- Date Of Birth: November 29, 1945
- Date Of Death: November 28, 2022
- State: Minnesota
Richard Allen Saurdiff was born November 29, 1945, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, to Paul Sr. and Selma (Dalos) Saurdiff.
Richard attended Grygla Elementary, just close enough so he could “run home and make 100 free throws at lunch.” He graduated from Goodridge High School where baseball and basketball were his favorite subjects! It was also where he met a cheerleader, Diane Lovly, who he married in 1966. They were blessed by two children, Caroline and Corwin. Blessings continued with grandchildren, Matthew (Amy) Petersen, West Fargo, ND, Ryan (Amy) Petersen, Buffalo, MN, Paige Saurdiff, Grand Forks, ND, and Griffin Herr, Minot, ND, as well as great-grandchildren, Rose, William, and Richard Petersen and Chase Petersen.
Richard served as a member of the U.S. National Guard. From his parents he learned the virtues of taking care of others and working hard. Being a trucking family, teen years were spent driving gravel trucks and unloading freight with his dad. Summer nights were spent jumping off the bridge and swimming in the “Mud River” in addition to playing Grygla town ball with brother Paul. He worked for Saurdiff Trucking making trips to the stockyards of South St. Paul and the harbor in Duluth. His favorite runs were the pickups and deliveries for Christian Bros. Hockey Sticks. In 1988 he joined the Marvin team delivering windows throughout the United States. He received his Million Mile safe driving award in 1999 plus multiple yearly safety awards throughout his driving career. When he retired in 2016, he had logged 2,977,555 miles during his 28 years with Marvin.
Over the years, a good day for Richard was being with his family as he watched his children and grandchildren compete in sporting events, hunt white tail at Grygla, or fish the waters of Lake of the Woods. He enjoyed simple things like mowing a lawn, talking with neighbors, or listening to kids playing outside. He gave unsolicited advice, discussed politics with reverence, and told good, but often-exaggerated, stories! According to his Rose, “What Grandpa doesn’t know, he just makes up.”
Richard is survived by his wife, Diane, children, Caroline (Dennis Schweisthal) Little Falls, MN, and Corwin (Amber Beld) Dickinson, ND, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, brothers: Paul Jr. (Julie) Saurdiff, Grand Forks, ND, David Saurdiff, Steve (Susan) Saurdiff, and Lee (Betsy) Saurdiff, Grygla, MN, sisters: Sharon (Tony Sr) Kozojed, Thief River Falls, MN, Diane (Bruce) Sandahl, Lancaster, MN, Susan (William) Hamilton, Skaneateles, NY, and Jill (Lee) Olson, Warroad, MN, sister-in-law Carol Iverson, Bemidji, MN, brother-in-law John (Carol) Lovly, Goodridge, MN, 30 nieces/nephews, and 49 great-nieces/nephews. Also surviving are extended family – Dean “Dino” Grillo, Bill, Heidi, Sadie and Torie Petersen, Katie Brobst, Lonnie Herr, Kari Dunn, and Gwen Saurdiff.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Palmer and Irene Lovly, special uncle Carl Dalos, nephew Carl Sandahl, and brother-in-law Iver Iverson.
