Richard Armstrong

Richard Lee (Dick) Armstrong, 80, passed away on April 10, 2025, following a long illness. He was born to Harold E. and Darlene (Zimmerman) Armstrong on February 24th, 1945, in Aurora, Nebraska. Dick's family moved frequently. He attended school in Lincoln and Seward, Nebraska, and Maple Island, Austin, Tracy, and Stewartville, Minnesota, and graduated from Stewartville High School in 1963.

Dick enjoyed sports, lettered in track and basketball at Stewartville High School, was cast in school plays, and played trombone. He attended the University of Nebraska in his freshman year and was in the Cornhusker Marching Band. In 1968, he transferred to Winona State and graduated in 1967 with a BA in English and majors in Speech and Political Science. He was active in the Wenonah Players. He was a founding member for what would become the Teke Chapter on campus. From 1967 to 1970, Dick proudly served his country in the Army, stationed in Colorado as well as Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.

In 1967, he married Judith Stenbeck in Harmony, Minnesota. They had two sons, Alan and Eric. They later divorced.

Following graduation from Winona State, he was employed by IBM in Rochester, MN as a technical software writer and over the next 30 years until retirement, worked in market planning. He also spent two years working at the Toronto Ontario Canada lab. After he retired, he returned to IBM in a supplemental position. He also delivered car parts for Parts Express and worked as a paraprofessional at Pinewood Elementary School for 5 years before finally retiring completely.

In 1981 Dick married Florine (Flo) Weller at her parent's home on Big Fish Lake in Cold Spring, MN. They were married 43 years at the time of his death. They would have celebrated 44 years on May 9th of this year.

He continued his love of acting at the Rochester Civic Theater; his love for sports engaging in softball, bowling, golf, broomball and curling until health issues no longer allowed him to participate. He enjoyed being a part of many local clubs: The Osman Shriners, Zagalis Shrine Car Club, Rochester Shrine Cycle Patrol, Rochester Shrine Club, Elk's Lodge #1091, Rochester Eagles, Rochester American Legion and the Rochester Masonic Lodge. He was proud to be the past president of the Rochester Shrine Club, a Past Exalted Ruler at Elk Lodge, member of Scottish Rite and a paraprofessional at Pinewood Elementary School for 5 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Judy Haller. Dick is survived by his wife Flo; sons, Alan and Eric (Callie) and their two sons, Grayson & Gabriel.

A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Christ United Methodist Church (400 5th Ave SW, Rochester, MN 55902). Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, with a Masonic Service at 7:30 pm, at Ranfranz & Vine Funeral Home (5421 Royal Pl. NW, Rochester, MN, 55901) and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials can be directed to Rochester Elk's Lodge #1091 (1310 7th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901) or Shriners Children Hospital (215 Radio Dr. Suite 100, Woodbury, MN 55125).