Richard D. Akers

Richard’s Service will be live streamed below starting shortly before his service on Friday:

Military Service:

Richard D. Akers, age 94, died on June 21, 2025, at SMP St. Catherine – South in Fargo. Dick was a kind and generous man, a loving family man, a good friend and a man of faith.

Dick was born on January 19, 1931, in Harvey, North Dakota, to Amy (Leintz) and F.Leo Akers. After graduating from Harvey High School in 1948, Dick joined the North Dakota Army National Guard. He would later enlist in the US Army in 1951, and fight in the Korean War.

He worked at Northwestern Bell Telephone in Fargo where he would meet his future wife, Mary Jane Saefke, of Fargo. They married on August 30, 1954, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo, and moved to Bismarck shortly thereafter. Their five children were all born and raised in Bismarck. Dick and Mary were active members of Cathedral Church, Cathedral Elementary School and St. Mary’s High School. In 1963 Dick began work with the Bismarck city assessor’s office. In 1968 he became an appraiser with the U.S. Department of HUD in Bismarck, transferring to the HUD office in Fargo in 1983 until his retirement in 1991.

In retirement, Dick continued playing racquetball at the Fargo YMCA, where many cherished friendships had begun. Dick and Mary enjoyed spending winters in Mesa, Arizona for 25 years. Returning to Fargo each spring Dick enjoyed applying his carpentry and other skills working the summer months at Oxbow Country Club. He also volunteered as a teacher of AARP driver’s safety classes. Dick and Mary were active members at Nativity Church. Most recently they enjoyed the past two years living at Riverview Place in south Fargo, where the Presentation Sisters, residents and staff became extended family.

Dick is survived by his wife of 70 years, Mary, and daughters Diane (Mark) McMorrow and Beth (Erik) Johnson, both of Fargo; sisters, Barbara Goggin, Red Wing, MN, and Bonnie (John) Zins, Flasher, ND, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by daughter Teresa (Akers) Mitzel, sons Tom and Rick, and his brothers Bob and Jim.

Funeral mass will be in the chapel at Riverview Place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 27, 2025. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Riverview Place.

Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Fargo.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at SMP St. Catherine – South and Ethos Hospice of Fargo for their compassion and dedicated care.