tim Bushy presiding. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Brooks, Minnesota.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM with a 7:00 PM prayer service and rosary at Johnson-Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls, MN and on Wednesday one hour prior to the funeral at the church.

Richard Lawrence Bruggeman was born on April 6, 1935 near Plummer, Minnesota the son of Frank A. and Zoe June (Durocher) Bruggeman. He was baptized on April 14, 1935 in St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church in Plummer. Richard attended school in Brooks and graduated from Oklee High School.

On September 16, 1954 he entered the US Air Force. He was a Radio Intercept Operator at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. He served in Tripoli for 18 months and also served in England. He was discharged on February 27, 1958.

Richard was united in marriage to Clare Marcelle Reopelle on November 9, 1963 at St. Anthonys Catholic Church, Terrebonne, MN. The couple made their home near Brooks, where he was a mink rancher from 1960 to 1971. In 1971 he went to work at Artic until 1973, when they moved to Big Lake, MN. They lived in Park Rapids from 1974 to 1983 before moving to Thief River Falls, where he worked for the Highway Department for the State of Minnesota retiring in 1997.

Richard was a member of the VFW and Honor Guard, and St. Josephs Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, church, music, movies, and traveling. Richard loved to spend time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Clare of Thief River Falls; daughter Therese (Scott) Peterson of Middle River; sons Tim of Moorhead, MN, Frank (Deb), Matt (special friend Grace Pagnac) all of Thief River Falls, Mark (Lana) of Goodridge, MN and Anthony (Brenda) of Thief River Falls; grandchildren Diana, Megan, Nicole and Douglas Peterson; Courtney, Evan, Lindsey and Aaron Bruggeman; brothers Gene (Vivian) of Thief River Falls, Larry (Vi) of Brooks; sisters Audrey Lee, Kent, Washington and Joyce (Elling) Iverson of Thief River Falls.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, brother Lloyd and sister Dorothy Olson.