Richard Henry Westby

Richard Henry Westby

October 24, 1934 – June 3, 2026

Richard Henry Westby, known as Dick, passed away on June 3, 2026, at the age of 91. Born on

October 24, 1934, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dick lived a life defined by faith, family, service,

friendship, joy, and a deep commitment to the neighborhood in which he lived.

Dick was raised in Minneapolis and attended Seward Elementary School before graduating from

South High School in 1952. He continued his education by earning a BA degree at Bethel

College and later earned his Master of Divinity from Bethel Seminary in 1960.

On July 13, 1956, Dick married Sandra Westby (Hanson) and together they shared nearly

seventy years of marriage, building a family centered on love, compassion, and service to others.

Dick began his professional life in ministry, serving as a pastor at a small-town church in

Saskatchewan. He dedicated himself to helping others through faith and community. From 1966

to 1970, Dick served as Director of the Bethel Baptist Church Christian Youth Center, where his

dedication, encouragement, and genuine care made a lasting impact on the lives of many young

people in the community. Later in his career, he became the Coordinator of Minneapolis

Community Education at Matthews Center from 1970 until he retired in 1995. He was a

passionate advocate for community education, helping to expand opportunities for lifelong

learning and personal growth. Throughout his life, he remained deeply committed to social

justice, believing in the dignity and worth of every person and working to create more inclusive

and caring communities.

Dick is survived by his wife, Sandra; his children, Kathleen Westby (husband Peter), Steve

Westby (wife Kelli), and Jon Westby (wife Catherine); and his grandchildren, Claire Verdi,

Madeline Parks, James Westby, and Henry Westby. He is also survived by his siblings, Ann

Johnson (husband Paul), Jim Westby (wife Gail), Jerry Westby (wife Eloise), Barb Carlson

(husband Bill, deceased), Judy Jungwirth (partner Helen), and sister-in-law Ruth Westby.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hank and Goldie Westby, and his brother, Dave

Westby.

Dick came from a renowned hockey family and proudly played hockey for the South High

Tigers. Throughout his life, he embraced an active lifestyle and found joy outdoors. He loved

camping, bicycling, canoeing, yoga, and staying fit. An avid outdoorsman, he had a profound

appreciation for nature and was a dedicated advocate for environmental stewardship.

Dick and Sandra began attending Faith Mennonite Church (FMC), just a couple of blocks away

from their home, in 1969, joining as members in 1971. Dick loved the congregation and was

deeply invested in congregational life over many decades. He loved greeting visitors and regular

attenders alike with his big smile. No one could visit without learning who Dick Westby was.

Dick was instrumental in welcoming people from the neighborhood into the church and

connecting the congregation to the life of the neighborhood. Dick exemplified an active and

healthy lifestyle within the Faith Mennonite community. He led bike rides, softball games, and

hockey on the Matthews Park rink. In the 90s when FMC hosted a dozen young people from

Costa Rica for an exchange program, Dick fitted them all with skates so they could get out and

enjoy the Minnesota winter. For Dick, faith and the imperative of activism were inextricably

intertwined. In the 1970s, he led protests against the Vietnam War, and in the 1980s he was

active in the Overground Railroad movement. Dick was instrumental to the peace and justice

witness of FMC up to the present, whether the installation of a peace pole, peace vigils along the

Lake Street Bridge, protests against the war in Gaza, and the work of indigenous repair and

creation care.

Born and raised in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis, Dick lived most of his life on the

same lot his grandparents purchased in 1912. A tireless advocate and enthusiastic ambassador for

the neighborhood, he became affectionately known by many as the "Mayor of Seward." He was

actively engaged with the Seward Neighborhood Group from its beginnings in the 1960s and was

elected Co-President of its Board of Directors in 1988 and again in 1992.

Dick remained an active presence in the neighborhood throughout his adult life. He played a

leading role in the planning and implementation of countless community events and initiatives,

including the formation of the Seward Neighborhood Group, urban renewal planning efforts with

the City of Minneapolis during the 1960s and 1970s, the first Seward Art Fair in 1975, crime and

safety walks, tree-planting projects, and community education programs for children and seniors.

His energy, vision, and dedication helped shape the neighborhood he loved.

Dick had a great fondness for local history. He joined the SNG History Committee in 1977 and

with them in 1979 created the first of many biennial King’s Fairs in Seward. He and the

committee worked to archive Seward history for the next 40 years: there were oral history

interviews from 1978 to 2008, reminiscence evenings and local historical plays in the 1990s,

history walks, and talks in 2014 to 2019. And from 2011 to 2026, as a firm believer in the need

for a book on the history of his favorite neighborhood, he devoted much energy to the production

and promotion of the book “A People’s History of the Seward Neighborhood”. This stands as

one of his many gifts to his neighborhood.

Those who knew Dick will remember his welcoming spirit, thoughtful conversations,

compassionate heart, and unwavering belief that people are stronger when they care for one

another. His life was a testament to faith in action, service to others, and the enduring value of

community. Dick's legacy lives on through the family he loved, the friendships he nurtured, the

neighborhood he helped shape, and the countless lives he touched through his ministry,

advocacy, and kindness.

For those wishing to honor Dick's memory and celebrate his life, a visitation will be held on

Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Bradshaw Funeral Services, 3131

Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406. A Celebration of Life service will be held

on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Faith Mennonite Church, 2720 East 22nd Street,

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406.

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend either or both gatherings as we remember and

give thanks for Dick's life and legacy. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the South

High Foundation and Faith Mennonite Church.