Richard D. Sletten, 71, Lake Mills, Iowa

Published 12:00 am Friday, February 4, 2005

Richard D. Sletten, age 71, of Lake Mills, Iowa, died on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005, at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 7,

at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Scarville, Iowa, with Rev. Randy Baldwin officiating. Burial will take place at North Prairie Lutheran Cemetery, rural Leland, Iowa. Visitation will be on Sunday, Feb. 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

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Memorials may be directed to the North Prairie Cemetery Corporation.

Richard Dean Sletten was born Jan. 3, 1934, in rural Freeborn County, to parents Albert and Alma (Nelson) Sletten. Following the death of his mother in 1935, Richard was cared for by various family members. At age 3, Richard came to live with his uncle and aunt, Pearlin and Ella Pederson. He was baptized at home and was confirmed at North Prairie Lutheran Church. Richard attended country school and public school in the communities of Scarville, Leland, and Lake Mills, graduating with the class of 1952.

On June 12, 1955, Richard was united in marriage with Arlene Schultz at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton, Iowa. The couple made their home in rural Leland, Iowa, where Richard farmed for a number of years. In August 1979, they moved into Lake Mills, and Richard worked for Land O’Lakes in Albert Lea and Winnebago Industries in Forest City, Iowa, before retiring.

Richard truly enjoyed watching sports, especially football and Chicago Cubs baseball. Richard thrived on the friendships he had with his coffee buddies at Hardees in Forest City.

Survivors include his children: Clyde Sletten of Lake Mills, Iowa, Diane Sletten of Worthington, James Sletten and his wife Dagmar of Lake Mills, Neal Sletten and his wife Gaye of Lake Mills, and Roy Sletten and his wife Becky of

Lake Mills, IA; seven grandchildren: Adrienne Skilbred of Ames, Iowa, Ryan Sletten of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Kristin Sletten of Cedar Falls, Nathan Sletten of Sioux Falls, S.D., Nicole Sletten of Lake Mills, Melody Eggerth and her husband Andrew of Lake Mills, and Heather Price of Mason City, Iowa; three great-grandchildren: Alex, Ariana and Bladen; two brothers: Kenneth Sletten and his wife Iva of Clarks Grove, and Arnold Sletten and his wife Elaine of Brownsdale, Minn.; a sister, Helen Raveill of Chatfield; brothers-in-law: Dale Schultz of Kensett, Iowa, and Allen Schultz of Kensett; sisters-in-law: Ann Sletten of Albert Lea, and Doris Davis and her husband Robert of Nashua, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Arlene, in 1989; infant daughter, Joy; brothers: Donald Sletten, Earl Sletten and his wife Viv, and Henry Sletten; a sister, Violet Haugen and her husband Marvin; and a brother-in-law, Russel Schultz.