Richard "Rick" D. Abar

Richard "Rick" Donald Abar, 77, a lifelong resident of Grand Forks, passed away after a short illness on Friday, September 19, surrounded by his wife and family members at Altru Hospital.

Visitation will be held 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 26, 2025, at Amundson Funeral Home Chapel in Grand Forks, North Dakota, followed by a Memorial Service at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the Circle of Friends Animal Rescue, 4375 North Washington Street, Grand Forks, ND 58203.

Richard was born March 19, 1948, to Donald and Colleen (Moore) Abar, where he was raised along with 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

He started his education at St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated in the class of 1965 from St. James High School, and then went on to graduate from the University of North Dakota.

In his younger years, he played a lot of baseball at Central Park before the family moved to the south end, and then it was the youth golf program that caught his interest. He loved the sport and played many different courses over his lifetime. Rick met and made many friends through the different leagues and tournaments he was in over the many years he played.

Rick went into the family business in 1968, The Rite Spot Liquor Store, purchased by Don Abar in 1955, and worked there with his father and later his brother Tom and sister Jennie until they sold it in 2013.

He was a great fan of Sioux Hockey and went on many Sioux Booster bus trips and served as President of the Sioux Booster Club. Rick privately made donations to causes he felt deserving. He didn’t do it for the recognition, but because he cared.

Rick met the light of his life through the Rite Spot, and he and Penny later married, April 18, 1993, at St. Mary’s Church in Grand Forks. They spent 32 happy years together. They both enjoyed traveling and, of course, golfing.

Rick is survived by his wife, Penny (Nagel) Abar; brothers, Thomas (Merilee) Abar, James (Deb) Abar, the Honorable Donald Abar, and Dr. Robert Abar (Jessica) Timmons; sisters, Jennie Buckley, and Linda Abar (Timothy Wynne); many nieces and nephews; aunt, Sandra Moore, and the Moore and Haugen cousins.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Don and Colleen Abar; son, John Thorlacious; sister-in-law, Kelly (Brennan) Abar; brother-in-law,  Michael Buckley; and nephew Ryan Abar.