Rick Monson

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 7:16 pm

Rick Monson, age 70, of Highlandville, passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Gundersen Health Systems in La Crosse, Wis.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at St. Benedict Catholic Church – 307 West Main Street, Decorah, with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will be at Big Canoe Cemetery. The family has reserved the gathering space at Big Canoe Church for anyone that would like to visit immediately following the burial.

Visitation will be Friday, May 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Helms Funeral Home, 306 East Water St., Decorah, and also after 9:30 a.m., at the church Saturday morning.

Rick Marvin Monson was born Oct. 14, 1953, to Marvin and Ruby (Wiemerslage) Monson in Spring Grove, Minn. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Luke’s Church in Eitzen, Minn. Rick attended country school in the Dorchester area, followed by Dorchester Elementary and he completed his education at Waukon High School, graduating in 1971.

On Aug. 4, 1973, Rick was united in marriage with Janice Ann Burke at St. Joseph’s Church in New Albin. To this union two children were born: Ryan and Amy. Rick served in the United States Army Europe (Germany) with D Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery of the Seventh Army as a Pershing Missile Crewman from 1973-1975. Upon his Honorable Discharge from active duty, he served with Company B 389th Engineer Battalion, Decorah from 1975-1978. Rick was very proud of his military service and was a current 25-year member of Mabel American Legion Post 299 in Mabel, Minn.

Rick began working as a farm hand on the LC Bolson Farm of rural Decorah and later for Miller’s Viewlawn Angus near Canton, Minn. Moving to the community of Highlandville in 1985, Rick changed professions and began working as an appliance service technician at Hardy’s Western Auto Store in Decorah. From 1995-2016 Rick owned and operated his own repair business known as Rick’s Appliance Repair. Community involvement included serving as an usher/greeter at St. Benedict’s Church, Highland Township Trustee and secretary for the Winneshiek County Rural Fire Board.

Over the years Rick enjoyed spending time with family, grandchildren and friends, deer and turkey hunting, classic cars, Green Bay Packers, Iowa Hawkeyes, rock-n-roll music, backyard wildlife watching, grilling, and smoking meat and being part of the Highlandville community.

Rick is survived by his wife of 50 years, Janice; daughter: Amy (Joel) Teslow of Decorah; grandchildren: Will, Jake and Brock Teslow; sisters: Debra Monson of Decorah and Sandra (Marty) McFarlin of Racine, Minn.; brothers-in-law: Joe Burke of Waukon, John Burke of Waukon, James Bernard Burke of New Albin, Jeff (Mary) Burke of Decorah, Jay (Becky) Burke of Austin, Minn., Justin (fiancé Terri Boardman) Burke of Sutherland; nephews: Terry, Brian, Dylan, Andrew, Joshua, Jesse, Jordan, Judd, Eric and Clayton. Nieces: Tracy, Emily, Sarah, Samantha, Kara, Courtney, Brittany, Katie, Alison, Briana and several great nieces and nephews.

Rick was preceded in death by his son Ryan Monson in 2002; father and mother: Marvin and Ruby Monson; father-in-law and mother-in-law Ray and Betty Burke; sister: Mary Kay Lund; brothers-in-law Wyatt Christopherson, Jerry Burke, and Oscar Lund; nephews: Scottie Lund, Jeremiah Burke, Jackson Burke, Jamison Burke; and great niece Christine Lund.