Richard Trauley Sr., 88

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Richard “Dick” Frank Trauley Sr., age 88 of New Richmond, died Aug. 10 at Westfields Hospital in New Richmond.

Dick was born on October 28, 1919 in St. Paul, Minn.; the son of Frank and Gertrude (Blanchard) Trauley. He grew up on the lower east side of St. Paul and spent much of his youth with close friends at the old Tuxedo Playground, now Bluff Playground.

He attended VanBeuren Elementary School in St. Paul prior to graduating from Harding High School. As a young man, he enlisted in the armed forces where he proudly served in the United States Navy as a Pharmacists Mate 1st Class, during World War II. He was deployed with the amphibious fleet in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas.

On Sept. 16, 1950, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Strand at Calvary Lutheran Church in St. Paul. For many years, the couple resided in St. Paul where they would raise their children Richard and Deborah.

Richard was a dedicated and faithful employee for 3M Company for over 39 years. Furthermore, he served as past president for the 3M Quarter Century Club and past president of the 3M Golf leagues. He was a charter member of the 3M Chorus and longtime member of the Tartan Park Golf Club as well. Being a proud yet humbled veteran, he continued his service as Past Commander of the American Legion Post 599 in St. Paul.

The Trauleys would make Amery their home later in life and loved spending time at their cabin on Bear Trap Lake fishing.

Richard will be sadly missed by his family; wife of 57 years, Dorothy; children Richard Trauley Jr. of Amery, Deborah Trauley of Cary, North Carolina; grandchildren Ryan and Alison Trauley; brothers/sisters-in-law Esther Blossom of Baldwin, Hazelle Carroll of St. Paul, Kelly Strand of Hammond, Dorothy Simon of New Richmond; as well as many nieces, nephews and golfing friends at Tartan Park and Amery Gold Clubs.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents Frank and Gertrude (Blanchard) Trauley; infant son Ronald Scott Trauley; and brother Charles “Bud” Carlson.

A Celebration of Life for Richard was at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at First Lutheran Church, 258 North Third St., in New Richmond with Pastor Lowell Bolstad officiating. Burial with full military honors was in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Visitation was one hour prior to the service on Friday. Should friends and family desire, memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church Food Shelf.

Cremation services coordinated by the Countryside Crematory of Baldwin with funeral services entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Homes.

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