Richard Stelter ’71

Rev. Rick Stelter died on Christmas Eve after a long fight with cancer.

Rick died of multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer he has battled courageously for twelve years. Diane Stelter, Rick’s wife, said it is a miracle that he has survived this long- when he was diagnosed, he was given two years to live.

Rick’s ministry had an impact, not only in this Presbytery, but throughout the wider world.

Rick had a passion for the elderly and the infirm,  wanting to provide them with the resources they needed to live their final years with dignity and independence. He worked on a model of home chore workers that has been replicated nationally.  “Because of this,” Diane says, “because of him – it is no exaggeration to say that thousands, of seniors have been able to remain in their own homes.”

Another passion was connection people through worship.  He conducted worship services in an apartment complex in Northeast Minneapolis.  Diane noted that while he has not had a congregation to work in for the last 25 years, he has had Northeast Minneapolis as his parish. Diane notes, “He was called upon for many, many funerals for the unchurched and to assist with those of the churched volunteers who worked so zealously with him.  There were weddings and even a baptism.  There were late night phone calls.   He was the unofficial assistant for many of the small congregations in NE – the one called upon to cover when the pastor was away.  One summer we counted and he was in the pulpits of 6 different denominations, encouraging people to reach across the barriers of age and income to know and love their neighbors.  Through Rick adult children, often living far away, were able to hear how mom was doing, to arrange for the donation and installation of an air conditioner, a surprise gift of fertilizer and seeds, a ride to the hair dresser or doctor, an assurance that there was a local and personal interest.”

Rick served the Presbytery in many ways, including:  the Worship Committee, the Urban Strategies Task Force, the Youth Committee, the Council on Congregational Life, the Committee on Aging and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry.

Rick is survived by his wife of 33 years, the Rev. Diane Stelter, his children Philippa Lynne Stelter, Corlin Richard Stelter and Theodore Homer Stelter.  He is a 1971 graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and received an MA in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois in 1974.  He received his Masters of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in 1977 and was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in October of that year at Oak Grove Presbyterian in Bloomington.  He served as an Assistant Pastor at Grace-Trinity Community Church in Minneapolis and as a Parish Associate at North Presbyterian in North St. Paul.  He was a chaplain at La Salle Health Care Center and the Christian Union Home/Grace Manor for 20 years, and director of the Northeast Senior Citizen Resource Center (NESCRC)  for 27 years.  Upon his retirement from this position, June 6, 2004 was designated Richard K. Stelter Day in Minneapolis. The proclamation read:

Whereas, Richard Stelter has provided Northeast Minneapolis seniors with spiritual and physical support that has allowed them to live independently with dignity; and

Whereas, Richard Stelter has dedicated his life’s work to making Northeast Minneapolis a better place to live; and

Whereas, Richard Stelter’s strong faith, indomitable spirit and caring hand make him a role model for us all.

Rick’s Obituary