Richard Charles Zeller was born April 24, 1944 to Marvin and LaVerne (Warnes) Zeller and was the "baby" of the family, born 10 minutes after his twin brother William. Richard joined older siblings, Judy, Donnie, and Myrna at their home in Watertown, South Dakota.

Richard loved life from the start. His sister Myrna fondly recalled Richard and Bill sitting in the driveway of their home, spooning mud over each other's heads, as any little boys would do. In April 1948 Richard contracted Encephalitis. The complications that stemmed from this changed Richard's path, but made it meaningful none the less.

Richard attended Special Education School in Watertown until he was 14 years old. At 16, Richard convinced his father to let him move on to the next stage in life and move to the Redfield State Hospital to continue his education and independence. The stories from his time in Redfield were filled with friends. There wasn't a place that Richard ever went, where he didn't already know at least one person, and left making friends of a few more.

When Richard was 40, "adjustment training centers" were opened and another opportunity for independence was made available. His mother was hesitant to "upset the apple cart" since he was doing so well and really loved his home in Redfield. However, his case manager at the time had to brashly state, "Listen, Dick has earned an A and you won't let him have it". That hit home to LaVerne, so to Brookings Richard came.

As you can imagine, it was just more opportunity for Richard to make more friends and he even reunited with many of his friends from Redfield and a close friend whom he had grown up with in Watertown. Even though all of his siblings had moved to other states, he remained extremely close to them all, especially Judy and Wayne, who always managed to dote on him from so far away.

Richard had explored some jobs while residing at Redfield, but upon coming to Brookings and ADVANCE he became a dedicated employee in the "workshop" completing many different jobs for a variety of manufacturers in Brookings. Richard took great pride in his work and in his later years would let everyone know that he was an employee of Larson Manufacturing, putting together the "books" for all the doors. In the fall of 2014 after 35 years, Richard decided to take on the next stage in life and retire. However, he always returned for a visit and to make sure that everything was running smoothly.

In addition to being a dedicated employee, Richard also worked hard at being a good friend. His days, especially his weekends, were filled with his typical routine of breakfast at Cooks Kitchen with his friends, then a trip down to Ray's Corner to see more friends, and whatever other businesses downtown he recognized a friend in, or an opportunity to make a new one. Sundays were for church. Richard was a man of strong faith and he found his church family and friends at the GracePoint Wesleyan church. He would pray for all of his friends and family each Sunday.

Richard loved his community. Any opportunity he had to participate in events that gave back, he was the first to sign up. He loved helping kids especially. He marched many years in the March of Dimes walk, bought backpacks and supplies for kids at the Brookings Backpack Project, and loved to buy as many toys as he could for the Project Joy program.

Richard lived a great life. He would be the first to tell you it. He loved and was loved. He touched so many people's lives just by being who he was, brave, compassionate, kind, giving, sincere, and true. A life well lived indeed.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Myrna and Lowell, and brother Donnie. He will be greatly missed by his sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Wayne Beulke of Bouse, Arizona, twin brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Lianne Zeller of Walhalla, ND, nieces and nephews, and an immense number of friends at ADVANCE, in Brookings, and beyond.