More detail on this person: Richard "Dick"
Wentworth Bourne took his final flight on 06 Oct,
2016 after battling cancer for more than two
years. He was a friend to everyone as well as a
distinguished military officer, educator, father,
husband and hoarder. Not a man for material
possessions - he would give you the shirt off his
back. However, he never threw away a receipt or
bank statement in his 82 years.
A celebration of life will be held at Oakes Public
School Gymnasium with a parade and reception at
the Angry Beaver Lodge in Oakes on October 22,
2016 starting at 2:00. Burial will be at a later
date at Arlington National Cemetery with a full
military ceremony.
Dick was oldest of 12 siblings, born a diehard Red
Sox fan to Osgood Wentworth and Winifred Daley
Bourne on Nov. 18, 1934 in Wakefield, MA. He was
active in football, baseball, and basketball and
was voted "Most Handsome" in his graduating class
at Ayer High School. He joined the Navy at 17 to
help his family and begin to realize his dream of
world travel. He trained as an airplane mechanic
and deployed to the Pacific toward the end of the
Korean War, where he met his first love: All
things aviation. Leaving the Navy after his first
"hitch," he thumbed his way to California to work
for his Uncle Frank, plastering buildings. In
1956, he entered pilot training as an aviation
cadet in Texas and began an affair that defined
him. Dick was commissioned as a Second
Lieutenant Dec. 5, 1957 and was designated as a
U.S. Air Force pilot. After completing follow-on
helicopter and survival training, he reported to
his first assignment flying H19 helicopters in
Japan. On his very first mission, Dick flew nearly
48 hours straight rescuing 166 Japanese citizens
from a flood earning him his first Distinguished
Flying Cross and personal recognition from the
Emperor of Japan. After telling that story
hundreds of times at the Officer's Club, he
returned to serve as the Wyoming Civil Air Patrol
Liaison, where he met and married his first wife,
Katrinka Bly. His military career continued for
another decade with over 1,052 combat hours in
Vietnam as well as a search and rescue tour in
Alaska and missile silo missions in Montana. Dick
ended his 22-year military career in 1973,
accumulating 8,500 flight hours in 34 different
types of helicopters and airplanes. Although a
combat veteran of two wars, Dick was most proud
of the 30 peace-time helicopter rescue missions he
conducted saving some 300 lives.
Dick started his second career as the lead Air
Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps
instructor in 1976 at Fargo North High School,
where he served for 17 years. Known as "The Maj,"
Dick received dozens of national outstanding
instructor awards and was beloved by the students.
Always giving, he could consistently be found
lending an ear to young students in distress.
However, he was an exacting inspector who was
feared during Thursday uniform inspections! His
color guard marched with precision and brought
great honor to thousands of events. During his
JROTC conclusion, he was inducted in 2003 to the
Fargo North High School Hall of Fame.
After a short teaching stint in Misawa, Japan,
Dick wed his second wife, Kathy Fenno and settled
in Oakes, ND, for the last 23 years. A staple of
the Oakes community, Dick could be seen
everywhere and heard even farther. He was a
substitute teacher who was loved for how he could
be coaxed off task. (Little did they know they
were learning more about life than any school
lesson.) He also volunteered as a bartender at the
golf course for lady's night, coordinated the
American Legion baseball program, spearheaded
the revival of the Veteran's Day celebrations,
helped fundraise for the new hospital, led annual
Boy Scout camping trips, tutored for the geography
bee and remained the most fanatical Oakes
wrestling fan to ever help with the Potato
Harvest. Many Oakes Folks would smile when Dick
would come in a room with a big "Whoo-hoo" and
give bear hugs, whether wanted or not.
Dick will be remembered for his generosity,
unpretentiousness, huge heart, loving spirit,
ferocious appetite, gluten-reactions, humble
service, unwavering loyalty, and zest for life.
Richard is survived by his wife Kathy Fenno
Bourne. Children: Toni Rivas (Juan, Raymondville,
TX - Francisca & Abbie Anna), Brett Bourne
(Catrin, Swansboro, NC- Carl & Charlotte),
Kristina Bourne (Tim Valentine, Duluth, MN - Daley
& Finley). Roberta Charpentier (Marti, Chamberlin
MN- Rachel, (Zach) Hannah, Daniel), Kris Carlson
(Todd, Pelican Rapids MN- Cole & Rhett), Robert
Fenno (Renelle, Fargo, ND - Zachary, Alexis, &
Andrea), Kim Schmit (Doug, Oakes, ND- Ellie
(Ethan), Robert & Christopher), Rich Fenno (Kelly,
Fargo, ND - Ty). Siblings: Wayne (Mary) Bourne,
Russell (Betty) Bourne, and Margaret Bourne.
Richard was predeceased by his parents, Son: Ron
(Mel-Battle Lake, MN Jessica & Jacob) Fenno,
Siblings: David Bourne, Roberta Doyle, Francis
Bourne, Kenneth Bourne, Patricia Martin, Barbara
Wylie, Bruce Bourne, and Winifred Bourne.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the
memorial scholarship fund being set up at Oakes
High School, 804 Main Ave, Oakes, ND 58474.
Memories may be shared and viewed online at
www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 12/24/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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