Richard "Dick" Gretch

Richard David Gretch, 84, of Great Falls, an Army veteran, former coach and retired administrator at the University of Great Falls, died of natural causes Saturday, Oct. 6, at a local extended-care facility.Visitation is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, October 8, 2012 at Schnider Funeral Home, and an hour prior to the 7 p.m. vigil at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Funeral Liturgy is 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church (formerly St. Lukes). Cremation will take place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home and burial of ashes will be at a later date.Dick was born April 23, 1928, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Viola (Henter) and Michael Gretch. The family moved to Melrose, Minn., where he was raised and educated, graduating in 1945 from Melrose High School.He joined the Army and was stationed in Japan. He attended St. Johns University and graduated from the University of St. Cloud with a B.S. degree. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with an M.A. degree. He married Mary Francine Hupke on Dec. 28, 1953, at St. Marys Church in Mapleton, Iowa. Dick taught at Sherburne (Minn.) High School and at Dawson Community High School in Glendive. In 1961, he began teaching at the then-College of Great Falls, from where he retired in 1993.Dick won many accolades for his teaching and served on numerous committees and boards in the academic field. He was also a devoted coach and athletic director for the Holy Family Knights. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mary Francine Fritz Gretch of GreatFalls; daughters, Barbara (Doug) Moen of Chandler, Ariz., and Judy Gretch of Great Falls; sons, Michael (Ed) Gretch of Los Angeles, Dr. David Gretch (Lisa Thomassen) of Issaquah, Wash., Dr. Gary Gretch(Kathy Schultz) of Port Orchard, Calif., Jim (Cathy) Gretch of Great Falls, and Dr. Daniel Gretch of Helena; brother Robert (Eileen) Gretch of Minneapolis; sister Betty (Dan) Benda of Minneapolis; grandchildren, Patty Johnson, Heidi Egan, Matt Rapkoch, Greg Rapkoch Kevin Rapkoch and Katie Rapkoch; Zach Gretch, Ben Gretch, Whitney Gretch, Amy Gretch and Allison Allie Gretch, Shannon (Gretch) Rindal and Megan Gretch; Brice Gretch and Brad Gretch; great-grandchildren, Cole Johnson and Josie Johnson, Brynn Egan and Ethan Egan, Amelia Gretch, and Dawson and Grayson Rindal.He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James; and two grandsons, Samuel Gerard Rapkoch and Stephen Michael Gretch.Memorials are suggested to University of Great Falls, 1301 20th St. S, Great Falls, MT 59405; Alzheimer Foundation, 2621 15th Ave. S., Great Falls, MT 59405; and Ursuline Centre at 2300 Central Ave., Great Falls, MT 59401.