Richard Raymond Rieck (R3), gardener and hobby baker extraordinaire, passed away March 23, 2025, with his family by his side.

A Celebration of Life will be 10:30am Friday April 4, 2025 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Inurnment will be 12:30pm at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, with full military honors.

He was born May 13, 1946, to Ray and Leona Rieck, and grew up in Warner, SD. He was inducted in the U.S. Army November 16, 1965. After his time served, he worked as a driver's license examiner in Aberdeen, SD, and later in the SD Department of School and Public Lands in Pierre, SD where he met his future wife. He and Katherine (Wendell) were married October 26, 1974 in Pierre, and recently celebrated their 50th anniversary of living and loving together.

Richard's career took a new tack when he began working as an appraiser, taking course after course over many years, and earning the State General Certified Appraiser title. He first began this career working for his father-in-law, Lyle Wendell, at Statewide Real Estate based in Pierre, SD. The company appraised and re-appraised counties in South Dakota and Missouri for tax purposes. His expertise sent him to a new career as the Equalization Director for Brown County January 4, 1993. The family then moved to Rapid City August 2nd, 1999 where he began working in the Pennington County Equalization office as a commercial appraiser. Richard retired May 14, 2021, baking seven different pies to contribute to his retirement party at the county offices!

Besides a variety of pies, Richard loved to bake breads, especially buns and kolaches. His other passion was gardening; he hadn't missed planting and harvesting a garden in 50 years! He was also known for his spicy hot dill pickles which he loved to share with anyone who would dare eat them. He loved to entertain his fellow appraisers at conferences, once dressing as Red Skelton, and giving the group a comedy show.

Richard has a sister Joan (Marv) in Arlington, SD, and was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Leona Rieck, and brothers John and Randy.

Richard leaves behind his wife, Katherine (Kate), and four children, Summer Wendell, Box Elder, SD; Stefan (Brandi) Rieck of Luverne, MN; Kanya Rieck, Rapid City, SD; and Josh Rieck (Chelsea Pierce), Sioux Falls, SD. Also, six grandchildren: Daniel, Nathan, Gunner, Miles, Xander and Dante.