John Alan Richardson, 85, of Hazen, died Monday, July 9, 2012, at Sakakawea Medical Center, Hazen. Services will be held at 10 a.m. CDT on Friday, July 13, 2012, at English Lutheran Church, Hazen, with Pastor Mary Lou Aune officiating. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. CDT at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, south of Mandan. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. CDT today, July 12, at Barbot-Seibel Funeral Home, Hazen.
John was born March 27, 1927, in Hannaford, to John C. and Anne (Kaastad) Richardson. He was raised and educated in Hannaford and moved to Minot for his senior year and graduated in 1944 from Minot High School.
When he was 17 years old, he joined the Navy and served in World War II. John received the Commendation Ribbon for volunteering to serve two months check-sweeping Japanese waters for mines during his tour of duty. In 1946 he was honorably discharged and returned to Minot to attend college. He began law school at the University of Montana, graduating in 1951.
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On Sept. 11, 1949, John married Marge Svenkeson in Minot. Together they moved to Hazen in July 1951, where he worked for 50-plus years in a law career. John was an attorney for Oliver-Mercer Electric Cooperative for 46 years and West River Telephone for 42 years! In 2004 John suffered a stroke or more than likely he would still have been practicing law.
John enjoyed participating in a flying club, which he flew in during the 1960s and 1970s. He enjoyed taking his family to the lake, boating and waterskiing. John was always interested in learning history, a passion he shared with his father. He also had a love for the game of baseball, which he enjoyed playing when he was the third baseman for the Minot Rocks baseball team during college.
John is survived by: his wife, Marge, of Hazen; two daughters, Nancy (Earl) Schumann, of Wheatland, Wyo., and Nicki (Dean) Hulse, of Fargo; two grandchildren, Eric (Amanda) Schumann, of Evans, Colo., and Jill (Matthew) McAnelly, of Wheatland; and three great-grandchildren, Parker Schumann, Colter and Landon McAnelly.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert Richardson.
Arrangements are conducted by Barbot-Seibel Funeral Home, Hazen and Beulah.