Richard Illies

Richard "Dick" Illies, age 74 of Fosston, MN passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 4th at his home in Fosston. A Requiem Mass will be held on Monday, February 9th at 9:00 AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel in Crookston, MN with Father Thomas Duncan Presiding. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM with a Rosary said at 7:00 PM at the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home in Fosston. Interment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery Hansville, rural Fosston. In Lieu of flowers memorials can be directed to Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel for Masses. The Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston is in charge of the arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to carlinhoialmen.com. Richard Henry Illies was born on March 5th, 1940 in Fosston, MN to parents Henry Francis Illies and Anna Marie (Nordin) Illies. He graduated from Fosston High School in 1958. He joined the United States Army and served his country proudly as an Avionics Mechanic from 1962-1965. He was extremely proud of being an SP 5 and spoke of his time serving to his children often. He married his greatest love, Gloria Jean (Theisen) Illies on August 24th, 1968 and had 5 children. Soon after their marriage they moved to Alaska where Dick worked as a carpenter. This was a wonderful memory for them both and happy stories of their time in Alaska were shared with family many times. From 1970-1979 he worked as a Honda Mechanic in Crookston and Grand Forks. 1979 he worked for Leikness Electric as an electrician in Fosston. 1982-1987 He opened his own small engine repair shop called Richard's Repair and quickly became known as an expert, trusted and fair repair man. There was no job that he would not tackle and was well known as a man who could "fix anything". He had excellent skills in carpentry, small engine repair, electricity and machine work of all kinds. In 1987 he began working for the United States Postal Service in Fosston and worked there for 12 years before retiring from that job after having a stroke in 1997. He was an accomplished machinist and enjoyed building miniature gas and steam engines. He was an honest man with a good heart and was dearly loved by his wife, children and grandchildren. Richard Henry Illies passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 4th, 2015 at his home in Fosston at the age of 74 years. He will be greatly missed. He was predeceased in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Gloria of Fosston, 5 children; Michael Illies (Jenny) of Gonvick, Thomas Illies of Fosston, Gerald Illies of Bemidji, Catherine (Illies) Snyder (Craig) of Northwood, ND, Elizabeth (Illies) Ruegemer (Jason) of Villard, MN; grandchildren, Christopher and Benedict Illies, Austin, Ethan, Christian, Mason, and Landon Snyder, Luke, Shawn and Caleb Ruegemer. He is also survived by 2 brothers David Illies (Debbie) of Fosston, James Illies of Fargo, ND and One sister JoAnn Niedzielski of Denver, CO.