Richard Lee Strouth

Sibley, Iowa Richard Strouth, age 63 of Sibley, IA died Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, Oct. 7th at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Sibley, IA, with Fr. Clair Boes and Fr. Timothy Hogan concelebrating. Burial will follow at the St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Ashton, IA, with military honors by the William Ben Hoffman American Legion Post #290 of Ashton. Visitation will be from 2 until 8:00 P.M. on Friday, Oct. 6th , with the family present from 6 until 8:00 P.M. at the Walton-Roste Funeral of Sibley, with rosary at 4:00 PM and Parish Wake Service at 7:30 PM. Richard Lee Strouth was born on January 27, 1943, the son of Mike and Eva (Honkomp) Strouth in Sibley, Iowa. As a young child he and his family moved to Ashton where he attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated in 1961. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 3, 1964 and served over seas during the Vietnam War. After faithfully serving his country he received an honorable discharge on August 16, 1966. He moved back to Ashton where he worked for various farmers in the area. He received training to be a heavy equipment operator in North Carolina. On November 26, 1977, Richard was united in marriage to Karen Mouw at the St. Andrews Catholic Church in Sibley. He worked for Judd Brown Construction in Mankato, Minnesota for many years and later worked for Mathy Construction out of Onalaska, Wisconsin until his retirement in 2000. During the off season of his construction work and after retirement Richard enjoyed doing Taxidermy work. He loved wildlife. Richard was a member of the St. Andrews Catholic Church, the Ashton American Legion and Operating Engineers Local 49. He was active in Ducks Unlimited and the Osceola County Conservation. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, camping, Blues music, riding motorcycle, watching Vikings football and spending time with his family especially his grandchildren. Richard is survived by his wife of twenty-eight years, Karen Strouth of Sibley; three sons, Kip (wife Julie) LaFrenz of Sioux Falls, SD, Curt (wife Emily) Strouth of Rock Valley, IA and Joseph (special friend Amanda Stanley) Strouth of Sioux Falls, SD; two grandchildren, Reese and Gavin Strouth; mother, Eva Strouth of Ashton; one brother, Norbert Strouth of Ashton; and many extended family. He was preceded in death by his father and his infant sister, Judy Strouth.