Richard Koester

Richard was born October 13, 1934 to Ray and Frieda Brandt Koester in Moorhead, MN. He attended Koester School in Sabin, and graduated from Comstock High School in 1952. He went from high school into farming full time with his father, Ray. On November 21, 1987 he married Patsy "Pat" Lantz Whittaker at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sabin, MN. They lived on the farm where Rich had lived his whole life. He retired from farming in 1985 and rented his land out. Then John, his nephew started farming his land in 2002. Richard was the father John never had, as his father died when he was 13 years old. Rich was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Sabin, but him and Pat went to church every Sunday by watching Messiah Lutheran Church worship on TV. Rich wasn't into sports as he was an avid farmer, but he did love to travel which he did with Pat a lot. He is survived by his wife, Patsy Koester, Sabin, MN; stepdaughter, Debbie Tom Lusk, White Hills, AZ; stepsons, Dan Lantz, Gainsville, TX and Dale Kathy Lantz, Reno NV; sisters, Arlene Ready, Black Hawk, SD and Phyllis Anderson, Fargo, ND; special granddaughter, Marina Bob Cortopassi, Henderson, NV; grandsons, Alton "Larry" Katrina Lusk, Germany, Steven Lantz, Gainsville, TX and Nicholas Katie Lantz, Las Vegas, NV; granddaughter, Lindsey Lantz, Las Vegas, NV; and 7 beautiful great-grandchildren including his special buddy, Mickey, "I'm watching." He is also survived by his special nephew, John Ready, Sabin, MN; nephew, Troy Anderson, Fargo, ND, niece, Karlyn Rob Nosbusch and their 2 children Alexis and Jake, Clive, IA; aunt, Marge Brandt, Moorhead, MN; Pat's aunt, Zelma Kibler-Rosenthal, Sunnyvale, CA; and many, many cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Juanita Fenley; daughter-in-law, Donna Lantz; brother-in-law, Bill Ready; and recently, brother-in-law, Robert "Bob" Anderson; and niece, Dawn Ready Kohlmeyer.