Richard Eckroth OSB

1926 - 2015

Richard Eckroth OSB

Monk of Saint John's Abbey

Collegeville, Minnesota

Born: 21 June 1926, Professed: 11 July 1946, Ordained: 7 June 1952, Died: 24 May 2015

Father Richard died on May 24, in the retirement center at Saint John's Abbey. He is survived by his brothers Charles Eckroth (wife Evelyn), Father Leonard Eckroth, Anthony Eckroth (wife Joanne) and the community at Saint John's Abbey. The monks, family, and friends will celebrate the Eucharist of Christian Burial for Father Richard on May 29 at 3 pm in Saint John's Abbey Church with interment in Saint John's Cemetery following the service.

William Anthony Eckroth was born in Mandan, North Dakota, on June 21, 1926. William was the tenth child of fourteen born to Louis and Hattie (Gruenenfelder) Eckroth. 

William graduated in 1944 as valedictorian of Saint John's Preparatory School and immediately enrolled in Saint John's University.

William entered Saint John's Abbey in 1945, receiving the religious name Richard and in 1946 he professed vows as a Benedictine monk. He was ordained a priest on June 7, 1952. Following ordination, Father Richard taught undergraduate philosophy at Saint John's University for almost twenty-five years (1952-76).

Father Richard had a love for constructing and demolishing. He did extensive work in the building of the new monastery residence (Breuer Wing) in 1954. On campus, he removed two barns, silos, sheds, a chicken coop, the old nursery as well as the old weather station. During the construction of Interstate 94, he cut lumber for its right of way.

In 1977 Father Richard was assigned to the abbey mission in the Bahama Islands at St. Augustine's Monastery, After taking charge of six churches on the Family Island of Andros he did extensive repair and maintenance work, putting new roofs on the churches.

Upon returning to Saint John's in 1993, he became the sexton of the Saint John's Abbey Cemetery (1993-99). Also during this time he was chaplain at both St. Raphael's Convent and at St. Scholas-tica Convent in St. Cloud.

On September 20, 2001, a dead tree fell on Father Richard while he was cutting firewood. He sustained severe injuries to his neck and other parts of his body. Father Richard recovered from his injuries and moved to St. Raphael Hall where, despite diminished capacities, he enjoyed his retirement and participated as he could in the monastic horarium.