Richard E. Ojala of Ripley was born February 8, 1945 in Cloquet, Minnesota and passed away October 16, 2014.

He received his BS/BA at UMD in 1971.

He served two tours of duty in the U.S. Air Force receiving multiple medals.

Rick – he was a teacher and coach for seven hears in Highland, Wisconsin where he was also a chimney sweep and a volunteer firefighter/EMT as well as an artist for life. Rick also worked at Charles Machine Works {Ditch Witch} in Perry for 28 years.

Dad {Rick} was known to be one of the biggest cheerleaders in the basketball stands, hollering from the sidelines as we would run past him on the track and the one on the other side of the first base fence as we were running bases.

Rick: friend, father, love, teacher and coach spent his life giving. He was loved and adored by many and will be missed by all.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sharon E. Ojala of Gilbert, Minnesota; son, Michael Ojala of Stillwater; daughter, Michelle Benda and son-in-law Moe Benda of Gilbert, Minnesota; grandsons Tyler Ojala, Austin Ojala, Isaac Benda, Ricky Benda and Reese Benda; granddaughters, Bailee Benda, Maari Benda and Emma Lee Benda; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

There will be a service to come in nothern Minnesota as Rick’s final resting place will be in Fort Snelling near his fellow fallen soldiers and next to his parents.