Obituary of Richard "Dick" Ray Remington

Richard Ray (“Dick”) Remington, age 80, of St. Paul, Minnesota, left this earthly world on August 2, 2024, surrounded by his loving family a/k/a “the whole damn bunch”.

Dick was born on January 29, 1944, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the youngest child of Ary and Florence Remington. He grew up in Grand Rapids where he enjoyed spending time outdoors, fishing, and hunting. He also liked working on cars, something he would eventually turn into a career.

He met the love of his life, Judy (Renollet), as a child when their fathers became friends while working together in the mines on the Iron Range. After being set up by Judy’s brother Bill, they began dating as teenagers and a few years later were married on March 7, 1964, in Lawton, Oklahoma. They eventually returned to Minnesota.

Dick was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War in February 1966. He worked as a truck driver on the front lines, which was what he was doing when his convoy was ambushed on November 21, 1966. Dick was shot in the foot and spent time recovering in Japan before returning home in April 1967. Dick and Judy spent a few months at Fort Leonard Wood and returned to Minnesota in February 1968. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries and carried the shrapnel in his foot for the rest of his life.

Dick and Judy celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Schelli Rae, in November 1968. They moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, in early 1969. Dick worked in auto repair, first with his brother Jack at Remington Auto on Rice St. in St. Paul, then at Larsen Motors in Roseville. The family welcomed their second daughter, Tashia LeAnn, in September 1974. Dick later worked as a Snap-On Tools salesman before opening his own service shop, V&C Auto Clinic, on St. Paul’s East side, which he owned and operated for 12 years.

He continued to enjoy working on and rebuilding his own cars throughout his life. He also liked watching NASCAR and collecting Dale Earnhardt memorabilia, collecting guns and target practice, camping and fishing with his family, and traveling with Judy, especially to the Black Hills and Badlands areas of South Dakota. He was an avid photographer and woodworker. He loved his daughters fiercely, but the apples of his eye were his three grandsons. There was never a prouder Grandpa, or one with a bigger photo collection of his boys!

Dick was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, and several loved ones and friends as well as his many beloved pet dogs and granddogs, grandcats, and grandhorses. He is survived by his beloved wife, Judy; daughters, Tashia (Peder) Parizek of Deer Park, Wisconsin, and Schelli (Scott) Ullrich of Mora, Minnesota; grandsons, Erik Olson, Ryan Olson, and Stone Parizek; and many cherished nephews, nieces, and other family members (including future daughters-in-law!) and friends.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff of HealthPartners Hospice, the Estates of Roseville, and Regions Hospital for their outstanding and empathetic care.

In accordance with his wishes, there will not be a public remembrance. If desired, memorials can be made to the Animal Humane Society (www.animalhumanesociety.org) or the Alzheimer’s Foundation (www.alz.org).