Richard Tongen

Richard Tongen, 83, of Montevideo, passed away on Friday, February 14, 2025, at the CCM Health Hospital in Montevideo.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 19th at 11:00 am at Our Saviors Lutheran Church.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.  

Richard Elmer Tongen was born July 15, 1941, in the Montevideo hospital to Adeline & Elmer Tongen. Richard was the oldest of 3 children, James and Marie. The Tongen family lived in the rural Benson area. At age 5 their house was struck by lightning. This tragedy led to Dick’s first beating the odds. As their home was burning, Richard was struck with polio. As a result, Dick was admitted to the Sister Kinney Institute in Minneapolis as he was paralyzed on half his body. He underwent experimental treatments that allowed him to recover after 6 weeks in the hospital. As Dick grew, he developed another one of his lifelong passions: music. Dick took accordion and piano lessons from the nuns in Benson. He was encouraged as his father loved to listen to music, although he could not play. His mother, Adeline, was an excellent pianist and very encouraging of his music passion, although a different style was her preference. As a young child, Dick could be found in and outside some of the establishments Benson playing music for tips. In high school, Dick was all-district in football and wrestling for Montevideo as the family had moved closer to the Watson area. Dick helped around the farm, but to raise money for fun, he also hunted and trapped before school. After high school, Dick joined the Navy. As it turned out, his ship, the USS Estes, was an Admiral’s flagship. This Admiral also loved music, and Richard was playing guitar. A band on board played all over Asia as they would pull into port for American goodwill. During a leave from the Navy, Dick & Juanita met by “accident.” Dick was a passenger in a major car accident between Granite Falls and Montevideo with three other sailors on leave.

Juanita went to the hospital with her roommate, who was dating the other person in the hospital room. Dick & Juanita made plans to get married after Dick completed his service. On May 9, 1964, Dick & Juanita were married in the Watson area. They lived in the Minneapolis area, and 9 ½ months later, their first child, Wade, was born. Over the next few years, they lived in Bloomington as Dick completed studies at Dunwoody as part of his work requirement as a Northern States Power Company lineman. In 1969, the family moved to Norwood, purchased an 80-acre farm, and welcomed their second child, Holly. This time brought back Dick’s passion for music. He helped form the band “The Highliners” based on Richard’s day job profession. Richard later formed a band, “The Leaders.” Both bands played in the Norwood Young America area. These bands allowed Dick to play accordion, keyboards and guitar.

In 1976, Dick and his family had the opportunity to transfer back to Montevideo with NSP to their hometown. While in Montevideo, Dick played with the band Four Wheel Drive in Southwestern MN. Dick was known to most of the area between his day job as a Lineman and his passion for music. Dick’s love of music was passed down as Wade and friends formed a band in high school. Not only did Richard provide most of the equipment, but he also helped teach them to achieve success in FFA competitions up to the national level.

 After Wade went to college to keep things busy the family hosted Cecile Wijnen as a foreign exchange student from the Netherlands. Cecile led them to experience another culture and different perspective on things. Dick & Juanita later went to visit Cecile and her family in the Netherlands and had a very enjoyable time. Years later Cecile and her daughter came back to Minnesota to visit and Dick & Juanita very excited to again spend time with Cecile.

Holly was very into cheerleading which allowed Dick to spend time at wrestling matches as Holly cheered. The Tongen house hosted many a days/nights with many kids at the house, which was just the way it was supposed to be. 

Dick also loved to decorate the house for Christmas, and for more than one year, was on the snowy roof to have the house looking just right.

Dick retired for the first time from NSP after climbing poles for 39 ½ years. For good measure, climbing a pole the “old fashioned” way instead of by the bucket.

Dick enjoyed the fact that he became a grandpa to Danielle and Christopher. Richard was always proud to hear of what the grandkids were up to, including music. In his 60s, Richard also helped Christopher with scouts and went camping on cold nights to ensure he could find things he was passionate about.

Richard returned to work to be with people again, first with his friend Jim Thorn in Rush City, where he had his recycling appliances and metal business, and later, he drove a community bus for Isanti and Chisago counties. 

Richard retired for the second time, and he and Juanita moved back home again to Montevideo. After Dick was diagnosed with dementia and decided he wanted to be called Richard. After 54 years together, Juanita passed away in 2020. 

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Adeline & Elmer. His wife Juanita, his brother James, and niece Rebecca.