Richard Michael Bistodeau

Richard Michael "Dick" Bistodeau, 84, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Dick was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, fiancé, brother, uncle, and friend whose kindness, generosity, and love touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He was the patriarch of the Bistodeau family, the steady rock everyone leaned on, and the kind of man whose legacy will continue to live on through the generations he loved so deeply.

Dick was born on July 15, 1942, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Maximillian and Sue Bistodeau. He grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Spring Lake Park High School. Following high school, he proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps, receiving an honorable discharge.

As a young man, Dick worked at the Pancake House, where he mastered the art of cooking breakfast, something his family enjoyed for decades to come. He later built a remarkable 34-year career as a Maintenance/Boiler Engineer for Lutheran Brotherhood, retiring at the young age of 55 after years of hard work and determination. Retirement wasn't the end of his adventures, it was just the beginning.

Dick married his high school sweetheart, Judith "Judy" Bistodeau, on December 10, 1961. Together they built a beautiful life. After retiring in 1997, they spent the next 13 years traveling the country in their Bounder motorhome and were proud members of the Bounder Club. They would winter in Mesa, Arizona, and spend summers at Breezy Point Resort in Minnesota. The family spent a significant amount of time in Breezy Point every Summer and created countless lifelong memories for Dick’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Later in life, Dick and Judy settled full-time in Mesa, where they continued enjoying life together until Judy's passing in 2024.

In 2025, Dick found love again with Joycelyn "Joyce" Myers. They began dating in March 2025, and became engaged in April 2026. Joyce brought immeasurable happiness back into Dick's life. Together they cruised, celebrated his most recent birthday in Laughlin, and filled his final chapter with laughter, companionship, and love. Dick proudly talked about Joyce to everyone he knew. He faithfully brought her a dozen roses every Thursday, until Joyce lovingly suggested that perhaps monthly would be just fine. Their love brought comfort not only to Dick, but to his entire family, who will forever be grateful for the joy she brought into his life.

Dick is survived by his fiancée, Joycelyn (Joyce) Myers; his children, Tracy Andersen, Kevin (Lisa) Bistodeau, and Rick (Carol) Bistodeau; his grandchildren, Tara (Ryan) Lis, Nichole Andersen, and Ryan (Samantha) Bistodeau; and his treasured great-grandchildren, Leanna Lis, Liam Lis, Shelby Bistodeau, and River Bistodeau. He is also survived by lifelong friends Curt and Karen Sorenson, along with countless extended family members and dear friends whose lives were forever enriched by his love and friendship.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Judith "Judy" Bistodeau; his parents, Maximillian Bistodeau and Sue Lindgren; his brother, Doug Bistodeau; and his sister, Sharon Tourville.

To know Dick was to know unconditional love.

He never introduced himself as "Dick" or "Richard." Instead, he'd smile and say, "Hi, I'm Grandpa." It didn't matter if you were family, a friend, or one of his grandchildren's friends, you immediately became one of his own. To so many people, he truly was everyone's Grandpa.

He was the first person you called when you needed advice, help building a deck, fixing something around the house, or simply someone to listen. He had an incredible ability to solve almost any problem and never hesitated to lend his knowledge, his tools, or his time. Many joked that he was perfectly happy accepting beer as payment for his labor.

His grandchildren remember him not for sitting in a chair watching them play, but for getting down on the floor beside them. Whether reading books, playing games, or simply becoming part of whatever imaginary world they had created, Grandpa became the toy. There was no place he'd rather be than surrounded by his family.

Dick loved camping, cruises, road trips, discovering new places, playing cards, Bingo, visiting the casino, relaxing in his hot tub, watching old westerns, and Jeopardy! He always had an ice-cold beer, a glass of wine, or a fresh cup of coffee waiting for anyone who walked through his door.

One of Dick's most recognizable trademarks was the handkerchief he carried in his pocket every single day. Whether someone had a runny nose, spilled something, or needed tears wiped away, he somehow always had a clean handkerchief ready before anyone even had to ask.

Dick will be remembered for his generosity, his wisdom, his patience, and his incredible work ethic. He often worked more than one job because he had a dream of retiring early, and through discipline and determination, he achieved that dream by age 55. More importantly, he truly lived. He filled his retirement with travel, laughter, and family. He lived life to the fullest until his very last day.

His greatest accomplishment was never his career or the things he built, it was the family and friends he loved so fiercely. He showed all of us what it means to love unconditionally, to serve others without expecting anything in return, and to always make time for the people who matter most.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Birdies- Fountain of the Sun in Mesa, Arizona.

The family asks that you honor Dick by sharing your favorite memories and photographs in the memorial section. Stories were one of Grandpa's greatest gifts, and we hope to preserve as many of them as possible for generations to come.