Dick (Dirk) Morren went to be with his Lord Jesus at 9:04 PM Saturday, September 9, 2017 with his wife at his side.  Dick was 87 years old.  A memorial service will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Delaware Reformed Church, Lennox, SD.  His family will be present to greet family and friends from 5:00-7:00 PM Friday, September 15 at Delaware Reformed Church followed by a prayer service at 7:00 PM.

Dick Morren was born in Oostendorp near Elburg, in the Netherlands, on June 10, 1930 to Evert Jan and Grietje (Doornewaard) Morren.  He attended school for three years due to Germany's occupation of the Netherlands during World War II.  The focus during those WWII years was family survival.  Dick came to America alone at the age of 18, unable to speak a word of English.  Dick worked for two years as a farm hand in Northwest Iowa to pay off his boat ticket.  He continued to work as a farm hand until he volunteered to become a member of the United States Marine Corps.  While serving in the Marines in the territory of Alaska, Dick became a citizen of the United States.

Dick married Tracia VandeWeerd on January 14, 1954 at the Presbyterian Church in Hospers, IA.  Dick and Tracia rented various farms in SD before renting a farm near Hospers from 1963 to 1975.  They eventually bought a farm and moved the family to the Beresford, SD area in 1975.  That farm is still in the family today.  He moved to Bethesda Nursing Home of Beresford in August of 2016 where he enjoyed several activities especially music, coffee, and friends.  Tracia moved to Bethesda Inn shortly after to be nearby.

Dick and Tracia enjoyed many things during their years together, including various church activities with many family and friends, card club, dancing, ballroom and square dancing, Hospers Saddle Club and traveling to the Netherlands to visit family.  For Dick this was returning home at least 13 times.   One trip included the whole family and they were blessed to stay at Dick's home place with his parents for six weeks.  They enjoyed traveling the United States and to many other countries as well.  During one memorable vacation in Berlin, Germany, Dick had the honor to chip away a portion of the Berlin Wall.

Dick is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Tracia, Beresford, SD; five children, Clifford (Debra) Morren, Bennington, NE, Susan (Micheal) Calmes, Glenrock, WY, Ric (Julie) Morren, Beresford, SD, Michael Morran, LeMars, IA, and Lisa (Darren) Moser, LaCrescent, MN; ten grandchildren, Amanda (Petty Officer Rob) Steenholdt, Jordan (Dr. Amy Moreland) Morren, Sarah (Warrant Officer One Jason) Tabor, Emily Calmes, Kaleb Calmes, Brittany Moser, Jaylen Morren, Nicholas Moser, Garrett Morran and Afton Morran; and seven great-grandchildren, MaKayla, Brady, Avery, Jackson, Charlotte, Max and Ethan.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings and their spouses; and many dear friends and extended family members.

Memorials may be directed to the Salvation Army, 800 N. Cliff Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 or the Union Gospel Mission, 705 E. 8th Street, Sioux Falls, SD   57103.

God looked down on His planned paradise

and said

"I need a caretaker"

so God made a farmer.

~ Paul Harvey