Richard Dwight Kapphahn

Richard Kapphahn, age 96, of Wheaton, Minnesota passed away Thursday, April 16, 2026 at his residence near Wheaton under hospice care.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, May 22, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton. 

Visitation will be held Thursday, May 21st from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. Time of Sharing at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Wheaton. Visitation will continue Friday morning one hour prior to service time at the funeral home.

Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Military Rites will be provided by the Merton-Dale American Legion Post #80. 

Richard Dwight Kapphahn was born on March 1, 1930 in Alexandria, MN to Elmer and Etta Kapphahn. He was raised on a farm near Nelson and was the fourth of eight children. He attended school in Bertha through the eleventh grade. He found employment at the creamery in Bertha and later received his GED.

Richard served his country in the Korean War from April of 1952 to March of 1954, earning the rank of Corporal in the United States Army. He was honorably discharged on April 29, 1960.

He was married to Margaret Determan on June 15, 1957 in Wheaton. They resided in Elbow Lake where Dick worked for the Chevrolet Dealership. They moved to Wheaton in 1961, Margaret passed away in 1972.

Richard met and married Gloria Olson Fridgen on March 30, 1974. They made their home in Wheaton. Richard was employed by Ole Larson Motors for twenty-five years. He then worked for a local farmer for a short time. They moved to the farm outside of Wheaton in 1980. At this time, he was employed by Hardware Hank, until his retirement in 1992. Gloria passed away on January 27, 2004. They shared thirty years together.

Dick was mechanically inclined. With his repair knowledge he could fix just about anything, including building his own replacement parts to keep things running. We always said “If Dick can’t fix it – nobody can.”

He was always willing to lend a helping hand, and offer life advice, with a Bible verse suggestion for a great life. He Loved his Bible!

Not known to all, but Dick was the gardener behind our mother’s flowers. Their flowers were always referred to as “Gloria’s Flowers” but we all knew they were really Dick’s flowers, as he had the green thumb.

He is survived by his step-children Karen Klindworth of Elk River, MN; John (Nancy) Fridgen of Wheaton, MN; Sandra (Dennis) Gail of Big Lake, MN; TC Anderson (Randy Freemaan) of Elk River, MN; Paul (Rayna) Fridgen of Big Lake, MN; Troy (Kim) Fridgen of Wheaton, MN; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother Clare Kapphahn; and sister Lenore Costello.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Etta; his wife Margaret, brothers: David, Jack and Fred; sisters: Mary and Dee; his wife Gloria; son Jim Swenson; son-in-law Ronald Klindworth; and grandson Raymond Klindworth.

God Bless You Grandpa Dick! We’ll see ya when we see ya!