Richard Paul Muhlbradt , 90, Minot, formerly of Parshall, died Saturday, May 21, 2016, in a Minot nursing home.

Richard was born June 19, 1925, in Minot to Herman and Doris (Van Sickle) Muhlbradt. He was raised on the family farm near Raub and attended country schools in the area prior to graduating from Parshall High School in 1943.

Richard was united in marriage with Gayle Stall on November 4, 1945. They made their home in Parshall and farmed south of the community in Loquemont Township for 40 years. In addition to farming, Richard was a plumber and pipefitter. As a member of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 300 in Minot, he worked on major construction projects in the area, including the Minuteman Missiles, five western North Dakota power plants and the coal gasification plant near Beulah. He retired in 1985 and moved to Minot.

Richard was a member of First Lutheran Church, Minot, the Minot Chamber Chorale, the Greater Minot Zoological Society and SCORE, and he was past president of the Minot Area Council of the Arts. A volunteer who was handy with a tool box, he worked on numerous improvement projects for local organizations, including Roosevelt Park Zoo, the Carnegie Center, the City and Country Health Clinic, Western Plains Opera and the Norsk Hostfest. In 1995, he received the Minot Sertoma Club's Service to Mankind Award for his volunteer efforts.

A well-regarded tenor vocalist, Richard and his wife/accompanist Gayle performed at countless weddings and funerals through the years. In 1953, he was a featured soloist on Horace Heidt's national radio broadcast, "American Way." After retirement, he took up painting, specializing in western art, portraits and historic sites. His rendition of Fort Union earned him Best of Show honors at the North Dakota State Fair. In addition to hunting, fishing and working in his yard, Richard's greatest enjoyment came from picnicking, camping and exploring in western North Dakota with his family. Proud as he was of his North Dakota roots, he penned a history of his life, Up from the Dirty Thirties, which included chapters by his brothers, Herman, David and Danny.

Richard is survived by his wife of 70 years, Gayle Muhlbradt, Minot; daughters Kathryn (Darrell) Williams, Bismarck, and Mary Muhlbradt, Minot; brother Danny (Mary) Muhlbradt, Bismarck; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Doris Muhlbradt, and brothers Herman and David.

Celebration of Life service: Thursday, May 26, at 11:00 a.m., First Lutheran Church, Minot.
Visitation: Friends may call Wednesday, May 25th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Minot Chamber Chorale, Luther's Kitchen and the Souris Valley Animal Shelter.