Richard "Dick" Dybvig

Richard “Dick” Dybvig, 65, of Renner formerly of Baltic, died Thursday, February 24, 2011, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls of a brain tumor.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, March 4, 2011, at Baltic Lutheran Church, Baltic. Burial will be in the Pioneer Cemetery, rural Baltic. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-8:00 PM Thursday at Baltic Lutheran Church. Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic is in charge of arrangements.

Richard was born February 27, 1945 in Sioux Falls to parents Clarence and Ethel (Sagmoe) Dybvig. He grew up on the family farm near Baltic and graduated from Baltic High School in 1963. Immediately following his education he farmed with father. Dick married Cheryl Helgeson June 19, 1963 at Renner Lutheran Church. Two daughters Nicole and Traci, were born of this union. After their marriage they lived in Sioux Falls and Renner before moving to Baltic in 1979. Cheryl died December 30, 1989. Dick continued to live in Baltic until moving to Renner in 2006.

In 1971 Dick and Cheryl purchased the local grocery store in Baltic which they named Dick’s Market. At this same time, Dick was employed by Sencore. He also worked at Raven Industries and Sioux Equipment. Dick actively farmed until his diagnosis in February of 2010.

Dick was proud to be the first mayor of the city of Baltic. He was well-known for his vocal talents and was not afraid to share his gift. Dick sang for many events, focusing primarily on Elvis Presley’s music.
He also was quite the thespian, having claimed the lead roles in many a production, including the Baltic Centennial play in 1981. Dick was a charter member of the Snowtracker’s Snowmobile Club. He was also a member of many car clubs. His summers were spent with his family at car shows and rod runs. Dick made many long lasting friendships in all of these organizations.

Needless to say, Dick was a master in the garage. His mechanical abilities, including troubleshooting, both on the farm and with his snowmobiles and cars, made him second to none in the world of “fixing things.” Because if things weren’t perfect, well, if you knew Dick, you just know!

Dick’s greatest love, however, was his family.

Grateful for having shared his life are his fiancée and best friend, Deborah Beuckens, Renner; daughters, Nicole Dybvig-Wirkus and her husband, Dave, Baltic; Traci Vega and her husband, Bill, Shawnee, Kansas; grandchildren, Hunter, Saige, and Zayla; Deborah’s daughters, Megan Beuckens and Molly Hillman; a brother, Rev. Ronald (Mary) Dybvig, Ventura, California; a sister, Trudy Brosh, Lincoln, Nebraska, many other relatives and friends and his canine friend, Elvie.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife Cheryl, his parents, an infant daughter, an infant sister, and a niece.

The family expresses sincere thanks to Mayo Clinic and its doctors, Interim Health Care, the staff of Avera McKennan 3-East, the doctors at Avera Oncology and Hematology, the staff of the Good Samaritan Center and the excellent care given to him at the Dougherty Hospice House.

Memorial may be directed to the Mayo Clinic Brain Tumor Research and or Dougherty Hospice House Foundation.