Richard Paquin, 77, of Mentor, MN passed away peacefully at his home on Maple Lake on Monday, March 23, 2020.

Richard "Dick" Arthur Paquin was born on July 16, 1942, in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. He was the son of Arthur and Leora (Krueger) Paquin. He was baptized on August 4, 1942 at St. John's Lutheran Missouri Synod in Red Lake Falls and was later confirmed on May 13,1956 at First Lutheran in East Grand Forks. He was raised in East Grand Forks and graduated from East Grand Forks High School in 1960. He attended college at the University of North Dakota before joining the Army National Guard. During this time, Richard moved to Mentor and started farming potatoes with his father until Art died in 1971. He farmed alone until 1974. At this time his brother Dave joined the farming operation. Dick became a member of the Potato Growers Association. He also served six years on the Minnesota Area One Potato Council and the Mentor City Council. He was elected mayor in 1987. On April 16, 1987, he married Debbie Evenson and became a step-father to two children, Jason and Jared Audette. Dick and Debbie had two children, Justin and Ashley. The family moved out to Maple Lake in 1990.

Dick lived and died for his potato crops and never lost passion in what he did.  He found joy in his work and had a way of making those around him smile. He held a special relationship with everyone he met, especially those who worked with him in the potatoes. If he wasn't checking fields, he was attending or watching sporting events. He was always reading the paper and was up to date on the latest news. The way he could retain information was amazing, and if anyone ever wanted to know his opinion on something, all they had to do was ask.  If someone needed to find Dick in the morning, the best place to look was the Mentor Café, where he would be catching up with everyone who walked through the door. He had a way of seeing the good in things even when the cards were stacked against him. He brought a positive attitude into every situation and never let frustrations get the best of him.  He was a true role model for his kids and taught them that a strong work ethic would bring them places in life.  He will be missed by many.

Dick is survived by his wife, Debbie of Mentor, MN; his four children, Jason Audette of Winger, MN; Jared Audette of Mentor, MN; Justin (Maggie) Paquin of Fargo, ND; and Ashley (Clay) Johnson of Pembina, ND; his five (soon to be six) grandchildren, Jacob, Blake, Bailey, Maudie, and Jack; one brother, David (Nancy) Paquin of Fertile, MN; and several nieces and nephews. Dick is preceded in death by his parents, Art and Lee Paquin, and his father and mother-in-law, Bob and Maude Evenson.

Funeral services for Richard Paquin will be held on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. in the Stanley Larson Veterans Memorial Park in Mentor, Minnesota. A visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service.