Richard "Dick" Coster

[vnanosky]

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u269/hank987/Richard_Coster-2.jpg


Richard (Dick) Coster 70, of Casselton, ND died Friday, January 8, 2010 at his home with family by his side, following a battle with cancer.

Dick was born February 28, 1939 to John and Harriet Coster and was raised and educated in Casselton. On June 23, 1958 Dick married Inez Weimann and together they raised 5 children.

Dick had a true passion for family, farming and model trains. After farming for over 25 years, Dick started welding at a shop in Casselton. Upon retirement he spent time with his model trains in the basement of his home. In 45 years he made a very impressive HO train display, taking up 1/2 the basement. Come fall Dick could be found at the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion in Rollag, MN, working mostly with the railroad. Other interests included traveling and camping with family.

Dick is survived by his wife of 51 years Inez; children Jeff, S. Lake Tahoe, CA; Steve, Casselton ND, Cari, W. Fargo, ND; Brian (Pam), Grand Forks, ND; Mike (Stacy Graffis) Casselton, ND; 7 grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters.

Visitation: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 from 5 to 6 PM with a prayer service at 6 PM at St. Leo's Catholic Church, Casselton.

Funeral: Wednesday at 10:30 AM at St. Leo's Catholic Church.

Burial: St. Leo's Cemetery.

Condolences can be sent via westfuneralhome.com
Arrangements with West Funeral Home, Casselton

[jsiirila]

Dick wrote this for me in Nov for the Showbook.

My wife and I joined WMSTR in 1984 after the show. We started full time in 1987. I started working as a loading agent on the west side. I then started conducting and then became the head conductor. After a few years I started to oversee the loading agents, conductors and all aspects for many years until I had to retire. Inez stayed at the west loading area all that time.

During the summer I helped on the continuing repair of the track which was never ending. Then I started redoing the Soo Line caboose which was a real pain. I almost tipped it over one time trying to remove a 2’ x 4’ piece of plywood with 22 rusty screw nails without heads on. But with my white dog Loki helping we got it done. Loki was the dog on the golf cart wherever I went.

One year my wife picked up a wooden welcome sign of skunks, one of my sons found a stuffed toy skunk and we found a smaller one so we tied them up in front of our camper. The two small girls of Katy and Sam Ronsberg saw them and that started the “Skunk Crossing Camper”. After that almost everybody knew where we camped.

I want to thank Joan and Gary Aery, Ken and Carole R, Dave and Deb R, Jerry Asher and all the Railroad Crew for the good years.

Dick Coster