Colonel Richard Paul Gross, at 88, enjoyed a life that many people would consider to be more than any one person could experience. He lived life like there was never enough time to accomplish all his goals and go on all of his adventures. A few weeks ago, he went goose hunting with his son Brad and nephew Gregg providing his family with fresh goose for Christmas dinner.
Richard and his late wife Zola Gross, lived in Mobridge with their 5 kids (Brad, Clay, Brenda, Laura, and Dianne) for over 50 years. He was a retired high school counselor, teacher, coach and Colonel in the SD Army National Guard. Richard passed away peacefully on Jan 24, 2022, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, surrounded by his family. He fought hard to the end and was able to tell his family "I Love you all" before he passed, which meant the world to everyone.
Richard, RP, was born on June 3rd, 1933, on a farm near Tolstoy to tenant farmers Emil Frank Gross and Gertrude Goebel Gross. He was the 7th of 12 children "the Dirty Dozen," consisting of 2 boys and 10 girls : Ray, Ruth, Dorothy, Alma, Shirley, Mildred, Phylliss, Yvonne, Joyce, Elaine, and Judy. In the seventh grade, the family moved from Lebanon to Gettysburg. RP attended the Gettysburg public schools and graduated High School in 1952. He was voted Homecoming King by his classmates and he was awarded 12 letters in basketball, football and track. He attended Northern State Teachers College with the goal of becoming a teacher and a coach. In 1955, he volunteered for the draft to qualify for the GI Bill.
On Jan 5, 1955 RP reported to Sioux Falls YMCA for military processing. As a Private E1, he was transported to Fort Bliss, Tx and then to basic training at Fort Ord S California. Afterwards, he was sent to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Tx for training as Medical Aid. He was promoted to Corporal at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, 154th Military Field Hospital. Dec 1957, RP completed his 2 yr. enlistment and transferred to reserve duty in SD National Guard. In 1960, RP earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a Minor in Industrial Arts and Biology. He continued his education, receiving a Master's in Counseling. During college he attended Officer Candidate School in Mitchell and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in 1959, as a SD National Guard Platoon Leader. RP transferred to Huron with the Engineering Battalion as a 1st LT in S2 (Intelligence Officer). In 1966, he became Company Commander when he was promoted to Captain and soon after, he was promoted to Executive Officer in Wagner. Three years later he was promoted to Full Bird Colonel and commanded the 109th Engineering group in Rapid City. RP was honored to be presented with the American Legion "Quilt of Valor" in a ceremony on July 4th, 2021.fd
On July 16, 1960, he married his college sweetheart, Zola Jeanne Maclaren of Aberdeen. As a teacher and coach in Huron, the couple purchased their first home and soon became loving parents to four children- twins Brenda and Brad, Clay, and Laura. In 1966, Richard was offered a job as counselor/coach/teacher in Mobridge. In 1969, six years after their last child, they were blessed with another daughter Dianne. In 1971, RP designed and built a wonderful home in Mobridge to accommodate his growing family. Richard suffered a great loss in 1997 when he lost the love of his life, Zola.
RP wore many hats throughout his career and adventures. He was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, godfather, uncle, friend, leader, teacher, coach, mentor, boss, counselor, confidant, traveler, captain, Colonel, as well as hunting, fishing and safari guides. You could say he was a student of life no matter where that took him with his family, in his career, or just traveling the world looking for the next big game. As an officer in the military, he travelled to Germany, North Korea, China, and Japan. Whether it was slaying king, silver, and sockeye salmon or a 100lb halibut on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska with daughters Laura, Dianne, and Brenda; traveling to Newfoundland with his son Clay to hunt Woodland Caribou and Moose; fulfilling a life-long dream of going on an African Safari with his daughter Dianne to hunt Kudu, Oryx, Warthog, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Elan and catching Tigerfish on the Zambezi River while being chased by Hippos, he never stopped looking for his next big adventure. He also had the opportunity to see one of the Seventh Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
RP, Zola and family enjoyed camping on the shores of the Oahe, many trips to the Black Hills, National Parks, Disneyland, and Treasure Island. RP was a talented engineer and enjoyed updating older homes and duplexes. He was a lover of the outdoors, passionately pursuing fish & fowl on the Oahe. He cherished his amazing German shorthair pointer Coke, who led him on most of his hunting trips. He loved hunting elk, deer, buffalo, antelope, geese, turkey, duck, pheasant, and grouse which drove his passion to choose Mobridge on the Missouri River as his home. He shared his passion with his children and grandchildren who became avid hunters. Every year, he co-hosted a 'Cousin Pheasant Hunt' the opening weekend near Gettysburg. The hunt included five generations through an extended family tree of Oblerlitners, Sheldons, Pudwills, Goebels and additional family. He enjoyed cultivating his hunting land on the west river by planting over 500+ trees with the help of his sister Phylliss and cover crops to support refuge for wildlife that he would hunt and observe from an elevated blind dubbed "The Prairie Hilton".
