Richard Seekins

Richard “Dick” Alonzo Seekins of Jamestown, ND went to be with the Lord on Friday, November 24, 2017 in Mankato, Minnesota.  He moved to Mankato for the winter after spending the summer at Fairy Lake in Sauk Centre, MN, knowing he was ill, he wanted his wife to be near family.  

Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2017 at Belgrade Methodist Church, 325 Sherman Street, North Mankato, MN and the funeral service will be held there at 10:30 a.m. followed by a light lunch.

Dick was born in Jamestown, ND on March 22, 1939 to William and Alice (Renwick) Seekins and he grew up in Jamestown.  Dick was the youngest child of the family of five children.  Dick was an entrepreneur from an early age.  He went door-to-door when he was five-years-old and had a nickel route.  When he was six, he collected pop bottles under the grandstand to recycle and later he sold popcorn and peanuts.  When he was old enough he had a paper route and hired other kids to work for him.  

He eloped with Jean Anderson on March 26, 1952 to Fairbault, MN with Jean’s sister, Dawn, and brother-in-law, Ken Vick, in attendance.  He received his physical education degree from Jamestown College after attending part-time for a number of years while caring for his family.  As a young man, he was a lifeguard at several small communities and at camp.

Dick loved children and was a kid at heart.  He kept tootsie rolls ready for the children at church.  He drove bus to church camps for 55 Bible camp sessions.  He left a big impact on a lot of kids during the years he took them to camp at Lakewood Park Bible Camp.  He was the only one in the history of the camp to be licensed to carry a squirt gun.  He was generous to children’s ministries around the area knowing that it was important for children to have faith.  

He was the recovery person for the  Pennsylvania Life Insurance Company for people who did not renew their policy.  He enjoyed a long recovery from alcoholism and tobacco and he helped other people reach this plateau.  Dick was also a five-year survivor of esophageal cancer which was a true miracle.

As an adult in Jamestown, Dick owned the Hilltop Dairy O for a number of years.  He later owned and operated three gas station convenience stores.  He had five apartment buildings with 31 apartment units plus the StarLite Motel which he operated with his wife. Dick always enjoyed making a deal and he sold lawn mowers and miscellaneous things at the motel.

In recent years, Dick enjoyed traveling to Branson, MO and camping on the weekends.  He spent his last two summers at Fairy Lake in Sauk Centre, MN with many family and friends coming to visit and joining him at his campfire. He was always willing to lend a hand and give advice.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Allice Seekins and his siblings William Seekins Jr., George Seekins, Joanne Joslin, Joyce Johnson and infant twin sisters.  Seeming to know that his master was gone the sixteen year old family pet, Midget, also expired on November 24th.

Dick  is survived by his wife, Jean (Anderson) Seekins of Jamestown; his daughter Kelly (Seekins) Fleischer and her husband, Mark, of Mankato, MN; his son Richard Seekins and his wife, Wendy, of Moreno Valley, CA; and his son David Seekins and his wife, Lisa, of Shakopee, MN.  His grandchildren are Cassie (Fleischer) Allen and her husband, Ben; Katherine (Fleischer) Weber and her husband, Paul; and Molly (Fleischer) Ambrose and her husband, Jacob all of Mankato, MN; Megan (Fleischer) Longhenry and her husband, Bill, of New Ulm, MN; Richie (17) and Nick (15) Seekins of Moreno Valley, CA and Noah (18), Colton (16) and Nora (2) Seekins of Shakopee, MN.  His great-grandchildren are Penny (6), Cora (4) and Margot (2) Allen and Parker (3) and Waylen (1) Weber all of Mankato, MN; and Theo (1) Longhenry of New Ulm, MN.  

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at Mankatomortuary.com/Obituaries or mailed to Jean Seekins at  210 Clover Lane, Mankato, MN 56001.