Sioux Falls, SD (Formerly Annandale, MN)
August 10, 1952 – October 1, 2021
Dick passed away on Friday, October 1, 2021 at Sanford USD Medical Center.
Funeral services for Dick will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Canova, SD with burial and a luncheon to follow. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a time of sharing beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 8, 2021, at Heritage Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, SD.
Richard “Dick” Behm was born August 10, 1952, to Gilbert and Elfrieda (Jech) Behm of Canova, SD and grew up on a farm near Canova with his older brother, Jim and two sisters, Marla and Glenda. Dick graduated from Canova Public School in 1970 and South Dakota State University at Brookings with a BS in Animal Science in 1974. Dick was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Canova.
Dick had an extensive career in Ag sales and marketing in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. He started as County Extension Agent in Hanson and Davison Counties and then moved into various sales positions for Ralston Purina, Land’ O Lakes, John Morrell and Co, Advertising Sales with the Green Sheet and Citizen-Tribune and started a Country Store in Maple Lake, MN which he ran for over 12 years. During that time he was active in several organizations, Minnesota County Extension Committee, Wright Co Friend of 4-H, Lions, Elks, Kiwanis, Toastmaster, Chamber Camp Courage Fundraiser, Volunteer for 15 years for the Minnesota State Fair (beef), judged county goat and cattle shows, and was the first secretary when the ELCA Lutheran Men in Mission was formed in South Dakota.
Dick was active in several livestock and community organizations and helped organize the County Pork Producers, Boosters Club and started the Minnesota Meat Goat Association.
Dick was named outstanding Alumnus-Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity SDSU. He was the top territory manager in the United States for Purina and won several sales awards with Land O’ Lakes. He was also an AG Specialist for USAID and did projects in Moscow and Siberia (1993 and 1997).
Dick loved people and enjoyed helping others. He valued his family and friends and loved to make others laugh. He played Santa Claus for over 40 years in the different communities and held 19 Behm Pork Chop Opens over the years and donated the money to various charities.
To meet him, was to know him. To know him, was to love him. Dick left a little piece of himself in every person he touched. We are better people for having known him and the world is a much better place because he was.
Dick is survived by his sister, Glenda (Tom) Gassman, Canova, SD; nephews, Nathan (Julie) Gassman, St. Peter, MN and their children Noah, Sky and Isla; Gabriel (Bethany) Gassman, Livingston, MT, and their children Aida and Bodey; Emily (Daniel) Kiely, Frisco, TX, and their children, Sydney, Huck, Madeline and Wyatt.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Elfrieda and two siblings; Jim and Marla.
The family kindly asks that you wear a mask at Dick’s funeral and visitation in an effort to keep everyone safe.
In lieu of flowers kindly direct memorials to your local youth group, such as 4-H, the Boy Scouts, FFA, etc.
