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Richard Morse Obituary
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Rich was born on March 30, 1951 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After graduating from high school in Manasquan, NJ, he went on to study engineering at Michigan Tech.
With his degree in Electrical Engineering, he moved to Minnesota to begin work as a software developer and discovered his life's passion: spending time in the BWCA. In 1978 he began building a cabin on Burntside Lake and found his community. If you have ever traveled the Crab Lake portage, Rich might have given you directions or tips to have a better trip. If you were really lucky, he might have portaged your canoe for you on that 120-rod hill.
Rich was preceded in death by his parents, Perry and Eleanor Morse; sister, Ellen Kelly; and brother-in-law, Gary Rohrabaugh. He is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Morse; sister, Nancy (Richard) Schmehl; sister-in-law, Beth Rohrabaugh; nieces and nephews, Tammi, Zachary, Emily, and Daniel; six great-nieces-and-nephews.
Memorial service will be held at a later date.
To honor Rich, go for a hike and enjoy the outdoor opportunities in Minnesota.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
John and Deb Hanson
March 7, 2024
So the first memory of Rich that we think of is his and JoAnn's 4th of July parties. Every year rain or shine they were always a hit! I also think of Rich's weekly trip to our dock where he would pick up veggies from my garden. He always said I wanted to keep him healthy so he could go on all those lovely canoe trips! There were all the walks on the Crab Lake Portage where he would talk about all the people he'd met coming and going on a canoe trip and some of these people became life long friends. We also remember when he had to move one of his cabins and he did this himself slowly over a number of days moving and turning it inch by inch until it was in the right location on their property. This was a huge job and took perseverance! The really sweet memory from this last year would be the daily early morning sunrise photo we would get on our cell phones. Always from the same location on the island. And then to be sent a calendar with his favorite sunrise photos was even more sweet. Love that calendar. He had gone through a lot this last few years, but he still took time to reach out to friends. He was a staple of our summers in Ely on Burntside Lake and he will be dearly missed. We will always think of him as we pass the lovely property he and JoAnn built. Love to you JoAnn! And many hugs! john and Deb Hanson
Kim and Brad Valdyke
March 5, 2024
Too many memories to pick one. The best of the best. Opening and closing, happy hours, pontoon rides, Osprey and Eagle nests, dinners together. Yatzee, attack bass, best friend, brother, truly good human. Life will be less without you.
Patricia Lipinski
March 5, 2024
When I was working at NCR Comten (maybe still Comten at that time), I was sent to L.A. for a few months. One day I was suppose to have the day off to go to Disneyland but I got a call from this guy at Comten who wanted me to send him a computer dump. I went it, got the dump and sent it to him. When I was back in MN, he called me and asked me to lunch. We joked that it was a date but actually he wanted to meet the person who sent the dump to St. Paul, CA instead of St. Paul, MN. It took over a month for him to get it! That was how I met him. We later became good friends, with him being my husband's best friend and best man at our wedding. We had many a trip to Rich's cabin on Burntside Lake. I remember a Boundary Water trip over Memorial Weekend where we fought mosquitos, ticks, and LOTS of portaging only to have Rich and Dan catch a big fish, take a photo of it and put it back. I lost it at some point since I don't really fish and hate mosquitos. That was the last fishing trip they took me on in the BWCA! Rich was a great guy and a great friend. My heart goes out to you, Jo Ann.
Patti Lipinski
March 5, 2024
When I was working at NCR Comten (maybe still Comten at that time), I was sent to L.A. for a few months. One day I was suppose to have the day off to go to Disneyland but I got a call from this guy at Comten who wanted me to send him a computer dump. I went it, got the dump and sent it to him. When I was back in MN, he called me and asked me to lunch. We joked that it was a date but actually he wanted to meet the person who sent the dump to St. Paul, CA instead of St. Paul, MN. It took over a month for him to get it! That was how I met him. We later became good friends, with him being my husband's best friend and best man at our wedding. We had many a trip to Rich's cabin on Burntside Lake. I remember a Boundary Water trip over Memorial Weekend where we fought mosquitos, ticks, and LOTS of portaging only to have Rich and Dan catch a big fish, take a photo of it and put it back. I lost it at some point since I don't really fish and hate mosquitos. That was the last fishing trip they took me on in the BWCA! Rich was a great guy and a great friend. My heart goes out to you, Jo Ann.
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