Richard "Rick" Thomas Ullrich

Richard “Rick” Thomas Ullrich, 68, owner of Ullrich Construction of Lake Crystal, was called to his Heavenly Father on Friday, July 24, 2020.

A private Memorial Mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church. Rick’s family invites everyone to a celebration of life held at their home, 51954 200th Street in Lake Crystal from 4-7pm, Saturday, August 8, 2020. Bring a chair, share your favorite stories, and grab a bite to eat. If you’re more comfortable, you may also drive through and stay in your vehicle. Please share a memory of Rick with his family online at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Rick was born June 24, 1952 in Mankato to Clifford Clemens Ullrich and Beverly Virginia (Busby) Ullrich. He graduated from Lake Crystal High School in 1970. On June 15, 1985, he married Lois Ann Welsch and they just celebrated their 35th anniversary. Between the two of them, they had seven children.

Before starting his own construction business in 1977, he was employed by Lundin Construction and Mankato Citizen Telephone Company.

He was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Lake Crystal. He retired from the Lake Crystal Fire Department in 1997 after 16 years of service.

Rick enjoyed many things in his life but WORKING was his life. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed his classic cars. One of his favorites was a 1957 Chevy that he purchased for 10 dollars. Over the 4th of July weekend, his dream came true, and he got it running again. He also enjoyed snowmobiling and going and doing demos at the Blue Earth County Fair. He raced his 1965 Impala SS at MN Dragways in Coon Rapids in the early 1970s and won a truck pull with his Dodge 4-wheel drive power wagon pick-up at the Blue Earth County Fair. Rick also enjoyed going to fire department water fights. He was a Green Bay Packer fan and loved Brett Favre.

Rick had the biggest heart and would help anyone. If you needed anything, he was there and would not ask anything in return.

He did many projects for the city and the schools of Lake Crystal. As his business grew, he purchased Decorative Stone outside of Lake Crystal. The business continued to grow, so he added another building, which made him very proud. In recent years, the crew grew smaller, but the work kept going and will continue to go in honor of him. His employees were like family to him. He loved and was very grateful to all of them.

More than anything, he loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He would do anything for them. Rick will always be remembered by his kindness and the love he had for his family. He’ll truly be missed.

Rick is survived by his wife, Lois Ullrich; 3 children, Jeremy Ullrich of Lake Crystal, Erica (Tate) Palmer of Mankato, and Tonya (Alex) Torres Diaz of Lakeville; 4 step-children, Rachell Welsch (special friend, T-Bird Bode) of Nicollet, Jay (Amy) Welsch of Lake Crystal, Tim Clay of Lake Crystal, and Travis Clay of Lake Crystal; 15 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; siblings, LeRoy (Nancy) Ullrich, Duane (Eileen) Ullrich, Cathy (Jim) Shaw, Bonnie (Ken) Stepan, Mark Ullrich, and Dawn (Mike) Michels; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Beverly and Clifford; parents-in-law, Tony and Elaine Welsch; sister-in-law, Eva Ullrich; and his grandparents, Robert and Agnes Busby and Clem and Rose Ullrich.