Richard "Dick" Marko

Richard “Dick” Marko, 84, of Aberdeen, and formerly of Ipswich, SD, passed away Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at his home.

Mass of Christian burial (open to the public) will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 20 6th Street, Ipswich, SD, with Father Tim Smith, Celebrant and Father Mark Axtmann con-celebrating.

Burial follows at the church cemetery.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, SD is in charge of arrangements.

Public visitation will be 6-7 p.m., Monday, at the mortuary, with a private liturgical wake and rosary following.  Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on Tuesday.

Dick’s family respectfully requests the use of masks and social distancing at the Funeral Mass and visitation.

Family and friends may sign Dick’s online guestbook and view his service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Richard “Dick” Marko, son of William “Bill” and Margaret (Mullner) Marko, was born July 11, 1936, in Westport, SD.  He was raised on the family farm with three brothers and three sisters.  Dick attended and graduated from Westport High School.

Dick was united in marriage to Ione Williams on May 31, 1956.  The couple made Aberdeen their home, where Dick began working for Jewett Drug.  In 1964, Dick and Ione moved to Ipswich, SD and he began what would become a 30-year career with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks.  Dick became Sherriff of Edmunds County in 1994 and served until 1998.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, United Commercial Travelers, Modern Woodmen, and the Peace Officers Association.  In his spare time, Dick enjoyed hunting, a good game of cards, and socializing with family and friends.

Blessed to have shared Dick’s life is his wife of  64 years, Ione Marko; his children:  Vickie Ernst, Karen (Doug) Jones, Cindy (Doug) Kenny, Tracy (Pete) Feickert, Bill (Christine) Marko and Nancy (Dan) Bittner; one brother, Keith “Butch” Marko; three sisters:  Delores Heckenliable, Dorothy Lang, and Clara Marko; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren (with two more on the way); two foster great-grandsons; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers:  Donnie and Roger; one sister in infancy; and two great-grandsons.