Eugene Dale Richards

Eugene Dale Richards, 43 of Cromwell died Wednesday, October 22, 2008 due to a work related accident. He was born on July 28, 1965 in Cromwell to Wayne "Conrad" and Karen Richards. Eugene graduated from Cromwell High School in 1983. He worked for the Cloquet DNR for 18 years as a smoke chaser and went out west to Montana in 1988 and Idaho in 1989 as part of the Helitec team fighting fires. He served on the Cromwell Volunteer Fire Department for six years. He worked for Horton Sawmill and helped at Roger Line Meat Processing. Eugene had his own dirt and excavating business. He worked for NTT out of Duluth for eight years and was currently logging with his family. Eugene enjoyed farming, hunting, snowmobiling and anything outdoors especially Nascar racing. He enjoyed working hard and playing hard. He loved entertaining his friends and family in his man-cave. Eugene and his friends have been spending many hours planning and working together on their deer stands for this upcoming hunting season. Eugene had a way of pulling people together and loved having his friends and family close and "every stuff". He is preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Edward and Dorothy Richards; maternal grandfather, Carl Glader; uncle, Walter Hakala; and cousin, Brenda Hage. Eugene is survived by his wife, Denise; daughter, Tammi; step-son, Lucas (Jennifer); granddaughter, Elexis Anderson; parents, Wayne (Conrad) and Karen Richards; brothers, Keith, Les (Jerri Haugan), and John (Cindye); sister, Irene (Charles) Carlson; 15 nieces and nephews and two great-nephews. Funeral Services were held on Monday, October 27, 2008 in Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell. Burial was in Forest Hill Cemetery in Cromwell. To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.northlandfunerahome.com