RP loved meeting anyone who shared his passion for hunting and fishing and had a zest for life. He met Maxine and for 14 years she was his partner on many wildlife adventures on land and water. Together they had good times appreciating the beauty and nature of SD with both extended families. He went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to build shelters, coach basketball and assist with rural development with his son Clay and grandsons Maxwell and Elliot. There, RP accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in the presence of his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Emil and Gertrude, wife Zola, sisters Alma, Dorothy, Yvonne, Shirley, Mildred and brother Ray.
A wake was held on Friday, Jan 28, at the Kesling Funeral Home followed by funeral services on Saturday, January 29th at the United Congregational Church in Mobridge. The American Legion Color Guard honored RP with a beautiful send off.
A Celebration of Life and internment with full Military Honors will be in July of 2022 with burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Mobridge, SD.
Richard and his late wife Zola Gross, lived in Mobridge with their 5 kids (Brad, Clay, Brenda, Laura, and Dianne) for over 50 years. He was a retired high school counselor, teacher, coach and Colonel in the SD Army National Guard. Richard passed away peacefully on Jan 24, 2022, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, surrounded by his family. He fought hard to the end and was able to tell his family "I Love you all" before he passed, which meant the world to everyone.
Richard, RP, was born on June 3rd, 1933, on a farm near Tolstoy to tenant farmers Emil Frank Gross and Gertrude Goebel Gross. He was the 7th of 12 children "the Dirty Dozen," consisting of 2 boys and 10 girls : Ray, Ruth, Dorothy, Alma, Shirley, Mildred, Phylliss, Yvonne, Joyce, Elaine, and Judy. In the seventh grade, the family moved from Lebanon to Gettysburg. RP attended the Gettysburg public schools and graduated High School in 1952. He was voted Homecoming King by his classmates and he was awarded 12 letters in basketball, football and track. He attended Northern State Teachers College with the goal of becoming a teacher and a coach. In 1955, he volunteered for the draft to qualify for the GI Bill.
On Jan 5, 1955 RP reported to Sioux Falls YMCA for military processing. As a Private E1, he was transported to Fort Bliss, Tx and then to basic training at Fort Ord S California. Afterwards, he was sent to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Tx for training as Medical Aid. He was promoted to Corporal at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, 154th Military Field Hospital. Dec 1957, RP completed his 2 yr. enlistment and transferred to reserve duty in SD National Guard. In 1960, RP earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a Minor in Industrial Arts and Biology. He continued his education, receiving a Master's in Counseling. During college he attended Officer Candidate School in Mitchell and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in 1959, as a SD National Guard Platoon Leader. RP transferred to Huron with the Engineering Battalion as a 1st LT in S2 (Intelligence Officer). In 1966, he became Company Commander when he was promoted to Captain and soon after, he was promoted to Executive Officer in Wagner. Three years later he was promoted to Full Bird Colonel and commanded the 109th Engineering group in Rapid City. RP was honored to be presented with the American Legion "Quilt of Valor" in a ceremony on July 4th, 2021.fd
On July 16, 1960, he married his college sweetheart, Zola Jeanne Maclaren of Aberdeen. As a teacher and coach in Huron, the couple purchased their first home and soon became loving parents to four children- twins Brenda and Brad, Clay, and Laura. In 1966, Richard was offered a job as counselor/coach/teacher in Mobridge. In 1969, six years after their last child, they were blessed with another daughter Dianne. In 1971, RP designed and built a wonderful home in Mobridge to accommodate his growing family. Richard suffered a great loss in 1997 when he lost the love of his life, Zola.
