Richard "Dick" Louis Christensen, 89, of Arlington, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, at the Arlington Care and Rehab Center with his loving family surrounding him.  He died after a long history of illnesses. 

Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church at Arlington. 

Burial with military rites is at Arlington City Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday from 5 to 8 at Johnson-Henry Funeral Home in Arlington.

Richard was born on April 20, 1927, on a farm south of Arlington as the next to youngest child of 10 to Peter L. and Carrie Christensen. Dick entered the U.S. Army in 1952 in the 50th AAA AW Battalion in Korea for two years.  

He was discharged in 1954 when he returned to farm Bunk Hill Farms.  

He married Marlys Larson in Lake Preston on Dec. 26, 1955.  They were parents to two sons and two daughters. 

Dick and Marlys lived there until moving to Arlington in 1998.  

Dick enjoyed woodworking, so upon retirement, he and Marlys ran Frames Plus More, a custom matting and framing business, for many years. Among many community activities he was a lifetime member and past-commander of the Arlington American Legion. 

One of his proudest accomplishments was being an organizer of the Arlington Veterans’ Memorial.            He was honored by SDSU as Eminent Farmer in 2005.  He was a 65-year member and officer of South Dakota Rural Youth and YMW Organization.  He was chosen as WNAX Man of the Year. 

He is survived by his wife, Marlys of Arlington; sons, Brian (Teresa) of Arlington, Dr. Alan (Karla) of Watertown; daughters, Lorinda (Al Avery) Royer of Parker, Colo., and Shellie (Dale) Brandriet of Arlington, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren along with many beloved relatives and friends.