Visitation: Visitation will be 5:00-7:00pm Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at Anderson Jones Corcoran Harrisburg Funeral Chapel with family present to greet friends.

Service: Funeral services will be held 10:00am Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at Harrisburg United Methodist Church. 

Livestream: Click here

Richard (Rich or Richie) Charles Slack

Richard was the first of three sons born to Roy and Grace (DeJong) Slack in Canton, South Dakota on December 28, 1930. He grew up in rural Harrisburg and attended Prairie Grove, Dayton, and Harrisburg schools. He was a lifetime member of the Harrisburg United Methodist Church. On February 29, 1952, Richard left to serve in the Korean War in the army as a mechanic. Private First Class Slack was honorably discharged on February 11, 1954. Although he did not speak much of his experiences in active duty, he did receive several acclamations including the Korean Service Medal with 1 bronze service star, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He was a member of the Harrisburg American Legion Post 45 and the Canton VFW. He also served on the Harrisburg Fire Department for 25 years.

He met the love of his life Joyce Linder and they were married at the Harrisburg United Methodist Church on November 21, 1954. Joyce brought her daughter Vickie into the union and they adopted Mary on November 28,1959. They farmed south of Lake Alvin their entire lives. Over the years farming included growing and harvesting crops, feeder and milk cows, pigs, chickens, and a couple of horses. For 50 years the calendar that hung by the phone contained a very detailed event of each day including the weather, what they had done, where they had went, who stopped to visit and occasionally what they had for meals! On the back of the calendar there was a list of everyone they knew with their phone numbers. He saved them and looked back at past years regularly. He loved watching and giving farm advice to his nephews (Greg and Mike). He watched the RFD channel for the farm report and grain prices up until his last days and on Saturday asked if Mike was planting yet. Joyce passed away exactly 10 years ago on April 17, 2014, the same month and day as Richard. They were married 59 years, 4 months and 24 days not quite making their 60 year anniversary.

They enjoyed dancing and especially going to the Polka Dot and Arkota with friends on the weekends. He watched Lawrence Welk, Hee-Haw, Mollie B Polka Party and still would watch the reruns like they were new shows. They had a special group of friends that would get together for house parties, camping and then later on going out for drinks and supper every Tuesday night. His interests included going to farm sales with his good friends Bob Lind and Dayton Sneve. He enjoyed buying, restoring and showing antique tractors that he would drive with much pride in the Granite and Lennox tractor parades. When life slowed down they started taking a couple weeks each winter and going to either Texas with friends or visiting Vernon and Carolyn in Arizona. He loved sitting outside and soaking in the warmth. His favorite past time was visiting with any and every one that would have a conversation with him. He looked out for his neighbors and befriended many of those that were down and out! He loved when the grandchildren would come out to the farm to ride the three wheeler and carve pumpkins, the older they got he put them to work spraying weeds and mowing! The past 10 years he enjoyed attending his great grandchildren’s sporting events and activities.

Richard moved to Stoneybrook Assisted Living in February 2021 and moved to Canton Good Samaritan in March of 2022. Although he would have loved to live in his own home, health prevented him from doing so. The staff at CGS said he had the most visitors of any of the other residents. He enjoyed Friday happy hours with music and the highlight of his stay was being selected as their Homecoming King and getting to ride in the Canton School Homecoming parade last fall.

Survivors include: daughters Vickie Straw (David Kappenman) Sioux Falls, Mary (Mark) McClung Harrisburg.  Grandchildren include Jennifer Schaffer (Dan Valient) Sioux Falls, Jason (Shelly) Heibult Vancouver WA, Emily Robinson Sioux Falls, Nichole (Jeff) Drexler Harrisburg, Nicholas McClung Harrisburg. Great Grandchildren include: Brittany (Geoff), Destiny (Tanner), Dawson, Jacob, Miranda, Harley, Caleb, Paige, Carson, Kenslee and Kyle. Great great grandchildren include: Brayden, Paeton, Greyson, Leighton and Asher. Brother, Vernon (Carolyn) Slack Sioux Falls and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Those preceding him in death include his parents Roy and Grace Slack, his wife Joyce and his brother Robert and sister in-law Joan.

Funeral services will be held 10:00am Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at Harrisburg United Methodist Church.  Visitation will be 5:00-7:00pm Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at Anderson Jones Corcoran Harrisburg Funeral Chapel with family present to greet friends.

Memorials may be directed to Harrisburg American Legion Post 45, Harrisburg Fire Department or Canton Senior Center.

To view a live stream of the service click on link below:

Harrisburg United Methodist Church – Live (harrisburgumc.com)