RP wore many hats throughout his career and adventures. He was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, godfather, uncle, friend, leader, teacher, coach, mentor, boss, counselor, confidant, traveler, captain, Colonel, as well as hunting, fishing and safari guides. You could say he was a student of life no matter where that took him with his family, in his career, or just traveling the world looking for the next big game. As an officer in the military, he travelled to Germany, North Korea, China, and Japan. Whether it was slaying king, silver, and sockeye salmon or a 100lb halibut on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska with daughters Laura, Dianne, and Brenda; traveling to Newfoundland with his son Clay to hunt Woodland Caribou and Moose; fulfilling a life-long dream of going on an African Safari with his daughter Dianne to hunt Kudu, Oryx, Warthog, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Elan and catching Tigerfish on the Zambezi River while being chased by Hippos, he never stopped looking for his next big adventure. He also had the opportunity to see one of the Seventh Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
RP, Zola and family enjoyed camping on the shores of the Oahe, many trips to the Black Hills, National Parks, Disneyland, and Treasure Island. RP was a talented engineer and enjoyed updating older homes and duplexes. He was a lover of the outdoors, passionately pursuing fish & fowl on the Oahe. He cherished his amazing German shorthair pointer Coke, who led him on most of his hunting trips. He loved hunting elk, deer, buffalo, antelope, geese, turkey, duck, pheasant, and grouse which drove his passion to choose Mobridge on the Missouri River as his home. He shared his passion with his children and grandchildren who became avid hunters. Every year, he co-hosted a 'Cousin Pheasant Hunt' the opening weekend near Gettysburg. The hunt included five generations through an extended family tree of Oblerlitners, Sheldons, Pudwills, Goebels and additional family. He enjoyed cultivating his hunting land on the west river by planting over 500+ trees with the help of his sister Phylliss and cover crops to support refuge for wildlife that he would hunt and observe from an elevated blind dubbed "The Prairie Hilton".
RP loved meeting anyone who shared his passion for hunting and fishing and had a zest for life. He met Maxine and for 14 years she was his partner on many wildlife adventures on land and water. Together they had good times appreciating the beauty and nature of SD with both extended families. He went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to build shelters, coach basketball and assist with rural development with his son Clay and grandsons Maxwell and Elliot. There, RP accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in the presence of his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Emil and Gertrude, wife Zola, sisters Alma, Dorothy, Yvonne, Shirley, Mildred and brother Ray.
A wake was held on Friday, Jan 28, at the Kesling Funeral Home followed by funeral services on Saturday, January 29th at the United Congregational Church in Mobridge. The American Legion Color Guard honored RP with a beautiful send off.
A Celebration of Life and internment with full Military Honors will be in July of 2022 with burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Mobridge, SD.
Colonel Richard Paul Gross, at 88, enjoyed a life that many people would consider to be more than any one person could experience. He lived life like there was never enough time to accomplish all his goals and go on all of his adventures. A few weeks ago, he went goose hunting with his son Brad and nephew Gregg providing his family with fresh goose for Christmas dinner.
Richard and his late wife Zola Gross, lived in Mobridge with their 5 kids (Brad, Clay, Brenda, Laura, and Dianne) for over 50 years. He was a retired high school counselor, teacher, coach and Colonel in the SD Army National Guard. Richard passed away peacefully on Jan 24, 2022, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, surrounded by his family. He fought hard to the end and was able to tell his family "I Love you all" before he passed, which meant the world to everyone.
Richard, RP, was born on June 3rd, 1933, on a farm near Tolstoy to tenant farmers Emil Frank Gross and Gertrude Goebel Gross. He was the 7th of 12 children "the Dirty Dozen," consisting of 2 boys and 10 girls : Ray, Ruth, Dorothy, Alma, Shirley, Mildred, Phylliss, Yvonne, Joyce, Elaine, and Judy. In the seventh grade, the family moved from Lebanon to Gettysburg. RP attended the Gettysburg public schools and graduated High School in 1952. He was voted Homecoming King by his classmates and he was awarded 12 letters in basketball, football and track. He attended Northern State Teachers College with the goal of becoming a teacher and a coach. In 1955, he volunteered for the draft to qualify for the GI Bill.
On Jan 5, 1955 RP reported to Sioux Falls YMCA for military processing. As a Private E1, he was transported to Fort Bliss, Tx and then to basic training at Fort Ord S California. Afterwards, he was sent to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Tx for training as Medical Aid. He was promoted to Corporal at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, 154th Military Field Hospital. Dec 1957, RP completed his 2 yr. enlistment and transferred to reserve duty in SD National Guard. In 1960, RP earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a Minor in Industrial Arts and Biology. He continued his education, receiving a Master's in Counseling. During college he attended Officer Candidate School in Mitchell and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in 1959, as a SD National Guard Platoon Leader. RP transferred to Huron with the Engineering Battalion as a 1st LT in S2 (Intelligence Officer). In 1966, he became Company Commander when he was promoted to Captain and soon after, he was promoted to Executive Officer in Wagner. Three years later he was promoted to Full Bird Colonel and commanded the 109th Engineering group in Rapid City. RP was honored to be presented with the American Legion "Quilt of Valor" in a ceremony on July 4th, 2021.fd
On July 16, 1960, he married his college sweetheart, Zola Jeanne Maclaren of Aberdeen. As a teacher and coach in Huron, the couple purchased their first home and soon became loving parents to four children- twins Brenda and Brad, Clay, and Laura. In 1966, Richard was offered a job as counselor/coach/teacher in Mobridge. In 1969, six years after their last child, they were blessed with another daughter Dianne. In 1971, RP designed and built a wonderful home in Mobridge to accommodate his growing family. Richard suffered a great loss in 1997 when he lost the love of his life, Zola.
