Richard (Rick) Whitworth

Richard “Rick” Whitworth, 65, was born into this life on January 21, 1954 in Glendale, CA, to Bill and Ruby Whitworth. He departed this life on July 7, 2019 in Bismarck, ND, in the company of his loving wife, Vicki.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am Friday, July 12, at Legacy United Methodist Church, 4600 Durango Dr, Bismarck, with Rev. Brandon Vetter officiating.

Family will greet guests from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Thursday, July 11, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Cremation has taken place.

After moving to Bismarck in 1969, he met Vicki Grey and they married in September of 1974. He thought of her parents, Oscar and Ann Adolf, as his own parents. He was a brick layer, water salesman, and eventually retired from Dakota Supply Group after 18 years as an outside salesman. Rick was incredibly generous with a big heart who put others first. He had a corny dad joke ready for any occasion. He was a fan of NASCAR and classic cars, but he was the biggest fan of his grandchildren! His favorite times were spent with his family, even if it was doing things he didn’t want to do. Rick was proud of everyone’s accomplishments, no matter whose it was. He enjoyed reading, fishing trips, golfing trips, and doo-wop music. For the past year and a half, Rick had battled cancer with a team of professionals who always had his back. He had prepared himself as much as possible for this moment, as he knew this day would come. Rick knew his family would need that peace. 

Rick is survived by his wife, Vicki, Mandan; sons, Geoff (Bethany) and Kelly, Mandan; grandsons, Kane and Kayden, Mandan; sisters, Cheryl Peters (Christian), Tucson, AZ, and Cindy Bartles (Chris), Tucson, AZ; uncle, Hal Whitworth (Carol), Liberty, MO; sisters-in-law, Kerry Bailey (Don), Bismarck, Linda Dockter (Logan), Mandan, Bonnie Brink (Paul), Bismarck, and Janice Melgaard (Dean), Bismarck; brother-in-law John Grey (Vicke), Mandan; and nephews, nieces, cousins, and a multitude of friends. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Ruby; sister, Cari Piirainen; cousin, Donna Vela; sister-in-law, Tammy (Larry) Cooper; grandparents; parents-in-law; and nephew, Johnny Grey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Bismarck Cancer Center, 500 N 8^th St, Bismarck, ND, 58501.