Richard A. Malmstrom

Graveside services for Mr. Richard A. Malmstrom, 85, of West Monroe, LA will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday December 19, 2017 at Kilpatrick Serenity Garden Mausoleum with Military Honors in West Monroe, LA with Rev. Skip Dean and Rev. James Tarrance officiating, under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe.
Richard “Dick” Malmstrom was born to Milton and Elsie Malmstrom on September 28, 1932. Dick grew up on a farm and graduated from Randolph Highschool in 1950. The following Monday of graduation he left to report to work at Baldersons in Wamego, Kansas. Two years later after finishing government contracts he traveled to various places, welding 35,000 gallon gas tanks.
On December 4, 1952 Dick joined the navy and spent three years in Hawaii and one year in Midway Island. Dick was involved in sports, playing basketball in highschool, Hawaii operating a golf driving range while stationed in the Hawaiian Islands.
While in Hawaii, Dick met the love of his life, Constance Schauf and was marred on January 22, 1954. They met on Waikiki Beach as Connie was also in the Navy. They were both discharged on December 4, 1956 and upon returning to the United States made their home in Natchez, Mississippi and while there, Dick helped build a river tugboat. During their stay in Natchez, their daughter Charlotte was born after which in May of 1957 they moved to Kansas. Dick enjoyed working on the farm with his dad until October when he started working with Sears in Salina and ran the electronics department for three years after which he changed to Allstate Insurance Co. and move to Manhattan. In October 1964 Montgomery Ward hired and sent Dick to Monroe, Louisiana. By then, they had Jeffery and Teresa. Needless to say, Jeff and Teresa were not happy to change schools, but they did well in West Monroe.
Dick left Wards in 1972 and started a delivery service with his son Jeff. Later they sold their equipment. After that Dick took his six months off and he and Connie traveled 15,000 miles visiting relatives and friends. In 1978 Dick went on the road selling electronic equipment. During this time he won several trips, including two trips back to Hawaii. They celebrated their 30th anniversary in Hawaii.
During the years that followed, Dick’s work adventures took him down many roads working for various companies: Furniture Fashions, International Electric, Haddads, Daniels, Dongaue Laundry. In 1977 Dick had purchased a laundry mat along with other rental property; which fulfilled many of his desires.
After moving back down south, Dick enjoyed playing in a band, The Ramblers. His love of music gave him many opportunities to play various instruments of which the drums were his favorite. He could also sinf a pretty song too.
But the most enjoyment he had in life was his family whom he dearly loved and cared for. He cherished every moment spent with his family, whether it be hunting, camping or water skiing. His family filled his life with joy and happiness. Dick took great pride in teaching his son Jeff how to hunt and the girls how to water ski. Dick would spend hours driving the ski boat just so others could have fun.
He was the kind of person who always ready to lend a helping hand to those who needed help and never turned down a chance to do so. He helped organize and helped with fund raisers to benefit others.
How quickly the years have passed filling Dick’s life with joy and happiness as he traveled down the many roads. The greatest joy and happiness in his life was his wife Connie and his children Charlotte, Jeff, and Teresa and all his grandchildren and great grandchildren.