Richard G. "Dick" Reller

"If you had the blessing of meeting Dick Reller, then you made a lifelong friend."

Richard "Dick" Reller passed away peacefully at St. Peter's Hospital on July 14, 2024.

He was born to Leonard and Agnes (Bitz) Reller on April 8, 1939, west of Callaway, MN. At that time, Agnes and Leonard Reller lived with Leonard's parents, Henry and Catherine Reller. Catherine was a midwife, who helped area mothers and Dick was born at home.

In 1942, the family moved to a new home southeast of Ogema, MN, where Dick spent the rest of his childhood. There, Dick attended the White Earth Mission School, which only went to the 8th grade. He graduated from the mission in 1952. After graduation, he started working for area farmers. Dick had a brief childhood taking on enormous responsibilities at a young age. He went straight into working to help support his family. He first worked for Stanley Oland, plowing fields with horses. Other farmers he worked for included Rudy Eyinck and Stanley Metelak, mostly digging potatoes and farming with horses.

In 1959, he joined the U.S. Army and served his enlisted term plus an extended term, where he stayed on the alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was discharged from Ft. Lewis, Washington in 1962. Dick really liked the area out in Washington State - he thought it was so beautiful. After he returned home from the service, he worked construction for Harry Metelak for that summer and fall, and then decided to move to Olympia, Washington. Always a determined and fearless worker, he went from farming the lands of the Midwest to farming the waters of the Puget Sound, as he quickly took on managerial roles in his first Northwest adventure working for the Brenner Oyster Company.

Dick met his wonderful wife, Mary (Clark), in 1966 at a dance at the Tropics Ballroom at Snyder's Prairie, and they were wed on August 19th, 1967. They started their life together in a small house on Stevens Street in Shelton, WA. In 1968, they moved to Taylor Town. Then in 1972, they started their first family farm, when they purchased 40 acres of mostly timbered land and a large house in the Dayton area, just west of Shelton. In 1981, Dick decided to expand his cattle farming and purchased a 75-acre farm in the Kamilche Valley, where they have resided ever since. His work ethics and ingenious ideas for farming were able to shine and the farm was soon expanded to about 150 acres and 180 head of cattle.

Soon after his marriage to Mary, he became a partner with his father-in-law, Lloyd Clark, of Clark Logging, who was in the business as a contracted logger and the business name changed to C&R Logging. He eventually took the business over when Lloyd retired, and it then became Reller Logging. During these years he logged for Delson's, Port Blakely, Simpson Timber Company and others. He was always a leader, and together with Lyle Coleman, he started the Washington Contract Loggers Association which championed the safety program, abiding in both keeping loggers safe, and allowing contract loggers to stay in business by saving on insurance and Labor and Industries costs.

Dick spent his life working hard from sunrise to sunset. He enjoyed and took pride in being a full-time logger and full-time farmer. He was quite often spoken about by friends and family as "the hardest working man I have ever met". Work was never a 4-letter word for Dick. He loved to work, to create, to help, and to nurture. While in his 70's and early 80's he was not only still a full-time farmer but was also a devoted caregiver to his loving wife and took pride in learning all about how to help her as she managed her diabetes.

Dick was well known for his involvement in the community. Including his time spent in Little League with his son Bill, countless hours dedicated to 4-H & FFA, the kids and young farmers, providing his support and mentoring to so many of them. He was also known for his big smile, his story telling, his mentoring to family and friends and his hard work ethics.

Dick was a man of honesty, integrity, and hard work. He was a true old-fashioned gentleman. He took pride in getting to know the people around him, talking to them face to face, listening to their concerns, respecting them, and was always a man of action and solution. He prided himself on designing and creating projects and solutions that would benefit all. His art of telling stories to his multitude of friends and family and learning about their lives was one of the things he enjoyed the most about life. He called this "neighboring".

Surviving Richard "Dick" Reller are his wife, Mary Reller of Shelton, WA, his two daughters, Lee Anne Bentley and Shari Lynn Withers, both of Shelton, WA, his son, Richard Glen Glenn-Reller of Puyallup, WA, his two brothers Clarence Reller and Albin Reller of Mahnomen, MN., two sisters, Barbara Hennen of Rockville, MN and Margaret Jirava of Ogema, MN. An aunt, Mary Reller of Worthington, MN., several nieces and nephews, and a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Richard "Dick" was preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Agnes Reller, his brother, Raymond Reller and his son, William "Bill" Reller.

There will be services held on Friday, August 16th 2024 at St. Edwards Church, located at 601 West C Street, Shelton, WA. The funeral mass will begin at 11:00 a.m. and a Celebration of Life will be held in the church hall from noon to 3:00p.m.

As part of our celebration of Dick's life, the family would love to hear any stories or memories that you have. Potluck-type dishes are welcomed.