Dean Ervin Richter, born July 13, 1951,  unexpectedly fell asleep in death on July 21, 2025, at the age of 74, at Unity Health Hospital in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

Dean Ervin Richter and his two older brothers, Robert and David, were raised by his loving parents, Jean Marian Thurston-Richter and Ervin Theodore John Richter. They grew up on a small hobby farm in the rural Village of Big Falls, Wisconsin, located in Waupaca County. Sadly, Dean’s eldest brother, Kenneth, would die of cancer at age 3, before Dean was even born.

Dean spent his youthful time, after farm chores, enjoying the outdoors with his brothers and cousins.  All the boys loved being outdoors, hunting and fishing, and enjoying nature. Dean carried this love of nature throughout his entire life.

Dean would remember that his family brothers David, Kenneth, and Robert, they all had a respect for the Bible as God’s word. However, Dean’s choice of worship came later in life.   But his family culture laid a solid work ethic that life on a farm will teach a young man.  There was no time for any laziness – caring for farm critters, the whole “Size 100” of milking cows, repairing the acres of fence, fishing regularly and of course the farm activity schedule – sun-up to sun-down – waited for no one and nothing!

Dean Ervin Richter was a graduate of Marion High school class of 1969.  During high school, he was on the Marion High school wrestling team. The team won its second meet of the season, Thursday night, December 9^th, 1965, at Manawa. There a 154-pound Dean Richter pinned his opponent in 4 minutes and 30 seconds flat! That was a memorable achievement for a 14-year-old! It was a story he would tell his children, even 20 years later.

After high school, Dean married and had 4 children.  Dean had an adventurous side and loved to travel, taking the family on many trips. One trip led to the family moving to Alamogordo, New Mexico where new friends and adventures and lifelong memories were made.  After a few years in New Mexico, Dean moved the family back to Wisconsin and purchased small dairy farm near Caroline, Wisconsin.  Dean loved to spend time with family and friends sharing a good meal, playing cards, and telling silly “Dad” jokes.

Dean chose his secular career at age 17  when he began working  for Ed Bertram, at Bertram’s Auto Body, on Main Street, in Marion Wisconsin. There he learned his life-long trade of Auto Body Repair that would span 57 years until age 74.  Eventually he opened his own Auto Body Shop, in the beautiful hidden valley community of Caroline, Wisconsin.  With love of family in heart,  he named the shop “Sabre” Auto Body, after his 3 beautiful daughters, Sara, Angela, and Brook.

During the “1972 Divine Rulership District Convention”  when two bus loads of baptismal candidates were taken to a backyard pool, Dean Ervin Richter symbolized his dedication to Jehovah God by water baptism.

It was this same worship of his God that led him to attend the ‘1996 Messengers of Godly Peace’ District Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Madison, Wisconsin. While attending this convention, Dean met Sami L. Scott, who was visiting her brother in Madison, Wisconsin.  They developed a friendship, and then a fondness. When he asked if he could come to Arkansas to visit, Sami said “NO WAY!  I don’t know you that well! But I will come to Wisconsin to visit my family and get to meet yours.” 

Well the end of this story is… September  20, 1997, with Brother Jay Sanchez officiating, they were married here at this very Kingdom Hall of of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Jacksonville, AR.  Why his bride didn’t end up living in Wisconsin…? If anyone is familiar “Wisconsin winters” (from October until sometimes late May), it was no surprise that Dean Ervin Richter ended up moving to Arkansas!

Dean then continued his auto body career in Arkansas, first at Elite Auto Body shop, and later Gwatney Chevrolet  in Jacksonville. He later worked with Russell Chevrolet in Little Rock.  Dean semi-retired  after a job related injury, but still managed to help his friend, Reggie at his Body Shop in North Little Rock.  This friend referred him to another friend who needed help, Hackman’s Paint & Supply who needed driver and general help at the store.  Everyone who came to know Dean, even customers, became fond of his loving nature. Of course, Dean made friends with all those he visted. Among those good friends were  “Jack and Sam” – The owner’s  2 Corgi pups. They could be seen either on Dean’s lap or licking his hand, or napping on his shoe.  Something his Himalayan Cat “Buckles” at home didn’t find too pleasant!  Dean often expressed to his wife that he considered it a blessing to work for such good people at Hackman’s Paint & Supply.  Yes, Dean Richter was quite the gentle giant!  The work ethic that farm life had taught him, and the love he learned from his study of the Bible, made Dean Richter a special, friendly face anywhere he was known. Dean remained in Arkansas for the rest of his life, and made frequent trips driving back to Wisconsin quite often to share life with his chldren, family and friends.

Anyone who knew Dean Richter,  knew he could be counted on when needed, whether 5am or 5pm, or 10pm! —  If you asked for help…. if he could, he would! This same loving attitude toward people he carried wherever he went whether at secular employment, or in the public ministry, he really loved people and that was apparent. His love of family and friends kept everyone close with a good game of cards, or a tough board game, or watching The Packer’s football. Foremost in his priorities, Dean loved speaking about Jehovah God’s promises, whether he was on your doorstep, truck bed, porch steps, at the grocery store, or Body shop, he had good words and a smile!

Dean Ervin Richter leaves many fond memories with his family , with his neighbors, and workmates and his spiritual family of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We knew Dean Richter by his faith and love for his God Jehovah. Now, we know Jehovah has Dean in his memory. We were all witnesses to his diligence in serving Jehovah, even in health and in sickness. Many of us have worked beside him in the ministry and enjoyed his company at gatherings right up to the day before his passing!

There is no doubt in the minds of anyone knowing Dean, that he was determined to keep faithful to Jehovah and to have his name written in Jehovah’s Book of Life He is not gone forever. He is merely riding in the sleeping car on the way to the Paradise. There we all be re-united with Dean Ervin Richter in the “New World to Come”!

What a glorious day that will be!

Dean is survived by his wife of 28 years, Sami L. Scott-Richter of Jacksonville, AR; Children and Grandchildren Angela Richter-Reed (Jim) of Eckert, CO, and their son Spencer Reed (age 26), Dean L. Richter (Trisha L.) of Marion, WI, Brook Richter-Kadlec (Chris) of Delta, CO, and and their daughter Brenna (age 11), Sara Richter-Forsberg (Jacob) of New London, WI and their daughters Freya (age 9), and Rowyn (age 6); Children and Grandchildren through Marriage LaShaune’ M. Scott of Jacksonville, AR, Sammie D. Scott of Jacksonville, AR and his son, Kamren D Scott (age 15), his daughter, Alexus Scott-Smith (age 27) and her two children, Jaiden (age 6), and Nevaeh (age 1); His Brother David’s Family: Wife Sally, Children: Tracy (David) Jensen, and their children Ryan and Wendy. Nikki (Jody) Raddatz. Shaun (Becky) Richter and their children William and Adelaide; His Brother Robert’s Family: Wife Betty (deceased 2016) and their Children Brenda Richter-Pynenberg and Beth Richter; and many other cousins, relatives, and friends, too numerous to mention.

Dean was also preceded in death by his Father Ervin Theodore John Richter Mother, Jean Marian Thurston-Richter and, along with 3 brothers, Kenneth Dale Richter (deceased at age 3), and Robert Lee Richter (deceased at age 54), David Benjamin Richter (deceased at age 58), and his Grandson, Aydan Thomas (deceased at birth and son of Brook Richter-Kadlec).

Memorial services will be held at 11 am, Saturday, August 9th, Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2630 W. Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas.

Arrangements by A Natural State Funeral Service 2620 West Main Street, Jacksonville, Arkansas 72076. 501-982-3400. Online guestbook at www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com