Richard Andrew Borstad

Richard Andrew Borstad was born on 18 January 1936, to Orville and Helen (Wirzfeld) Borstad in Detroit Lakes, MN. Richard was the second of four children; older brother Hixon, younger sister Linda, and younger brother Stephen. He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend, and a respected educator and coach. Richard was gentle, understated, humble, witty, musical and fun-loving. His grandchildren adored him and knew him as the ‘silly papa’. He was an involved father and an amazing role model.

Richard attended Detroit Lakes Public Schools where he was an outstanding athlete and scholar. He was a member of the choir and band, and played baseball, hockey, ran track, and excelled at football. He was the Mount Olivet Minnesota State Athlete of the Year in 1954. Richard attended the University of Minnesota on a full scholarship for football and was a graduate assistant coach on the 1960 Golden Gopher Rose Bowl team. He was a member of Theta Chi fraternity and a first-generation college graduate.

Richard married Nancy M. Burrows, his high-school sweetheart, on 13 September 1958. He studied at Luther-Northwestern Seminary for a semester, but ultimately chose a vocation in education, earning both a Master’s Degree and a PhD from the University of Minnesota. His career included teaching and coaching stops at the University of MN, NDSU, UM-Morris, Macalester College and Augsburg College. He retired from Augsburg in 1995. In retirement, he and Nancy enjoyed longer stays at their cabin on Big Bear Lake, Wisconsin, frequently welcoming family and friends.

Church was a central part of Richard’s life, and he regularly attended weekly worship. He served on church councils, call committees, was a Stephen Minister and a regular Bible study participant. He and Nancy were long-time members of both Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church in south Minneapolis and Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley, AZ. He was a serious and mature Christian who was not afraid to ponder difficult questions about faith and life. He sang in church choirs, community choirs, and small vocal ensembles in his beautiful tenor voice well into his eighties.

Richard is survived by his devoted wife Nancy, married for 65 years; daughter Elizabeth Borstad (Charles Fredrickson); son John Borstad (Alexandra Borstad), and six grandchildren: Mari Fredrickson (Sandra Lopez); Haakon Borstad (Katie Malas); Berit Borstad; Anna Fredrickson; Toni Borstad; and Tayte Borstad. Also survived by sister Linda Merkel and brother Stephen Borstad (Candy); numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Predeceased by parents, Helen and Orville Borstad, brother Hixon, and sister-in-law Eileen Borstad.

A Celebration of Life for Richard will take place this fall at Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley, Arizona - date and time to be determined.

If you wish to honor Richard through a memorial gift, please consider

Music Ministries of Desert Hills Lutheran Church

2150 S Camino Del Sol, Green Valley, AZ 85622

https://www.dhlc.org/

or

Crossroads Nogales Mission

338 North Morley Avenue, Nogales, Arizona 85621

https://crossroadsmissionnogales.org/

or to an organization of your choice.