A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 30 from 10 a.m. – noon at the Sioux Falls Convention Center for Richard “Dick” Huffman, 89, who passed away at the V.A. Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls, SD on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 after a brief illness.

Richard was born on September 3, 1936 to Bert and Mae Huffman at his parent’s house in Panora, Iowa. He was the youngest of four children. His family lived in several Iowa communities before settling in Omaha, NE when “Dick” was in Kindergarten. The family lived in the Florence area of North Omaha.

When he was a Freshman at Omaha North, his family moved to Elgin, NE for his father’s job with Blaugas. He was elected to Boys State in 1953. The family then moved to Neligh for “Dick’s” senior year of high school, where he was elected class vice-president.

He met his future wife Karen (Kirk) in Neligh. After finishing boot camp at Naval Base Great Lakes, Illinois , he returned to Neligh for the couple’s wedding on May 13, 1956. Richard then served his enlistment stationed at Norfolk, VA aboard the USS Lake County (LST-880), an LST-542-class tank landing ship.

While stationed in Norfolk, Richard and Karen welcomed their daughter Debra before moving to Omaha after Richard’s enlistment ended.

The couple settled in a North Omaha apartment while Richard started work at Western Electric in downtown Omaha before moving to the company’s new plant at 120th and L Street. Richard eventually became a supervisor in the quality control division.

The couple’s son, Rick, was born in 1959. In 1960 the family moved to a new housing development – “LaVista” – located south and east of 72nd and Harrison Streets.

The couple joined with other neighborhood residents to help bring their shared vision of turning LaVista into a city. They formed various committees, worked with county and state officials and, according to Richard, did “the smartest thing they could have ever done”: hired Omaha attorney Joe Barmettler to help guide LaVista’s formation into a city.

The young men and women of LaVista built the development’s first park, formed a volunteer fire department, and eventually were granted city status. Richard served two terms on the original City Council, while his wife Karen started writing newspaper articles about LaVista for the Papillion Times, a weekly newspaper.

Eventually LaVista was included in the Papillion School District and Richard served one term on the Papillion-LaVista School Board.

After their children graduated, Richard and Karen moved to Ginger Cove, outside Valley, for several years. Then to a condominium in Millard while they planned their final move to a new home on a lake or river in eastern Nebraska.

Richard accepted an early retirement package from Western Electric in the early 90s. He then became a freelance quality control consultant for area electronics manufacturers, including Dale Electronics in Yankton, SD.

The couple’s daughter, Debi, passed away at the age of 30 in 1986 from melanoma. Karen passed away at the age of 59 in 1997 from lung cancer.

Richard then moved to Sioux Falls, SD to be closer to his son and daughter-in-law, Tamra. Richard volunteered for many years at the VA hospital in Sioux Falls. When he became a first-time grandfather to Isabelle (“Schnookums”), “Papa” left the VA to become her full-time “Grandpa Day Care.”

Richard has donated his body to the University of South Dakota Medical School, after which his remains will be cremated and returned to his family. The family wishes to thank Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Sioux Falls for their assistance.

Richard is survived by his son, Rick, and granddaughter Isabelle. He was preceded in death by his wife and daughter, his parents, and his brothers and sister: Ellie Weatherholt of Norfolk, NE; Roy Huffman of Fallon, NV; and Pete Huffman of Omaha.

In lieu of flowers or cards, the family encourages becoming an organ or full-body donor, or making a donation to the nearest Veterans Affairs facility nearest you by using the VA’s online E-Donate portal to donate to specific local facilities, or call the local VA medical center's Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) office. Monetary donations, gift cards, and items for veterans are accepted, with local CDCE staff coordinating needs and drop-offs.