Richard M Hall

Richard Hall, age 82 of Scotland, died Friday, April 19, 2024 at Landmann-Jungman Memorial Hospital in Scotland. Visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service, Friday, April 26 at Scotland Community Church. Funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 27 at Scotland Community Church, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be in Rosehill Cemetery.

Richard Martin Hall was born to Lee and Carol (Church) Hall in Chicago, Illinois on June 17, 1941. They lived in Roseland, IL for a short time and then moved to Dolton, IL. Richard was baptized in the Unitarian Church in Roseland and confirmed in the Emmanuel Evangelical and Reformed Church in 1955 in Dolton. He attended Franklin Grade School and Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois, graduating in 1959. After that he attended Thornton Township Jr. College in Harvey. His love for flying started with model airplanes in grade school; later, control line models in high school and "real" flying at Chicago Hammond Field in Lansing, Illinois, at the age of 17. The PA18 Super Cub was the first airplane he flew and soloed at that time. He finished his private pilot license in 1966 while at Kingsley Field in Oregon. 

On the first of February, 1961 he entered the United States Air Force, basic training. In April 1961 he entered Cadet Navigator School in Harlingen, Texas and graduated in 1962 with a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant with a flight rating of navigator. After graduation he went to Radar Observer's School at James Connally Air Force Base, flying the F89J. From there he went to Stead AFB in Reno, Nevada for Survival School and then on to the 322nd Fighter Squadron in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to fly as a Navigator, Radar Observer in the F101B until early 1966.

Rich often said, "One of the best decisions of my life was to marry Marlene Frenzel on December 26, 1965 in Westphalia, Texas.” This was a hectic time of returning from Squadron Officers School at Montgomery, Alabama to Klamath Falls, Oregon. He was transferred to Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda, Michigan where he also flew the F101B until 1967.

Rich entered Pilot Training in 1967, flying the T41, T37 and T38 at Williams AFB at Chandler, AZ. He graduated 2nd (in flying) in his Class (68G) in May 1968. He selected the A-1 Skyraider, a single seat, single engine fighter while training at Hurlburt Field in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, departing for Vietnam in August 1968. After completing 200 combat missions, including 5 successful rescues as a "Sandy," he returned to Laredo AFB in Laredo, Texas, flying the T38 as a Flight Instructor.

In 1972 he transferred to Grafenwöhr, Germany where he commanded a radar detachment and got in a little flying in the OH58 JetRanger helicopter. In 1973 Rich was transferred to Neubrücke, Germany where he was a Master I.D. officer at a subterranean Radar/Command Post site and flew the T39 Sabreliner. 

In July 1974 he separated from the United States Air Force and moved to Scotland, SD where he farmed and operated a small electrical business until 1994. He also drove semi for Mehlhaff Trucking and busses for BJ Transit from 1984 to 1986. Rich got back in the cockpit as a crop duster (aerial applicator) in 1994 and as a charter pilot from 1999 until 2009. Rich worked at the Scotland Post Office as a substitute mail carrier and later PTF clerk from 1997 to 2006.

“One of the things I like to say is, It is better to laugh than to cry. It has always been an honor to have flown with some of the best in Vietnam and to be remembered by those men as worthy. Other than marrying Marlene, the best time of my life was raising three kids, that are respectable, responsible people. Once a fighter pilot…ALWAYS a fighter pilot.”

Richard is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marlene; three children, Greg (Tammy) Hall, Pam (Joe) Rempp and Doug (Angie) Hall; 10 beautiful grandchildren, Jessica Hall (Jake Maliske), Aaron (Madeline) Beaner, Kaylyn Hall, Levi Hall, Owen Rempp, James Rempp, Connor Rempp, Emilee Hall, Oaklee Hall and Lawson Hall; great-grandchildren, Cooper Maliske and Remi Maliske; along with 2 sisters, Carol Lee (Tom) Pendery and Kathryn Jean (Harry) Sandstrom.