Richard Franzen

Richard Baptist Franzen Sr., age 79, of Bancroft, SD, passed away on March 24, 2025, at home with his wife, Rosemary, at his side.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 PM on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in De Smet, SD.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, March 31, 2025 at 10:30am at St. Casimir Catholic Church with The Very Rev. Mark McNea officiating. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 1:00-3:00pm at Hoff Celebration of Life Center – Winona, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Richard was born on April 23, 1945, in West Union, IA. He loved God, family, and his country.

He served in the US Navy from June of 1964 to June of 1967. Richard had done two tours of duty to Vietnam aboard air craft carriers. During that time, he was awarded two Armed Force Expeditionary medals, Republic of Vietnam Campaign medals, a Navy Unity Commendation ribbon, a Good Conduct medal and ribbon, a National Defense Service medal and ribbons. Later, he served in the Navy Reserves for nine years and was sent to the Persian Gulf War where he received a National Defense Service medal, a South West Asia Campaign medal, a Vietnam SVC medal, a Vietnam Campaign medal, an Armed Force Expeditionary medal, a Good Conduct medal award, a South East Asian Campaign medal, and awarded a second National Defense medal. He was released of reserve duty in 1993, when he was electrocuted working for the Department of Defense at Lowery Air Force Base in Denver, CO.

Richard loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, mowing the lawn, but most of all he loved his little hobby farm making hay. He was a good card counter and loved playing cards, dominos, and Yahtzee with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He married Rosemary Hundt on May 7 ,1966. They had two children, Brenda and Richard Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; daughter Brenda (Adam) Dyche of Elizabeth, CO; son, Richard (Sherrie) Franzen of Cochrane, WI; four grandchildren: Deidre and Adam Jr. Dyche, MacKenzie and Madison Franzen; and great-grandchild, Zoey.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Hugo and Irene; two brothers, Gerald and Robert; and a great-grandchild, Grayson Richard, who died as an infant.