Susan Richard

Funeral Mass:

Prayer Service:

St. Therese of Lisieux said, “The world is thy ship and not thy home.” Susan has lived her life with her feet firmly and actively living out her Catholic faith in this world while keeping her soul set on the journey to Heaven.

Susan’s ship set sail February 26th, 1954 when she was born to Bernard and Mary Franzen in Devils Lake, ND. She grew up, the third of ten children, learning the importance of hard work on the farm near Lakota, ND. After graduating high school, Susan moved to Fargo where she attended North Dakota State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics. During her time at NDSU, Susan was very active at the Newman Center. On the heels of the Roe v. Wade decision, Susan steered her ship into the tumultuous waters of the pro-life movement. Her involvement in the campus pro-life group is where she met her future husband, Larry Richard. With the group, they traveled around, speaking, educating, and advocating to help others understand the value and dignity of every human life.

Larry and Susan joined their ships on this journey at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lakota, ND on June 5th, 1976. Shortly after, Larry and Susan moved to Larry’s family homestead, where they took over the farm in 1980. Larry and Susan’s pro-life work never wavered as they started their family and operated the farm through the difficult farming years of the 1980’s. Over the next 12 years, they welcomed four children into their family, Jackie, Alex, Rebecca, and Elisabeth. Because of her love for the unborn, Susan was instrumental in opening and operating Fargo’s crisis pregnancy center. In 1994, she diligently worked as the director and as a counselor to women and men who found themselves in crisis pregnancies and in need of support. Her ability to speak the truth of the dignity of each precious soul and her willingness to find support and resources for those in need helped countless mothers and fathers choose life for their children. After serving in this role for nearly a decade, she stepped down as director and into the position of developmental director of the First Choice Clinic, as it was then called. In this role, her attention to detail and dedication to the work served her well; she put together fundraisers and brought about awareness and support for a clinic that truly impacted the lives of parents and their unborn children. Through these years, Susan worked hard to lovingly raise her family and support her husband. Her deep faith in the love of Jesus Christ and her devotion to His mother, Mary, were the source of her strength.

In 2010, Susan entered the waters of retirement as busy as ever supporting Larry on the farm, loving her grandchildren, caring for her impressive flower pots, and participating in many activities at the church. Friends and family’s doorsteps were made more beautiful with her generous sharing of the flower pots that she lovingly crafted. Her hospitality was second to none and her famous homemade buns were enjoyed by all. Susan’s immense devotion to prayer throughout her life has been felt by many, but especially her family, for whom her faithful witness through good times and bad has been a beautiful example. Her ship reached its final destination with family near her on October 12th, 2023. Leaving her family behind was hard, but the promise of her eternal reward gave Susan a joyful purpose as she faced the suffering she endured.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Mary Franzen, her niece, Kimberly Cook, and several miscarried grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Larry, and her children and grandchildren, Jackie and Jimmy Dulka (Grace), Alex and Mary Richard (Ethan, Olivia, Alaina), Rebecca and Josh Scraper (Gabby, Julianna, Jacob, Greta), Elisabeth and Nick Schmitz (Stephen, Sebastian, Joachim, Genevieve, and Baby arriving in December). She is also survived by her siblings; Marie Pozarnsky (Dennis), John Franzen (LuAnn), Robert Franzen, Bernadette Adams, Charlie Franzen (Kris), Lisa Potts (Jim), Jessica Skjordal (Randy), Ted Franzen, Joe Franzen (Brandi), as well as many nieces and nephews.

Vigil Service:
Rosary: 5:00 p.m. Monday, October 16th, 2023 at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo.
Visitation: 5:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, October 16th, 2023 at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo.
Prayer Service: 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 16th, 2023 at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo.

Mass of Christian Burial:
Visitation: 9:00-10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 17th, 2023 at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo.
Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 17th, 2023 at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo.

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