Richard Black

Richard Black, 88,  of Sunburg, Minnesota died May 18 at the Glen Oaks Care Center in New London, MN, after a battle with brain cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM, Wednesday, May 24, at First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake and the interment will be in the West Lake Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake on Wednesday. Arrangements are with the Peterson Brothers Sunburg Funeral Home in Sunburg, Minnesota. (www.petersonbrothers.com)

Richard Grant Black was the first son of Grant Black and Emily (Walquist) Black of Hawick, MN, on May 16, 1929.  Richard grew up on several small farms near Games Lake and later on a farm on Lake Calhoun. Richard and his two younger brothers, Jesse and Art, enjoyed life in the country fishing, hunting, teasing the neighbor girls, chasing the chickens, and working on the farm. Richard grew physically strong and went to live and work for neighboring farmers at the age of 15. He also attended high school at the New London High School and graduated in 1947.  He loved his classmates and truly enjoyed the yearly class reunions.  After high school he worked for area farmers.

From 1951 to 1953 Richard served in the US Army in Korea managing the mess hall and cooking large quantities of food earning the rank of Corporal E-4 and had received 3 Bronze Service Stars. After Korea, he returned home and worked with his uncle Archie Walquist and did other jobs.

On October 3, 1958, he married Ann Huseby of Pennock, MN.  Together they had four children and devoted his life to farming.  They were dairy, beef, chicken, pig, corn, oats, wheat soybeans and hay farmers. Richard was the Conservation Farmer of the Year a few times. Richard was very generous to many people with money and property.  They valued their faith in God and were charter members of the Sunburg Community Bible Church of Sunburg, MN. They also enjoyed attending several other churches in the area.  Having a passion for an interesting conversation, Richard enjoyed having lunch at the Sunburg Cafe.  He also enjoyed reading so he read much nonfiction and the West Central Tribune every day.  Richard and Ann  were married for 55 years until Ann passed away on October 11, 2013.

Survivors include his four children, Rick (and Ann) Black of Sunburg, Kari (and Don) Gronli of Fergus Falls, Troy (and Michelle) Black of Superior, Iowa, and Barry (and Deena) Black of Deer Park, Wisconsin. Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Wesley (Erynn) Johnson, Desiree Hauge, Elliot (Sarah) Johnson , Shane (Annabeth) Black, Rylee Black, Allison Black, Sam Black, and Lilli Black; five great grandchildren Carver, Ethan, Reed, Grace, and Clay; one brother, Jesse Black of Hawick; one sister-in-law, Patty Black of Vadnais Heights; and many nieces and nephews, besides other relatives and friends.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Ann; his parents; one brother, Arthur Black; a sister-in-law, Inga Black; and a brother-in-law, Jack Norman.

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