Richard Hardes

Richard C. Hardes of St. Paul, MN, formerly of Miller, SD, passed away Thursday, July 13th, at the age of 89.

Born the oldest of seven on July 21, 1933, to Carl and Elizabeth (Michaelis) Hardes in Miller, SD. Richard grew up on the family farm in Alden Township, southeast of Polo. He attended Polo schools. Graduating from Fairview High in 1951. He then attended St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, from 1951-1953. In 1953 Richard joined the Benedictine Abbey in Richardton, ND, but left after seven months due to health reasons. He worked briefly for the South Dakota Highway Department before being drafted into the US Army in 1956. He was hospitalized at Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville, PA, where he had a severe breakdown and was given a medical discharge after four months in June of 1957. He returned to school and graduated from St. Thomas University in 1961 with a degree in Sociology, receiving a Master's Degree in Social Work three years later from Denver University. He held a 31-year career with Minnesota State Human Services in St. Paul, serving in several positions before retiring in 1996. He was an active member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Academy of Certified Social Workers and belonged to several retirement groups, including one from the State Department of Human Services,

A longtime member of Saint Bernard's Catholic Church in St. Paul, he served as a trustee in the 90s for seven years and as a lector and communion minister to the homebound and nursing home residents. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Neo-Catechumenal Way. The Neo-catechumenal Way, which has been approved as a closer walk with the Lord during the Papacy of John Paul II, consists of prayer, a study of scripture, faith sharing among the community, and the Eucharist, which is the most important prayer and ritual that has nourished Christians throughout the centuries. It was established at the Last Supper, the night before our Lord's Passion and death, over 2000 years ago.

Richard traveled extensively in his younger years, visiting five continents, including Europe twice, Africa, and North America, where he has been to 40 states, and Canada, where many of the Hardes relatives have been for over a century. They are currently residing in multiple provinces throughout Canada. He has also visited Brazil, the Southern Caribbean, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. He felt his most memorable trips were to Ireland, Italy, the Holy Land, Tahiti, and twice to Hawaii.

He studied classical piano for nine years, earning a lifelong appreciation of classical music and season tickets to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for 25 years. An avid Baseball fan, he has loved the Twins since they came to Minnesota almost 60 years ago. He enjoyed the outdoors (notably Como Park in St. Paul, where he frequently hiked for over 35 years) and visiting the elderly of the parish in their nursing homes in his retirement years, holding communion services several times a month.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Elizabeth; one brother, Father Dale Hardes, OMI; one sister, Marilyn Schanzenbach; nephew: Travis Hardes; and brother-in-law Ronald Pekarek.

He is survived by brothers, Daniel (Rita) Hardes, Michael (Penny) Hardes, and Gerald (Lilita)

Hardes; sister, Janet Pekarek; 16 nephews and nieces; and 35 grand nephews and nieces

Funeral services will be held at St. Bernard (187 Geranium Ave W.) on Wednesday, July 19th, at 11am with visitation starting at 9:30am.

A graveside service and inurnment will be held at Calvary Cemetery (Polo, South Dakota) on Monday, July 24th, where five generations of his family are buried.