Richard "Dick" Raymond Bellefeuille

Richard Raymond Bellefeuille (Dick), 96, peacefully passed away on February 17, 2026, at Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes, MN. Dick was born to Richard and Alma Bellefeuille at the family home in Callaway, MN, on January 25, 1930. He was one of seven sons and two daughters. After graduating from Detroit Lakes High School, he attended Business College and served his country as an Army National Guard member in Alabama. Dick was united in marriage to Marna Rikhus on August 22, 1953. Together they carried on the Catholic tradition of raising a large family, having six daughters and two sons.

Dick worked for Johnson’s Bee Farm while managing his own hives, with his children accompanying him at times. He worked for Peter’s Meats and then started his own food-products distribution business, B-Line Distributing. His children took their turns riding the route with him, which gave them knowledge of many of the local resorts and restaurants in Northern Minnesota and an opportunity to develop their social skills. Dick was a people person who thoroughly enjoyed his many customers and friends. One of his frequent phrases was, “If you have one friend, you have it all!” He understood that to have a friend, you had to be one.

Dick worked briefly for Foltz Buildings, which helped develop his carpentry skills. He began to build garden sheds and decks with his son Alan, who later formed his own company. He found his true passion in his retirement years, building birdhouses out of birch bark, rusty wire, and old barn wood. He so enjoyed tramping through the woods with his son Richard gathering birch bark and other of nature's treasures to build them. He named the business Beautiful Leaf, which in French is “Bellefeuille.”

Dick married Marilyn (Mieher) Firnhaber on October 30, 1991, and together they traveled selling birdhouses, picking berries, and gaining friends along the way. Dick’s personal passions included hunting, both waterfowl and deer, along with softball. As much as the hunt, he cherished the time spent at deer camp on Glander Lake with his family and friends, playing cards, savoring brandy, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Dick was a lifelong Catholic who loved Jesus and was known to encourage others, especially his grandchildren, to keep on following Him.

Dick is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughters Deborah (Ron Burnside) Thornton, Michelle (Charles) Okeson, Theresa (Scott) Staffon, Joan (Erik) Askegaard, Ramona (Al) Boehne; sons Richard (Daneen) Bellefeuille, and Alan (Tricia) Bellefeuille. 28 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren and one brother, David (Betty) Bellefeuille and many nieces and nephews. Sisters-In-Law, Marion (Duane), Natalie (Keith) and Jeanette Jahnke (Dennis), Brother-In-Law Jim Dixon (Danielle). Dick was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Virginia, grandsons Jedd Harms and John Ehritt; Son-In-Law John Thornton (Deborah); brothers Warren, Duane, Dennis, Keith, and Kenneth, and sisters Mary and Danielle, Sister-In-Law, Della (Warren) and Brother-In-Law, Bernie Nugent (Mary).

Visitation from 5:00-7:00 pm will be held at West Kjos Funeral Home on Friday, March 6, and one hour prior to the 11:00 am Funeral Service at Assumption Catholic Church, Callaway, MN, on Saturday, March 7. Internment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given in Dick’s memory to Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge. Finally, Dick’s family extends a heartfelt thank you to Oak Crossing for loving and caring for him the past two years. It is our belief that the great care he received gave us the benefit of some extra time with him.

Arrangements entrusted to West-Kjos Funeral Home of Detroit Lakes

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