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Richard 'Dick' Schafer

Correction: The time of Mass was unclear in the obituary that appeared in Wednesday's edition of the Havre Daily News.

Our hearts are deeply saddened by the passing of Richard "Dick" Schafer, 81, who was called home to his Heavenly reward much too soon on Dec. 6, 2013.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Vigil services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church with Father Daniel Wathen and Father Dennis Schafer officiating. Memorials in Dick's name may be made to St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, St Jude Children's Hospital or the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Memories and condolences to the family can be posted online at http://www.hollandbonine.

A proud German, and loyal American, Richard was the sixth-born child of Michael John and Barbara (Fix) Schafer.  Richard's life began in Flasher, N.D., on Aug. 20, 1932.  In 1950, heeding the call to serve his country, he enlisted in the United States Army, during the Korean War.

Richard married Gavis Ringham on Sept. 2, 1953. He enrolled in Jamestown University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration. The Schafer family settled in Havre, Mont., in 1961, with their children Cheryl, Kelly and Julie. Richard began Schafer Insurance, which is still in existence today. The couple lived and loved 57 years together until Gavis passed on April 26, 2010.

Richard was an avid pilot who lived life to the fullest. He used his business degree not only at building Schafer Insurance, but also in creating Schafer Bonding, North Montana Realty, Salon Beau Monde and The Golden Belle.

Richard was a founder, organizer and always committed to his community. He sponsored a local softball team, helped to found the Pachyderm Club, was a member of the Jaycees and helped get the H. Earl Clack Museum started. He was also with the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, the Optimists Club, a grand knight and fourth degree Knight of Columbus, a member of the Highland Park Improvement Association to get the streets paved, the Salvation Army Advisory Board, Montana Association of Insurance Agents, Local Independent Insurance Agents, and St. Jude Thaddeus Church Parish Council, and he served as a lector and a eucharistic minister. He was primary in beginning the Northern Montana Hospital Fund Drive so Havre would have a local medical facility.

Dick was a nearly six-decade member of the Coffee Club meeting daily at the Lunch Box.

As Richard stated, "Man was not meant to be alone," and it was by the hand of God, through church he met a Pittsburgh, Pa., writer and event planner, the woman who was to be his second wife, and on Oct. 8, 2011, he married Carolaine Peticca Pollen.  Following their marriage, Rich, Carolaine, two dogs and a parakeet returned to Havre and lived blissfully in love till Richard's passing.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gavis; his sister, Sister Charlene, and brothers, Leo, Otto and Peter Schafer.

He is survived by his widow, Carolaine; his children, Cheryl (Daryl) Morse, Kelly (Carmen) Schafer all of Havre, Mont., and Julie (Karl) Schottstaedt of Petaluma, Calif .; his loved and cherished grandchildren, Nathan and Ryan Schafer, and Lisa Marie Morse all of Havre; Sierra (Greg) Fontana, CPA, of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Erich, A.J. and Jade Schottstaedt of Petaluma, Calif .; great – grandchildren, Troy, Cheyenne, Kaleb, Kelly and Kasey Schafer of Havre; his brothers, Adam (Helen) Schafer, John Schafer of Flasher N.D. and James (Marie) Schafer of Fort Myers, Fla .; his sisters, Mary (Tony) Frank, Margie (Andrew) Schweitzer, and Virginia (Matt) Kraft, all of Bismarck, N.D .; and his brother-in-law, Dr. Benjamin B. (Diana) Peticca; loving and cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors and his faithful companion, Cubby.

Your journey on Earth was so well done, you never met a person you did not call "brother, sister or friend." Richard Nicholas Schafer, you have surely earned your Heavenly reward. You are in Heaven; there is nowhere else your magnificence could ever be.

Rest in eternal peace, our beloved one ...till we meet again.

 

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