Rick Vierzba, 74

Rick's marvelous adventure ended when he was chosen to join his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in heaven on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Rick's greatest joys in life were his salvation in Christ, the birth of his children and the opportunities that he was given to teach others the practical application of the Gospel for their everyday lives. As he taught Biblical lessons to others he often said, 'Implication without application is a waste of time and God's plan for our lives.' He always considered his time serving as a missionary in Russia to be the best days of his life when he traveled throughout the country preaching and teaching God's word to the Scripture-starved Russian people shortly after the wall against the world came down.

He leaves his ministry partner, Judy Ann Vierzba (spouse); and four children, Jessica Jayne Vierzba, granddaughter Zoe (Fort Collins, Colorado); Katrina Marie Vierzba (Homer, Alaska); Joshua James Vierzba, grandchildren Nia and Ella (Kalispell), and Jacob Andrew Vierzba (Bridget), granddaughter Shayda (Kalispell); his brother Thomas M. Vierzba (Monument, Colorado); Sheri M. Berg (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota) and Peggy J. Vierzba (Fargo, North Dakota).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard M. and Ethel M. Vierzba (Detroit Lakes).

Rick was born on April 14, 1946, in Brainerd, Minnesota, and attended grades K-3 in Brainerd Elementary. When his father joined the Minnesota State Highway Patrol, his family moved to Detroit Lakes where he attended Holy Rosary Elementary School, Holmes Junior High and Detroit Lakes Senior High, from which he graduated in 1964. He attended Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota, until 1970 where he graduated with degrees in speech, English and theater with a short time away from school serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict era. He later attended North Central University and earned degrees in psychology and pastoral ministry (1994) and a master’s in finance from Bryn Mawr University, Pennsylvania, in 1980.

From 1970 until 1994 he owned National Business Advisors, a business consulting and arbitration firm with offices in Minneapolis, and Helena. He also served as the CEO/owner of American Brokerage Corporation, an insurance and investment management firm based in Minneapolis and Helena. In 1994 his life changed forever when he became the senior pastor of the Detroit Lakes Assembly of God church where he served until 1997. In 1998 he returned to Kalispell and founded Montana Appraisal Services, LLC, a real estate appraisal company that serves Flathead, Lake and Lincoln counties.

Rick enjoyed spending time with his family and friends talking about life, the joy of being alive and living lives with purpose by following God's will. He spent many wonderful days searching for elk, deer, moose and bear in the mountains of Montana, the forests of Minnesota, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Alaska, as well as many memorable fishing trips to Minnesota, Alaska, Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. He always said that hunting was not about the animals being hunted, but rather it was about the hunt itself and the time spent with friends and family.