Eulogy for my fallen leader

(Fargo Forum paid obituary)

Richard Sha, 79, of rural Vergas, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit Lakes.



Richard Leo Sha was born on August 4, 1925 in Pelican Rapids, MN, to Edward and Clara (Swenson) Sha. He graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1943. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a mortar gunner in Europe in WWII, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. After his discharge from the Army, he married Rose Osten of Norwegian Grove on June 8, 1946.

Dick graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree. He was employed by the Minnesota Department of Health from 1949 to 1952, in Rochester, Minnesota. In 1959 when he received his Master’s degree from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, the Sha family moved to Anoka and he joined the consulting firm of Caswell Engineering Company. In 1961 he was named CEO of Midland Consultants. In 1980 he retired from consulting practice and accepted the position of Special Deputy Director of Construction and Administration with the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission. He served on the Metropolitan Health Board from 1970 to 1980.

In 1982 the Shas retired to their farm near Vergas. In addition to maintaining the farm Dick served for many years as Supervisor of the Lida Township Board, and as a member of the Otter Tail County Planning Commission.

Over the years he served as president of the Pelican Rapids Faith Lutheran Church Council, co-founder and member of the Pelican Rapids Area Community Theater Board of Directors, VFW life member, Pelican Rapids Lions Board of Directors member, president and honorary life member of the Rochester Male Chorus, and president of the Anoka and Brooklyn Park Chambers of Commerce.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers: Kenny and Eugene, and his sister: Kathleen. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years: Rose, children: Ronald (Laurel) Sha of Hillsborough, NC, Kristi (Richard) Class of Janesville, MN, Patricia (Ron) Cooke of Opua, New Zealand, Janet (Gary) Hill of St. Paul, Sara Dalen of Moorhead, six grandchildren: Hilary (Mark) Macenas, Grant Sha, Marta Cooke, Sanna Cooke, Zac Dalen, and Anna Dalen, sisters: Margaret Crogan and Adeline Pannek, both of Eden Prairie, and many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. He will be dearly missed by those whose lives he touched.

Visitation: One hour prior to the service at the Church.
Memorial Service: 2 p.m. Monday, May 2, 2005 at Faith Lutheran Church,
Clergy: Rev. David Eggebraten.
Funeral Home: Larson Funeral Home, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.

My leader is gone.

Of all the layers of government around me, Richard Sha was the layer closest to my skin. He was my Township Supervisor. Not that the title gave him a lot power over me, he was fiscally conservative, but because of his position, I had to deal with him. The last time I spoke to him was about fourteen days ago. He called me to explain, in greater detail than I needed, why a township road needed to be closed for a while. When I hung up I felt confidence in my leader and respect for his intellect.

When days and weeks went by with the road still closed and Dick in the local spotlight for attacking the school board in a rather official way on the school bond issue, I was getting impatient and perturbed. Dick should stick to his job description and maintain our road system, not grab the rest of the Town Board and get them on the front page of our weekly paper doing something not in their job description. I had almost finished counting to ten and I was about to tell Dick how I felt. Looking first for somebody to agree with me, I told another township neighbor who had also served on Dick's Town Board, but had been voted off. I told him how I felt, that I was almost embarrassed by the actions of my Town Board. He agreed with me. I told him I wished he could get back on the Board. He told me Dick had died overnight.

So Dick, before you wander too far off, we need to tend to unfinished business.

I respected you as a leader with courage enough to take a stand for what you believed was right. My father also served on the Planning Commission and I know it is a thankless job bound to make you many enemies and very few friends. I served on the Town Board as Clerk before you came on as Supervisor. I felt you were a tough cookie.

I respected you as a conservationist, the land and water on your farm will be left better for the person who will tend to it next.

I felt comfortable with you in charge, even before I read your resume in your obituary.

I think you were always trying to make Lida Township and Otter Tail County better places to live.

Finally and less importantly, I think you were wrong on the school bond issue. I think you failed to use the Golden Rule when expressing your opinion, not so much towards me, but towards other leaders who happen to be my boss. I can forgive you for this. I can forgive the feet-dragging on replacing the culvert and the fact that the road is still closed.

Know that you will be missed and your chair difficult to fill.

I wouldn't have told you any of the above to your face.

You'll have to make do with a blog posting you never would have seen.

That's the way the world is and the way I am.

Sorry.