Rev. Richard L. Cook, Sr., 98, passed away at Fountain Springs Healthcare on Sunday, January 15, 2012. He was born in Bloomingdale, New Jersey on January 11, 1914, to John and Anna Cook. Richard grew up in Bloomingdale and graduated high school in Butler, New Jersey. On May 7, 1936, he was united in marriage to Helen Louise Miller in Newark, New Jersey. The couple resided in Butler and later moved to Bloomingdale in 1940. During World War, II, he worked for American Soft Rubber mill, making tires and boot soles for the military. Richard obtained a school bus, painted it, and had his own traveling market. He sold groceries from the bus to rural lake communities in New Jersey. He also had his own construction company and he bought and re-modeled homes one at a time. Richard also built many new spec. homes over the years. At the age of 57, Richard decided to become a pastor with the Assemblies of God. He and Helen moved to Lead in 1973 and he became Pastor at Lead Assembly of God. Richard was later ordained into the church in the mid 1970s and was with the church in Lead for over 20 years. He and Helen moved to Rapid City when they retired. Richard enjoyed visiting with people and studying the Bible and teaching its message. Survivors include a daughter, Lois Holland, Rapid City; a son, Richard L. Cook, Jr., Aliso Viejo, CA; a sister, Ruth Hamler, Florida; 5 granddaughters, Jodi Lea Bailey, Broken Arrow, OK, Jeni Stivale, Jerusalem, Israel, Julianne Marie Santos, Seattle, WA, Cynthia Dobitz, Dickinson, ND and Robin Hagenbeck, Blaine, MN; 10 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen on October 12, 2004, and 13 brothers and sisters. Visitation will be one hour prior to services. A celebrationo of his life will be at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with Rev. Stephen Schaible officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Lawn Memorial Park. Memorials may be directed to: Samaritans Purse, Feed the Children and International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.