Funeral services for Richard Dean Flatness, 76, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday at St. Theodore Catholic Church. The Rev. John Traufler and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Richard passed on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, from a major stroke at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester with his family at his side.
Richard was born on Dec. 31, 1932, to Clarence and Sena (Houge) Flatness in Worth County, Iowa. At the age of 12 he moved with his family to the farm in Glenville and he attended Albert Lea High School. He worked as a laborer at Wilson’s for 38 1/2 years and farmed. On Aug. 25, 1952, he was united in marriage with LaDonna Kilcoyne who later passed on. On Dec. 7, 1957, he was united in marriage with Lois Holdgrafer. They lived on a farm near Manchester until September of 1994 when they moved to Albert Lea. Richard was a member of St. Theodore Catholic Church, and enjoyed helping others, gardening, carpentry, woodworking, fishing, and he especially enjoyed having coffee with Merlyn.
Survivors include: his wife, Lois; children: Collin (Debbie) Flatness, Paul Flatness, Cindy (Ken) Stolberg, Robert (Jeannette) Flatness, Diane (Glenn) Slayton, Kevin (Judy Olson) Flatness and Lori (William) Schirmer); grandchildren: Michelle, Krystal, Troy, Sandy, Stephen, Brian, Jason, Tami, Colton, Jennifer, Kelsey, Mark, Sara, Stephanie, Chance, Tania, Matthew, and Andrew; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great- grandchild; brothers: Marlin Flatness, Don (Jan) Flatness, Lyle (Barb) Flatness; sisters: Lois (Archie) Lau and Janice (Kenny) Houg.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, LaDonna; infant granddaughter, Christy LaDawn Sumner; and sister-in-law, Donna Flatness.