Richard Trudeau

Richard Paul "Dick" Trudeau was born June 27, 1927 to Harvey and Lorena (Delorme) Trudeau in Crookston, MN. When Dick was young his family moved to the iron range during the depression, and lived briefly in a chicken coop built by his father with peach crates serving as kitchen cabinets, before his parents bought a home from the mining company and moved it on to their humble acreage. Dick spent his youth helping his father transform the acreage into a farm, and graduated from Hibbing High School in 1945.

Dick served in the army from 1945-1951, being drafted in WWII, serving in the Army reserve, and being called up to serve in the Korean conflict, as the company commander of a reconnaissance unit.

Dick married Dolores Hance on June 23, 1953, in Dorothy, MN, and they enjoyed 64 years of marriage together.

Dick was a salesman all his life, selling groceries in Euclid, cars in Crookston, farm machinery in Fargo-Moorhead, snowmobiles in Thief River Falls, lawn and garden equipment in New Hope, and finally antiques, which brought he and his wife to Stillwater. His greatest joy was serving as Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Arctic Enterprises in Thief River Falls, a position in which he traveled across North America at the peak of the snowmobile era. He loved to tell stories about his days with Arctic, and friendships he made during these days lasted a lifetime.

Dick was President of the Eagles Club in Crookston, Grand Knight and District Deputy of the Knights of Columbus in Moorhead, and President of the Chamber of Commerce in Thief River Falls. He also served on school boards in Euclid and Thief River Falls, and was a member of the American Legion for 66 years. He was an avid fisherman and snowmobiler, who also took great interest in local and statewide business activities and transactions.

Dick entered eternal life on September 5, 2017, 20 days after his beloved Dee. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Bernard. He is survived by his sister LaVerne, his children Tim, Tammy, Todd and Tracey, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Monday, September 11 at 10:00 a.m, at Bradshaw Celebration of Life Center in Stillwater, with a Celebration of Life at 11:00 and a luncheon to follow. There will be a private internment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be directed to "Lakeview Hospice."