Obituary of Richard Charles Slaba

   Geddes - Richard Slaba, 75, died at Platte Health Center in Platte, SD on Friday, July 10, 2020. Funeral service will be Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 10:00 AM at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Geddes at 10:00 with burial folowing in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery in Geddes.

   Richard Charles Slaba was born on December 4, 1944, to Alvin and Tillie (Kisely) Slaba in Geddes, SD. Richie took over the family farm at the age of 15. He graduated from Geddes High School in 1962. On July 6, 1974, he married Colleen (Rete) Masur - his “Retezie Pie” -  at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. They just celebrated their 46th anniversary.

   Richie enjoyed watching his children’s sports activities, dancing, watching his Oakland A’s and Indianapolis Colts, playing on and managing the Geddes baseball town team, listening to Don Williams, and playing cards.

   On July 25, 2018, Richie entered the Lake Andes Nursing Home due to Parkinson’s disease. 

   Richie is survived by his devoted wife Rete; son Matthew (Mieke) Slaba and their children Theodore, Presley, Cooper, and Avieleigh of Wagner, SD; daughter April (Toby) Russell of Mitchell, SD; daughter Joleen (Matthew) Urban and their children Lily, Justin, Caleb, and Sienna of Rochester, MN; son Bruce (Stephanie) Slaba and their children Delanie and Raleigh of Harrisburg, SD; daughter McKenzie (Adam) Frerichs and their children Oakley and Maddox of Mount Vernon, SD; brother Eugene (Lois) Slaba of Geddes, SD; sister Marie (Dean) McQuay of Rapid City, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.

   Richie was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, 3 brothers-in-law, 3 nieces, and 1 nephew.

Pappy’s Hands 
 
Many years passed through Pappy’s hands… 
 
Buried his father at the too-soon age of fifteen 
Looked after his mother until her dying day 
Took Rete’s hand in marriage as if she were a queen 
Held his two boys and three girls for the first times 
 
“Peace be with you” to fellow Catholics on Sunday mornings 
Slow, high waves to passers while he trudged through our yard 
 
Swung that baseball bat during Geddes’s townteam baseball season 
Pet his man’s best friend while strollin’ in from chores 
Built snowmen to enjoy his children’s smiles when it was freezin’ 
Clapped for his children when the scoreboard points increased 
 
Uncontrollable shake: an effect of Parkinsons 
Scribbled on checks to keep the old farm runnin’ 
 
Prayed and protected his children when beating their cancers 
Never used his hands to show disappointment towards anyone 
Reached to his heart to find all the answers 
Flipped to ESPN to see if the Oakland A’s earned yet another run 
 
Stained with oil 
 
Scarred with farming scrapes 
 
Tossed those bulky bales 
Steered the worn-out equipment 
Pulled the trigger at pheasants while blockin’ ends of fields 
Clicked the mouse when he tried to break Mom’s records 
 
Held his grandchildren with adoration and admiration 
Held Mom to show his caring love 
 
Pappy’s hands will always and forever be 
The things in this life that dearly hold his family