Richard "Dick" D. Morelan

Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at Paynesville Lutheran Church in Paynesville for Richard “Dick” D. Morelan, age 83, of Willmar, formerly of Paynesville, who passed away April 21, 2011 at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. Pastor Dan Dornfeld will officiate. Burial will take place in the Paynesville Cemetery.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. on Monday at the Paynesville Lutheran Church and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Dick was born February 20, 1928 in Faribault, MN to Floyd and Myrtle (Monson) Morelan. He grew up in Faribault, and prior to his Senior year his family moved to West Linn, Oregon where he graduated. He returned to Minnesota and worked at the Faribault State Hospital for eight years. He married Margaret B. Rafdal on July 17, 1952 in Faribault. After Margaret passed away in 1988, he met and married Kristi Dahl in 1994. They were married for 14 years.

Dick began his 27 year career as a Minnesota State Trooper in 1957 and was stationed in Paynesville. During the last ten years of his career he was the Safety Officer. He enjoyed teaching children about bike safety across the state with his signature side kick “Mike the talking bike”. He also penned the newsletter “Tiptoeing Through the District with Tricky Dicky”. He was also a three term Mayor for the City of Paynesville, during which he formed the Trail Guards. He was a Past President of the Paynesville Lions Club, a four term President of Koronis Hills Golf Course and served on the Board for the Boy Scouts. He was also a member of the Masons Lodge 71 in Paynesville and the Zuhrah Shrine of Minneapolis.

Dick will be remembered for his passion for golf, his love of camping at the Two Medicine Camp Ground in East Glacier National Park, and his ability for storytelling, he also took great pride as Narrator for the hometown play “Where the Heart Is”.

Dick is survived by his daughters Vaneesa (Pat) Karsch of Paynesville and Darcy (Larry) Alstead of Paynesville, grandchildren Tiffany (Mike) Tangen of Paynesville, Courtney (Jesse) Stenseth of Richfield, step grandson Sean (Wendy) Karsch of Paynesville, great grandchildren Drew and Kyleigh Tangen, step great grandsons Blake and Lex Karsch, as well as nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Margaret, brother Roger and great grandchild Baby Tangen.

Memorials are preferred.

The family would like to personally thank Betty Berg for her kind and compassionate care of Dick these last few years.