RP wore many hats throughout his career and adventures. He was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, godfather, uncle, friend, leader, teacher, coach, mentor, boss, counselor, confidant, traveler, captain, Colonel, as well as hunting, fishing and safari guides. You could say he was a student of life no matter where that took him with his family, in his career, or just traveling the world looking for the next big game. As an officer in the military, he travelled to Germany, North Korea, China, and Japan. Whether it was slaying king, silver, and sockeye salmon or a 100lb halibut on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska with daughters Laura, Dianne, and Brenda; traveling to Newfoundland with his son Clay to hunt Woodland Caribou and Moose; fulfilling a life-long dream of going on an African Safari with his daughter Dianne to hunt Kudu, Oryx, Warthog, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Elan and catching Tigerfish on the Zambezi River while being chased by Hippos, he never stopped looking for his next big adventure. He also had the opportunity to see one of the Seventh Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
RP, Zola and family enjoyed camping on the shores of the Oahe, many trips to the Black Hills, National Parks, Disneyland, and Treasure Island. RP was a talented engineer and enjoyed updating older homes and duplexes. He was a lover of the outdoors, passionately pursuing fish & fowl on the Oahe. He cherished his amazing German shorthair pointer Coke, who led him on most of his hunting trips. He loved hunting elk, deer, buffalo, antelope, geese, turkey, duck, pheasant, and grouse which drove his passion to choose Mobridge on the Missouri River as his home. He shared his passion with his children and grandchildren who became avid hunters. Every year, he co-hosted a 'Cousin Pheasant Hunt' the opening weekend near Gettysburg. The hunt included five generations through an extended family tree of Oblerlitners, Sheldons, Pudwills, Goebels and additional family. He enjoyed cultivating his hunting land on the west river by planting over 500+ trees with the help of his sister Phylliss and cover crops to support refuge for wildlife that he would hunt and observe from an elevated blind dubbed "The Prairie Hilton".
RP loved meeting anyone who shared his passion for hunting and fishing and had a zest for life. He met Maxine and for 14 years she was his partner on many wildlife adventures on land and water. Together they had good times appreciating the beauty and nature of SD with both extended families. He went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to build shelters, coach basketball and assist with rural development with his son Clay and grandsons Maxwell and Elliot. There, RP accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in the presence of his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Emil and Gertrude, wife Zola, sisters Alma, Dorothy, Yvonne, Shirley, Mildred and brother Ray.
A wake was held on Friday, Jan 28, at the Kesling Funeral Home followed by funeral services on Saturday, January 29th at the United Congregational Church in Mobridge. The American Legion Color Guard honored RP with a beautiful send off.
A Celebration of Life and internment with full Military Honors will be in July of 2022 with burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Mobridge, SD.
Richard and his late wife Zola Gross, lived in Mobridge with their 5 kids (Brad, Clay, Brenda, Laura, and Dianne) for over 50 years. He was a retired high school counselor, teacher, coach and Colonel in the SD Army National Guard. Richard passed away peacefully on Jan 24, 2022, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, surrounded by his family. He fought hard to the end and was able to tell his family "I Love you all" before he passed, which meant the world to everyone.
Richard, RP, was born on June 3rd, 1933, on a farm near Tolstoy to tenant farmers Emil Frank Gross and Gertrude Goebel Gross. He was the 7th of 12 children "the Dirty Dozen," consisting of 2 boys and 10 girls : Ray, Ruth, Dorothy, Alma, Shirley, Mildred, Phylliss, Yvonne, Joyce, Elaine, and Judy. In the seventh grade, the family moved from Lebanon to Gettysburg. RP attended the Gettysburg public schools and graduated High School in 1952. He was voted Homecoming King by his classmates and he was awarded 12 letters in basketball, football and track. He attended Northern State Teachers College with the goal of becoming a teacher and a coach. In 1955, he volunteered for the draft to qualify for the GI Bill.
