Funeral services for Olaf S. Richards, age 81, of Albert Lea, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Trinity Lutheran Church. The Rev. John Chrsitianson and the Rev. Curtis Zieske will officiate. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Olaf died on Friday, Oct. 25, 2002, in Rochester.

Olaf Stanley Richards was born on Dec. 26, 1920, in Decorah Iowa, the son of Bert and Ida (Jacobson) Richards. He grew up and attended school in Decorah. Olaf served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1946 in the South Pacific. On July 2, 1947, Olaf was united in marriage to Lorraine Sandstrom at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin. Olaf was a salesman for the Automatic Manufacturing Company for many years, retiring in 1990. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Olaf was very mechanically inclined and enjoyed fixing things. He also liked watching golf.

Survivors include his wife, Lorraine of Albert Lea; sons: Lonny and his wife Gail Richards of Navarro, Calif., Steve and his wife Winnie Richards of Minneapolis, and Rod and his wife Hanje Richards of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren: Nils, Malcolm, Willie, Jack, Harry, and Claire Richards; sisters: Grace Rabe of Denver, Colo., and Norma Helebrant of Mankato; brother, Russ Richards of Ft. Meyers, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

Olaf was preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Ethel Peters, Mae Stemson, Cora Lundy, Gloria Landgren and Donnie Peters; and by brothers: Oliver and Grant Richards.