Richard William Kloubec

Richard's Memorial Service can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/838410749?share=copy

Richard William Kloubec was born February 2, 1931, in Fargo, ND, to William and Vera (Pomeroy) Kloubec. He graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1948. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 1952. He was a member of the Theta Chi Fraternity.

He served in the US Military during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954, where he was stationed in Tokyo, Japan.

He married Audrey Puckering on June 20, 1958. After his military service, he worked as a grain broker for General Mills in Minneapolis, MN. In 1963, he founded and became the President of Duo-Fast Dakota, Inc., a construction tools and equipment distributor based in Fargo. He also did business in real estate and sheep ranching. He served as President of the Rotary Club, and was involved with other organizations such as the American Legion, Shriners, Masons, YMCA, the Audubon Society, F-M Homebuilders, and the Greater North Dakota Association (GNDA). He was also a member of the North Dakota State University Development Foundation Board of Directors.

He was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1973 and served until 1993. He served as Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. He was on the Industry, Business and Labor Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Republican House Policy Committee. He was the House Majority Leader in the 1989 and 1991 legislative sessions and served a term as Speaker of the House in the 1987 session. In 2007, he was appointed by Governor John Hoeven to the State Historical Board, which oversees the operations of the state's history agency, the State Historical Society of North Dakota.

He also represented North Dakota on the Western States Energy Forum, the Five Star Water Committee, and the National Conference of State Legislators.

He was a lifelong and active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fargo, ND. He was an Eagle Scout. He served on the Board of Directors of the Fargo Central High School Alumni Association for many years. He enjoyed travel, reading, life-long learning, farming, raising sheep, and spending time with his family at the cottage he and his parents built on Little Detroit Lake in 1941.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Audrey; sister, Mary Kloubec; son, Bill and his wife, Christine; grandson, Vincent Kloubec; and daughter, June Kloubec.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 2:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Fargo, ND. A reception at the church will follow the service. Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church or to the charity of your choice.