John Gilman Rikke was born July 4, 1896, in Swede Prairie Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, to Oscar and Hannah (Gaarder) Rikke. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Lucas Lutheran Church, Normania Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. On May 17, 1925, he married Alma Kopitzke at St John's Lutheran Church of Omro Township, Yellow Medicine County. Following their marriage, they lived in Omro Township, Bird Island, Minnesota and farmed in the Boyd, Minnesota area until 1957 when they moved to Clarkfield, Minnesota, where they resided until February, 1982 when he suffered a stroke and moved to the Clarkfield Care Center. The couple had five children: Gilman who died in infancy; Sheldon of Indianapolis, Indiana; Shirla (Mrs. Sander) Peterson of Waseca, Minnesota; Arvid of Boyd, Minnesota; and Ruth Ann Schafer of Indianapolis, Indiana. Survivors are his four children; fifteen grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; two half brothers, Alan of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Bill of Omaha, Nebraska; two half sisters, Aene Schieck of Minneapolis and Dolly Rikke of Kansas City, Missouri. He is preceded in death by his wife Alma in 1971; his parents; one son; one granddaughter; two brothers, Oliver and Herman; and one sister, Mayme Halstenson. JOHN GILMAN RIKKE Born - July 4, 1896 Baptized - 1896 Confirmed - December 8, 1912 Married - May 17, 1925 Died - April 8, 1983 Burial Service - April 11, 1983 MOURNERS Sons - Sheldon Rikke, Arvid Rikke Daughters- Shirla Peterson, Ruth Schafer Half Brothers - Alan Rikke, William Rikke Half Sisters - Aene Schieck, Dolly Rikke Fifteen Grandchildren Thirteen Great Grandchildren IN MEMORY OF JOHN G. RIKKE Born July 4, 1896 - Passed Away April 8, 1983 Funeral Services Monday, April 11, 1983, 2:00 p.m. Augustana Lutheran Church, Clarkfield, Minnesota Officiating, Pastor Ralph B. Belin Organist, Mrs. Ronald Donner Soloist, Mrs. Eleanor Roschen "In The Garden" "My Jesus As Thou Wilt" Casket Bearers Peder Bakken, Walter Rikke Gifford Rikke, John Fierstine Orend Rikke, Brad Lundy Final Resting Place Clarkfield City Cemetery Clarkfield, Minnesota Arrangements by Lynner Funeral Home Since 1891 Clarkfield Minnesota