COLERIDGE — Richard L. Collins, 80, Coleridge, died Nov. 8, 2009, at his residence in Coleridge.
Visitation and a prayer service were Nov. 10, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Coleridge, and continued one hour prior to services at the church.
Funeral services were Nov. 11 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Andreas Stein officiating.
Burial was at the Lawn Ridge Cemetery, Coleridge.

Pallbearers were Zachary Pehrson, Nathan Pehrson, Jared Pehrson, Spencer Tullberg, Adam Gartner and Vahn Thomsen.
Honorary pallbearers were Don and Wilma Milander, Lowell and Beverly Bayne, Darrel and Darlene Gowery, Verneal and Anita Gade, Fred and Lisa Hoffman, and Darrel and Doris Henry.
Wintz Funeral Home, Coleridge, was in charge of arrangements.
Richard Lee Collins was born May 9, 1929, at Battle Creek, to Edward H. and Evelyn (Marshall) Collins. He was the second of four children. He attended grade school in Silver City and Malvern, Iowa, and Nebraska City. He attended Omaha North High School and graduated from Sioux City Central in 1946. He moved to Coleridge in 1946 to work for his father in the car business as a mechanic. He married Myrna Anderson June 6, 1948, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Coleridge. He moved his family to Laurel in 1965 and started Collins Motor. He operated that business until 1978. Then he continued to sell used cars until 1987. He retired and moved back to Coleridge where he resided until his death.
Richard played trumpet in the Malvern Band, Omaha North ROTC Band and the Sioux City Central High School Band. He enjoyed sports and hunting and was the president of the Lewis and Clark Sportsman Club. He was a volunteer fireman for the Coleridge and Laurel Fire Departments and served on the Laurel Ambulance crew. He was involved in scouting, was Cub Scout and Boy Scout Master, and served on the Diamond Dick Boy Scout Council.
He was an avid reader and collector. Richard served on the John G. Neihardt Foundation and Board of Directors of the New Vision Group. It was at this time that he participated with Hilda Neihardt and others on a canoe trip down the Missouri River to commemorate John Neihardt’s “The River and I.”
Richard was a member of the United Lutheran Church, Laurel, and the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Coleridge.
Richard is survived by his wife of 61 years, Myrna, Coleridge; one son, Michael Collins, Coleridge; two daughters and their spouses, Patricia and Tim Pehrson, York; Melia and Dennis Tullberg, Wayne; seven grandchildren, Zach, Nathan and Jared Pehrson; Erin Gartner; Alissa Thomsen; and Spencer and Shaylyn Tullberg; 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Gene Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and sister, Claire Swaygnim, Hendersonville, N.C.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; son, Jimmy Collins; brother, Keith Collins; sister-in-law, Veva Collins; and brothers-in-law, Floyd and Don Anderson.