Richard Nicholas Lund

Richard “Dick” Nicholas Lund, age 95, of Fridley, passed away on Friday, May 9, 2025, in Long Prairie, MN.

Dick was born on the family farm in Sobieski, MN, on December 6, 1929, to the late Chris N. and Mary M. (Oldakowski) Lund. He worked on the farm before serving in the United States Army. When he returned home, he worked at Northern Pacific Railroad in Minneapolis. He would come back home to visit and on one of those visits he met, Marilyn Winje at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls, MN. They united in marriage at Graceville Catholic Church, Graceville, MN on May 12, 1956. They raised 6 children in Fridley, MN.

After an accident, Dick had to end his work on the railroad and started working for Paco Filmshops. This was a perfect fit due to his interest in photography. Dick always had a camera by his side, and we are fortunate to have many, many family photo albums, 8mm film, and reels of slides filled with family memories. Dick continued working in retail and eventually moved to Zayre Shopper’s City in Columbia Heights as an Assistant Store Manager. When Zayre closed, Dick worked at Budget Power in Brooklyn Park in the electrical department until his retirement in 1991.

Dick was a skilled craftsman and could build and fix anything and everything. These skills came in handy when he and his brothers Dan, Leonard, Jerome and sister, Jeanne, built the cabin on Big Swan Lake in Greg Eagle, MN. The cabin became a place filled with family time and lots of fishing.

After retirement, Dick and Marilyn were Minnesota snowbirds, traveling with their camper to Florida and Arizona, eventually finding their favorite winter location in Alamo, TX. When their snowbird time ended, they spent their time in the family home in Fridley and summers at the cabin. They survived the 1965 Fridley tornado and then many years later they also survived a tornado while wintering in Arizona! Dick and Marilyn enjoyed polka and line dancing, waltzing and playing cards. To this day, Dick still enjoyed listening to his polka cassette tapes on his portable radio.

Dick enjoyed playing the harmonica, hunting (he was a great shot), fishing (he loved catching crappies in the summer and walleyes in the winter), rooting for the Minnesota Vikings and Twins, frying fish, and growing cherry tomatoes in his garden.

Dick is survived by his wife and dancing partner of 69 years, Marilyn Lund. Children, Cindy (Dave) Halek, Sue (Mark) Ervasti, Ron (Pam) Lund, Sandy Hossalla, Ginny Lund, and Bill (Megan) Lund. Grandchildren, Kim (Aaron) Shidla, Krissy (Paul) Condon, Katie (Jon) Heil, Angela (Brian) Reed, Briana Halek, Andrew (Jory) Hossalla, Jimmy (Keely) Hossalla, Becca Lund, Jessi Lund, Keenan Lund, Nolan Lund, Tory Lund. Great-grandchildren, Rylee Melcher, Madison and Kassidy Reed, Jacob and Lily Shidla, Ervin, Ethan, Elliot and Edie Condon, Jay and Tommy Heil, Harper and Renner Hossalla, baby girl Hossalla due September 2025; brother-in-law, Herb Schneider; sisters-in-law Audrey Wellendorf and Sue Winje, and many nieces and nephews, relatives, friends, and beloved cats, Goldie and Kitty.

Dick is preceded in death by grandchildren, Joseph Mark Ervasti and Ryanne Aileen Lund; parents, Chris and Mary Lund; siblings, Frances, Mary, Clarence, Raymond, Leonard, Jerome and Dan Lund, Jeanne Bursey, Catherine Kujacznski, Leona Bursey, and Loretta Scheider; brothers-in-law Alois Bursey, John Bursey, Ray Kujacznski, Donald Wellendorf Jr., Walter Krey, and Robert Winje; sisters-in law Marge Lund and Marguerite Krey.

Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, May 21,11 AM at Church of St. William, 6120 5th St. NE., Fridley. Visitation Tuesday May 20, 6-8 PM at Miller Funeral Home, 6210 Hwy 65 NE, Fridley, and 1 hour prior to Mass at church. Interment Thursday May 22, 1pm Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls.

In Dick’s memory, “wet a line” and go fishing.