Richard C. Freske, age 80, of Sioux Falls, SD and formerly of Huron, SD, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family with his wife holding his hand on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at his residence in Sioux Falls. His Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Monday December 28, 2020 at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Huron with the service live-streamed through the Welter Funeral Home Facebook page . Burial will follow in Ideal Cemetery in Huron. Visitation with the family present will be from 2-4 PM on Sunday, December 27 ^th at Welter Funeral Home in Huron.

Dick was a devout Catholic, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother and friend.

He was born in Huron, South Dakota, on July 29, 1940 to Clarence and Harriet (Sandell) Freske. He grew up in Huron, and as a boy he loved to fish, participated in boy scouts, canoed, and was a baritone in the boy's high school choir. He frequently spoke of fishing with his mom and boating with his dad at their family cabin on Lake Byron. From a young age he enjoyed being by water and he carried that love throughout his life, from traveling to Hawaii, California, South Carolina and cruises on the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas, he found a sense of peace near water. He and his wife eventually bought a cabin on Lake Byron where friends and family gathered every year for a 4th of July celebration.

He went on to graduate from South Dakota State University in Brookings with a degree in civil engineering and furthered his career with a Professional Engineering license in the state of South Dakota and Colorado. Soon after college graduation he married the love of his life, whom he met in high school, Marjorie (Dietz) Freske on September 3, 1962 at St. Martin's Catholic Church. Out of college Dick took a job working at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation designing spillways and outlets for large earth dams. He completed projects in Montana, Colorado and Kansas. A grandson once sent Dick a picture of a dam he was visiting, and Dick said, "Oh! I built that. How's it holding up?"

Family was Dick's life. Dick and Marge moved to Dillon, Montana where they started their family. They soon moved to Denver, Colorado where their second and third children were born. Dick's love for his wife was a forever love. They were always considered a pair and never without the other. He was a very loving and dedicated father. Marge and Dick raised their children with grace and love, instilling family values and hard work. Dick loved Colorado and living in Evergreen where they owned horses, rode motorcycles and went skiing and hiking as a family. They lived in Denver for 51 years before retiring in Huron, a town he loved, and renovating his family home of 81 years.

Being an engineer was a central part of his life. He was drawn to math and science, following in his grandfather, Alexander Sandell's footsteps who was in construction. When he entered the workforce, America was in the midst of building its first highways and airports, and he was intrigued with the idea that he could help build this country that he loved. He worked for the government for three years before moving to the private sector where he worked for G. H. Phipps Construction Companies from 1965-1998. He began his time at Phipps as an estimator and project manager, eventually becoming company president before retirement. He found what many seek, a career that he loved and excelled at. He said his career was the most exciting and rewarding he could have dreamed of. He was well-respected in the industry, and while working for Phipps he was able to be a part of and accomplish many engineering dreams including building hospitals, schools, college campus buildings and historic restorations. Notable projects include leading the team that coordinated Pope John Paul II's visit to Denver for World Youth Day in 1993, Children's Hospital in Denver, Swedish Medical Center, Rose Medical Center, Denver Botanical Gardens, Jefferson County schools and Huron Courthouse.

Dick is survived by his wife Marjorie Freske; three children: Cara (Tim) Tracy of MN, Susan (Roger) Treichler of CO, Mike (Mary) Freske of CO; nine grandchildren: Carley (Adam) Jobes, Jared (Jessica), Anna, and Michael Wagner, Everett (Zanna), Adam, Charlotte, Alice and Dana Freske; three great-grandchildren: Maisey, Ingrid and Henry; and sister Dolores Spiering. He is preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Harriet Freske and his brother-in-law Lyle Spiering.