Richard Paul Giese

Richard Giese, 82, of rural Holloway, died on Sunday morning, November 21, 2021, at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Benson, and continue from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 24, at Trinity Lutheran Church-Fairfiield Township,  followed by the funeral service at 2:00 pm. Interment will be in the Benson City Cemetery. Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson is in charge of the arrangements.

Richard Paul Giese was born August 3, 1939, to Paul and Martha (Vollmer) Giese. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Moyer Township, Holloway, Minnesota. Richard grew up on a farm a few miles north of Holloway. He enjoyed working on the farm and it was his lifelong dream to be a farmer. Richard loved sports and was active in football, basketball and baseball for the Holloway Eagles. He attended Holloway Public Schools and graduated in 1957. He was active in the National Guard for five years. He married Marlys Ann Thielke on April 13, 1957. Marlys and Richard started their marriage living in Hancock where he began working for Otto Schafer as a carpenter. Their son Michael was born that same year. In August of 1960, the family moved to Minot, where he continued working in construction. They later moved to Grand Forks, where their daughter Michele was born, and then to Eagan, Minnesota. Richard still dreamed of farming and in 1974 his dreams of farming were fulfilled, when he and Marlys bought a farm out in Tara Township. They raised livestock for a while and then eventually farmed grain only. Their youngest child, Missy was born and raised on the farm.

Over the years, Richard enjoyed snowmobiling, church league softball, bowling and riding four wheelers. Richard was also very competitive. Some of his favorite hobbies were playing cards in Holloway, throwing bean bags at family gatherings, and pitching horseshoe. He and Marlys traveled across Minnesota for horseshoe tournaments and on adventures competing in world horseshoe tournaments all over the United States. Many of these trips were made so memorable as they were accompanied by Kathy and Ernie. In winter months the two of them loved going down to Arizona to spend some time with friends. Rich loved sports and loved watching his children and grandchildren down on the fields and out on the courts. He was so proud of his family and didn’t want to miss a game.

Richard loved the farm. He worked  hard, he had high expectations and had a generous heart. His passion for farming showed in his collection of toy and restored tractors. On his eighty-second birthday he and his family enjoyed a tractor parade. Richard could strike up a conversation with anyone. He enjoyed long drives, checking crops, snoozing in his chair and keeping his shop clean.

Richard passed away at North Memorial Hospital on November 21, after injuries sustained in a car accident November 1. He is survived by his loving wife, Marlys of sixty-four years, his son: Michael, and his wife Bonnie (Tulsa, OK), daughters: Michele and Todd Sonnabend (Benson, MN), and Missy and Jake Foslien (Elbow Lake):  Eleven grandchildren; Sean (Caitlynn) Giese, Levi Giese, Megan (Tom) Boutain, Jessica (Bryce) Jennings, Kesley (Kurt) Fahlen, Zack Sonnabend (Skylar), Halle, Mya, Josie, Jace, and Maesa Foslien, Four great-grandchildren: Emma Sonnabend, McKinley Giese, Henry Boutain, and Brynn Jennings: sister-in-law Kathy (Ernie) Christianson, brother-in-laws: Marty (Dori) Thielke, and Randy (LuJean) Thielke and  several nephews, nieces, extended family, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Martha Giese, his brother Kenneth and wife Eunice, his sister Dorla and her husband Iver Lien, and his mother and father-in-law Amanda and Martin Thielke Sr. Blessed be his memory.