Richard H. Myers

Richard H. Myers, 86 of Linton, passed away surrounded by family on June 13, 2025, at CHI St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Linton, ND with interment to follow at Linton Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 5:00-7:30 P.M. on Monday, June 16, 2025, also at First Baptist Church in Linton, with a Prayer Service beginning at 7:30 P.M. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.

Richard H. Myers was born August 27, 1938, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the son of Woodrow (Bud) and Wilma (Curtis) Myers. He attended Mark Twain Grade School in Sioux Falls. During the summers between the ages of 10 to 13, he stayed with his grandparents, Frank and Minnie Myers on their farm. He had many fond memories of his grandparents and riding their black pony to get the cows, which was his favorite thing to do. His family moved to Platte, SD in 1952. At the age of 14, he began operating heavy equipment for his father’s earth moving construction company during the summers. He graduated from Platte High School in 1956 at the age of 17 and enlisted in the US Navy in August of the same year. In the spring of 1956, he met Carole at a gas station where he was helping her cousin install mufflers. Smitten, they started dating. He told her he loved her on their third date.

After one year in the Navy, he became a plane Captain in the VFIII fighter Squadron and later was deployed on the USS Bennington Air Craft Carrier for a nine-month cruise to Japan and the Philippines. In 1958, he served as a Sonar Operator for a PV47 Sea Plane Squadron. They were stationed in Iwakuni, Japan for one year. During this time they flew to Okinawa, Wake, Guam and the Kwajalein Islands. After a four-year stint, he was honorably discharged in May of 1960 and moved back to SD, where Carole was awaiting his arrival.

They married on July 29, 1960 and made an 8-foot wide by 35-foot-long trailer house their home in Elk Point, SD while he attended the University of South Dakota at Vermillion for two years. This is also where they were blessed with their first daughter, Richelle.

He transferred to the California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles, California and graduated in 1964 and completed an apprenticeship at Utter McKinley Mortuaries in Los Angeles. Because the newest addition to their family, Julie, was allergic to the smog, they moved to Corning, CA where he worked at Hall Brothers Funeral Home. They moved back to South Dakota in 1970, making their home in Wessington Springs. In 1973 they moved to Mobridge, SD where he worked for Kesling Funeral Home. Michael was born to them in a March snow storm of 1975. On June 20th of 1980, Richard moved his family to Linton, ND where he became a partner and friend with Tom Weigel of the Weigel Myers Funeral Home. In 1987, he became sole owner of the funeral home. He sold the funeral home in 1998, and became a consultant.

While in the Navy, he was confronted with the question of if he believed in heaven and hell. He said he didn’t. The sailor said that if there wasn’t a heaven or hell, like Richard believed, then both Richard and the sailor would be fine, but if there was a heaven and hell, then the sailor would be fine, but Richard wouldn’t. The Lord used this to plant a seed and in 1966, Richard accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. While living in Linton, he was a member of the First Baptist Church and served his church on numerous boards. He also served on the Linton Hospital Board, the Strasburg Nursing Home Board and the Strasburg State Bank Board. He served his community well and was well liked.

After visiting Julie, then teacher, in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas numerous times, they decided they would like to spend their winters there. They officially became Winter Texans in 2007 and later bought a second house down there. It was in the Aladdin Village where he realized his hidden talent of wood carving. He enjoyed his new found hobby and created many beautiful items, including pendulum wall clocks.

Richard wasn’t perfect, that’s why he needed Christ as his Lord and Savior (as we all do), but he strove to live his life in a way that would glorify God.

He is survived by his wife, Carole, of 64 years; his two daughters and son-in laws, Richelle and Ron Jangula of Linton, ND and Julie and Dan Healy of Bartlesville, OK and his son and daughter in law, Michael and Sheri Myers of Frisco, TX; seven grandchildren: Danielle Jangula, Courtney (husband Caleb) Mickelson, Hayley Jangula, James Healy (wife RaeAnn), Ashley Healy, and Alexis and Jacob Myers and four step-grandchildren; Jake Timmons, Nick Timmons and Michaela (husband Travis) Tate and Monica Coleman (husband Gage). He has three great grandsons and one great-granddaughter, Sawyer, Brody and Gavin Mickelson and Haddi Healy and four step-grandchildren; Hunter, Brexton and Remington Coleman and Brentlee Tate .

Richard was a godly man, striving to let his light shine in the darkness of this world. He taught his family to love hard and work hard and to always do their best and do it right, even when it might be easier to cut corners. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, wood carving and showing off his grilling skills. He is respected by all who had the blessing of knowing him.