RICHARD JUDE DROWN, 73, of Pick City, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2017, at his home.  Services will be held at 10:00 AM CST, Thursday, December 7, 2017, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Riverdale, ND, with Pastor VanVechten Crane officiating.  Burial will follow in the Luther Gemeinde Cemetery, rural Pick City.  Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Wednesday at Barbot Funeral Home, Hazen.

Richard was born on January 30, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Dorance and Margaret (Horton) Drown.  He was the oldest of four children.  He was raised in Alfred, Maine and graduated from Kennebunk High School in 1962.  After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force, which brought him to North Dakota.  After his discharge, Rick decided to stay in North Dakota because of his love for hunting and fishing.  Shortly after, he met his wife, Patricia Lukins.  They were married on December 9, 1967.  Rick passed away one week short of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Rick had many jobs during his life.  While living in Riverdale, Rick worked for Gordy’s Standard Station and the Bureau of Reclamation.  After moving to Pick City, he worked numerous construction millwright jobs and 20 years at the Great Plains Gasification plant.  He retired in 1999.

One of the things that gave Rick great joy was volunteering at the Norsk Hostfest, where he enjoyed visiting with people and meeting several celebrities.  He became an avid woodworker and enjoyed making gifts for friends and family.  Rick had a tremendous sense of humor and showed his love by his joking with anyone who would listen and teasing those he loved most.  Rick’s love of motorcycling led him to be a very active member of ABATE and the Roughriders motorcycle club.  Rick was an avid sportsman.  In his younger days, he loved baseball and softball.  He had a passion for hunting and fishing and looked forward to his annual hunting trip to his son-in-law John and daughter Stacy’s home in Dawson.

Rick is survived by his wife Pat of almost 50 years, his three daughters, Wendy (Monte) Miller of Washburn, Stacy (John) Abbott of Dawson, Amber (Aaron Selken) of Aurora, CO; four grandchildren, Cassandra (Roque) Corral of Mandan, McKenzie Miller of Washburn, Payton Allen of Bismarck, Jacob Miller of Bismarck; two step-grandchildren, Jessica Abbott of Steele, Jonathan Abbott of Dawson; three great-grandchildren, Gabriel Corral, Blake Corral, and Nevaeh Corral of Mandan; one step great-grandchild, Shaun Kuhn of Steele; three sisters, Marjorie (Jack) Pease of Hicksville, NY, Maureen (Alan) Joy of Alfred, ME, Deborah Thornton of Alfred, ME; one brother-in-law, Rodney Lukins of Pick City; several nieces and nephews, and his “fur babies” Bugsy and Banjo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, several aunts and uncles, and beloved niece Marge Taylor.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Hazen and Beulah.

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