Frederick "Rick" Paul Giovannettone

Frederick “Rick” Giovannettone, 75, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Tuesday, July 4, 2023, after a battle with cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial for Rick will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with Father Jeffrey Schulte officiating. A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow Mass at the church hall. Burial will be at the Westport Sacred Heart Cemetery following the luncheon.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Wednesday, at the mortuary, with a 7 p.m. liturgical wake and rosary. Visitation continues one hour before Mass at the church.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends are encouraged to share memories of Rick on the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Frederick Paul Giovannettone was born on April 22, 1948, in New York City, NY to Fred and Matilda (Parente) Giovannettone. He spent his childhood in Elmont, NY where he attended school, instigated plenty of innocent mischief with his older brother, Joe, was forced to learn to play the accordion (which pinched his stomach and legs), worked on and raced cars with buddies, and could be found playing guitar at the Community Inn with a local band.

After high school, Rick attended tech school for auto mechanics in St. Louis, MO, and returned to New York where he served on the New York City Police Department. Rick married Pat Link on October 18, 1975, in New York. Shortly after they were married, Rick and Pat moved to a farm near Frederick, SD where they made their home with the support of local friends who taught them the ropes of farm life. They were blessed with a daughter, Suzy, who has turned out well thanks to Rick’s knack for blunt advice and "motivating" words.

Rick spent most of his professional life in the auto industry where he worked for General Motors, Sillers GMC, Johnson Motors, and as the owner of Nelson Auto and Electric in Aberdeen, SD. After retiring from the business, Rick spent a few years mixing cocktails as the owner of New York, New York Bar in Aberdeen, SD.

If you knew Rick, you could appreciate his love of golf, fishing, firearms, cars, belting out a Frank Sinatra classic, pinochle, and sharing entertaining stories from the past where he could have you laughing until you cried with his ability to retell a memory. Unfortunately, Rick did not get to enjoy his classic scotch and water in his last days, but his wit and humor was always present as well as his ability to diagnose and repair automotive issues.

Survivors include his wife, Pat of Aberdeen, SD; daughter and son-in-law, Suzy and Justin Petersen of Arlington, SD; grandchildren, Peyton and Addison Cope; bonus grandchildren Kaitlyn and Carter Petersen; brother, Joseph Giovannettone of Sioux Falls, SD; long-time family friend Niki Gellhaus of Aberdeen, SD; and his 1980 Corvette that Suzy and Peyton maintained (with Rick’s guidance) which Peyton, age 14, is itching to drive.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Matilda Giovannettone.

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