Richard Douglass, 80

Richard (Dick) Douglass, 80, died Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. His wife, Ellen, was by his side when he died at the home of his oldest son, Patrick, in Northfield, Minn. 

Richard Haydon Douglass was born March 18, 1931, in Morris, Minn. to Frank A. and Beatrice (Haydon) Douglass. The family moved to Lakefield, Minn. in 1936. He graduated from the Lakefield Public High School in 1949 and from the University of Minnesota in 1953, the latter with a degree in journalism.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 and then joined the family newspaper, the Lakefield Standard. He served first as editor, then as editor and publisher of the Standard from 1956 until selling the newspaper in 1989. Under his leadership, the Lakefield Standard won numerous awards from the Minnesota Newspaper Association over the years, most of them for his column and editorial writing. 
Mr. Douglass, like his father, was an avid golfer and was instrumental in getting a golf course built in Lakefield. He served on many community organizations including president of the Lakefield Commercial Club, the Lakefield Kiwanis Club and the Lakefield Chapter of the Jaycees. He was a long-time member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lakefield and after leaving Lakefield, was a member of St. Dominic Catholic Church in Northfield. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 50 years. 

His marriage to Ellen Ann Sisterman took place on Aug. 20, 1955, in Ellsworth, Minn. The couple spent the first six months of their marriage in Maryland and Louisiana while Mr. Douglass completed his military obligation. They then made their home in Lakefield until 1992.
After selling the Lakefield Standard, he served as editor of the Mt. Lake/Butterfield Observer Advocate from 1990 to 1993. The couple moved to Bloomington, Minn. and then in 1997 to Northfield, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and one sister, Bonnie Hugunin.

Surviving him are his wife, Ellen (Northfield); his four sons: Patrick (Mary) of Northfield, Timothy (Kim) of Granite Falls, William (Marcie) of Mankato and James of Rochester; sister-in-law Jean Reesor, brother-in-law Lawrence Sisterman, There are 12 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and cousins and the extended family of Todd and Sue Middleton and their children.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30AM Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Church of St. Dominic in Northfield with Fr. Dennis Dempsey officiating.  Interment with military honors will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.  Visitation will be 4-7 PM Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home in Northfield.  Vistation will continue on Thursday at the church one hour prior to the service.

Memorials are preferred to Northfield Hospice.

Arrangements are with the Benson & Langehough Funeral Home. www.northfieldfuneral.com