Richard Rye

Published 9:33 am Friday, January 18, 2013

Funeral services for Richard Wayne Rye Sr., age 69, of Albert Lea will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Oakland Lutheran Church, rural Oakland. The Rev. Todd Walsh will officiate. Interment will be in the Oakland Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Richard died on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, at his home.

Richard Wayne Rye Sr. was born on Sept. 4, 1943, in Albert Lea, the son of Albert and Ethel (Hattlestad) Rye. He attended schools in Albert Lea, graduating from high school in 1961. Richard married his high school sweetheart, Donna Rusley, on Sept. 1, 1963, in Albert Lea. He worked for Murphy Motor Freight and then for Streater store fixtures until his retirement. Dick was a loving husband, father and friend. He was so very proud of his sons, loved his daughters-in-law and delighted in his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Donna, sons Richard Jr. and his wife, Lynda, their daughters Brooke and Bailey; Luke and his wife, Jill, and their children Julia and Brandon; sister Dorry (Clint) Swenson of Rochester; brother Douglas Rye of Albert Lea; sisters-in-law Pendra Nelsen and her friend Floyd Helland, Elaine (Dave) Long, Janet (Richard) Werner and Phyllis Rusley; and several nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Ethyl, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Glenn and Myrtice Rusley, brother and sister-in-law Luverne and Jenny Rye and their son Dennis Rye, and brothers-in-law Robert Rusley and Paul Nelsen.

Dick is now with his heavenly father.