Geddes - Richard Slaba, 75, died at Platte Health Center in Platte, SD on Friday, July 10, 2020. Funeral service will be Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 10:00 AM at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Geddes at 10:00 with burial folowing in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery in Geddes. Richard Charles Slaba was born on December 4, 1944, to Alvin and Tillie (Kisely) Slaba in Geddes, SD. Richie took over the family farm at the age of 15. He graduated from Geddes High School in 1962. On July 6, 1974, he married Colleen (Rete) Masur - his “Retezie Pie” - at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. They just celebrated their 46th anniversary. Richie enjoyed watching his children’s sports activities, dancing, watching his Oakland A’s and Indianapolis Colts, playing on and managing the Geddes baseball town team, listening to Don Williams, and playing cards. On July 25, 2018, Richie entered the Lake Andes Nursing Home due to Parkinson’s disease. Richie is survived by his devoted wife Rete; son Matthew (Mieke) Slaba and their children Theodore, Presley, Cooper, and Avieleigh of Wagner, SD; daughter April (Toby) Russell of Mitchell, SD; daughter Joleen (Matthew) Urban and their children Lily, Justin, Caleb, and Sienna of Rochester, MN; son Bruce (Stephanie) Slaba and their children Delanie and Raleigh of Harrisburg, SD; daughter McKenzie (Adam) Frerichs and their children Oakley and Maddox of Mount Vernon, SD; brother Eugene (Lois) Slaba of Geddes, SD; sister Marie (Dean) McQuay of Rapid City, SD; and numerous nieces and nephews. Richie was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, 3 brothers-in-law, 3 nieces, and 1 nephew. Pappy’s Hands Many years passed through Pappy’s hands… Buried his father at the too-soon age of fifteen Looked after his mother until her dying day Took Rete’s hand in marriage as if she were a queen Held his two boys and three girls for the first times “Peace be with you” to fellow Catholics on Sunday mornings Slow, high waves to passers while he trudged through our yard Swung that baseball bat during Geddes’s townteam baseball season Pet his man’s best friend while strollin’ in from chores Built snowmen to enjoy his children’s smiles when it was freezin’ Clapped for his children when the scoreboard points increased Uncontrollable shake: an effect of Parkinsons Scribbled on checks to keep the old farm runnin’ Prayed and protected his children when beating their cancers Never used his hands to show disappointment towards anyone Reached to his heart to find all the answers Flipped to ESPN to see if the Oakland A’s earned yet another run Stained with oil Scarred with farming scrapes Tossed those bulky bales Steered the worn-out equipment Pulled the trigger at pheasants while blockin’ ends of fields Clicked the mouse when he tried to break Mom’s records Held his grandchildren with adoration and admiration Held Mom to show his caring love Pappy’s hands will always and forever be The things in this life that dearly hold his family