Richard Brock

Richard Brock, age 76, of McIntosh, MN, passed away on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, after a brief illness at McIntosh Senior Living. A remembrance gathering will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 1^st at the Carlin Funeral Home in Fosston with a time for sharing memories at 7:00 p.m.  A graveside service will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Crookston, MN, on Friday, August 4, at 10:00 a.m. with Deacon Denny Bivens officiating.  Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.

Richard (also known by many as Dick and by a few as Dickie) was born on April 16, 1946, at Garfield Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., the second son of John Olin Brock and Bernadette (also known by many as Peggy) Stefonik Brock.  His father passed away suddenly and unexpectedly when Richard was 3 years old.  Richard was then raised by his mother and his maternal grandparents.  In his dad’s absence, an uncle became his father figure.  As a young boy growing up in Washington, D.C. in what Richard described as “a very close family”, Richard fondly remembered visiting the Lily Pad Pond in Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens and riding his bike around the Lincoln Memorial.  Richard lived within walking distance of numerous Federal Government buildings.  Since his mother worked at the nearby Blair House (the President’s Guest House), Richard was privy to meeting visiting dignitaries and seeing prominent American political figures on occasion.

Richard attended school in Washington, D.C., until 7th grade; he then attended school in Mt. Rainier, Maryland.  He eventually earned his GED years later with the assistance of his older brother, Bill.

Richard’s first job was working at a newspaper when he was 13 years old.  Other places of employment throughout his lifetime included American District Telegraph, Judd and Detweiler Printing Firm, Salvation Army, ADT Alarms, correction facilities, bars, gas stations, swimming pools, a demolition company, an automotive repair shop, a magazine factory, and a law enforcement agency.  Richard also served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged.

For the first 59 years of his life, Richard lived in the Hyattsville, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., areas.  In early August of 2005, Bill found Richard and brought him back to Minnesota.  Richard would say he was “absolutely shocked,” and he “felt fantastic” when Bill showed up.  Richard truly felt his brother rescued him and saved his life.   

Richard was placed in Riverside Board and Lodge in McIntosh, MN, on September 9, 2005. He lived at “the house” until it closed on November 24, 2021.  After a couple of weeks stay at Bethany Assisted Living in Fosston, Richard made what would become his final move to McIntosh Living Center on December 7, 2021.

Richard enjoyed telling stories, showing hot rod cars, tinkering with the guitar (he even played in a band), watching old movies (especially westerns), playing tricks on people, eating a great burger (with his favorite being a “Mighty Mo” triple-decker hamburger from the now defunct Hot Shoppes drive-in restaurants back in D.C.), drinking coffee, eating squirrel nut zipper chews candy (a bite-size vanilla caramel with peanuts wrapped in wax paper) and cotton candy (he definitely had a sweet tooth), watching lava lights, and cheering for the Washington Redskins.  Richard liked the color blue, and he fiercely loved animals, especially his childhood white and black spotted terrier, Micky, and his brother’s shih tzu, Angel.

Richard will be remembered for his charming and friendly ways, his authentic D.C. accent, his Brock dimples, his inquisitiveness (he was known to wander off in stores and would be found reading labels; he also preferred walking around the restaurant rather than sitting in his seat), his resilience (despite many physical and mental health challenges), his mischievousness (of which he was very proud), his story about placing copper pennies on the railroad tracks, and his trademark question to almost everyone he encountered, “Have you ever had jailhouse cocoa?”  (Jailhouse cocoa is a Three Musketeers bar melted in hot water.)   

Richard Joseph Brock  passed away after a brief illness on December 21, 2022, at McIntosh Senior Living Center with his sister-in-law, MaryJane, by his side.

Richard is survived by one daughter, Kimberly Ann (Brock) Jamer and her family, Savage, MN.  Richard was delighted that he and Kimberly were born on the same day in the same city (exactly 23 years apart) and shared this interesting fact often.  In the fall of 2018, MaryJane arranged a surprise meeting, and after almost 50 years, Richard reunited with Kimberly.  The reunion would be one of the highlights of his life.  In Richard’s words, “I couldn’t believe it…what a beautiful ending to the story.”

Richard is also survived by his sister-in-law, MaryJane Kurpius-Brock, Crookston, MN, his nieces, Larissa Kurpius-Brock, Crookston, MN, and Marinda Kurpius-Brock, Aliso Viejo, CA, his great-niece, Kendra Strommen, Crookston, MN, and his long-time care-givers and close friends, Gordy and Cindy Ostenaa, McIntosh, MN.  Richard is preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, and “his hero”, brother Bill Kurpius-Brock.