Richard Hilde

Richard S. Hilde, Moorhead, passed away peacefully Saturday July 15, 2017 at Eventide On Eighth, Moorhead, MN. He was under the care of Red River Valley Hospice due to End Stage Renal Disease. He was 87.

Richard was born October 13, 1929 on a farm outside of Ulen, MN to Silas and Kathrine Hilde. He attended country school and they lived and worked on various farms in the Ulen area. He joined the US Army in 1947 and served in the Korean War. This was the beginning of a long successful career in law enforcement. Richard was promoted several times in the Army and served in the Criminal Investigation Division CID. He was honorably discharged in 1954, however he was recalled and sent to Germany for additional service until 1957. Upon his return from Germany, he worked as a police officer for the Fargo Police Department. He patrolled the Fargo area on a fast Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and once went airborne through an underpass chasing a suspect. Richard loved motorcycles throughout his life. Fast ones mainly.

In 1960, Richard was recruited by the State of ND to become a founding member of the ND Bureau of Criminal Investigation. There were only two agents for the entire state at that time. Richard was based in Bismarck until 1965, when he was transferred to Valley City. He covered the entire eastern half of the state, investigating thousands of cases over the years. Under the G.I. Bill, he learned to fly small planes in Valley City and used his flying skills to assist in investigative work throughout his career with the Bureau. The Bureau grew and Richard moved along with it. In 1973, he attended and graduated from the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. Shortly after, in 1974, he was promoted to Chief Agent, was transferred back to Bismarck, promoted again to Director, and served in that role until his retirement in 1990. In addition to his Director duties, he taught many classes at the ND Police Academy. In the late 1970’s, he was trained in Criminal Hypnosis and provided hypnosis services to crime victims to help them unlock details that otherwise would have stayed forgotten. Richard was an excellent investigator and found law enforcement interesting. He was known to say he’d work until it’s no fun anymore.

Richard loved music, airplanes, fast cars, fast motorcycles, fast boats, and probably all in that order. From his time in the Army until after he retired, he played in weekend country bands. From the Moonlighters in Valley City, to his Bismarck band, Dakota Country, which was a very popular wedding dance band that was booked nearly every weekend in the 1980s, making music was his passion. He was even approached at a dance by someone he arrested years earlier. The man told him it was the only time he was in trouble and it had been a turning point in his life. Richard found that to be very satisfying. Playing in a band gave him a chance to see the better side of people. He could leave his gun and badge at home. Flying was another passion for Richard. He owned a few private planes over the years, and gave rides or flying lessons to anyone who wanted to go up. He had lifetime pilot friends that all gathered each Saturday morning at the Bismarck Airport Cafe to have breakfast and talk flying.

Following his retirement, Richard moved back to the Ulen, MN area. He married Mary Speer in 2001 and they enjoyed many winters in Weslaco, TX and summers in Minnesota. Richard also had a “fast” Honda Goldwing motorcycle and they took many motorcycle rides both alone and with riding groups. They also enjoyed boating and camping at the lake with family and friends. In Texas, they enjoyed the warm winter weather, trips to South Padre Island and Mexico, and social activities with friends in the park community. They settled in Dilworth, MN once Richard’s health prevented them from traveling back and forth from Minnesota to Texas.

Richard is survived by his loving and devoted wife Mary, his children, Jeff Hilde Leana, Trivoli, IL, Sylvia Brown, Bismarck, ND, Patricia Sorensen, Bismarck, ND, and Lori Jorgenson Jay, Rockford, MN. He is also survived by his sister Darlene Rolle Richard, Detroit Lakes, MN, nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one granddaughter.

Memorial Visitation: Thursday, July 20, 2017, from 5:00PM-7:00PM with a prayer service beginning at 7:00PM at Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead, MN.

Memorial Service: Friday, July 21, 2017, at 3:00PM at Wright Funeral Home in Moorhead, MN with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial of ashes will take place at a later date.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Rest in Peace Agent 950. Case closed.