RICHARD LEE ROOSA

Richard Lee "Dick" Roosa of Valentine, Nebraska, passed away on May 14, 2026. Born on September 23, 1943 in Valentine, Dick lived a full and purposeful life in the community he called home.

Dick was the son of the late Robert and Fern Roosa. He grew up in the Sandhills of Nebraska, where he developed the strong, loyal character that would define him throughout his life. As a young man, Dick answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Army. While enlisted in the Army, Dick was deployed to several locations in the United States as well as Korea, stationed on the DMZ.  His military service instilled in him a deep sense of discipline and duty that carried through everything he did in the years that followed.

Dick met Judy Lutter while he was enlisted in the Army and that was the beginning of their lives together. After his time in the Army, Dick married Judy on September 1, 1965. They moved to Lincoln where Dick continued his career in law enforcement, serving with the Lincoln Police Department. He took pride in protecting and serving the public, and those who worked alongside him knew him as a man they could count on without question. Dick eventually transitioned into the private sector, taking on the role of Area Manager for White Advertising in Atlanta, where his work ethic and leadership abilities served him well. While with White, Dick traveled all around the country, focusing on resolving challenging issues while building relationships along the way. Dick and Judy made the decision to move back to Valentine to raise their children. During this time, he started his first business, QuintR. Then years later, he started Roosa Insurance Agency. In perhaps one of the most telling reflections of his character, Dick taught himself to repair computers, embracing technology with the same determination he brought to every other challenge in his life.

After retirement, Dick found pleasure as an avid geocacher, always up for the thrill of the hunt and the joy of travel. He and Judy shared the love of geocaching with his grandchildren, who affectionately referred to him as Papa. Their travels took them from the Sandhills all the way down to Texas and over to Missouri. He also had a lifelong passion for firearms, appreciating both the craftsmanship and the skill involved. After a career in the military and law enforcement, Dick educated his family on the importance of understanding the impact that firearms have on our society. These pursuits suited a man who valued precision and patience.

Above all else, Dick was strong, courageous and loyal. Those words come up again and again when the people who loved him describe the kind of man he was. He was firm in his convictions, stood by the people he cared about, and never wavered when times got tough.

Dick is survived by his beloved wife, Judy, who was his partner and anchor through all of life's adventures; his son, John Roosa; his daughters, Jan Blair and Dena Friend; their spouses, Michelle, Mike and Bob; his sister, Janet Larson, his grandchildren, Jared Roosa, Alex Blair and Abby Reck; his step-grandchildren, Nick, Josh, Austin, Haylee and Luke; a great grand-child; and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Fern Roosa, and his sister, Roberta Colburn.

A Rosary will be held on July 2 at 7:00 p.m., and funeral services will take place on July 3 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Valentine. May he rest in peace, reunited now with those who went before him.

Dick Roosa was a soldier, a police officer, a businessman, a self-taught technician, and above all, a devoted family man. He will be deeply missed.