Rich was the most layed back, easy going man you could ever meet. He had no problem walking up to a complete stranger and starting a conversation. Before long you would believe they had known each other for years. Rich was a compassionate, hard working, loving man... and he was my Dad.

Rich was born on July 2, 1934 in Mitchell, South Dakota to Nicholas and Susan (Leibrich) Hanten. He was the youngest of twelve children. He grew up in White Lake, South Dakota, and graduated from White Lake High School in 1952.

He learned from his parents at a young age to work hard and to take pride in your work. He lived his life this way.

He entered the Army on May 23, 1956, and was honorably discharged in 1958.

Rich attended Southern College in Springfield, South Dakota for TV repair. He could fix almost anything. But when he finished fixing something, many times he had parts left over. His theory was, if it works without it, then it didn't need it in the first place.

On April 11, 1970, Rich married my Mom. My three sisters and I were from her first marriage, so Rich took on a ready made family. Something alot of men wouldn't do. Together they had four boys.

Rich had many jobs during his life..youth counselor, school bus driver, Gambles store owner, and sanitation engineer, but he was a farmer at heart. He loved being outside and working with the animals. He taught me how to milk a cow, shear a sheep, gather eggs, butcher chickens and the right way to stretch a fence.

One of my favorite memories of him has to do with one of our milk cows, Bossy. She was famous for jumping fences. Whenever she would do this, she would cut her utter, making it harder to milk her. One day while doing chores, Rich saw her jump a fence, and had gotten into another pasture. He got in the pickup with my Mom, and headed for the pasture. I climbed in the back of the pickup. Bossy took off running with Rich right on her heels. I heard my Mom tell him if she trips and falls, he will run right over her. Rich stuck his head out the window and yelled, "trip you sob"!!!

In his spare time, Rich enjoyed fishing and playing pinochle and cribbage, and he loved to dance. He loved his Minnesota Vikings and Twins. During the Twins season, you would find him laying on their bed listening to the Twins play on the radio. During football season, the TV belonged to Rich on Sundays.

We lost Rich on April 26, 1996 from a cerebral aneurysm. He was buried on May 1, 1996 at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.

Rich is survived by his wife, Dee; four daughters, Kathy, Penny, Kelly and Patsy; four sons, Richard Hanten, II, Jason Hanten, Adam Hanten and Aaron Hanten; six sisters, Catharine (Earl) Flanagan, Irene (Jack) Ryan, Anastasia Hanten, Loyola (Merritt) Myers, Theresa (Bill) Frandsen and Susan (Mike ) Kerrick; three brothers, Leonard (Irene) Hanten, Oliver (Lorraine) Hanten and Nicholas (Pat) Hanten, Jr.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nick and Susan Hanten; and two brothers, Edmund (Vi) Hanten and Anthony (Arlene) Hanten.

When Rich came into our lives, he made us a family. He worked so hard to provide for us. With everything he gave us, the greatest gift we received from him was his love.

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Military Information: SP4, US ARMY