Richard 'Dick' Wente

Memorial services for Richard 'Dick' Wente of Donnelly will be held Monday, April 15, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Morris, with Reverend Emmy Swedlund officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m., with a prayer service at 5:00 at the Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris and for one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Burial will be in Summit Cemetery in Morris.

Richard Roy ‘Dick’ Wente, son of Leroy and Virgal (Baysinger) Wente, was born February 22, 1944 in Morris, Minnesota, where he was baptized and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church. He attended country school at District #20 in Horton Township through the 5^th grade. After the family moved to a farm ten miles north of Morris, Dick attended School District #39 in Rendsville Township. He graduated from Morris High School in 1963. As a young child, Dick overcame polio and was still able to participate in track and football while in high school.

Dick was united in marriage to Linda Stoneberg on June 24, 1967 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Donnelly. Their marriage was blessed with a daughter, Brenda Lynn and son, Chad Richard. Dick was a farmer through and through. He farmed with his dad and in later years with his son. He also raised hogs and cattle. In 2008, Dick was granted a new lease on life when he received a “double kidney” transplant. He was the 500^th transplant at Merit Care in Fargo, ND. 

Dick was an avid fan of stock car racing and was on the pit crew for Storck/Andersen racing. He was voted mechanic of the year at both Viking and Madison Speedways. He was always a kid at heart and could be found racing a car or pickup on the frozen pond near his farm. Dick LOVED his tractors, especially Allis Chalmers and would collect scale models. He sponsored “plowing bees” at his farm and organized the Donnelly Threshing Bee tractor-cade. 

Dick was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Morris and also served as supervisor for Rendsville Township for many years. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s school and church activities. Dick loved many and was loved by many.

Dick died peacefully, surrounded by family, at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota, on Monday, April 8, 2024. He was 80 years old.

Dick is survived by his wife: Linda Wente of Donnelly; son: Chad (Jackie) Wente and their children: Cade, Cole and Jacie of Donnelly; brother: Robert (Kathy) Wente of Faribault; sister: Diane (Wally) Kill of Morris; sister-in-law: Nancy (Glenn) Knopp of Morris; brothers-in-law: Wayne (Barb) Stoneberg of Willmar and Marvin Stoneberg of Moorhead and aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his daughter: Brenda Wente; his parents: Leroy and Virgal Wente; grandparents: Fred and Katie Wente and Elmer and Hazel Baysinger; mother and father-in-law: Merle and Leora Stoneberg and many aunts and uncles.