Richard Heath, age 87, of Huron, died Monday, September 13, 2010, at Huron Regional Medical Center.

His funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 17, at Huron Mission Church with burial at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery and Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council.

Visitation will be Thursday from 1-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with family present from 6-8 p.m.; or Friday morning one hour prior to the service.

Richard John Heath, son of Clarence and Gertrude (Messerschmidt) Heath, was born on July 7, 1923, in Brookings, SD. He grew up and received his education in Brookings.

Following his formal education he moved, along with his brother-in-law, to California where they worked in the shipyards building anchor chains.

On February 23, 1943, Richard entered the U.S. Army and served during World War II with the 345th Engineer Battalion in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theaters. He was honorably discharged on January 4, 1946.

He returned to Brookings. On August 31, 1946, Richard married Mildred Gednalske in Brookings. They lived there where Richard worked in the scrap-iron business and also bought/sold hides and furs.

They moved to Huron in 1963. He drove truck for Terrace Park Dairy until 1966 when he began working for Huron Manufacturing as a welder. He retired in 1990.

He was a member of Huron Wesleyan Church; attended Huron Mission Church; American Legion Post #74 of Brookings; and VFW Post #2118 of Brookings. His interests include spending time with his family and friends, fishing, camping, flower gardening, and playing dominos.

Richard is survived by 4 sons, Dick (Carol) Heath of Huron, Gary (Jean) Heath of Huron, Bert (Sharon) Gednalske of Huron, and Bob (Ann) Gednalske of Huron; 6 grandchildren, Robyn Worrall, Bob (Lori) Gednalske, Tammy Heath, Holly (Dan) Rombough, Jason Gednalske, and Anthony (Darlene) Wilson; 7 great grandchildren, Jennifer Worrall, Ashley Wilson, Ryan Wilson, Nathan Rombough, Brooklyn Rombough, Emily Gednalske, and Andrew Gednalske; 1 sister-in-law, Bea Heath of Omaha, NE; 1 brother-in-law, Ken Granum of Volga, SD; and Richards very special friend, Ann Middaugh of Huron.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mildred on February 6, 2000; 4 brothers and their spouses, Clifford (Adeline) Heath, Don (Lee) Heath, Duane Heath, and Kenneth (Doris) Heath; 4 sisters and their spouses, Fern Granum, Mildred (Tom) Clark, Vivian (Carlos) DeLasierra, and Eunice (Lyle) Hawkins.