Richard La Rue
1934-08-23 2025-03-04
Richard Harold La Rue, age 90, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2025, surrounded by family. Known as Dick, he was born in Hopkins, MN, on August 23, 1934. A Marine Corps veteran from 1953 to 1955, he married Marilyn in 1957 and had four children. The La Rue family lived in Minnesota, Indiana, Florida, South Dakota, Maryland, Colorado, and briefly in Melbourne, Australia.
Dick earned a BS in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota, an MA from the University of South Dakota, and a PhD in Behavioral Science from Nova Southeastern University. He was a math teacher, university professor, National Science Foundation fellow, and a Director for various telecom companies. An early adopter of technology, Dick established the computer center at the University of South Dakota in the 1960s.
Dick was a devoted member of Benet Hill Monastery, where he became an Oblate. Through his Oblate studies, he developed a "Way of Life" that emphasized the values of kindness, gentleness, and understanding, encouraging everyone to "build bridges, not walls."
He was known for his humor, storytelling, and love of athletics, holding a record for 20 home runs in a season in 1957.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Harold, brothers Robert and John, son David, and grandson Anton. He's survived by his wife of 66 years, Marilyn; children Chuck, Mary (Alex), and Julie (Adam); daughter-in-law Lisa, 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and sister Jeanne Dunphy and nieces and nephews.
The memorial service will be March 15 at 2 p.m. at the Benet Hill Monastery, 3190 Benet Ln, Colorado Springs, CO, with interment at the monastery. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the monastery in Dick's memory.
Giving to Benet Hill Monastery:
https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/benet-hill-monastery/benet-hill-monastery-donation-form
Dick earned a BS in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota, an MA from the University of South Dakota, and a PhD in Behavioral Science from Nova Southeastern University. He was a math teacher, university professor, National Science Foundation fellow, and a Director for various telecom companies. An early adopter of technology, Dick established the computer center at the University of South Dakota in the 1960s.
Dick was a devoted member of Benet Hill Monastery, where he became an Oblate. Through his Oblate studies, he developed a "Way of Life" that emphasized the values of kindness, gentleness, and understanding, encouraging everyone to "build bridges, not walls."
He was known for his humor, storytelling, and love of athletics, holding a record for 20 home runs in a season in 1957.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and Harold, brothers Robert and John, son David, and grandson Anton. He's survived by his wife of 66 years, Marilyn; children Chuck, Mary (Alex), and Julie (Adam); daughter-in-law Lisa, 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and sister Jeanne Dunphy and nieces and nephews.
The memorial service will be March 15 at 2 p.m. at the Benet Hill Monastery, 3190 Benet Ln, Colorado Springs, CO, with interment at the monastery. In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the monastery in Dick's memory.
Giving to Benet Hill Monastery:
https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/benet-hill-monastery/benet-hill-monastery-donation-form