Richard James Drudik

Richard James Drudik, 83, of Sutton, Nebraska, passed away on March 13, 2026, at Mary Lanning Health Care in Hastings, Nebraska.

Born on December 7, 1942, on a farm south of Deweese, Nebraska, to Anton and Helen (Mazour) Drudik, Richard attended a small country school and graduated from Nelson High School in 1961. His passion for auctioneering began in high school, where he took a correspondence course and conducted his first household auction as a junior. After graduation, he served in the Army National Guard. On June 25, 1966, he married Bonnie June Alberding at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Deweese. Together they raised four children: Paul, Renee, Janelle, and David.

Richard farmed and managed livestock sale barns in Hastings and Franklin before purchasing the old sale barn in Sutton in 1969. In 1974, he and Bonnie built the new Sutton Livestock Sales Commission, which he owned and operated for 30 years. He competed in numerous World Auctioneer contests across the United States and Canada, earning a place among the top 15 finalists in 1985. While farming, he also raised cattle and purebred Spotted and Chester White hogs, winning several awards at the Nebraska State Fair. A longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, he served as an acolyte and was also active in the Sutton American Legion Post #61, the South-Central Pork Producers, and the Clay County Feeders Association.

Richard cherished polka music, Czech cooking, and kolaches. He was known for his quick wit, playful ornery spirit at family gatherings, and the special pancakes he made for his grandchildren. Above all, he was a devoted family man who deeply loved his wife, children, and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bonnie of Sutton; children Paul (Sheryl) Drudik of Saronville, Renee (Phill) Miller of Nelson, Janelle (Lee) Nuss of Sutton, and David (Shannon) Drudik of Sutton; 18 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; brother Tom Drudik of Grand Island; sisters Verena (Robert) Reiman of Hastings and Mary Kendall of Lafayette, Indiana; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Gladys and Arthur Alberding, sisters-in-law Betty Drudik and Darlene Kauk, brother-in-law Don Kauk, and nephew Don Darrel Kauk.