Richard (Dick) Joseph Pratt

Richard Joseph Pratt passed away on April 25^th in Detroit Lakes Minnesota. He was born May 22, 1932. in Fargo, North Dakota, to Audrey and Lester Pratt.

Growing up on Fargo’s south side, Dick (as he preferred being called) enrolled in kindergarten at Agassiz where he attended nine years going on to Fargo Central High School. “I always walked home for lunch,” he was proud of saying.

At age 17, Dick joined the Air National Guard and when his unit was called up, he drove with a buddy to California, for training during the time of the Korean War.

Upon his return to Fargo, Dick enrolled at the NDAC and chose a major in economics, figuring his future would include managing the LG Pratt Printing Company in Fargo. But Dick's passion for aviation was alive and well so the Air Guard became a big part of his life while attending at the ‘AC.

One day in college, he spotted a freshman girl at the Minard. Hall, and decided “I’d like to marry her.” 

So, after three years, graduation and enrolling in Air Force pilot training, he hitchhiked home from Bainbridge, Georgia, where he was stationed and, in the summer of 1956, he did just that. Dick and his bride, Janet Monson, left for Georgia and began their life together which has lasted 67 years.

Dick is survived by his wife Janet (Monson) Pratt, daughter Kelly Pratt and son Steven Pratt. Dick and Janet have a wonderful granddaughter Naomi June Bishop, and two step grandchildren, Chelsea Cordelia Raymond Rubin and Chase Raymond.

Dick was preceded in death by his daughter, Kari Bishop, who died in 2022, and his sister, Virginia “Gini” Pratt Thayer.

Dick’s life involved following dreams and adventures leading him and his family to the west coast, the gulf coast and finally back to the Midwest. Always family centered, summers and weekends were spent on big Detroit Lake at “The Pratt Place,” Audrey and Les Pratt’s little log cottage, with his sister Gini and her children, Lisa, Leslie and Mitch (Kris). They are times to remember.

No matter where he landed – whether Lodi, Wisconsin or Detroit Lakes he found an airport. That’s where his passion was.

Dick and Janet retired to a lake cottage on Lake Melissa in 1996, which for both was a dream come true. The cottage was restored, including a basement to accommodate the building of Dick's last airplane - his Sidewinder. A photo on the wall of his shop says “Orville! Meet me at the bicycle shop. I’ve got an idea! – Wilbur”. That pretty much sums up Dick.

Dick’s life was full and never dull. And he always had something to read. A patriot and a historian, a great father.

Dick, it’s your turn to fly.

Memorial Services will be held on Thursday May 30, 2024; 2:00 p.m. at the David-Donehower Funeral Home, Detroit Lakes, MN. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.