Richard ‘Rich’ Smelter, age 73, of Foley, passed away unexpectedly at his home April 20, 2026. Mass of Christian Burial will be noon, Tuesday, April 28, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Foley. The Rev. Virgil Helmin and the Rev. Michael Wolfbauer will con-celebrate and burial will take place in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Monday, April 27 at Foley Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the Mass at St. John’s Catholic Church Tuesday. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. followed by the Dulem Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home Monday evening. Service with Dignity provided by the Foley Funeral Home.
Richard Andrew Smelter was born May 1, 1952, in St. Cloud, to Andrew G. and Agnes P. (Schendzielos) Smelter, the second of 10 children. He graduated in 1970, from Foley High School and attended St. Cloud Technical College. Rich was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart Coleen Corrigan Oct. 29, 1971; they celebrated 54 years together.
Rich was employed in part-time retirement at Goodin Company in St. Joseph. Rich was an active member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Duelm and a Duelm Knights of Columbus 12519 officer. Over the years, Rich enjoyed the outdoors tremendously by camping, fishing, deer hunting, mowing lawn, puttering in his shed and the ease of a good campfire. He loved his weekly cribbage league, doing puzzles and reading. Watching his daughters and grandkids do all they love gave him great pride and joy. Rich was an exceptional husband, supportive father, doting grandfather and a friend to all. He touched many lives and was a kind-hearted man who sought to always see the good in others and help them whenever he could. His faith, friends and family were his valued assets. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Rich is survived by his wife, Coleen; and their three daughters and seven grandloves, which include Lea Marinac (Dan) and their children, Jonathan and Lauren of White Bear Lake; Andrea (Brent) Gilyard, and their children, Brennen, Emmett and Maura of Oak Park; Sheila (Jacob) Wagner and their children, Leo and Henry of Clear Lake; as well as brothers and sisters, Kathleen M. Norstad of Waite Park, Sharon (Gregg) Mark of St. Cloud, Tom (Janice) of Sauk Rapids, Cecilia (Buck) Strait of Foley, Curt (Patricia) of Foley, Greg (Susan) of Maple Grove, Chuck (Lisa) San Antonio, Texas, and Jeanette (Steve) Struffert of Foley; and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Rich was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Nanette, on Feb. 18, 1973; his only son, Nicholas Richard, on Dec. 11, 1983; and granddaughter, Erin Marinac, on Feb. 10, 2006.
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