Dick Eidem

LIFE HISTORY OF RICHARD 'DICK' EIDEM
Richard 'Dick' Eidem, age 70 of Osakis died unexpectedly in an Ultra-Lite plane accident near Sauk Centre on Monday, July 21, 2008.
Dick Eidem was born on September 5, 1937 in Minneapolis, MN to Conrad and Alice (Pearson) Eidem. He was a graduate of Washburn High School with the class of 1955. At the age of 17, Dick joined the U.S. Navy Reserves. Two days after his twentieth birthday, Dick was united in marriage to Marilyn Vallentyne at the Park Avenue Methodist Church in Minneapolis, MN. Dick worked as a telephone company employee for over 44 years, starting with Northwest Bell and continued as an employee as that business was acquired by US West, A.T.& T and finally, Lucent. He retired in 1999 and in March of 2001 moved to a home on Little Sauk Lake in Todd County, MN.
Dick was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Osakis and had belonged to the Oak Grove Presbyterian Church in Bloomington. In addition to being a member of the American Legion Post # 435 in Richfield, Dick was also a flying member of the E.A.A. and belonged to the Telecom Pioneers. In his retirement, Dick volunteered as part of the Sauk River Watershed for Little Sauk Lake.
His greatest pleasure was spending time with his family and he loved his grandchildren dearly. He also enjoyed flying, traveling, hunting, fishing and working in his shop fixing various projects. He kept his birdfeeders full of seed and enjoyed the many types of birds that came to enjoy the free meal. Dick was a kind and loving husband, father, grandpa and son who will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Blessed be his memory.
Dick is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marilyn Eidem of Osakis; his son, David Eidem of Lake Bronson and his daughter, Susan (Paul) Deutsch of Apple Valley; 3 grandchildren, Shannon, Alan and Andrea Deutsch; his mother, Alice Eidem of Osakis; a brother, Chuck (Sandra) Eidem of Bloomington; daughter-in-law, Denise Eidem of Becker; many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his father, Conrad in January of this year.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 2 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Osakis with Rev. Tim Sutton officiating. Musicians were organist, Ellen Bangtson and soloist, Dana Hetland. Services were also held on Wednesday, July 30 at 2 pm at Oak Grove Presbyterian in Bloomington.
Memorials preferred to Habitat for Humanity.
Arrangements were handled by the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, MN.