Richard Clayton Scheffel, 92, of rural Lyle, died on Aug. 17, 2013, at Fieldcrest Care Center in Hayfield.

Richard was born on March 13, 1921, in Freeborn County to Herbert F. and Nettie (Nelson) Scheffel. He was baptized April 10, 1921, at the London Lutheran Church in London by the Rev. A.C. Korsrud. He was confirmed May 31, 1936, at London Lutheran Church. Richard attended school in Otranto, Iowa, and graduated in 1939. He attended college at Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa.

Richard was united in marriage to Minnie Bernette Helle on June 2, 1943. They were married 69 years in 2012. Richard served on the Otranto School Board. He was an active member of Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church.

Richard and his wife, Minnie, operated a dairy farm in Worth County, Iowa. He was always improving his operation with new ideas and innovations, such as the milking parlor he built in 1958. Richard and Minnie enjoyed several winters in Arizona and south Texas as snowbirds, with their friends from the London area.

In 2002, Richard and Minnie moved from their acreage on Highway 105 to Austin. They were residents of Pickett Place and the Cedars before their declining health found them at Fieldcrest Care Center in Hayfield. They resided there for nearly five years.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Minnie Scheffel; parents, Herbert and Nettie Scheffel; in-laws Ole and Lena Helle; son, Arnold Clayton Scheffel; brothers-in-law, Melvin, Orville and Hans Helle, Palmer Benson and John Brady; sisters-in-law, Anna Benson, Lillian Brady and Dolores Helle; and granddaughter, Amy Lynn Scheffel.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Judy Stark, Atwater; son and daughter-in-law, Roger and DeAnn Scheffel of Lyle; grandchildren, Matt and Sue Stark, Suzi and Tony Holtz, Mindee and Joe Hemann, Scott and Dani Scheffel, Patty and Mark Conradt, Jenny Scheffel, Mikky and Rod Lange and Candy and Randy Lahann; 16 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Ruth and Sheldon Lukes of Austin, Phyllis and Leon Jacobson of Lyle and Fern Johnson of Austin; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church in Glenville with the Rev. Dennis Tamke officiating. Interment will be in Woodbury Cemetery in Lyle. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary and at the church on Saturday for one hour before the service.

Memorials may be designated to Lyle Area Cancer or to the donor’s choice.

Blessed be his memory.