Ricky John Thesing, 56, of Ulen, MN, passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at home in Hawley, MN.

Ricky was born November 5, 1969, in Moorhead, MN, to Johnny and Ruth Ann (Boulais) Thesing. His start in life was a miracle as he was born 12 weeks premature and was not expected to live. He loved to tell the story of how he had survived even though the incubator in the NICU stopped in the middle of the night. Early years of his life were spent in Moorhead, Dilworth, Glyndon and Lake Park, MN and in 1999 he moved to Barnesville, MN. Ricky was united in marriage to Crystal Bjorgan in 2007 and they made their home in Barnesville with their daughter, Catherine, who was born in 2002. Their family was blessed with a son, Johnathon, in 2009, and they moved to Ulen, MN in 2012. Ricky and Crystal would eventually go their separate ways in 2020, and Ricky continued to live in Ulen until his recent move to Hawley, MN.

Over the years, Ricky was mainly a stay-at-home dad, but he also worked various side jobs, including the potato warehouse in Barnesville, the butcher plant in Ulen and the Chinese Dragon in Detroit Lakes. His most passionate hobby involved restoring old cars, especially his 1929 Ford Coupe. His daughter Catherine has fond memories of growing up alongside him in the garage as he taught her everything he knew about cars. He also enjoyed building model cars with Johnathon and Catherine. He was very proud of his granddaughter, and he spent many hours with her in the NICU as she was also born 12 weeks premature. Ricky loved his family deeply and was generous to anyone he met in need.

Ricky is survived by his daughter, Catherine (Wyatt Hamlin-Jager) Thesing, and his son, Johnathon Thesing; his granddaughter, Paislee; his brothers, Ron Mortenson and Johnny Thesing, and his sisters, Tina Mortenson and Lori Thesing, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnny Thesing and Ruth Ann Mortenson; his sister, Jewel Tow, and his niece, Alivia Mortenson.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 11:00 AM, with visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ulen, MN.