Richard Neal Kelly, 91, of Austin, Minnesota, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home.

He was born March 19, 1925, in Jackson, Minnesota, the son of Roy and Hazel (Griffith) Kelly. A 1946 graduate of Austin High School, Richard continued his education at Austin Junior College. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1943 until 1946 and was a lifetime member of the VFW and the American Legion, where he was with the firing guard. Richard was a proud participant in the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. on May 15, 2010. From 1947 to 1966, he worked for Hormel Foods Corporation.  On May 31, 1952, Richard married Charlene Saari at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. The couple raised four sons. In 1966, Dick began working for the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier, retiring in 1985. He was a member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday School for 25 years. His favorite hobby was making home movies.  Dick produced a film entitled “Reflections on the Cedars,” a 51-minute historical film made over a period of 25 years. He coached baseball for many years; who can ever forget “hum babe.” Other pastimes included fishing, landscaping and flower gardening. Richard and Charlene enjoyed living on Lake Vermillion for 10 years and returned to Austin in 2001.

Survivors include his sons, Brian (Randi) Kelly of Albert Lea, Minnesota, Jeff (Randi) Kelly of Bloomington, Minnesota, Tom (Holly) Kelly of Buffalo, Minnesota, and Mike (Frances) Kelly of Andover, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild; siblings Kenneth Kelly and Shirley (Don) Erickson, both of Austin; his brother-in-law, Howard Nepp of Austin; several other relatives and friends. Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Charlene in 2012; brothers and sisters-in-law, Claude (Fern) Kelly, Eugene (Marilyn) Kelly, and Jerald (Annamae) Kelly; sisters, Elline Kelly and Mary Jane Nepp; and sister-in-law Elnora Kelly.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin with the Rev. Susan Li officiating. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery with military honors by VFW Post 1216 and American Legion Post 91. Friends may call from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday at the church, immediately preceding the service. Memorials can be directed to St. Olaf Lutheran Church or recipient of donor’s choice.

Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.