Funeral services for Richard Gilbert Wasmoen, 78, of Albert Lea will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. John Holt will officiate. Interment will be at LeSueur River Lutheran Cemetery in rural New Richland. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.

Richard died Saturday, March 22, 2008, at Albert Lea Medical Center.

Richard Gilbert Wasmoen was born on Nov. 23, 1929, at Naeve Hospital in Albert Lea, the son of Gunlek and Bernice (Leonhardi) Wasmoen. He was baptized at the Emmons Lutheran Church and confirmed at First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. Richard was a 1947 graduate of Albert Lea High School. He also attended St. Olaf College in Northfield.

Richard married Lois Ingrid Evenson on Aug. 2, 1952, at LeSueur River Lutheran Church in rural New Richland. He was employed by Wilson & Co. and Farmstead for 49 years, working at Albert Lea, Swea City, Iowa, and New Ulm. He worked as a hog buyer, cattle buyer, and later in quality assurance at the plant in Albert Lea. He served in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. He was a member of the American Legion for over 50 years. Richard was a member of First Lutheran Church and over the years had sung in the choir and served on church councils for many years. He also taught Sunday school classes, was a youth leader and charter member of Grace Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He spent several years teaching Bible study classes through the Bethel Series and Search programs.

Richard is survived by his wife, Lois of Albert Lea; daughter, Marcia and her husband Roger Ahlgren of Janesville, Wis.; sons, the Rev. Brian Wasmoen and his wife LeAnn of Redfield, S.D., and Alan Wasmoen and his wife Dr. Terri of Omaha, Neb.; brother, Luther Wasmoen and his wife Patricia of Minnetonka; sister, Grace and her husband LeRoy Van Proosdy of Austin; grandchildren, Jeremy Ahlgren and his wife, Angela, Darren and Brett Ahlgren; Judd and Jardy Wasmoen and Lara and Reid Wasmoen. Also surviving were uncles and aunts, Herbert Leonhardi of Lake Mills, Ade Leonhardi and wife Jean of Sun City, Ariz., Nylene Wasmoen of Albert Lea and Donald Martinson of Red Wing; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Stuart Evenson, Oswald and Marjorie Evenson and Helen Mork, all of Albert Lea, and Lenore and Robert Johnson of Shakopee; and many cousins and 22 nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his father Gunlek, in 1983; mother Bernice, in 1997; sister, Ruth in 1935 and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Evenson, Margaret and George Ellis, Alvin Mork; nephew, Howard Mork and niece, Carole Jean Mork Peterson.