Rick J Schneider

Northview - North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-2202

Rick Schneider, a 62 year old newspaper executive whose career spanned 40 years in North Dakota, Montana and Arizona, passed away April 18, 2012 in Mankato, Minn. after a valiant seven-month battle against multiple myeloma cancer.

Born Jan. 21, 1950 in Strasburg, N.D., the son of Baldwin Materi and Lillian Volk Materi, and then adopted by John Schneider and Lillian on Oct. 5, 1962, following Baldwin's death.
Rick was raised on a farm, and many of his stories, for which he was famous, were based on the life lessons and his experiences on the family farm. He graduated from Strasburg High School in 1968 and from the University of North Dakota in 1972 with a degree in journalism. Rick also participated in the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders course while attending the university.
His first job in newspaper was as the editor of the Cavalier County Republican in Langdon, N.D. His second job, from 1972 to 1975, was as a sales representative and special sections editor for the Bismarck Tribune in Bismarck, N.D.
It was while he was in Bismarck that he met his future wife, Sue, who was serving as a house parent at Charles Hall Youth Services, a home for disadvantaged Indian children. The two of them served as house parents and tutors for four years and were married in 1973.

After raising four children of their own, Rick and Sue were foster parents for more than 20 children. Some of the children Rick and Sue cared for while serving as house parents and foster parents kept in regular contact and some still refer to them as their Mom and Dad to this day.

Rick was the ad director and only sales representative for BHG Inc. in Garrison, N.D., from 1975 to 1979. From 1979 to 1982, he was the ad director and then promoted to publisher of the twice-weekly Western News in Libby, Mont.
In 1982 Rick left the newspaper business to pursue a dream. For two years he and his deckhand, brother, John, operated a commercial salmon troller, the "Sea Robin", based in Newport, Ore. Following a near death experience on the Sea Robin, Rick returned to his roots in the newspaper business, landing a job with the BHG Inc. in Garrison, N.D. for two years.

In 1985, Rick began his 28 year employment with Wick Communications, by accepting the position of marketing/ad director for the Williston (N.D.) Daily Herald. Followed by a transfer to Sidney (MT) in 1987, where he accepted a promotion to editor and publisher of the Sidney Herald. Sidney is where Rick took his longest post of his career, 14 years.

Rick spent the past 12 years in Safford, Ariz. as editor and Publisher of the Eastern Arizona Courier, as well as the Copper Era and the Arizona Range News. Following his move to Arizona, Rick found a surprisingly deep passion for the game of golf. He would take the "girls" (his two Chihuahua's) out on the course every weekend to walk the course and enjoy the peace and tranquility it offered.

Rick's choice to begin working for Wick Communications was made to further his career, however more emphasis was placed in the knowledge that the Wick family cared deeply for its employees and their families. This fact could not have proven to be more true during the last years of Rick's wife's life, as well as his own. He was given complete and total support while he cared for his ailing wife, and one year later, when diagnosed with multiple myeloma, each and every Wick Communications executive showed him and his family the kind of love only a family could give. We will be forever grateful for their generosity and kindness during our Father's final months.
Rick was the winner of numerous editorial, photography and general excellence and advertising awards with Wick Communications in North Dakota, Arizona and Montana Press Association better newspaper contests.
He firmly believed in being involved in and giving to his community. He was a member of the Safford Downtown Association, the Chamber of Commerce Tourism committee and assisted in coaching youth basketball and softball. He was also a Scoutmaster and served on boards of directors for the Richland County Adult Literacy Program, the Sidney Chamber of Commerce and the Montana Press Association.

He was actively involved in economic development committees and corporations in every community in which he lived. He was a past member of the Jaycees, the Lions Club, Kiwanis, the Elks and the Moose organizations. Most recently, he was an active member of the Society of St. Vincent's de Paul of Safford, AZ, and voted in as a Vincentian, where he and son, Marlon personally canned and delivered over one ton of food staples, and clothing to the needy in the Safford area, as well as the San Carlos Apache Catholic Community. After purchasing a weekend cabin on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Dad began attending their local Catholic Church, where he learned there were over 100 families in need of over 400 beds. Rick is responsible for initiating a drive to fulfill this wish.
Just a few months before his passing, Rick regularly defeated opponents half his age at tennis and racket ball. He was a strong man who rarely, if ever, was ill, but his struggle against cancer was more than even his physical strength could overcome.

Rick is survived by his parents, John and Lillian Schneider; daughter, Tonya Schneider and her children, Bridget, Madison and Kennedy; daughter, Tara Anderson, her husband Troy, and their children, Jessica, Nathan and Dakota; great-grandchildren, Brinley Sue, Cameron, Marleigh and Osker; son, Marlon Reddog; brother John (Michelle) Schneider; sisters, Karen (Bert) Olson, Mary (Steve) Kilwein; brother-in-law, August (Danny) Borchert; sister-in-law, Nancy Borchert and 11 nieces and nephews. Last, but certainly not least, Sue and Rick's "girls," a mother and daughter pair of Chihuahua's, Safford and Gypsy.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Susan Schneider; father Baldwin Materi; son Troy L. Borchert; father-in-law August F. Borchert; mother-in-law Winoma S. Borchert; brother-in-law Roger N. Borchert; and sister-in-law, Pamela Borchert

Services will be Friday, May 4 at 11 a.m. at Northview - North Mankato Mortuary 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, Minn. Burial to follow in Faribault, MN at Meadow Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery. Please visit www.mankatomortuary.com. Please join us following burial services for dinner.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Tara S. Anderson, 112 Inverness Court, Mankato, MN 56001. Following funeral expenses, a lump sum gift will be given to the San Carlos Apache Catholic Church in San Carlos, Ariz., as well as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Safford, Ariz. for the purpose of continuing the charitable work Rick so deeply cared about.