Richard Emmanuel Joseph Seivert

Richard Emmanuel Joseph Seivert, 76, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on April 27, 2026 at his residence. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, May 4, 2026 at Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church in Elkton, South Dakota. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service.

Richard Emmanuel Joseph Seivert greeted his parents, Francis and Mary Culhane Seivert, on January 25, 1950, in Brookings, SD. He joined a sister, Mary, and two brothers, Francis and Michael.

He grew up in Elkton, SD, and attended St. Mary’s Grade School, where he was educated by the Dominican Sisters. Richard graduated from Elkton Public High School in 1968. After high school he continued his education at Dakota State University in Madison, SD. In 1972 he graduated with a BS in secondary education.

Seivert continued his course work at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD and the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA. He graduated from Creighton University, Omaha, NE, in 1985 with an MS Degree in secondary counseling.

His first teaching and coaching job was at Armstrong, IA, from 1972 through 1976. He continued his teaching and coaching career at Gehlen Catholic School in Le Mars, IA, where he worked from 1976 through 2013.

Richard started Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras in 2001 at the request of a student. Shortly after that he began two charitable organizations, Mission Honduras LeMars and Then Feed Just One. Those organizations became his sole purpose.

Richard is survived by sister-in-law Jean (Kolbeck) Seivert; nieces Kristin Seivert, Karen (Jim) Kasper, Susan (John) Beaman, and Katie Seivert; nephews Steven Kellen, Michael Seivert, Mark (Kelli) Kellen, and Matthew (Bonnie) Seivert; great-nieces Sophie (Hunter) Johnson, Lily Seivert, and Olivia Kellen; great-nephews Seth Beaman, Logan Beaman, Boone Seivert, and Johnny Seivert; great-great-niece A’Lora Kellen.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Patrick & Margaret McCarthy Culhane and Lawrence & Anna Seivert; sister Mary Seivert (Joseph) Kellen, brothers Francis and Michael Seivert.

In adulthood Richard never celebrated his birthday. Instead, he celebrated his “Estimated Date of Conception,”- May, 20, 1949, believing deeply that his life really began at that moment.