Richard "Dick" Leroy French

Richard “Dick” Leroy French, 82, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away on May 19, 2024, at Sanford Hospital, Aberdeen, surrounded by family after battling many illnesses. 

A Celebration of Life Service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24th, 2024, at Carlsen Funeral Home in Aberdeen, with Pastor Micah Westby of New Life Fellowship officiating.

Military Honors will follow the service by the American Legion Post 24. 

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. 

A time of fellowship will follow at the City Lights event center at 316 S 2nd Street in Aberdeen.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Carlsen Funeral Home, Aberdeen. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.aberdeenfuneralhome.com 

Richard Leroy French was born January 11, 1942, in Pensacola, FL, to LeRoyal and Mildred (Bush) French.  

He attended grade school in Sioux Falls and then attended high school in Pierre, where he graduated in 1960.   

After high school, Dick joined the Airforce on August 23, 1961, in Sioux Falls, SD working as an airman. He served at the Charleston South Carolina Air Force Base. During this time Dick began working for Sears. He was honorably discharged on September 7, 1965. 

Dick was transferred to the Sears in Aberdeen where he met the love of his life Louise. Richard was united in marriage to Louise (Hedges) French on June 7, 1974. Together, they raised and loved three children: Kevin, Chrissy, and Lee. 

After Sears closed, he started a career at C&C vending, which was later bought by Pepsi. Dick ended his working career at Menards where he retired after 17 years.  

He was a family man who loved being surrounded by Louise, his three children, and his grandchildren. Anytime Dick was with them he was his happiest. 

He was also a history buff who loved to read. Dick loved being outside hunting, fishing, camping, and manicuring his lawn. 

Grateful for having shared Dick’s life are his loving wife of 50 years Louise, Aberdeen, SD; his children: Kevin (Sharon) Mentzer of Sartell, MN, Chrissy (Katie) French of Omaha, NE, and Lee (Jessica) French of Sioux Falls, SD; his grandchildren: Norah, Alexis, and Isaac Mentzer and Alliyah, Clayton, Zackary, and Mackenzie French; brothers: Larry (Barb) French of Rapid City, SD, and Terry (Shirley) French of Fort Collins, CO; In-laws: Laura (Jack) Torrance of Westport, SD, Mary Hedges of Aberdeen, SD, Lorraine (Ron) Christie of Aberdeen, SD, Jeff (Janet) Hedges of Aberdeen, SD, Joe (Mary) Hedges of Aberdeen, SD, Roy Hedges of Aberdeen, SD; several nieces and nephews; a special nephew Jesse Hedges. 

Dick was preceded in death by his parents LeRoyal and Mildred French; three brothers: Dennis, Jim, and Don French; and his grandparents. 

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