Dwight Raddatz

     Dwight Lee Raddatz, 63, of Laporte, passed away peacefully during a nap on the afternoon of November 1st while lunch was being prepared for him by his wife. His passing was the result of a yearlong struggle with pancreatic cancer.      Dwight was born in Bemidji, MN on October 2nd, 1953. He was the eighth child and third son of Lloyd Elmer and Frances Viola (Emerson) Raddatz. Dwight grew up contributing to the family’s farm, eventually purchasing the farm for himself. He married his first wife, Leslie Irene Pinnick, on April 11, 1981. They had three children together.    Dwight worked as a self-employed logger, contributing as a member of the township board, until he and his family moved to Armstrong, Iowa in 1998 when he assumed the role of pastor for the Free Methodist Church. The family returned to Minnesota in 2005. During the following years, Dwight worked with Gladen Construction, simultaneously laboring to finish a new home while still finding time to expand the facilities on his hobby farm. Dwight met Joan Carole Evenson in the spring of 2015 during a rare occasion of recreation. They were married in their home on December 5, 2015.      Dwight loved everything about living in the country. He beamed with satisfaction over his gardens and crops. He had a deep appreciation for the outdoor life, making many profound memories and friendships while out fishing and hunting. Dwight admired the strength and beauty of many horses. He frequently admired his own stock from his favorite viewpoint; through the open door of an outhouse. He enjoyed the primitive calm of a campfire, cooking food, reminiscing tales of friends, adventures, mischief, or his latest engineering feat. Dwight felt a deep enrichment from the community he was so pleased to be a part of. He had an intimate appreciation for music, a love he cultivated in the lives of his children as well as others. His love for music was rivaled only by the love he had for his family and for his savior, Jesus Christ, for whom he led a life of dedicated conviction.      Dwight is survived by his wife Joan; children: Grant Raddatz, Garrett Raddatz, and Victoria (Nick) Wood; step-daughter Alicia (Michael) Asmussen; his two grandchildren, Elijah and Sage; step-grand daughter Avery Asmussen; sisters Delores (Gene) Roach, Esther Immer, Elaine (Butch) Schaumburg, and Vi Strobridge; brothers Lowell (Zona) Raddatz and Larry (Sandy) Raddatz; as well as a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends from all walks of life.     He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Alta; brother in laws Bruce Strobridge, Willis Parker; and Harry Immer, nephew Wendell Parker and niece Jo Ann Schaumburg.      A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 3:00 PM in the Kabekona Community Church in Kabekona, MN. Reverend Dave Dwyer will be officiating. There will be a visitation for one hour prior to the start of the service at the church and a sing-a-long to follow the reception.