Dick, 91, died April 19, 2013, in Flanagan, Illinois. He was born April 28, 1921, on a farm near Flanagan. The family had a 160-acre farm in a Mennonite "work together" community of about 600 people. He attend all grades of school in Flanagan.

Dick entered Civilian Public Service in December 1942 and, after one camp, reported to CPS-103 smokejumper unit where he jumped three seasons before the camp was closed. He then worked one trip on a cattle boat to Europe before his discharge in 1946.

Dick was one of the CPS jumpers who was taught to fly by the Johnson Flying Service Pilots while he was a smokejumper.

After the war he returned to Flanagan and worked as a parts manager for a farm implement company until his retirement in 1983.