Richard D. Wenberg

Richard Dean Wenberg, 81, of Belton, Texas departed this life peacefully in his home on April 30, 2014 after a battle with lung cancer. He was born in Beach, North Dakota on December 18, 1932 to the late Howard and Margaret Wenberg. During his early years on his family's homestead farm in western North Dakota, he developed a strong work ethic and a lifelong passion for agriculture. He served in the Army from 1954-56 including time stationed in Germany. He graduated from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in 1957 with a degree in agricultural engineering. In 1965, he met Mary Fockler while working in Morgantown, West Virginia. They were married later that year and embarked on a wonderful journey together that lasted more than 48 years. He was employed by the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service for 35 years as a professional engineer and worked in several locations across the country and abroad. He was highly regarded by many for his expertise in agricultural water management. He loved North Dakota. Through his diligent efforts over the past few decades, his parents' homestead farm has remained in the family and continues to be a model for production and sustainability. He took great pride in the success of NDSU's football team and thoroughly enjoyed attending their national championship games in 2012 and 2014. He cherished the friendships that resulted from being involved in his church and various social and professional organizations through the years. He had many hobbies including fishing and boating but his real joy was his family and especially working on projects with his grandsons. He is survived by his wife, Mary; son, Brian Wenberg and his wife, Susan, and two grandsons, Jack and Cade, of Belton; daughter, Susan Wenberg, and her fiancée, David Keller, of northern Virginia; brother, Howard "Jack" Wenberg and his wife, Marilyn, of Lander, Wyoming; sister, Faye Fuentes, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and sister, Sharon Hummel, of Billings, Montana. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Burness Wenberg and Joan Schweigert. A celebration of his life is scheduled for 11am on May 6 at the First United Methodist Church in Temple, Texas. Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to the Passing the Torch Campaign c/o Temple First United Methodist Church, 102 N 2nd St, Temple, TX 76501.