Richard "Dick" Eli Pudas

Our father Richard E. "Dick" Pudas passed away on Friday, September 20, 2019 in Rogers, Ark., at the age of 85. Dick was born May 11, 1934 in Oulu Township, Bayfield County, Wis., to Mary and Eli Pudas. Dick grew up on the family dairy farm in Oulu that was part of the original Pudas homestead established in 1890. Dick was the 8th of 10 children. He attended the Pioneer School one room schoolhouse in Oulu through grade 8 and then graduated from South Shore High School in Port Wing, Wis., in 1952. After High School he attended the University of Wisconsin (UW) at River Falls for two years and then served in the army from 1954 to 1956 as a Carpenter in the 240th Engineering Battalion/Construction Corps based in Fort Knox, Ky. After the army he returned to UW River Falls and finished with dual degrees in Agriculture and Chemistry, graduating in May 1959. He filled his summers working the family farm, as a deck hand on ore boats on the Great Lakes and working construction with his brother Ralph. While at UW River Falls Dick met the love of his life, Barb Kraft. Dick and Barb met in April, were engaged in July and married on December 5, 1959. They were married for 57 happy years, raised three children and were blessed with seven grandchildren. Barb preceded Dick in death on December 4, 2016. Dick worked for Dow Chemical Company for 33 1/2 years. His job and family moved several times from Minnesota, to Indiana, to Michigan and then California before Dick and Barb retired in Bentonville, Ark., in 1994. Dick and Barb made Bentonville their home for over 25 years and have established deep roots through many friends, their faith family and community service activities. Dick and Barb's retirement years were filled with world and domestic travel focused on spending time with family and friends. Dick was active in Rotary, Lifeline, Boys and Girls Clubs and as a member of United Lutheran Church in Bella Vista which was their spiritual home for 25 years. Dick is survived by his three children: Mike and wife Liz, Patrick and wife Michelle, daughter Kelly, six grandchildren, and brothers, George and Philip. Interment service will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2019 at United Lutheran Church, 100 Cooper Road, Bella Vista, Ark., 72715. Lunch at 11 a.m., followed by service at noon and committal at ULC columbarium. Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. Condolences may be expressed at www.funeralmation.com.