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Richard Rauk

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Richard Albert Rauk, 68, Beaver Creek, died Thursday, May 13, 2021, at his home surrounded by family.
A funeral service was Monday, May 17, at First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek. Burial followed in the Beaver Creek Cemetery.
Richard Rauk was born on June 8, 1952, to Edward and Elizabeth (Keehr) Rauk in Valley Springs, South Dakota. He was raised in Beaver Creek and was baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church. Rick graduated from Hills-Beaver Creek High School in 1971. He then went to work for a time at Gale Tower Construction and then at the Sioux Falls Stockyards.
On April 27, 1974, Richard married Mary Hansen at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills. A short time later, the couple moved to Beaver Creek and began their life together. Rick spent the majority of his working career at two places, Farmland Industries until its closing and later Gold’n Plump until its closing.
In December 2018, Richard formally retired. A short time later, he began having health concerns.
Rick was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek where he served as a trustee. He was a member of the local cemetery board and the Sportmen’s Club. He was a volunteer firefighter with the Beaver Creek Fire Department. For 35 years Rick was one of the first men on the scene when a fire call came in for the Beaver Creek area. He loved fighting fires with his team.
One of Rick’s passions was mowing and taking care of yards. He enjoyed gardening and flowers, Christmas decorations, bowling, camping and sitting around the fire pit with family and friends. He especially loved to watch his boys participate in sports and later in life was his granddaughters’ biggest fan.
Rick is survived by his wife, Mary, of Beaver Creek; sons Jason Rauk and Chad (Tami) Rauk, all of Beaver Creek; grandchildren Taryn, Brynn and Jordyn Rauk; siblings Ron (Marlys) Rauk of Beaver Creek, Mareda (Keith) Bertelson of Sioux Falls and Roxie Rauk of Sioux Falls.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife’s parents, Lester and Dorothy Hansen; sister-in-law Debra Magnuson; and his brother-in-law, Dale “Ole” Hansen.
Memorials are preferred to Beaver Creek Fire Department, Beaver Creek Cemetery Fund or Sanford Luverne Hospice.  
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.  
(0520 F)

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