Richard 'Dick' Ross

A Celebration of Life for Richard ‘Dick’ Ross will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris with a visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Richard Dean Ross was born on August 4, 1937, in Morris, Minnesota, to Walter and Elizabeth (Hadler) Ross. He was baptized as an infant and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Morris in 1951. Dick attended Morris Public School where he participated in band, and played in several sports, receiving letters in baseball, football, and basketball. He graduated from Morris High School in 1955.

Dick joined the MN National Guard as a junior in high school, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in August of 1955. He was stationed at Great Lakes where he received Basic Training in addition to Hospital Corpsman School. Dick was subsequently stationed in Corona, California, and the Hawaiian Islands. He received his honorary discharge in August of 1959 in San Francisco, California. Dick was employed at the Stevens County Highway Department for 33 years and retired as Assistant County Engineer in June of 1994.

Dick married Audre Ann Kolling on September 21, 1963, at First Lutheran Church in Morris. Dick and Audre spent many years as spectators watching their three sons play in various sporting events for Morris Public Schools. He severed for years as an usher at First Lutheran Church and was an officer for the Morris Swim Team Parent’s Club.

Dick came from a long line of bowlers. His grandfather, William J. Ross, his dad, Walter, and four of Walter’s brothers, bowled as a team in many tournaments around the state. When Dick was a youngster, he set pins at his Dad’s bowling alley. He also enjoyed bowling and bowled for many years with his bowling team, taking in many tournaments. In 1978, Dick bowled the first 300 sanctioned game at Lakeview Lanes in Morris.

Dick also enjoyed fishing, hunting, and golfing, and in later years, working in his garden. Dick was a kind, generous friend, and deeply cared for his family. He especially enjoyed his nine grandchildren who knew exactly who to ask when they wanted pop and cookies!

Dick passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at the West Wind Village in Morris, after a brief illness, he was 87 years old.

He is survived by his three sons and their families: Kevin and Sara Ross and their children: Gabrielle, Noah, and Phillip, Carter and Natalie Ross and their children: Anthony, Nathan, Brady, and Carlie Ross, and Kyle Ross and his children: Jaden and Brandon Ross. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Audre; his brothers: Kenneth Ross and Dennis Ross; and sister, Karen Greiner.

Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris is in care of arrangements for Dick.