Richard Brtek

Richard Brtek, age 58, of Blaine, MN, and formerly of Fosston, MN, passed away on Saturday, June 27th, at his home in Blaine following a courageous battle with cancer. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2nd, at Kingo Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. John Ragan officiating. Interment will be in Landsverk Cemetery, rural Fosston. A walk-through visitation to greet the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1st, at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston. Wearing of masks is strongly encouraged at both the visitation and memorial service. Social distancing guidelines will be in effect and it is requested that you bring your own mask if you have one. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided. As always, cards may be brought to the funeral home in Fosston during normal business hours or mailed to the funeral home in care of the Richard Brtek family. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com. A note from the family: We wish everyone could attend the funeral service but because of the Covid-19 space limitations in the church, we have arranged a celebration and lunch to be held at Ventures beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Please come join us.We are hosting a celebration of life for Richard at our home in Blaine at 11724 Jefferson St. NE, Blaine, MN 55434 on Saturday, July 11th at 2:00 p.m. for our Twin Cities friends and family. All are welcome. Lunch will be served. If you have a memory to share, bring it. Richard Lee Brtek left us on a warm clear summer night, with the sky filled with stars and puffs of clouds. He would have loved that. Richard was born on November 22, 1961. He died after a fierce battle with pancreatic cancer at 1:13 a.m. on June 27, 2020 at 58 years old. He fought to stay with his loving family as long as he could. He was so strong. His pain was incredible but he worked to make his last days as meaningful as possible. And he succeeded.Richard was born in Mahnomen, Minnesota, the first of five children of Lucille Aileen Roe Brtek and Wilfred William Brtek. He lived with his family first in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and from the age of 7 on a farm south of Fosston, Minnesota. Richard remembered living in the grainery the first year as the house was being built by the family. He had many fond memories of his childhood with his brothers and sisters. Richard graduated from Fosston High School with the class of 1979, the year of the cat he always said. He attended Anoka Technical College in 1992, graduating with a degree in electrical design. He was a natural with his amazing math skills and logical mind and was driven to always improve. Richard had many jobs in his life, each of which gave him another piece to his incredible puzzle. In his youth, he learned many many aspects of farming while working not only on the family farm but also for many farmers in the area. He learned about masonry from his dear friend and mentor Allen Hemmingson. He learned his incredible carpentry skills while working with his dad and uncle but mostly by his drive to perfect his skill. He was a natural with the mechanics of cars, learning how to not only fix but destroy many many cars in his lifetime. He loved to cook and eat so was always learning new grilling tips and cooking techniques to up his game. It would've been difficult to find an area in which Richard did not have at least some knowledge. And all these pieces and Richard's curiosity and drive to learn created this incredible person we all knew and admired.Richard met the love of his life on a Friday evening in June 1979. After investigating a haunted house together, he knew Bette was his person. Richard and Bette Sue Senum were married at Kingo Lutheran Church on September 13, 1986. They made their home in Blaine, Minnesota. They were blessed with two beautiful girls, Janelle Marie and Ashley Sue who made the family complete. Two grandchildren Derick Richard and Janelle Leola came along and added a sparkle to everything. Richard enjoyed life. He loved to take chances and be thrilled. He loved to fish and hunt and do just about anything outdoors. And he absolutely loved his work. He woke up each day with a drive to accomplish and to live his best life. And his energy was highly contagious. In 2009, Richard moved his renovation business to Fosston which allowed him to spend more time with his mom, a gift. He commuted back and forth between his home in Blaine and Fosston. Richard was preceded in death by his dear mom Lucy in May 2019, his loving in-laws Mary and Ralph Senum and brother-in-law Mike Senum. Left here to miss him and carry on his memory are his loving wife Bette, his daughters Ashley Sue Brtek (St. Paul, MN) and Janelle Marie Brtek and her two beautiful children Derick Richard and Janelle Leola (Blaine, MN), his brothers Bill (Lengby) and Danny (Angie) (Winger), his sisters Michelle (Greg) Gagner (Mentor, MN) and Amy (Dana) Dullum (Minnetrista, MN), his father Willie (Naytauwaush, MN), brothers-in-law Bill (Cheryl) Senum and Rick (Cathy) Senum, and many wonderful nieces and nephews. Let his memory stay alive in all who loved him. He will be missed.