Ernest 'Ernie' Richards, 91

Ernest "Ernie" W. Richards, age 91, of Hastings, Minn., and formerly of Cloquet, Minn., passed away on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at Augustana Health Care in Hastings.

He was born April 28, 1920, in Virginia, Minn., to William B and Ida L. (Huseby) Richards and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Virginia. On March 10, 1942, he answered his call to duty and became a member of the United States Army. Ernie was sent to the Pacific area of operations where he saw service in New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, the Island of Layte, Luzon, Mindoro, Mindanao, and Cebu in the Philippines. After peace was signed, he also spent a brief period of time on the islands of Hokkaido and Hansku in Japan. Ernie was discharged from the military in December of 1945 with the rank of sergeant. In July of 1949, Ernie enlisted in the Army National Guard of Virginia, Minn. In 1951, he was given a permanent duty assignment with the National Guard in Carlton, later Cloquet and Duluth. He was appointed as warrant officer junior grade in November 1952. Ernie retired from the military service with the rank of chief warrant officer W4 and received the Army Commendation Medal.

Ernie was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Cloquet, the Hebert-Kennedy VFW Post 3979, the Carl Anderson American Legion Post 262, and the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Genevieve; three brothers, Roy, Robert, and Wilfred Richards; and two sisters, Beatrice Wall and Mary Richards.

He is survived by two sons, Neal (Lynn) Richards of St. Anthony, Minn., and Brian Richards (Greg Jahnke) of San Francisco, Calif.; two grandchildren, Donald (Shaunte) Richards of Hastings and Jennifer (Shon) Hart of Hibbing; one great-granddaughter, Sasha Hart; one brother, Bruce (Eleanor) Richards of Virginia, Minn.; his former daughter-in-law, Jeanna Clarke of Hibbing; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. The visitation will resume on Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. funeral service at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Cloquet with military honors presented by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard. Interment service will be 12 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

The family has selected Nelson Funeral Care of Cloquet to assist them with arrangements. See the family online guest book at www.nelsonfuneralcare.net.

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