Richard "Dick" Hefte

Richard Cadwell Hefte passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2015 in West St. Paul, MN from complications due to vascular dementia.

Richard was born March 15, 1931 in Caledonia, Minnesota to Inoh & Marie (Cadwell) Hefte. He graduated from Caledonia High School in 1949 and Luther College in Decorah, Iowa in 1953 with a degree in English. Richard was drafted into the Korean War in 1953 and spent 18 months overseas. Upon return, he attended the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating in 1958.

Richard married college classmate Christine Ann Rotto in 1957. He and Christine moved to Fergus Falls MN in 1958 where they raised four daughters: Carrie, Rachel, Barbara and Sarah.

In 1958, Richard joined the law firm of Rosengren, Rufer & Blatti in Fergus Falls. In 1993, he was appointed by Governor Arne Carlson to the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals. He served as a judge for 6 years before retiring in 1999.

Richard was an active member of the Fergus Falls community including serving as president of First Lutheran Church and playing clarinet in both the Carlisle Band and the American Legion Band. His philanthropic contributions were many, but he took the most pride in being a founding member of Operation Bootstrap Africa, a non-profit organization supporting education projects in Tanzania, Africa. Along with Missionary David Simonson and journalist Jim Klobuchar, Richard walked across the African Rift of Tanzania to raise money for OBA.

Richard was an athlete and an avid sports fan throughout his life. He played football, basketball and baseball in high school. He was captain of his college basketball team scoring over 1,000 points during his career. He was inducted into the Luther College Hall of Fame in 1975. He loved to follow the local, state and national sports teams from the Fergus Falls Otters and Caledonia Warriors to the Golden Gophers and Minnesota Twins. Throughout his life he continued to play basketball, tennis, baseball, volleyball and racquetball. He never passed up the chance for a swim at the YMCA or at his home on Jewett Lake. As a dad, Richard took great pride in cheering for and supporting “home team” sports, especially when his daughters were competing. He combined an intense love of competition with the quiet soul of a gentleman. He will be greatly missed by many.

Richard is survived by his wife, Christine Rotto Hefte of Fergus Falls; children, Carrie Hefte (Jim Hanton) of Arden Hills, MN, Rachel Hefte (Sean Gosiewski) of Minneapolis, Barbara Hefte DiBlasi of Minneapolis and Sarah Hefte (Scott Kuzma) of Portland, OR; grandchildren, Rick (Cassia), Jamie and Jack Hanton, Marianna Hefte, Edison and Lucas DiBlasi; sister, Ruth Ellison, brothers John (Sandra) Hefte and Art (Bev) Hefte and numerous brothers-in-laws, sisters-in-laws, nephews, nieces and extended family. Richard was preceded in death by his parents; brother Robert and sisters Audrey and Ione.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Operation Bootstrap Africa, ELIMU Fund for post-secondary education - OBA, 625 Fourth Ave. S., Suite 110, Minneapolis, MN, 55415, www.bootstrapafrica.org .

Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, June 26, 2015 with a public prayer service at 6:30 p.m. at the Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, MN.
Memorial Service: 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2015 at First Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls. A picnic lunch will follow the service.
Clergy: Reverends Saul Stensvaag and Jennifer Rose
Military Participation: Fergus Falls American Legion Post 30 and V. F. W. Post 612
Burial: To be held at a later date at First Lutheran North Cemetery, Fergus Falls.