Richard Tschider

Richard Alan Tschider passed away June 10, 2012, at St. Alexius Medical Center after a courageous battle with cancer. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 13, at Church of Corpus Christi, Bismarck, with the Rev. Paul Becker officiating. Graveside services with military honors will be held at 3 p.m. at St. Mary's Cemetery, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from noon to 9 p.m. today at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer vigil will begin at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

He was born Oct. 23, 1936, at St. Alexius Hospital, son of John and Opal Tschider. He attended St. Mary's Catholic Schools excelling in academics and athletics.

He attended North Dakota State University obtaining his bachelor of science degree completing his master's degree at the University of North Dakota. While attending college he was in ROTC. In college football he was All Conference, MVP and in 1998 inducted into the North Dakota Athletic Hall of Fame.

Dick continued to serve part time in the Army Reserves retiring full Colonel in 1997.

He married his high school sweetheart (Sharon Nelson) in 1957. Dick and Sharon were blessed with seven children.

Dick's strong work ethic began at age nine delivering and selling the Bismarck Tribune and then working at Super Value. In 1959, after graduating from UND he returned to Bismarck where Dick accepted the position of personnel director at St. Alexius Hospital, the first in the state of North Dakota. In 1976, he became the administrator. He was employed at St. Alexius for 47 years, 29 of them as CEO. He was the first lay administrator in the hospital's 100 year history.

Dick had a very deep admiration and love for the sisters at the Medical Center and the Annunciation Priory. He was, in his heart, a Benedictine.

Dick was adamant about providing good health care and safety to St. Alexius patients. He knew everyone who worked at St. Alexius and their families. He felt the importance of each and every employee, often getting up in the middle of the night to go say hello to the late night shift throughout the hospital including the boiler room, one of his favorite places, making sure everyone and everything was fine. Dick's favorite saying was "I was born in St. Alexius and I will die in St. Alexius."

Dick's legacy at St. Alexius will live on in his inspirational words, "Before you leave your job on any given day, do something special for somebody else no matter how big or small. It could be for a fellow employee, a patient, or a visitor. If we can spread this throughout the Medical Center, we can make a significant impact on our organization."

Dick was passionate about our community serving on numerous boards including Blue Cross Blue Shield, University of Mary, North Dakota Hospital Association, American Hospital Association, YMCA and Wells Fargo Bank.

Outside of the hospital Dick loved spending time at their Lake Isabelle Cabin, home in Florida, and with his extended YMCA Family.

Dick is survived by his wife, Sharon, of 54 years; his brothers, Morris (Irene), Gerald (Susan), and John (Conni); and sisters, Florence and Mary (Al); seven children, Steven, Lynda (Jeff), Pamela (Jon), Mark (Stacey), Rick (Robin), Lisa, and Scott, and 11 grandchildren, Lindsy, Sarah, Matthew, Jessica, Michael, Alex, Nicholas, Evan, Anders, Erik and Talon.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Opal Tschider; and granddaughter, Anna Sophia.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the YMCA and Elks Camp Grassick.

Go to www.parkwayfuneral.com to share memories of Dick and sign the online guest book.