Richard Barta

Dad wrote his own obituary – what a blessing! Enjoy the story.

Richard (Dick) Barta was born June 12, 1932 in Wagner, South Dakota to John and Bernice (Mitchell) Barta, the youngest of 5 siblings, Leota, Cletus, Don and Eileen.

Dick attended Wagner public schools where he was very active student and participated in speech, debate, play productions, boys chorus, mixed chorus, band and athletics.

He grew up during the end of the depression and through WWII. Following high school, he worked on the Fort Randall Dam project as a truck driver and concrete worker in the tunnels.

Later, Dick moved to Sioux Falls for one year with his mother and sister. His older brother Don had entered the US Army and was serving in Korea with a combat engineering unit. In several of Don’s letters he relayed how he would spend weeks at a time never being warm and advised Dick not to be drafted into the Army as chances were good that he would soon be over in those freezing miserable conditions. On one of his trips back to Wagner to visit, he met up with one of his classmates (John J.B. Weber) and during a catch-up conversation they were both wondering what to do next with their lives. They knew the possibility of being drafted was looming ever closer. They discussed Don’s strong advice not to end up in Korea so they both agreed to join the Navy to avoid the freezing weather.

Dick and J.B. enlisted in the Navy in February 1952. They boarded a Union Pacific Train to San Diego with about 15 others from Southeast SD. He attended basic training at the San Diego Naval Training Center.

He was glad to be kept very busy during basic training, so he didn’t have time to get too lonely or homesick. He would say basic training was like a bad toothache, you can never realize what it’s like until you had one. Having your head shaved, seabag full of clothes and gear thrown at you including a 1903 Springfield rifle that you treated with God-like care even though you never fired it, the never-ending inspections any hour of the day or night and endless hours of marching on the drill compound (called the grinder).

After several weeks of this nightmarish life, they were finally granted a few hours of liberty, usually on s Saturday from noon to 10 PM, and God help you if you were not inside the gates in time. John and I were fortunate in that I had a sister, Eileen, that lived outside the San Diego area. What a thrill it was to be able to visit them a couple of times even if for only a few hours of relief and few delicious meals. It was beginning to feel like we might survive after all.

After a brief leave he boarded a transport ship in San Francisco for Yokosuka, Japan and reported aboard the destroyer USS Ozbourn for a 3 ½ year tour of duty as a machinist mate, electricians mate and when in combat areas spent that time on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) patrols. While on the Ozbourn the ship they made stops in Pearl Harbor, the Philippine Islands, Midway, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and South Korea. The ship engaged in combat in and around Wonson Harbor North Korea. He was proud of his service to his country and grateful for the opportunity to serve. He was honorably discharged in January 1956 and returned to Wagner. He continued to be a proud member of the VFW and American Legion Posts and Honor Guard.

With little or no work available he decided to take advantage of the GI Bill and enrolled at Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD. He participated in football, intramural sports, cross country and chorus. He loved SSTC and the people he met there became some of his closest lifelong friends.

It was at SSTC he met the love of his life, Marjean Waltner. They were married in Scotland SD on June 20, 1960, and moved to Parkston to start their teaching careers. Dick was active as a football coach, assistant basketball and track coach, athletic director and sports official for over 50 years.

In 1972 they moved to Emery where he was Principal with the Tri-County School System and Marjean was teaching in the school system. In 1974 they moved to Pierre where he assumed duties as a Prevention Coordinator with the South Dakota Department of Health, Division of Alcoholism. In 1977 they moved to Vermillion and began his teaching assignments with the University of South Dakota while also pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Ed Psych and Counseling. He graduated with his Doctorate in 1980.

One of the highlights of his career was writing and directing Health and Public Administration programs for the Aberdeen Area Indian Health Service through applying for and receiving many grants. Tribal employers from four states participated, supporting hundreds of undergraduate hours and well over 20 master's degrees earned.

Dad’s faith was his beacon. There were very few things more important to him for himself and his family. He was very active in numerous St Agnes programs including the adult choir, Knights of Columbus and many charitable organizations. He also helped to clean the church every Saturday for several years. He also continued to be active in Alcoholics Anonymous for the past 52 years and 11months, continuing to attend meetings every week. He was very passionate about drug and alcohol prevention.

He was also very passionate about supporting his kids and grandkids, especially following their sport activities (and occasionally their court dates!)

Dick was as authentic, honest and caring as they come. He was always looking for ways to help those around him, a little anything to help ease a burden or simply make someone feel better - because he wanted nothing but the best for others. The impact Dick had on the lives of those around him has left an everlasting legacy – a love for life and especially the importance of relationships and family.

Dick is survived by his children, Mike Barta, Marcia (Mark) Maltaverne, Susan (Rollie) Isaacson, and Brian (Doni) Barta, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marjean, his parents, parent in laws, siblings, brother in laws, sister-in-law Lynette Waltner, grandchild Angela Kosters and niece Barbara Wong.