Gerald Rick

Gerald James Rick, 83, Breckenridge, MN passed away on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at St. Catherine's Living Center, Wahpeton, ND. The funeral mass will be on Friday, December 23, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Catholic Church, Wahpeton, ND, with Rev. Dale Lagodinski officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 PM to 7 PM with a Prayer Vigil at 5:30 PM at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Breckenridge. Arrangements are entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton, ND.

Gerald was born on April 29, 1933 near Brushvale, MN to Ignatius "I.T." and Lillian (Holecek) Rick. He grew up on a farm near Everdell, MN. He attended country schools and after his education he worked on the farm and learned how to be an electrician from his father. Gerald entered the US Army on May 25, 1954. He served in Greenland and was honorably discharged on May 8, 1956.

Gerald was united in marriage to Jane Elizabeth "Betty" Raiter on November 16, 1957 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Breckenridge, MN. He started his career as a self-taught electrician wiring all the missile silo sites in North Dakota. In the late 1960's, Gerald and his brother, John, started Rick's Electric in Breckenridge. Through the years they worked together and Gerald also taught his sons electrical work. In 1983, Gerald and his sons, Jimmy and Jerry, started R & R Electric which served a national and global customer base. They specialized in wiring grain elevators and feed mills in all 50 states and several countries including China, South Korea, and the Philippines. Gerald retired in 1997, but still wired odd jobs and helped people with their electrical issues just to keep busy.

Gerald enjoyed elk and deer hunting and fishing – especially in Montana, was an avid reader, and played the local pinochle senior citizen circuit. He also liked watching sports and going to the lakes. Family was very important to Gerald. Even though he was gone a lot for work, he instilled the concept of hard work into his children. He spent a lot of time with his grandchildren and recently enjoyed having great-grandchildren to spoil with bags of candy. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Betty Rick, Breckenridge, MN; his children, Jerry Rick, Breckenridge, Patty (Al) Mateen, Apple Valley, MN, Mike Rick, Wahpeton, ND; his grandchildren, Hollie, Jackie, and Maggie Rick, Adam (Sarah), Alex, and Nick Mateen, Jessica Rick (Matt Samuelson), Jenna (Zach) Blanchard, and Zachariah Rick; his great-grandchildren, Charlie, Jayden, Mira, Owen, and Elton; his siblings, Dorothy Kotalik, Paul (Nona) Rick, John (Ginny) Rick, Rose Ann Brink, Joe Rick, and Mary Jane (Fred) Crafton; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Jimmy; and his siblings, Iggy, Edward, Michael Rick, and Arlene Stockmoe.