Richard "Rick" Olaf Moen

Richard “Rick” Olaf Moen, 90, of Park Rapids, MN passed peacefully into eternal life at home looking out at Blue Lake, surrounded by all of his children and grandchildren on March 13, 2024.

Rick was born May 3, 1933 on a farm in Nelson County, ND.  He grew up in Michigan, ND, graduating in 1951.  He went to college at ND State School of Science and received his bachelor’s degree from UND.  He joined the US Army for two years of service from 1954 to 1956 stationed in TX and NC and was deeply grateful to participate in the Honor Flight to Washington, DC in 2023.   

He married Theresa “Terry” Moen on June 27, 1959, who was the love of his life. Rick joined IBM in 1960 and they moved to several locations, mainly Milwaukee and Chicago.  After retirement in 1992, Rick personally built their forever home on Blue Lake in Park Rapids, MN, near the location where they spent their honeymoon.  They said it was their “slice of heaven,” and it was the location of many gatherings of family and friends, love, and laughter.   Rick and Terry enjoyed 61 years of marriage together. 

He was very active in his community and enjoyed the fellowship of Our Lady of the Pines Church and the Nevis Senior Center where he was an avid whist and pinocle player and mixed the pancake batter for every pancake breakfast.

Rick will be remembered by his family as an exemplary father and grandfather and a friend to all he met.  He treasured game time every evening with loved ones and always had time to engage in interesting conversation.  He loved doing projects on his property, splitting, and stacking wood for winter, golf cart rides, pontoon rides and sunsets on Blue Lake.  He enjoyed traveling and sports (Cubs and Packers) and golfed as often as he could - playing up to a few weeks prior to his passing.  

He was a role model to many who leaves a legacy of how to live life – simple yet deep; living every moment with joy.  He always remembered to give thanks for the gift of every day.  He was loved by many and will be deeply missed.

Rick is survived by children Ray (Cheryl), Glen Ellyn, IL, Kristi (Tom Thompson), Bluffton, SC; grandchildren Andrew Moen, Brownstown, MI, and Taylor Moen, Downers Grove, IL; brother Wayne (Susy) Moen, Steele, ND and Wallace (Roberta) Moen, Yakima, WA; sister-in-law Helen Moen, Lakota, ND, brother-in-law Jim (Nancy) Wysoski, Mesa, AR, sister-in-law Sue Wysoski, Fargo, ND; many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends with whom he was very fortunate to have in his life. 

He is preceded in death by wife Theresa (Terry) Moen, daughter LeAnn Moen, parents Olaf and Alma Moen, brother Hilman Moen, brothers-in-law Ray Wysoski, Tony Zidon, L.W. Larson, Joe Wysoski; sisters-in-law Jane Zidon, Irene Larson. 

Funeral services will be held 11 AM Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Our Lady of Pines Catholic Church in Nevis, MN.  Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM,  Friday, March 22, 2024 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.  

In lieu of flowers please donate to: 

Veteran’s Honor Flight of ND/MN, veteranshonorflightofndmn.org, or 

Nevis Senior Center, Nevis Senior Citizens | GiveMN