Ricky (Rick) Craig Vesterse, 71, of McPherson, Kans., passed away on October 5, 2025, at his home with Sondra by his side.
Rick was born October 25, 1953, in Spring Grove, Houston Co., Minn., to Ellsworth (Red) Orvin and Lotus Evelyn (Eddy) Vesterse. Rick attended school for the first six years in a one room country school and Spring Grove High School. Rick’s first job was as a farm hand in Minnesota. Rick had many jobs and adventures in his lifetime. He owned and ran a bar called the Viking Bar in Spring Grove, Minn. Rick raised pigs and cut lumber. He was a heavy equipment mechanic for the railroad in Wyoming, AMAC coal company, gold mines in South Carolina, Nevada, South Dakota, gold mines in Silver City and Clovis, N. Mex., Mathe Construction in Sparta, Wis., and Houston Co. Highway Dept in Caledonia, Minn. He also took care of mowing the grounds at the Ma Cal Grove Country Club in Caledonia, Minn. Rick enjoyed playing softball, horseshoes and bowling in tournaments. He carried a PBA Region Card and had six 300 games and rings. At the age of 30, he started playing golf and that became a big part of his life. He would play throughout the year with his very good friends Denny Garness and Jim Gunderson and a lot of fun golf games with Boopie. He was very proud of his five holes-in-ones. In 2015 he started going to Mission, Tex., in the winter for vacations, where he played golf six days a week. After Rick retired in 2018, he purchased a home in Wagon City North, a 55-plus park in Mission, Tex., and spent 5-6 months each winter there so he could enjoy the warmer weather and golfing time with his many friends. Rick loved to ride his Harley motorcycles and explore many places, in many states. He rode a lot of miles in the open air. Rick met Sondra on the dance floor at the Riverside Bar in Texas. It took a little work, but Sondra taught him to dance a lot of new dances, and they have been dancing together ever since that day. Rick and Sondra enjoyed dancing at the WSMSS dances in Oklahoma and Texas as well as many dances all over Kansas. Rick and Sondra could be found on the dance floor almost every day while down in Texas. In 2022 Rick sold his home in Caledonia and moved to Kansas to be with Sondra full time. Summers were spent in Kansas and winters in Texas. Rick enjoyed spending time at the Lake House in Sterling, Kans., with Sondra, family and friends. In 2025 a motorhome was purchased and many adventures were planned for traveling all over the United States. Rick was a proud member of the Moose Lodge (since 1997), Sons of the American Legion (17 years), WSMSS, First Christian Church in McPherson, Kans., and Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring Grove, Minn.
Rick is survived by his loving life partner Sondra Frank, brother Don Vesterse, of Spring Grove, Minn., sister Vernee (Gary) Dahlberg of Decorah, Iowa, sister Randi (Roger) Vick of Caledonia, Minn., sister Holly (Willie) Falck of Decorah, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews and extended family members.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents Ellsworth and Lotus, his youngest sister, Connie Vesterse and older brother, Denny Vesterse.
Rick made friends wherever he went, and he will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Cremation has taken place. A private family graveside service will be held at the Spring Grove Cemetery, Spring Grove, Minn. A Celebration of Life will be held in Spring Grove at the Spring Grove Legion on June 13, 2026, from 2-4 p.m. Memorials in honor of Rick have been designated to the WSMSS Scholarship Fund. This is a scholarship for younger students to attend a music camp sponsored by the Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest. Memorials may be sent to Glidden-Ediger-Wiggins Funeral Home, 222 W. Euclid St., McPherson. KS 67460. Thank you to Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County for their support and care.
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