Rick Ray Horn

Rick Horn, age 65, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at St. Mark’s Living in Austin. Rick was born September 22, 1959, in Huron, South Dakota, to Arthur “Verlin” and Dorothy (Nesfield) Horn.

Rick spent his early years on a farm in South Dakota near Wessington where he rode his pony and minibike. Later the family moved to Kadoka. He spent the summers on the farm working hard for his brother and having fun with “The Girls,” his nieces, Emily, Deanna, and Lisa. He graduated from Kadoka High School in 1978 and placed in the State “A” track meet. He held the school records for the 200-meter dash and long jump for a decade.

Rick studied diesel tech from 1978 until 1980 at University of South Dakota-Springfield and met Colleen Hinkley (NSU ’76-81). They looked for work in the Black Hills, throughout South Dakota, Minnesota, and found jobs in Rochester, moving there in 1982, then to Austin in 1983. Rick worked in his area of study for most of his career. He spent 35 years working for McFarland Truckline’s, during which he had a two-winter stint in the oil fields of North Dakota.

Rick and Colleen were married at the Hormel Historic Home on December 24, 1983, near the end of 8 days where the temperature went above zero briefly only once. Their boys were born in 1990 and 1992. The family camped at hundreds of parks throughout the years, including Whitewater, Itasca, Glacier, Yellowstone, Blue Mounds, and Shetek. They enjoyed hiking, biking, boating, and sitting around a campfire. The family pets included Jake, Mindy, Mia (dogs) and Alex and Jerry (cats).

Rick’s wide range of friends meant he was often helping someone on a project or trading favors with dozens of buddies (new and old) on the farm, in the shop, or on the road. Rick had only one hobby—wrong! He enjoyed and was good at hunting (bow, muzzle, and rifle in Minnesota and Wisconsin), bowling, racquetball, camping, motorcycles, snowmobiles (for hours and miles!), home repair, wrenching (cars, bikes, trucks—anything with moving parts!), building (decks, treehouses), watching Minnesota Wild Hockey games, and lastly, the 429 1970 Torino rebuild, still left to complete.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Colleen Horn of Austin, MN; children, Patrick Horn of Austin, MN and Timothy Horn of St. Paul, MN; brother, Douglas Horn of Huron, SD; siblings-in-law, Mark (Lisa) Hinkley, Terri (Dan) Ewert, and Don (Denise) Hinkley; and many nieces and a nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Mary Horn; parents-in-law, Durrell and Julie Hinkley; brother-in-law, Bruce Hinkley.

The family gives sincere gratitude to the many Mayo Clinic teams, Rick’s Car-T Therapy caregivers, Hy-Vee pharmacy, St. Mark’s Living, St. Croix Hospice, and the many friends, family, neighbors, and persons who have helped in their own way.

In lieu of flowers, memorials and donations are preferred to Geneva Cancer Run June 14, 2025, Whitewater State Park (in memory of Rick Horn, 19041 Highway 74, Altura, MN 55910), or Austin’s River Rats Car Club. In his memory, think of him as you help your neighbors, friends, and community.

A memorial gathering for Rick will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Hormel Historic Home in Austin, with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 p.m. Inurnment will be held at a later date in Maplewood Cemetery, Iroquois, South Dakota and details will be communicated once arrangements are made through his Facebook and CaringBridge page. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.

Family and friends are encouraged to share photos or stories by email to: horn.hinkley@gmail.com. Photos may be used for a slide show at the celebrations.