On Jan 5, 1955 RP reported to Sioux Falls YMCA for military processing. As a Private E1, he was transported to Fort Bliss, Tx and then to basic training at Fort Ord S California. Afterwards, he was sent to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Tx for training as Medical Aid. He was promoted to Corporal at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, 154th Military Field Hospital. Dec 1957, RP completed his 2 yr. enlistment and transferred to reserve duty in SD National Guard. In 1960, RP earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a Minor in Industrial Arts and Biology. He continued his education, receiving a Master's in Counseling. During college he attended Officer Candidate School in Mitchell and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in 1959, as a SD National Guard Platoon Leader. RP transferred to Huron with the Engineering Battalion as a 1st LT in S2 (Intelligence Officer). In 1966, he became Company Commander when he was promoted to Captain and soon after, he was promoted to Executive Officer in Wagner. Three years later he was promoted to Full Bird Colonel and commanded the 109th Engineering group in Rapid City. RP was honored to be presented with the American Legion "Quilt of Valor" in a ceremony on July 4th, 2021.fd
On July 16, 1960, he married his college sweetheart, Zola Jeanne Maclaren of Aberdeen. As a teacher and coach in Huron, the couple purchased their first home and soon became loving parents to four children- twins Brenda and Brad, Clay, and Laura. In 1966, Richard was offered a job as counselor/coach/teacher in Mobridge. In 1969, six years after their last child, they were blessed with another daughter Dianne. In 1971, RP designed and built a wonderful home in Mobridge to accommodate his growing family. Richard suffered a great loss in 1997 when he lost the love of his life, Zola.
RP wore many hats throughout his career and adventures. He was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, godfather, uncle, friend, leader, teacher, coach, mentor, boss, counselor, confidant, traveler, captain, Colonel, as well as hunting, fishing and safari guides. You could say he was a student of life no matter where that took him with his family, in his career, or just traveling the world looking for the next big game. As an officer in the military, he travelled to Germany, North Korea, China, and Japan. Whether it was slaying king, silver, and sockeye salmon or a 100lb halibut on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska with daughters Laura, Dianne, and Brenda; traveling to Newfoundland with his son Clay to hunt Woodland Caribou and Moose; fulfilling a life-long dream of going on an African Safari with his daughter Dianne to hunt Kudu, Oryx, Warthog, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Elan and catching Tigerfish on the Zambezi River while being chased by Hippos, he never stopped looking for his next big adventure. He also had the opportunity to see one of the Seventh Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
RP, Zola and family enjoyed camping on the shores of the Oahe, many trips to the Black Hills, National Parks, Disneyland, and Treasure Island. RP was a talented engineer and enjoyed updating older homes and duplexes. He was a lover of the outdoors, passionately pursuing fish & fowl on the Oahe. He cherished his amazing German shorthair pointer Coke, who led him on most of his hunting trips. He loved hunting elk, deer, buffalo, antelope, geese, turkey, duck, pheasant, and grouse which drove his passion to choose Mobridge on the Missouri River as his home. He shared his passion with his children and grandchildren who became avid hunters. Every year, he co-hosted a 'Cousin Pheasant Hunt' the opening weekend near Gettysburg. The hunt included five generations through an extended family tree of Oblerlitners, Sheldons, Pudwills, Goebels and additional family. He enjoyed cultivating his hunting land on the west river by planting over 500+ trees with the help of his sister Phylliss and cover crops to support refuge for wildlife that he would hunt and observe from an elevated blind dubbed "The Prairie Hilton".
RP loved meeting anyone who shared his passion for hunting and fishing and had a zest for life. He met Maxine and for 14 years she was his partner on many wildlife adventures on land and water. Together they had good times appreciating the beauty and nature of SD with both extended families. He went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to build shelters, coach basketball and assist with rural development with his son Clay and grandsons Maxwell and Elliot. There, RP accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in the presence of his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Emil and Gertrude, wife Zola, sisters Alma, Dorothy, Yvonne, Shirley, Mildred and brother Ray.
A wake was held on Friday, Jan 28, at the Kesling Funeral Home followed by funeral services on Saturday, January 29th at the United Congregational Church in Mobridge. The American Legion Color Guard honored RP with a beautiful send off.
A Celebration of Life and internment with full Military Honors will be in July of 2022 with burial at Greenwood Cemetery in Mobridge, SD.
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